• First Impressions - after an easy drive to arrive at Dover docks, you drive though checking and customs, to be sent to the correct lane await your boarding, all in the comfort of your own car, tickets fortunately are not required, just your booking reference

• The Port - Dover port itself has all the facilities you need to pass a couple of hours, coffee shop, the burger bar, and a shop for all those bits and pieces, all contained within a nice clean and modern complex

• Embarkation - driving onto the ferry is about 20-30 minutes before you depart, and is just a case of following the car in front, the ferry is multiple level with plenty of room for all, park the car up, handbrake on, in gear, and off to the comforts of the ship

• Comfort - the ferries are relatively new, being introduced into service over the last couple of years, so everything is modern and comfortable to help while away the time on the 2 hour crossing

• Facilities - are all there - restaurant, bar, fast serve cafes, kids room and duty free shop. There is plenty of comfortable seating , the food is of good quality, and the prices are what you would expect from a ferry company
  the breakfast menu is one to enjoy

• The Journey - only 2 hours crossing time, so its not too long, but you can still squeeze in a nap on your way over

• Disembarkation - takes a while to get into port to disembark, but once the boat is tied up, your off and away in a matter of minutes, onto a quite port road before hitting the main routes, with good access to all major routes

• Value - exceptional value, book early enough and its about £34 return out of season, but the later you leave it the more expensive it gets, up to about £64 return, multiple return tickets (pack of 10 crossings) with no limitations for £19 a crossing, plus they operate a 3 month open ended return policy, so if you miss your ferry, there’s no problems

• Overall - a well presented and easy crossing that is good value for money, but if heading south once in France it adds an extra 60km onto your journey over Boulogne ,

• Hints - very easy going with bookings, I have turned up anything from 24 hours early, one ferry early to 3 days late and just gone straight on the ferry all with no extra charges, as long as you book direct and not via a broker

If you have any questions on getting the right route, please visit our forum where you can learn more about how many of our members get across the wet bit on their way to Sarthe!