Simple enough idea but one hell of a rabbit hole we went down last weekend.
I had a DFDS ferry booked at 6am in the morning. We landed at Dover docks front at 4am. But due to lane life and customs it took us a very long time to go through customs. I came d own the helterskelter at 4am. Into the traffic lanes. I got to customs at 5.30am. DFDS booking office at 6.30am. The lady there just booked us on to the next ferry going and away we went. No we did not have a flexi ticket just the cheap cattle class cheapest non refundable.
That then started a conversation about who does what and whose responcible when dover gets snarlled up in traffic. I have taken three or four hours to go from the hill on the top of the M20 to Dover docks before now when its busy.
Some say that the ferry firm just puts you on the next ferry, no matter the ticket type. Some say that only happens after you have checked in at customs. From customs check in the delays are covered by the ferry firms.
But what happens if the traffic deal is not the top of the M20 at dover but the M25. Its still traffic, but your ferry slot has been and gone?
Yes I realise you can buy flex tickets but why would you or when would you. If i get to Dover at 4am for a 6am ferry and I am in the que lanes does that count? Or parked at the top of the hill on the edge of Dover on the M20, 3 mile away? I get to the customs hut at 6am but spent two hours queing to get into Dover terminal. And its another hour before I am the otherside of the booking offices?
eason why I am asking is the ESS starts next month and I was wondering about the speed though customs or the lack of it thats outside my control?
But then theres the opposite, the owl of shame. Been owled once!!!!!!!!
For those that don't kow or have not been owled. If you are too early then you get the eary bird window ticket and escorted around the terminal and shoved back out again. I think we were three hours early for a ferry one day after not resetting the clocks in the car before leaving, oops. But if i allow a time to transit Dover and customs 2hrs say, should I leave 3 hrs early?
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I doubt there is a totally simplistic answer!
My take would be, any delays after check in are likely out of your control, unless you miss an announcement, or breakdown etc., so it's the ferry companies responsibility to facilitate your travel, now that may not be your booked/scheduled crossing, but 'a crossing' as contracted.
Any delay preventing you checking in before the deadline is your hard luck! A decent company may show some latitude and be flexible to a degree, especially if it's a know problem affect multiple passengers.
A Flexi ticket is some sort of insurance in a way, so you are paying a premium to have a degree more latitude.
What is contractually binding will be in the small print somewhere no doubt.
You've pretty much cited all the reasons I won't travel from Dover! My channel crossings are on the western routes, where a number of factors work to your benefit. Firstly, it's extremely rare to find much delay in accessing the ports. Secondly, the ferry companies are less paranoid about sailing times, as they can make up time on the long crossing and still arrive on schedule. I've been on crossings that have been best part of an hour late setting sail, but still arrive spot on time! That has a significant importance to them, they need their ships in port on time if they are to maintain their schedules, and sometimes meet tide conditions to make arrival or departure possible. The short eastern crossings have little scope for making up for late departures, so their whole sailing schedule potentially becomes disrupted.
In must be 40 years of channel crossings, the western routes have pretty much always been stress free, we actually enjoy it, and from our outlook, our holiday starts when we leave home with some certainty that we will not encounter problems at the port and it's all relaxed. Once a ferry has departed, the queuing lanes are free to park up in usually, so you can arrive many hours early as many do without being chased out of the port for being too early! If the nervous breakdown didn't get me, the heart attack from the stress would travelling from Dover!
When we used to travel to Dover or the Tunnel from Sheffield (most years 1997 to 2018) we'd set off at 1am for a crossing at about 5:30am. Avoided the huge amount of traffic you'd find in the daytime on the M1, M25, M2 / A2 / M20.
Nowadays living in France we always sail to / from Portsmouth meaning journey to Sheffield (or Warrington to wifes family) can be done in about 4 hours regardless of day / time.
Changes to border control procedures put me off going to France and Germany this year.
Hopefully the chaos/nuclear fallout will die down and become more settle next June 2026!
Nowadays, I buy the Semi-flex return in case I need to make last minute changes.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 30/8/2025
Changes to border control procedures put me off going to France and Germany this year.
Hopefully the chaos/nuclear fallout will die down and become more settle next June 2026!
Nowadays, I buy the Semi-flex return in case I need to make last minute changes.
DK
Thing that annoys me is HM Customs when leaving the UK. They use exactly the same questions as we used to get entering the UK - eg did you leave your vehicle unattended. Tesco's Portsmouth not used by UK folk trying to get to France AFAIK.
Never been stopped entering the UK - last 2 times leaving the UK we've had the full Monty - opening the boot etc, stuff on your person going through metal detectors like at airports. Customs staff look really embarassed, poor sods.
