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Further Information on the Dover - Calais Ferry Route
The most popular Channel Ferry Route is the Dover to Calais route. This is due to it being a very short journey and an easy and cheap link between England and France. From the Alps to the cities, from golf to skiing, France has it all. Ferry operators of this route are P&O Ferries and Sea france. By searching both ferry operators we can offer you the cheapest ferry to France and also a time to suit you. To purchase tickets for any other channel crossings - Click Here
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Our most popular ferry routes here at Ferryprice.com are our English Channel Crossings, in particular the Dover Calais route. Get a Quote for any Channel Ferry Route Here. Ferryprice.com offer cheap ferry tickets for all ferry routes and specialise in channel crossings. We use all the main ferry companies that service the English Channel meaning we save you time and money.
The English Channel, known in France as La Manche (the sleeve in English) at it's shortest point is known as the Strait of Dover. At just 21 miles this particular point is very close to the route taken by Dover Calais ferries meaning your journey time is quick and easy. France is the perfect place to travel to by ferry, either on foot or with a car.
P&O Ferries is one of the largest ferry operators in Europe with a comprehensive network of routes including the famous Dover - Calais Channel Crossing. P&O Ferries currently operates a fleet of 5 multi-purpose passenger ferries and a freight only vessel. Pride of Dover and Pride of Calais, were originally ordered by Townsend Thoresen as purpose built vessels for the Dover – Calais route.Following the purchase of Townsend Thoresen during construction, they were delivered to P&O European Ferries in 1987 and began operating soon after. They were built by Schichau Unterweser in Bremen-Vegesack, Germany.
Pride of Burgundy, Pride of Canterbury and Pride of Kent were originally ordered as three of four freight carriers for the Dover – Zeebrugge route as European Causeway, European Pathway and European Highway. The Pride of Burgundy was converted mid-construction and entered service in 1993. The European Pathway, European Highway and the fourth ship, the European Seaway were completed and entered service with the Dover – Zeebrugge route. Following the closure of the Dover – Zeebrugge route in 2002, European Pathway and European Highway returned to their builders and converted to full passenger mode, eventually re-entering service as the Pride of Canterbury and the Pride of Kent. The fourth, European Seaway was transferred to the Dover – Calais route in early 2005 where she still operates as a freight-only replacement to Pride of Provence.
For Further information on P&O Ferries Click Here
SeaFrance is a French ferry company that runs ships between Calais, France and Dover, UK. SeaFrance is the only company other than P&O that offer this route between Dover and Calais, the fastest crossing possible by sea. SeaFrance currently uses its 6 ships to operate 23 round trips a day. a similar amount to P&O Ferries Dover fleet who operate 30 round trips a day on their 6 ships. Seafrance Berlioz, Seafrance Rodin and Seafrance Nord Pas-de-Calais sail five crossings from both ports each. Since the arrival of Seafrance Berlioz the three older ships (Seafrance Renoir, Seafrance Manet and Seafrance Cézanne) are used less frequently.
Sea France transports over 3 million passengers between England and France every year.
SeaFrance began operations between Dover and Calais in 1996 after the termination of a pooling agreement with Sealink (by then known as Stena Sealink Line) in 1995. The service initially began with the former Sealink vessels Fiesta and Côte d'Azur which became SeaFrance Cézanne and SeaFrance Renoir respectively after extensive refurbishments to create a distinctive French atmosphere on board.
Former Sealink train ferry Nord Pas-de-Calais became the SeaFrance Nord Pas-de-Calais and operated as a freight only ferry though SeaFrance did market the ship to passengers as a quiet ship. The three vessels were later joined by the former Stena Londoner which became the SeaFrance Monet. SeaFrance quickly became the 2nd busiest operator on the Dover - Calais route after P&O European Ferries and ahead of their former partners now known as Stena Line. In 1997 the SeaFrance Manet entered service after a 5 year charter to Stena Line for the Newhaven-Dieppe service, the ship essentially replaced the Monet which was later sold after being damaged in Calais. SeaFrance took delivery of the SeaFrance Rodin in 2001, their first new ship and the fastest Dover-Calais ferry. She was joined in 2005 by the SeaFrance Berlioz, a sister ship built at a different yard.
