We tried every way to cross the Channel from Dover to Calais

Given that we at Ferrygogo provide advice on all routes and crossings, we feel it’s our duty to personally test them from time to time. There are four different options for crossing from Dover to Calais .

On a single trip, we tested every Dover to Calais crossing: P&O Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries, and the Eurotunnel. From speed and comfort to cost and experience, we break down the pros and cons to help you choose the best way to cross the Channel.

In this review, we share our experiences. You'll find insights into Dover and Calais's ferry routes and their differences.

The crossing between Dover and Calais is one of the busiest in the world. Here, you can choose three ferry operators or the faster Eurotunnel, which offers both a car shuttle and a passenger train service.

Curious about the differences between these travel options, we decided to try them all ourselves. Based on our experiences, we aim to help you choose between the train and the ferry to France and provide insight into which service offers the best experience.

But let’s not forget about the costs!

How much did we pay for a one-way crossing for two people and a car?

• P&O Ferries: £77
• Irish Ferries: £81
• DFDS: £84
• Eurotunnel Shuttle: £145

Day 1: Our experience with the Eurotunnel

Early in the morning, we set off by car to travel to Dover via the Eurotunnel. Although the Eurotunnel was nearly £60 more expensive than the ferry services, the journey takes just 35 minutes, significantly shorter than the 90-minute ferry crossings.

However, check-in and border control waiting times are similar for both options – you must arrive at least an hour before. It’s advisable to allow extra time on busy holiday periods to avoid delays.

Estimated travel time, including check-in

• Ferries: Just over 2.5 hours
• Eurotunnel Shuttle: 1 hour 35 minutes

As we arrived well ahead of time, the friendly check-in staff kindly offered us an earlier train – a pleasant bonus!

After a brief stop to look around the terminal, we continued towards UK border control, which is located in France. There, we were politely questioned about why we were travelling back and forth between France and England so frequently.

Once we showed them the website you’re currently reading (Ferrygogo!) and explained our reason for travelling, they understood, and we were free to go!

Time to board!

Just before driving onto the train, you wait in a designated holding area where you can use the toilets and vending machines. Boarding is a unique and enjoyable experience as you carefully drive into the carriages and park in your assigned spot.

Once on board, you can leave your car to stretch your legs or use the toilet.

After just over half an hour, you arrive in Folkestone or Calais if you’re travelling in the opposite direction, as many of our readers likely will be. The speed of the journey is awe-inspiring. From Folkestone, it’s just a 10-minute drive southwest to Dover.

Are you curious to see what the train crossing looks like? Watch our video of the Channel Tunnel, where we travel from France to the UK by car train!

Convinced by the Eurotunnel? You can book your tickets via Direct Ferries .

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Day 1: Arriving in England

Once in England, you drive off the train and continue your journey. We didn’t have much time to take in England, though, as we headed straight to Dover’s ferry terminal to check in for our P&O Ferries crossing to Calais!

Day 1: Our experience with P&O Ferries

From Folkestone, we drove to Dover to take a P&O Ferries crossing back to France. And to be honest – we were thoroughly impressed.

P&O operates this route with two modern ships, the P&O Pioneer and its sister ship, the P&O Liberté (pictured). We sailed on the P&O Pioneer and were struck by how well everything was organised on board. There was plenty of seating, both indoors and outdoors, as well as several options for food and drinks.

The large glass façade in the centre of the ship gives it a spacious feel while offering stunning views throughout the journey. The outdoor areas were also a highlight, featuring comfortable seating and a windscreen – though we would have liked to see a traditional railing.

Outstanding hospitality: We were particularly impressed by the crew's friendliness. When we wanted to take photos of technically off-limits areas, the staff happily accommodated our request, making the experience even more enjoyable.

This warm and welcoming attitude was a common theme across all our crossings. We experienced the same friendly and accommodating service with DFDS and Irish Ferries, making each journey all the more pleasant.

Check current prices for P&O Ferries

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Day 1: Arrival in Calais

Arriving in Calais is a straightforward and efficient process. You are immediately directed onto the motorway, ensuring a seamless onward journey. This provides a gentle reintroduction to driving on the right-hand side for British travellers.

If you’d like to visit Calais city centre, you must take a short detour. However, most travellers continue straight to their final destination in France or elsewhere in Europe.

Overnight stay in Calais.

To ensure a well-rested start for the next day’s journey, we spent the night in Calais. To our surprise, the evening atmosphere in the city was livelier than expected. Plenty of restaurants and cosy pubs attract a nice mix of French and British visitors.

