Dover to Calais ferry

Ferries to Calais from Dover offer a variety of amenities to ensure a smooth and relaxing journey.

Onboard, you can enjoy spacious seating areas, Wi-Fi access, bars and restaurants serving drinks, snacks, and meals, and shops selling duty-free goods.

Some ferries also include designated play areas for children and kennels for pets.

Find out more about the high-end amenities onboard the Dover to Calais ferry on our dedicated blog.

Cabins and accommodation

Can I book a cabin?

No, since the ferry trip from Dover to Calais is only 1.5 hours, cabins are not available on the ferries from UK to France.

Can I book a business-class seat?

Yes. In addition to standard deck/lounge tickets, some ferries offer business-class seating. These numbered reclining seats are located in an exclusive onboard lounge and provide extra comfort and space.

Business-class seats are typically available for an additional charge of around €20 to €30 per traveller.

Luggage

Each ferry company has its own luggage policy:

• On DFDS ferries, you are allowed  as many bags as you can carry on board yourself. Note that there are no luggage carts.
• When travelling with Irish Ferries, you may bring as much personal luggage as you can fit your vehicle.
• With P&O Ferries, you can bring as many pieces of luggage as you can carry onboard yourself.

Traveling with pets

You can travel with your pet on most ferries from Dover to Calais, provided you include it in your booking. Make sure you carry your pet’s passport and health documents with you, and bring along pet supplies for the duration of the trip.

Important: certain dog breeds are banned and not permitted to travel between the UK and France. These include XL Bullies, Pit Bull Terriers (including American Pit Bull Terriers), Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro.

Where do pets stay on the ferry?

The pet accommodation options depend on the operator:

• DFDS: your pet stays inside your vehicle.
• Irish Ferries: you can keep your pet in your vehicle or in the prebooked Pet Den, available on Oscar Wilde and Isle of Inishmore.
• P&O Ferries: you can either keep your pet inside your vehicle, or alongside you in the Pet Lounge for dogs.

The ferries have pet-friendly areas on board, but during the trip smaller pets must be kept in a suitable carrier, while larger ones must be kept on a lead and wear a muzzle. If your pet stays in your vehicle, bring water, bedding and toys, and leave a window slightly open for ventilation.

What pet documents do I need?

You must bring your pet’s Animal Health Certificate or EU Pet Passport, including microchip identification and a valid rabies vaccination certificate (at least 21 days before your trip). Dogs will also need tapeworm treatment administered by a vet 1-5 days before returning to the UK.

Before boarding your Dover to Calais ferry, you’ll need to complete border controls, security checks and ferry check-in. The process differs depending on whether you’re travelling with a vehicle or as a foot passenger, so follow the instructions for your booking.

Travelling with a vehicle

You can travel with a vehicle on DFDS, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries crossings. Here is what to expect when you arrive at the port:

1. Border controls: the port features a dual-stage border control system. You will first pass through French Border Control, where your passports will be checked for entry into the Schengen Area. Following this, you will proceed through UK Border Control, which conducts exit checks on passengers leaving the country. During peak travel periods, such as school holidays or long weekends, it is highly recommended to arrive at least 2 hr before departure as border authorities work to process high volumes of traffic.
2. Ferry check-in: after clearing border control, you then proceed to the check-in booths, with each ferry operator having its own. As you pull up to the booth, automated cameras will scan your number plate to verify your booking details. Have your passport, booking reference, and vehicle registration documents ready to present to the staff. After your details are verified, you will be issued a paper ticket, which indicates the specific marshalling lane you must follow to reach your boarding position.
3. Marshalling and boarding: Follow the signage to your allocated lane in the marshalling area and remain with your vehicle until you are instructed by port staff to drive onto the ferry.

Important: After you enter the port area, you may be selected for random security checks of your vehicle, luggage, or person, so have your travel documents ready for inspection.

Travelling as a foot passenger

P&O Ferries accepts foot passengers on selected Dover - Calais departures, while DFDS and Irish Ferries require you to travel with a vehicle. Here's how the process goes:

1. Check-in: when travelling without a vehicle, report first to the P&O desk in the Passenger Terminal Building at the Eastern Docks. Check-in closes 90 min before departure, so arrive before this deadline.
2. Border controls and boarding: after check-in, a shuttle bus takes you through the required French border, UK customs and security procedures and onwards to the ferry. You may need to get off the bus for document checks and screening before reboarding. Keep your passport and luggage with you throughout, and follow staff instructions at each stage.
3. Arrival: when you arrive at Calais, you will be transferred by shuttle bus to the ferry terminal, from where you can continue your journey.

