We arrived at Calais nearly 2.5 hrs early for our booked ferry. We knew that there was a ferry within the hour and looked forward to getting home a bit earlier.
We queued to get through passport control and then when we got to the P&O desk we found out the next ferry was full, so we were put on the one after. This still saved us 45 minutes, and we thought we would have a coffee while we waited for it.
The problem wasn't that the ferry was full, but that by the time we knew that we were 'committed' to being in the port as we had gone through passport control. We were shown to our waiting lane and there was absolutely nothing there to fill the 2hrs wait we had. Apparently had we walked all the way back to the passport area there was a cafe bar - but with 2 very hot, very tired kids this wasn't practical. So we just had to sit in the car.
We could quite happily have gone to McD's and the Carrefour for some Camping Gaz and filled the time if we could have turned around. Is there any way of checking out when the next ferry that has available space is before you commit to go through passport control.
I have a feeling at Dover an overhead sign tells you? is there similar at Calais and we missed it?
Christine
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No, theres nothing at Calais apart from toilets & vending machines., you just have to watch the boats & the trucks. Norfolk Line at Dunkerque has an indoor waiting area with a play area for kids.
Quote: Originally posted by xtinexoop on 16/9/2009
I wonder if once you are 'in' you can turn around and go 'out' again (back through passport control) and then come 'in again...
At the end of the day you are in Europe so you shouldn't have to show your passport anyway...
Christine
Christine
Can't speak for Calais but had to do that at Dover once and it was quite a complicated process going through sets of locked gates.
Hi we did the same thing this summer the difference being they wanted to charge us to go on the earlier ferry. We parked up found out like you that there was nothing to do for 3 hours so we decided to go and pay the extra money to go on an earlier ferry. It turns out that the charge is the checkin persons descretion as the 2nd time we checked in they didn't charge us anything and it was only 20 mins later????
If you haven't checked in and got your lane no you should just be able to drive out go through passport control again when you are ready.
I was once put onto the Euro Tunnel Train only to find out that we could not fit the car and caravan in by a foot. Had to back out and get the next train
------------- Paul
Bring on the days off
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Arrived too early at Dunkerque this July and they said we would have to pay extra to go on the next ferry. Didn't want to do that. We had already gone through passport control but they just said turn left and follow the exit signs and come back in a few hours when you won't have to pay the extra. No problem.
If it had been less than a couple of hours we would have stayed cos as Kabbes says there is a place to have a drink and sit and watch the port which is quite interesting anyway.
Not been via Calais for yonks, can't remember it atall.
Quote: Originally posted by craigh21 on 17/9/2009
It turns out that the charge is the checkin persons descretion as the 2nd time we checked in they didn't charge us anything and it was only 20 mins later????
Not correct, the checkin clerk will charge you what is on their computer screen, the excess charge is not decided by the checkin staff. It depends on how many 'no shows' they get for the next sailing. The trick might be if you arrive early to get to the checkin less than half hr(but not too much less)before the next sailing.
We did think that maybe we had 'mistimed' our arrival so that they didn't yet know how many free spaces they would have on the very next one.
The problem was (we think) that for some reason on a Saturday afternoon there was a big gap between ferries - so the 'next' one was the first one after about a 2hr gap iyswim. It was also the last Saturday of the school hols (5th Sept) so presumably a busy one.
Normally we are so close to last check in time for our booked ferry that we only just make it, and on a couple of occasions have been late.
We wouldn't have been charged if there had been space as we were within 2hrs of our original time.
By the time we found out when the next ferry we could get was we were at the checkin desk with a huge queue behind us so we had no option but to take a lane ticket from the bloke and queue. He did say if we went to the lane and then came back to where he was then there was a cafe but that was miles....
we allways phone up the ferry companies before hand to check if there is any space on a early boat .Many times we have missed a boat one year it was two lol we have never been charged (or payed before hand for that extra cover for cancellations).A nice phone call has always worked wonders for us .We always travel in the height of the season.due to the kids.For the life of me i cant remember the name of the beach we park up to wait its like the back entrance of the port .Saves that dreaded wait on the tarmac.Sitting in Mcdonalds in Calais is better than that.
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At the Dover end we've always got on the next available boat after arriving at the port - one time three hours before our due sailing, and once (held up by a traffic accident) four hours late, without paying extra. This time, with Norfolk Lines, we had booked a midnight ferry but arrived in time for, and were put on, the 9.30. At the other end, (in the past) both in Boulogne, and in Calais, we've had to wait for our booked ferry, and one time when we missed the SeaFrance crossing we had to wait four hours until the next crossing 'in our price band'. We weren't given the option of paying extra, nor could we have done because in those days we didn't have a sou left at the end of the holiday!
These days I suppose we always book the same times - ie around 11.00 pm to midnight outwards, and 10.00 am home - so we're used to the timings for the return crossing. We always spend our last night at Gandspette so that we're 'handy' for the crossing and don't have to make an early start or worry about not getting to the port in time. This time David did go into the Norfolk Lines building at Dunkerque which was very near to the lanes where you queue for the boat, and wasn't impressed!
If after you have driven through the check and are unable to get on the boat.
Tell he check in girl you are going out for a meal, then turn sharp right, you will see a pair of gates that allows you to rejoin the motorway and get into Calais or wherever you want
Quote: Originally posted by latecamper on 18/9/2009
Arrived too early at Dunkerque this July and they said we would have to pay extra to go on the next ferry. Didn't want to do that. We had already gone through passport control but they just said turn left and follow the exit signs and come back in a few hours when you won't have to pay the extra. No problem.
If it had been less than a couple of hours we would have stayed cos as Kabbes says there is a place to have a drink and sit and watch the port which is quite interesting anyway.
Not been via Calais for yonks, can't remember it atall.
Belinda
We have used Norfolk line for the last 3 years. the first year we were booked on the 6 a.m. We arrived at the port at 8pm the previous day as we heard you could stop overnight there. We then found out that you couldn't and explained at the check in and they asked if we wanted to go on the 10pm that night at no extra cost. We jumped at the choice and went. This year we were booked on the 6pm and arrived at 3pm again we were allowed to get on the earlier ferry at no extra cost.
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Topic: Arriving early at Calais