We stayed at Hotel Meurice , which we chose for the following reasons:

• Good parking facilities right in front of the hotel (with a garage option available)
• Central location in the historic part of Calais
• A charming bar inside the hotel

The hotel itself is simple but comfortable and affordable – perfect for a good night’s rest before continuing our journey. We set off again the following day, this time with Irish Ferries, heading back to the UK!

Day 2: Our experience with Irish Ferries

We set off early morning to catch the Irish Ferries crossing. After the usual check-in wait, we boarded the Isle of Innisfree (the photo above was taken the day before).

The Isle of Innisfree is an older ferry, significantly older than P&O’s M.S. Pioneer, which added a certain charm.

However, the interior and catering felt outdated, and food and drink prices were noticeably higher than on P&O and DFDS. Additionally, the sanitary facilities were poorly maintained, leaving room for improvement.

Fortunately, the friendly staff made up for a lot. Additionally, the various outdoor decks provided plenty of space to enjoy the crossing, making the experience pleasant. Of course, we were lucky to have beautiful weather, which certainly added to the enjoyment!

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Day 2: Arrival by ferry in Dover

Arriving in Dover by ferry is spectacular, offering stunning views of the iconic White Cliffs. Be sure to head to the deck to take it all in as you approach the coast!

Dover’s port is smaller and more compact than Calais, making it feel a bit chaotic during busy periods. The infrastructure around the port isn’t ideal, so you might experience delays when arriving or departing on peak days.

Fortunately, our experience was fairly smooth. After disembarking, we quickly turned around in Dover town centre before heading to DFDS check-in for our next crossing.

Day 2: Our experience with DFDS

Our final crossing was with DFDS . At first glance, the renovated interior of the ferry was neat and well-maintained, though not as impressive as what we had experienced with P&O.

The ferry was pretty busy, creating a lively holiday atmosphere. However, comfort was somewhat lacking, as we struggled to find genuinely comfortable seating, partly due to how crowded it was.

One downside was the lack of outdoor seating. No benches or chairs were on the deck, which felt like a missed opportunity. Many passengers ended up sitting on the floor, proving that there was a demand for outdoor seating during the crossing.

The DFDS ferry had a more functional, public-transport-like feel, whereas Irish Ferries and P&O offered more of an experience.

That said, DFDS did serve the best coffee of the three – though, to be fair, this was more a reflection of the even lower quality of coffee on the other crossings!

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How would we travel between Dover and Calais next time? Ferry or Eurotunnel?

The key question when choosing between the ferry and the Eurotunnel is whether you think the higher price of the Eurotunnel is worth the time saved. For us, the answer was yes and no.

For short trips and business travel, the train is an attractive option. The speed is ideal when you only have a few days and don’t want to waste time. Plus, the extra cost is easier to justify if you’re travelling with multiple passengers, as the price is per vehicle. Another bonus is that you don’t need to spend money on ferry catering, which can add up quickly.

That said, Eurotunnel fares can rise significantly during peak departure times. Want to see if this applies to your trip? You can compare Eurotunnel and ferry prices in the Direct Ferries booking module .

We prefer the ferry as the more relaxing and enjoyable option for longer journeys. Since check-in times for both options are comparable (at least one hour before departure), the time saved by the Eurotunnel becomes less significant on a long trip. Additionally, the ferry provides a welcome break if you’ve already been driving for hours – you can stretch your legs, enjoy some fresh air on deck, grab a meal, and make the crossing a fun part of the journey!

If you choose the ferry, should you travel with P&O, DFDS, or Irish Ferries?

For a 1.5-hour crossing, we would generally choose based on the lowest price – it’s a short journey, after all. However, our experience with P&O Ferries on the Calais-Dover route was so enjoyable that we’d be happy to pay more.

Personally, if I were travelling with my family next time, I wouldn’t hesitate to pay £10 extra to sail with P&O instead of another operator. That said, it’s a personal choice, and everyone has to decide what suits them best. In our case, we didn’t even need to ask the question, as P&O Ferries also turned out to be the most affordable option.

Check current prices for P&O Ferries

What we paid:

• P&O Ferries: £77
• Irish Ferries: £81
• DFDS: £84
• Eurotunnel Shuttle: £145

Final thoughts

One blog isn’t enough to fully summarise the ferry services and the Eurotunnel, but we hope this has given you some useful insights. We also hope you enjoy reading about our ferry experiences across the Ferrygogo websites.
Wishing you a great trip! And if you have any questions, feel free to ask!