Booking in early at Dover

[Stephen4]

We are travelling in early September by P&O, Dover to Calais. Our booking is around 13.00hrs, is it likely we would be put on an earlier ferry if we arrived before that?

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Stephen,

A good question - and there are a number of possible outcomes:

1. No - the previous ferries are fully booked - and you wait on the dock.

2. Yes - and if the earlier ferries are in a more expensive price band - they may ask for the price difference.

3. Yes - and they just let you on board.

I commute between the UK and Rotterdam by car / ferry or tunnel and in September I'd think it more likely that outcome 2 or 3 will happen.

If you are a frequent traveller or a member of their loyalty programme, then outcome 3 is very likely - my e-book of tickets let me always board the next ferry or train irrespective of when I turn up.

Robert

 

[GillC1]

Stephen,

We have done this on many occasion, so long as you don't arrive hours before your schedule ferry you should be ok, when you go and check in just ask if it is possible to catch the earlier one. If there is space and time allows there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[PC_5119929]

Providing you are prepared to wait, you are likely to be put on an earlier ferry. If you are paying for a cheaper time slot and arrive especting to get an earlier ferry you will either wait or be asked to pay.

3 weeks ago my brother in law arrived at Dover three hours early as he had a straight easy run from Stockport, with the laybys nearby full of trucks he went to check in and asked if he could park up and was told yes if you would like to park on the ferry that leaves in 35 minutes. He was amazed that it was quite empty.