Each ferry company has its own check-in area at the port of Dover

Here are some travel tips for your ferry trip from Dover to Calais:

• Make sure to arrive at the Dover port well in advance, as check-in closes 90 min prior to the scheduled departure time for foot passengers and 60 min prior for all other categories of traffic. The dedicated shuttle bus for foot passengers leaves when check-in closes, 90 min before departure.
• Since there is a 1-hour time difference between the UK and France, don’t get confused with your arrival time!
• Remember that to travel from the UK to France, you will need a valid passport.
• Don't forget to also book your return tickets in advance from Calais to Dover for a hassle-free trip.
• Dover - Calais is the fastest ferry crossing from the UK to France. The proximity of the two ports makes Calais a popular destination for a great weekend trip to France from Dover by ferry.
• From Dover, you can also travel to France by ferry on the Dover- Dunkirk ferry route. For more details on ticket prices, duration and companies, take a look at the Dover - France routes.

Car on the ferry: the ultimate tip

If you are traveling with friends or family, here is a professional tip: on the Dover - Calais route, the price for a standard car is the same whether there is 1 person or up to 9 people inside!

Since you pay per vehicle and not per passenger, you can fill up every seat in your car without the price going up. This makes the ferry the most budget-friendly way to cross the Channel!

Where to take the ferry from Dover to Calais

Ferries to Calais depart from the Eastern Docks at the Port of Dover, used by DFDS, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries. The terminal is about 2 km from the Dover Priory train station, around 112 km from London and 125 km from Gatwick Airport.

If you’re travelling with a vehicle, follow your operator’s signs to check-in and your allocated boarding lane. Foot passengers travelling with P&O should report to the Passenger Terminal Building, where a shuttle bus takes you through the required checks and onwards to the ship.

The passenger terminal has basic amenities, inclduing a P&O ticket desk, coffee outlets and toilets, with taxi and bus stops outside. After vehicle check-in, the Passenger Services Building West offers a wider selection, with food outlets, a convenience shop, toilets, cash machines and free Wi-Fi.

How to get to Dover

• By car: follow the M20 and A20 via Folkestone, or the M2 and A2 via Canterbury, then signs for Eastern Docks.
• By train and taxi: the nearest railway station is Dover Priory, about 2 km from the ferry terminal. High-speed trains from London St Pancras take just over 1 hr, followed by a short bus or taxi ride.
• By local bus: route 66 links Dover Priory with Eastern Docks in around 30 min.
• From Gatwick Airport: allow approximately 1.5-2 hr by car, depending on traffic, for the roughly 130 km journey.

Useful tip: check your booking confirmation for your operator’s arrival instructions and check-in deadline. If you’re travelling without a vehicle, make sure you have booked a P&O departure that accepts foot passengers.

Where does the ferry arrive in Calais?

Ferries from Dover arrive at the Gare Maritime Est terminal in the port of Calais, which is around 5 km from the city centre. DFDS, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries use this port complex, and is separate from the LeShuttle terminal at Coquelles.

If you’re travelling as a foot passenger with P&O, a transfer bus takes you from the ship to the Passenger Terminal, where you’ll find waiting areas and toilets, with onward transport available towards the city centre and railway stations. There are fuel stations, rest areas, and supermarkets located within a short distance of the port, so you can easily stock up before continuing your journey.

Onward travel from Calais port

By car: follow signs for the A16 and A26 to join the motorway network, it takes about 1 hr 10 min to reach Lille and 3-3.5 hr to get to Paris. Remember to drive on the right-hand side once you leave the ferry.

By shuttle bus: a free Balad’in shuttle connects the ferry terminal with central Calais and Calais-Ville railway station.

By taxi: you can reach Calais-Ville station in around 10 min, or Calais-Fréthun station in approximately 20 min.

By train: from Calais-Ville, direct regional trains reach Lille-Flandres in around 1 hr 20 min. Alternatively, transfer to Calais-Fréthun, where faster services reach Lille-Europe in approximately 30 min.