Car Ferries

[T Allan]

I'm really nervous about taking my car on a ferry - how bad can it be??

[derekpara]

Very dodgy on the Limpopo.

[chazza]

What part of it makes you nervous? Driving it on isn't any more taxing than going into a multistory carpark - less so in fact

[bigboots]

Like chazza said no worse than a mulit story car park, there will be people guiding you to a space,
The worst weather i have encountered was gale force 4, they closed off the exterior parts of the ship and it added 1 hour to the journey, was a bit choppy

[Whickerman]

I've used the ones from Ireland to Scotland, Fishguard, Holyhead and France and never had a problem with the car. It's perfectly fine.

[Buenchico]

Driving on and off the ferry is an 'absolute doddle'.

On most crossings you'll almost forget that you're onboard a ship - it really is that smooth. However, the worst crossing I had was on a SeaCat form Ostend to Dover. (Southwesterly winds, force 8, gusting to 9 or 10). We had to wait several hours before the captain was prepared to sail. Then the crossing took far longer than usual because it was necessary to go slow in the heavy seas. People were being thrown out of their seats, onto the floor and against the walls. There were two "is there a doctor on board?" calls during the trip. (I was on the lower deck. I understand that one person died of a heat attack on the upper deck, where someone also suffered fractures through being thrown cross the lounge by the force of the sea).

Happy sailing ;-)

Chris

[sddsddean]

Usually not a problem. In 2 years of driving to the continent every week, I only got stuck on a ferry once due to bad weather (and it wasn't even winter!!) and ended up cruising past Dover for 5 hours until the wind died down. If you are worried about feeling queasy, my advice is either to get on deck or at least to a window and watch the waves. You feel ill because of the motion in your ear canals and your brain can't work out what is happening if you are shut up inside. If your eyes can see the waves, your brain can work out whats happening. I have said this to several people and they all have said it works.

[sddsddean]

Oh, and driving on and off is a doddle now. There are loads of blokes about to watch out for you and you should have no problems.

[Disco Fever]

Just make sure the bow doors are shut when it sails off....

[ugly_bob]

Best cure for sea-sickness - as sddsddean said - look at the horizon. Either your brain works out why your moving around, or, if you look at the still horizon, your brain forgets you're moving. It works. Trust me.

As for the car ferry thing - getting on/off is easy. Don't worry about your car smashing into the one next ddor either - have been on some rough crossings and never seen that happen

[weggiewabbit]

Car ferries are very safe. However, if you're crossing to France, then the Channel Tunnel is even better - 35 minutes to cross, no sea-sickness, you just drive onto the train and it doesn't cost much more than the ferry.

[Brooksy]

You`re statistically far safer than travelling on the UKs roads as a driver, rider or pedestrian (over 3000 deaths per annum). If the sea is rough, try & sit in the middle of the vessel as the movement is less there, but the cooking smells may be off putting!

[jd_here]

I travel a lot to France via Dover and live in the East Midlands. Believe me, the A1, A14, M11, M25, Dartford Crossing and the M20 are a far worse experience than the sea crossing! JD

[madboutcats]

just to scare poor T Allan even more,sailed dover calais last year we were on top car deck so have to wait until bottom deck is empty before they raise the floor well it wouldnt work and everyone had come down to their cars and the staff wouldnt let us get into our cars, it was getting hot and it must have been nearly half an hour until they got it working and we were allowed into our cars and away.