Ferry Trip - Can you catch an earlier ferry?

getmeoutofhere

Anyone clued up with ferry daytrips?

I've booked a P & O ferry for a booze trip to Calais whilst I'm in Kent for a weekend break.

The problem is I've messed up with the timings and only have about 30 mins or so in France before the return trip sails.

Firstly, if I was to arrive at Dover a hour early than the scheduled outbound trip, will they (space permitting) let me on the earlier ferry, or make me wait for the one I booked. I could then catch the scheduled return as normal.

Or secondly, do I catch my scheduled outbound, miss the return trip and catch the next available ferry?

Which of these in any are likely to be subject to amendment fees?

buyitall

If you arrive within a couple of hours either side of your booking, they will put you on the next ferry free of charge, if there's space. In August, we arrived a whole day early for our ferry, we did have to pay £15 but that was for the difference in price because we were travelling on a peak day ferry instead of the off-peak day we had booked. The website mentions a £25 fee if you 'officially' change bookings, but if you just turn up they are more flexible in my experience.

hartcjhart

turn up an hour or two earlier drive to the check in and say you would like if poss to get an earlier sailing,we have done this loads of times with no extra charge

getmeoutofhere

buyitall wrote: »

If you arrive within a couple of hours either side of your booking, they will put you on the next ferry free of charge, if there's space. In August, we arrived a whole day early for our ferry, we did have to pay £15 but that was for the difference in price because we were travelling on a peak day ferry instead of the off-peak day we had booked. The website mentions a £25 fee if you 'officially' change bookings, but if you just turn up they are more flexible in my experience.

Thanks.

I saw the £25 fee to amend a booking, and panicked because I only paid £23 for the trip!

siamese0109

I normally travel with SeaFrance and have never had a problem arriving early but in March I got a bargain price with P&O so booked with them. It's difficult to guage the travel time Leeds to Dover and again we arrived early. I asked if we could get the earlier boat but was told 'no' because we'd booked a budget crossing and that was non-transferrable. Needless to say it's back to SeaFrance for me!

Feux_Verts

Norfolk Line VERY strict on this when we sailed back from Dunkirk.

jaymac_2

P and O wanted to charge us an extra £60 when we were a couple of hours early in July. They will put you on the ferry before your booked ferry free of charge if there's space.

getmeoutofhere

siamese0109 wrote: »

I normally travel with SeaFrance and have never had a problem arriving early but in March I got a bargain price with P&O so booked with them. It's difficult to guage the travel time Leeds to Dover and again we arrived early. I asked if we could get the earlier boat but was told 'no' because we'd booked a budget crossing and that was non-transferrable. Needless to say it's back to SeaFrance for me!

This is the kind of hassle hope to avoid, as my booking is probably classed as a budget crossing.

siamese0109

You're probably best to ring and ask - at least it will put your mind at rest! Tell them it's a long journey and you want to make sure you're not late so is there chance of an earlier crossing if you misjudge the timings.

sian73

Yes. they do let you travel earlier as they don't want you usually on the ferry port for ages, I usually pretend that the traffic on the motorway was a lot easier than we thought, so we have got there quicker!!!! coming back , they can sometimes make you wait for your scheduled ferry as they are hoping that you pay to change your ferry. Does anyone know any codes for ferries, not day trips tho. any codes for longer durations on the continent would be very welcome.....any ferry provider will do..the cheapest is always the best option..

Altarf

The official word (that I suspect that you would also get if you phoned) is on the P&O booking page -

Please note:

• If you arrive at the port early or late for your booked sailing, we will endeavour to load you on the next available departure subject to availability.
• If you can sail within 2 hours of your original departure time there will be no additional charge. Outside this window, there will be a charge based on the difference in fare plus an amendment fee, to a maximum of £60 each way.
• Bookings can be amended prior to travel and are subject to an amendment charge of £10, plus any difference in fare, although you can change vehicle and passenger details free of charge.
• Promotional fares are non-flexible and valid only for travel as booked. (Promotional fares include national newspaper reader offers, last minute specials and any fare that uses a promotion code. These fares are non-amendable and non-refundable, although you can change vehicle and passenger details free of charge. Failure to arrive on time for your booked sailings will result in the booking becoming void and may necessitate the purchase of a new ticket.)

However I came back on a day trip ticket on P&O on Saturday and they were quite happy to let me on an earlier ferry. I suspect it depends on how busy the ferry is.