A bit of a po faced answer but it is the responsibility of the passenger to arrive in sufficient time as to board the ferry at the booked time.
It is known that customs checks will cause delays and it is known that there will be traffic delays at certain times of the year. None of which is the ferry company's fault.
It is purely goodwill if the ferry company allows the bog standard fare to become a flexi fare.
Can't believe I am defending the ferries with their dreadful prices and grotty ships. Thats why we used the tunnel and Tesco vouchers
Quote: Originally posted by SGThomas on 31/8/2025
Thats why we used the tunnel and Tesco vouchers
+1. Have used tunnel and Tesco vouchers for years and years. The earlier years were better though, with 4x the value of the vouchers we used to get at least one crossing a year free, sometimes even 2. Sorry, off topic.
Agree with earlier comments; it's your responsibility to arrive on time. We used to travel down to the tunnel in 1 until a few years ago, but now prefer an overnighter partway. It's nearly 300 miles to get there for us, so that way it's much more relaxed and a lot less pressure; all you need is a serious traffic jam and there's a good chance you'll miss the ferry, or tunnel, crossing. Of course that could still happen, but with a lot less miles/travelling on the day of the crossing a better option. We also leave about 1.5 - 2 hours leeway, and if still too early, park up on the services.
------------- Ina
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Agree with earlier comments; it's your responsibility to arrive on time. We used to travel down to the tunnel in 1 until a few years ago, but now prefer an overnighter partway. It's nearly 300 miles to get there for us, so that way it's much more relaxed and a lot less pressure; all you need is a serious traffic jam and there's a good chance you'll miss the ferry, or tunnel, crossing. Of course that could still happen, but with a lot less miles/travelling on the day of the crossing a better option. We also leave about 1.5 - 2 hours leeway, and if still too early, park up on the services.
As someone living in West London, who does on occasion have need to travel to Kent/East Sussex on a schedule (Dog rescue transport runs with timed pick ups and hand-overs to next in relay of transporters - all rather time critical when dog is on a long cross country journey!), I'd find the journey to Dover for a timed ferry/tunnel crossing highly stressful, as all too well aware how unpredictable the journey time could be (it's gone wrong on me too many times to have doubts of the risks!!!!)! For peace of mind, I'd travel down the day before and stay locally overnight, so that only local/port delays to be risked on day of crossing!
I'm a regular channel crosser on the western routes, and generally on the overnight sailing. We aim to arrive mid afternoon in the local area, to give us latitude on any hold ups, and we have better route alternatives in the case of one being too bad than is the case with heading to Dover! We have time to relax, get a decent meal before boarding, and generally make the trip to the port an enjoyable part of our overall journey. On the rare occasion that we've been held up, we've enough slack in our schedule for it not to risk or compromise our ferry crossing.
Having come back on DFDS to Dover yesterday we have vowed to avoid that route in future and if we want a short crossing, use the tunnel. Thankfully no caravan in the back this time as it was a nightmare getting out of port with the queues and merging, such a poorly designed area. (Not to even mention the hideous queues at Dartford crossing and selfishness of fellow ferry goers sleeping across seating and hugging multiple tables!)
Having said that we got a free day trip by spending lots on duty free Lego, so we’ll brave it one more time in Oct half term to stock up on wine for Christmas!
It’s always a chore trying to balance not getting there too early so you’ve nowhere to stay with a caravan (ended up stopping for an hour on a lay-by in a business park once as way too early for Portsmouth ferry!). We were early this time too, but with no caravan in tow headed to Gunwharf quay to kill some time.
If I had to use a short crossing ferry again I’d be booking a flexi ticket just to ensure I got on a ferry.
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 31/8/2025
As someone living in West London, who does on occasion have need to travel to Kent/East Sussex on a schedule (Dog rescue transport runs with timed pick ups and hand-overs to next in relay of transporters - all rather time critical when dog is on a long cross country journey!), I'd find the journey to Dover for a timed ferry/tunnel crossing highly stressful, as all too well aware how unpredictable the journey time could be (it's gone wrong on me too many times to have doubts of the risks!!!!)! For peace of mind, I'd travel down the day before and stay locally overnight, so that only local/port delays to be risked on day of crossing!
I'm a regular channel crosser on the western routes, and generally on the overnight sailing. We aim to arrive mid afternoon in the local area, to give us latitude on any hold ups, and we have better route alternatives in the case of one being too bad than is the case with heading to Dover! We have time to relax, get a decent meal before boarding, and generally make the trip to the port an enjoyable part of our overall journey. On the rare occasion that we've been held up, we've enough slack in our schedule for it not to risk or compromise our ferry crossing.
