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Day trip
From: Dover
To: Calais
 
 
Day trip
 
Day trip
P&O Ferries Travel Planning Guide

With plenty of routes, travel options, and lots to do before your trip, getting everything ready can be challenging. At P&O Ferries, we want to make travelling as easy and stress-free as possible. Below, you'll find essential travel information needed when travelling on any of our routes.

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Inside P&O Ferries: Discover What Awaits Onboard 

Dover to Calais

  • Duty-Free Shopping

    Savings of up to 50% off UK RRP
  • Choice of 3 food outlets

    all serving hot and cold food and drinks
  • Kids Entertainment

    including a mobile app, play area and live entertainment in peak seasons
  • Pet Lounge

    with an exclusive outdoor area
  • Priority Boarding

    both ways
  • Quiet Lounge

    to relax and unwind in
Dover to Calais tickets from
£96

Hull to Rotterdam

  • Range of cabin upgrade options

    including dog-friendly cabin options
  • Great entertainment

    5 bars, live shows, cinema & arcade
  • Meeting and Event Spaces

    for corporate or private hire
  • A great choice of restaurants and bars

    including The Brasserie and The Kitchen
  • Themed mini-cruises

    to Amsterdam or Rotterdam
  • Onboard duty-free shopping

    with exclusive products and premium brands
Hull to Rotterdam tickets from
£131

Larne to Cairnryan

  • Club Lounge

    with all inclusive snacks and drinks
  • Food Court

    serving hot and cold food, including kids meals and cooked breakfasts
  • Kid’s Entertainment

    including activity area and Junior Crew Kids’ Club in the Summer
  • Lounge Bar

    proudly serving Costa Coffee
  • Onboard Shopping

    with exclusive products and premium brands
  • Priority boarding

    both ways
Larne to Cairnryan tickets from
£144
 
Services and add ons are subject to route and availability
Travelling to France

Perfect for foot passengers, travelling for day trips, and car travel, our 90-minute short sea ferry crossing across the English Channel offers up to 23 sailings a day so that we can fit around your travel plans and not the other way around. 

Travelling to Northern Ireland

Like our Dover to Calais ferry, our Irish Sea Route has a short crossing time. This route takes approximately two hours and offers up to seven crossings a day, allowing all vehicles and foot passengers to travel conveniently to Northern Ireland.

Travelling to the Netherlands
Always popular for road trips around the Netherlands, our overnight Hull to Rotterdam ferry is perfect for those who want to travel with their pet or a caravan to have the best family holiday possible. With our pet-friendly cabins, no one in the family needs to miss out on the next adventure.
Hull to Rotterdam Check-in Times

Departing from the Hull port daily, whether travelling by bike, motorbike, car, or any other vehicle, check-in opens every day from 3 pm, and embarkation begins at 4 pm. You must check in 90 minutes before departure, for both cars and foot passengers.

Cairnryan to Larne Check-in Times

Vehicle passengers for our Cairnryan to Larne route must check in at least 30 minutes before departure, unless travelling with a pet. If you are travelling with a pet or as a foot passenger, please check in at least 45 minutes before departure time. As one of the most frequent crossings between Northern Ireland and Scotland, this route is ideal for any passenger looking for a day trip or a short stay to explore the beauty of Northern Ireland. 

Dover to Calais Check-in Times

If you are travelling as a foot passenger to France, we recommend you check in 120 minutes before your scheduled departure. With a vehicle, passengers must check in at least 60 minutes before departure. Ideal for group and solo travellers, our Dover to Calais ferry makes it easy to plan your trip to France. 

Passenger Travel Information

1 Dover to Calais Travel Information and Documents

Whether you're packing light or bringing plenty, there's no restriction on luggage, so take as much or as little as you need. If you're travelling as a foot passenger, just be sure to always keep your belongings with you during the journey.

Remember your passport. And don’t forget, in line with post-Brexit travel regulations, EU ID cards are no longer valid for entry, so make sure you carry the correct travel information documents. Always check the latest government travel information in advance of travel, via the gov.uk site.

If you require special assistance, please notify us in advance so we can ensure a smooth and supported journey. 

For your safety, security checks will be carried out on both outbound and return journeys.

 
2 Hull to Rotterdam Travel Planning

Effective travel planning is essential for a smooth and enjoyable journey on our Hull to Rotterdam route. This overnight ferry crossing to Holland is designed to provide comfort, convenience, and entertainment for all passengers. 

During the travel booking process, you’ll automatically receive a standard cabin with the option to upgrade to a premium cabin or add extras such as meals or a pet-friendly cabin for those travelling with pets. 

