Cycling UK Forum

We so enjoyed this years tour in Europe we are keen to go again, twice. Once possibly at Easter and the other at July/August. We are tied to school holidays. We usually travel Hull to Rotterdam which seems to give a good cost saving booked months in Advance.
However we are thinking of Dover-Calais (a short channel crossing) and / or Portsmouth or poole to Caen (a medium crossing). How far in advance do people tend to book these please?

As there’s no requirement for a cabin, these sailings almost never sell out. Sometimes prices can be higher prior to departure but when I last checked Dover-Calais it cost the same regardless of whether you travelled tomorrow or in 6 months time.

Personally I book once my dates are set in stone, even if that’s very close to departure

I travelled Dover-Calais with DFDS at the very end of August this year; I'd booked in advance (like you, force of habit from the North Sea routes!), but checked the website again on the day before I sailed, because I was thinking about changing my sailing time: one of the next day's sailings was showing as sold out for bikes (I think it was the 10.40am departure -- and it would make sense that that would be popular), and some of the other peak-time ones had gone up in price (from the £25 default to about £75), but there was still plenty of choice. I guess during peak school holidays things might get a bit more booked up, but I don't think you'd be stranded unless you really needed to be on a specific ferry.

Not to Europe but I recently went to Belfast by Stenna. Checking out of interest a couple of days before the sailing it was sold out. Flexi tickets that allow you to change booking at no extra charge were £5 or £6 more, I'm glad I paid the extra because I was able to change my booking to come back a few days early because I was fed up with the rain! I'd suggest doing the same if possible.

As a by the by, for the Belfast ferry at least and maybe other routes it's a good idea to take a strap along (not just bungee).
On the way over I didn't use it to secure my bike to the dismal trolley provided, result was a slightly bent front wheel. I didn't make the same mistake on the way back.

I've seen some awful 'provisions' for bikes on ferries, including a wheel rack that absolutely trashed another cyclist's rotor.

I've had no problem twice booking a few hours before for my return from Caen, but this was in June. Same for Dunkirk.

Thanks for the replies. It would appear availability is not a great problem, but the price could be more expensive. I have just done a test and Poole to Caen return for a week this Saturday is £130 ish and in July £180 ish. Supply and demand ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I cross the channel several times a year (in a car) and almost always Dover - Dunkirk / Dunkerque, now with DFDS. It is so much nicer than Dover - Calais. For us in Germany it makes little difference in time but if you planned to ride south it would. Fares are adjusted according to available space, so the closer you are to sailing the higher the price. Travelling odd hours is cheaper. I think the Dunkirk route ships are better because they have you on board for a little longer and make a better offer. You don't get the booze-cruisers either.

I see people with bikes sometimes at both ends of the crossing. They seem to be taken good care of, though Dover port is a mess and will get worse when they start to build.

If you go via Dunkirk stop at Crocodil (near Auchan Drive) in the Zone Commercielle between the port and the town for a buffet lunch of delicious French food at reasonable prices.

We went by car this week Dover to Calais - visiting De Panne in Belgium.
We travelled with DFDS - on the return at the DFDS check in we were asked if we wanted the earlier crossing by P&O - "it's just the same" we were told.
We still went on DFDS but I wonder if there is some unofficial merger - I've only experienced this before when the hovercraft was still running and the weather meant we had to transfer to a conventional ferry.

ANTONISH wrote: ↑14 Oct 2023, 3:40pm We went by car this week Dover to Calais - visiting De Panne in Belgium.
We travelled with DFDS - on the return at the DFDS check in we were asked if we wanted the earlier crossing by P&O - "it's just the same" we were told.
We still went on DFDS but I wonder if there is some unofficial merger - I've only experienced this before when the hovercraft was still running and the weather meant we had to transfer to a conventional ferry.

In my experience at off-peak season DFDS sometimes cancels ferries and rebooks you at quite short notice. They might have been trying to avoid running that sailing at a loss.

In my experience at off-peak season DFDS sometimes cancels ferries and rebooks you at quite short notice. They might have been trying to avoid running that sailing at a loss.

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That makes sense - the ferry was much quieter than usual.

Travel Which? November 2023 includes some interesting data on when to book ferry, train and air tickets.

Jonathan

plancashire wrote: ↑11 Oct 2023, 8:50pm >snip<
Fares are adjusted according to available space, so the closer you are to sailing the higher the price. Travelling odd hours is cheaper. I think the Dunkirk route ships are better because they have you on board for a little longer and make a better offer.
>snip<

Are foot passenger and bikes subject to dynamic pricing? (Price increasing as availability decreases.) I seem to remember that they publish the prices for those.

simonhill wrote: ↑2 Jan 2024, 7:44pm

plancashire wrote: ↑11 Oct 2023, 8:50pm >snip<
Fares are adjusted according to available space, so the closer you are to sailing the higher the price. Travelling odd hours is cheaper. I think the Dunkirk route ships are better because they have you on board for a little longer and make a better offer.
>snip<

Are foot passenger and bikes subject to dynamic pricing? (Price increasing as availability decreases.) I seem to remember that they publish the prices for those.

Not all ferries take foot passengers - I think P&O are taking foot passengers again.
My partner and I have usually found it cheaper and more convenient for day trips to go by car (bikes in car) and park in Calais.
Occasionally there are special offers for car day trips.
My experience in ferry day trips with cycling groups is that normally the process is drive to Dover and cycle to the ferry, then repeat on return. In the past some organisers have managed a group discount.
It's been said before that DFDS to Dunkerque is probably better for cyclists
I think the cyclist fares are usually fixed for the season - can't remember any special offers in the recent past but Brittany ferries seem to have some for foot passengers. However I wouldn't describe them as a short sea crossing.