For more information on Sea France Click Here
Dover and Calais Port Information
Port of Dover - For Full Information - Click Here
At the Port of Dover Ferry Terminal you will find a friendly and efficient welcome. The Port of Dover has long been one of the world's premier seaports, with centuries of maritime heritage. Presented with a Royal Charter in 1606, the port is over 400 years old. Today, the experience at Dover is a singularly modern one. Driven by massive investment, state-of-the-art facilities, excellent modern transport links and award-winning customer service, the port is very much a 21st century operation.
Cars and Lorries - For motorists and lorry drivers, there's a ferry departure on average every 30 minutes when taken across all operator schedules.
Foot Passengers - Foot passenger services at the ferry terminal operate between 06.00 and 19.30 hours. Dover port aim to get you to your destination as quickly and efficiently as possible.
How to get to Dover ferry port
Dover is close to the main routes to London via the A2 and M2 motorway or by the M20 which joins the M25 and M26. The ferry terminal is well signposted from both motorways and upon arrival in Dover.
Information on the Dover Area
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the county of Kent, England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel. The town is the administrative centre of the Dover District.
Its strategic position has always been evident throughout its history: archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and leaving Britain, and this continues to this day. The town gives its name both to the surrounding chalk cliffs, which a form a gateway to the port; and to the narrow sea passage - the Straits of Dover - on which it stands. The cliffs also gave Britain its ancient name of Albion ("white").
One measure of the importance of Dover's links with France is that only a few English towns/cities have names in French different from their English names: these are Dover (Douvres), London (Londres) and Canterbury (Cantorbéry).
The Dover Harbour Board is the responsible authority for the running of the Port of Dover.
The English Channel, here at its narrowest point in the Straits of Dover, is the busiest shipping lane in the world. Ferries crossing between here and the Continent have to negotiate their way through the constant stream of shipping crossing their path. The Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme allots ships separate lanes when passing through the Strait. The Scheme is controlled by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of HM Customs, whose headquarters is at Langdon Battery in Dover
The Port of Dover is also used by cruise ship passengers, and the old Dover Marine railway station building, together with a newly built one, cater for those passengers.
The Port of Calais - For Full Information - Click Here
With nearly 50 sailings per day, the Port of Calais is an extremely busy facility providing an essential gateway for passengers travelling between France and the UK.
The ferry terminal is well equipped with passenger facilities including: dining establishments, ATMs and bureau de change facilities plus ample parking for vehicle owners.
Calais has a huge choice of shops: three hypermarkets, half a dozen supermarkets and in the town centre a variety of independent, family-run shops, as well as two colourful markets, both open on Saturdays.
While for many British visitors shopping in Calais means buying lots of cheap beer, wine and spirits at the out-of-town hypermarkets and Cite Europe shopping complex, an increasing number find shopping in the town a much more rewarding experience.
Choose from a mouth watering selection of chocolates, bread, cheese and charcuterie in specialist shops. Don’t just window shop but buy designer label clothes and lingerie in chic boutiques. Pick-up bargains of china, glass, linen, luggage, even DIY products.
Calais overlooks the Strait of Dover, the narrowest point in the English Channel, which is only 34 km (21 miles) wide here, and is the closest French town to the United Kingdom, of which Calais was a territorial possession for several centuries. The white cliffs of Dover can easily be seen on a clear day.
The city's proximity to England has made it a major port for centuries. It is the principal ferry crossing point between England and France, with the vast majority of Channel crossings being made between Dover and Calais. The French end of the Channel Tunnel is also situated in the vicinity of Calais, in Coquelles some 4 miles (6 km) to the west of the town.
How to get to Calais Port
Calais is served by both the A16 and A26 autoroutes and the ferry terminal is well signposted from both roads.
Many travellers cross beneath the English Channel using the Channel Tunnel as an alternative to. This engineering feat, first proposed in the early 19th century and finally realised in 1994, connects the UK and France by rail. It is now routine to travel between Paris, Brussels and London on the Eurostar train. Cars can also travel on special trains between Folkestone and Calais.
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