People on the Car Deck whilst underway.

[Olly]

Suffering restricted mobility due to a cartilage problem, a friend's wife didn't want to face the jostling on the steep stairs from the car-deck to the lounge area on a ferry out of Portsmouth so decided to close the curtains and rest in the van.

After the boat had been sailing for half an hour or so, she looked out and was surprised to see three or four other people moving about quite openly who she thinks were bus drivers.

Has anyone else seen or heard about this..?

 

[ThePlotter]

I would report that to the ferry company but that said you too was on the car deck when you should not have been.

Anyway the thing to do when you check in for loading tell the person in the kiosk that you have walking problems and need the lift,they will load you so that you are parked right next to the lift and a member of staff will be there keeping the lift ready for you to use,I have done this a few times.

 

[David.O]

Oliver

When you booked in at the ferry terminal you should have informed them of your problem, I did and was parked next to a lift with help to get me up to the deck required . and down again at the end. no problems crew most helpful

 

[ValA.]

There's no way anyone should be on the car deck whils the ship is at sea - and personally I wouldn't want to stay down there - I'd have nightmares about the Herald of Free Enterprise!

Having said that, on a recent trip back from Calais we did have to *** back down for something (before the ship sailed) and met a very dodgy character who Mr Val A reported to the crew - turned out to be illegally on board and probably looking for somewhere to hide out to get into Britain.

 

[EvansofSprot]

When you book your ferry there is often a way to tell them that you are handicapped.

If you book through an agent like the CC tell them too.

It works for me!

 

[James3]

I am a bit surprised that the CCTV systems that ferry's have did not pick up people walking about. Also we have returned to the car deck during the voyage to put wine/beer, purchased on board, into our car. We were taken down by a member of the crew who used a key to allow the door to the car deck to be operated. This was on Brittany Ferries.

 

[Ben_374375354]

Be VERY VERY careful staying in your vehicle whilst the boat is sailing.

This is an offence which if you are caught the penalty ranges from

Being banned from future travel with that and possibly every ferry line including return journey(at best)

to

An appointment with the local magistrate the result being a BIG fine to imprisonment.

This rule is possibly the most common sense ruling that ferry operators have it is for your own safety and they are all very accommodating to peoples needs.

 

[Guest]

I agree it is a strict rule on mnay ferries, although as to the reasoning behind it, I am not so sure. If the boat is going to sink, then whichever deck you are on is likely to end up under water. I do wonder if it is more a ploy to ensure you are a captive market at the shops and cafes on the upper decks. A bit like a water bottle being removed at security in the airport, but you can happily buy the same item in the departure lounge 5 minutes later.

Of course there are certain ferries who actively encourage you to stay with your outfit and allow you to sleep inside. Of course they do not allow you to use gas items, and that is undertsandable. If you travel on Eurotunnel then again you stay with your outfit. Yes, it is only 35 minutes but as the cross channel ferry is only 90 minutes, I fail to see the difference.

However, as has been mentioned if you wish to travel you have to obey all the Rules and just be a quiet sheep.