Once you have parked your vehicle on the passenger car deck, please ensure you have turned off your car alarm and taken all your valuables with you. You can then make your way safely using the designated passenger areas to reception on deck 8, where our friendly check-in staff will greet you.

To ensure you have all the accessibility requirements and special assistance you need, please let us know in advance so we can support you on board and at the terminal. 
Valid passports are mandatory for travel on this international route, and EU ID cards are not accepted post-Brexit. The security process includes checks on vehicles and baggage, and standard restrictions on prohibited items apply.

3 Cairnryan to Larne Travel Planning

Having the correct travel information is essential in experiencing a seamless domestic ferry crossing from Cairnryan to Larne, whether travelling as a foot passenger, car, or bike. 

When travelling as a foot passenger, everyone is escorted to the ferry via a shuttle or walkway, and your luggage must always stay with you. 

This route is hugely popular because no passport is required; only a standard ID may be requested by security. With the option to check in up to 30 minutes before departure with a car or 45 minutes before departure as a foot passenger, this route is perfect for efficiently planning your busy trip. 

As with the other routes, special assistance must be booked in advance. Full terminal and onboard support is provided. Security measures include screening of vehicles and baggage, and a standard list of prohibited items is enforced. 

Regardless of which route you travel with us, travelling by ferry offers a flexible and scenic way to reach destinations across the UK and mainland Europe. 

Understanding ferry luggage restrictions

One of the best benefits of travelling with P&O Ferries, regardless of the route you choose, is that there are no luggage restrictions. 

For foot passengers, you can bring as much or as little as you can carry, but you must always keep it with you. For other travellers, it doesn’t matter what you are travelling in, you can take as much as you want with you, but we do advise taking personal items and valuables with you on board just in case.

Prohibited items on a ferry

For the safety of all passengers and compliance with UK and EU regulations, certain items are restricted or prohibited on P&O Ferries. Please ensure you check this guidance before travelling.

Prohibited Food and Animal Products on P&O Ferries

Since April 2025, temporary restrictions have been put in place due to animal disease outbreaks, including foot and mouth disease. Now, personal imports of meat, dairy, and certain animal products from the EU are prohibited. This includes products not intended for human consumption and any items purchased onboard; all food and drink bought onboard must be consumed before leaving the ship.

Other prohibited items include:  Cattle, sheep, goat, pig, deer, camelid meat and dairy products, regardless of packaging or whether purchased duty-free. However, there are some exceptions, including:  up to 2kg of powdered infant milk, infant food, or special medically required food,  if it is commercially produced, shelf-stable, and unopened. Certain low-risk products, such as chocolate, confectionery, bread, cakes, biscuits, pasta, and products with less than 20% animal content, are also permitted.

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Enforcement and Compliance on P&O Ferries

As part of careful travel planning, all passengers should be aware that Border Force conducts checks for prohibited goods on arrival in Great Britain. Any items found to violate the regulations may be seized and destroyed, and offenders could face fines of up to £5,000 or more if successfully prosecuted.

Passengers carrying prohibited items have the option to surrender them at customs via the Red Channel.

It is important to note that ships may continue to serve food containing meat and dairy while in UK waters. However, passengers are not permitted to disembark with these products, in line with current import restrictions.

So now you know all the travel information required, why not book your ferries to Europe today!

 

Onboard Services FAQs

1 Do P&O Ferries have free WiFi?

Yes, free Wi-Fi is available on all P&O Ferries.

On our overnight Hull to Rotterdam route, you can enjoy one hour of free Wi-Fi in public areas and explore the options of our P&O Wi-Fi packages for the remainder of your crossing.

When onboard, all you need to do is visit the onboard information desk for access details, and you can connect immediately.

2 Do you host meetings & events Onboard?

Hosting a corporate event or group gathering at sea? P&O Ferries offers Meetings and Events facilities on our Hull to Rotterdam route.

With private spaces, AV equipment, and tailored catering options, you can bring your team together in a unique, flexible environment, ideal for away days, training, or conferences with a view.

3 What additional onboard services are there on P&O Ferries?

There are a variety of additional onboard services and features on all our ships - from a great selection of food choices, to baby changing and foreign exchange. Whether you want to travel with your furry friend in our Pet Lounge or treat yourself to some extra luxury in our Club Lounge, there are plenty of options to help make your sailing relaxed and enjoyable. We are also strive to be as a accessible as possible for all our passengers, find our more by visiting our Accessible Travel page.

4 What food is in the Brasserie?