If it was up to just me, I have no problem getting a longer crossing from elsewhere in the UK. Unfortunately, OH isn't good on a ship, as he says, he could be ill crossing the Mersey 🤣 the tunnel is a good option, as you don't have to go into Dover, so at least we avoid that problem. I also like the short crossing time I must admit, we did try Dieppe to Newhaven coming back a while ago, much against OH's better judgment. He didn't do too bad as it was fairly calm, but I must admit that having to get there at least 2 hours beforehand, plus the 4 hour crossing, I did find a bit tedious.
So, horses for courses, the tunnel works for us, and we do try to pick our times for travelling, but nobody can foresee the unpredictable!
Have to say we never risk it these days. We're at the top of the M40, and although we've never actually missed a ferry or a shuttle slot it's been close, however much 'wiggle room' we've left if travelling on the same day.
If going on the shuttle we'll leave at 7am for a lunchtime train, but for a ferry we always stay over somewhere. We discovered Port Solent (free and with dining options in the marina) for the first time this year for a Portsmouth crossing. It wasn't the best night's sleep we've ever had, but then neither is Black Horse Farm for Dover, and at least we weren't awake from worrying about the M40 and M25 !
I drive a lot for work, and would prefer to avoid traffic stress on holiday !
------------- Seeking luxury in unexpected places
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Ina on 01/9/2025
......
If it was up to just me, I have no problem getting a longer crossing from elsewhere in the UK. Unfortunately, OH isn't good on a ship, as he says, he could be ill crossing the Mersey 🤣 the tunnel is a good option, as you don't have to go into Dover, so at least we avoid that problem. I also like the short crossing time I must admit, we did try Dieppe to Newhaven coming back a while ago, much against OH's better judgment. He didn't do too bad as it was fairly calm, but I must admit that having to get there at least 2 hours beforehand, plus the 4 hour crossing, I did find a bit tedious.
So, horses for courses, the tunnel works for us, and we do try to pick our times for travelling, but nobody can foresee the unpredictable!
I'm fortunate in having good 'sea legs' (done the Bay of Biscay unscathed a few times too!), not even had problems on the occasional rough crossings where many are going 'green around the gills' and seeking sanctuary in the loos! Also we really like the long crossing, find it a good opportunity to relax, it makes a nice break in the journey so it's not all driving, it also cuts hundreds of miles off our journey compared with going via Dover! From home to destination, we travel in a near straight line. We've done just about every variation there is on the western routes over the years, and now nearly always opt for the overnight, so we have the break in journey, some relaxation (a drinky or two!), and a half decent sleep, arriving in France nice and early so we can 'pootle down at ease' on their lovely roads to our destination, arriving in the best of spirits and not at all exhausted.
I do feel sorry for those that don't sail well, and I suppose the tunnel is some kind of salvation for them. Many decades since I did a Dover ferry, so little memory of how calm/rough that route is.
Quote: Originally posted by longcol on 31/8/2025
Thing that annoys me is HM Customs when leaving the UK. They use exactly the same questions as we used to get entering the UK - eg did you leave your vehicle unattended. Tesco's Portsmouth not used by UK folk trying to get to France AFAIK.
Never been stopped entering the UK - last 2 times leaving the UK we've had the full Monty - opening the boot etc, stuff on your person going through metal detectors like at airports. Customs staff look really embarassed, poor sods.
Only done 2 trips to EU so far in 2023 and 2024.
No check going out, checked coming back by UK Border Police for both, who wanted to see the back of the van to make sure I was not carrying anyone else. Did not care about the food and alcoholic drink I was carrying.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
When I book tunnel crossing nowadays, I would book the latest crossings that I believe I can comfortably achieve, in the hope that I can arrive at the terminal in good time to be allowed to go onto an earlier departure.
From next year's trip onwards, I shall stay overnight near Folkestone which is about 30min's drive away, to enable me to have a crossing at about 10:00ish. Can't leave the site until 07:00 the earliest, meaning the earliest I can board a train is likely to be 09:00 if I am lucky.
I tried doing the outbound trip to France in one day last year and it was very stressful, as it involved getting up and leaving my house very early, having to arrive at Folkestone at a certain time, and having to arrive at the campsite at a certain time, etc., etc...
Hence I am taking it easy from now on. It takes longer, however, it is less stressful due to less deadlines to meet, if you know what I mean.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Who is at fault when you miss the ferry (
via mobile 31/8/2025 at 3:34pm
