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. And as it happens, there are four different options for crossing from Dover to Calais.
On a single trip, we put every Dover to Calais crossing to the test: 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 the ferry routes between Dover and Calais – along with 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 itself takes just 35 minutes, significantly shorter than the 90-minute ferry crossings.
However, check-in and border control waiting times are quite similar for both options – you need to arrive at least an hour in advance. On busy holiday periods, it’s even advisable to allow some extra time 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 have a 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 provided a bit of explanation, they understood our reason for travelling, 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’re free to 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 truly impressive. From Folkestone, it’s just a 10-minute drive southwest to Dover.
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 ↗.
Day 1: Arriving in England
Once in England, you simply 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 on 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 personally liked to see a traditional railing as well.
Outstanding hospitality: we were particularly impressed by the friendliness of the crew. When we wanted to take photos of areas that were technically off-limits, the staff happily accommodated our request, making the experience even more enjoyable.
This warm and welcoming attitude turned out to be 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 ↗
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. For British travellers, this provides a gentle reintroduction to driving on the right-hand side.
If you’d like to visit Calais city centre, you’ll need to 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. There are plenty of restaurants and cosy pubs, attracting 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. The next morning, we set off again, this time with Irish Ferries, heading back to the UK!
Day 2: Our Experience with Irish Ferries
We set off early in the 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 aged compared to P&O’s M.S. Pioneer, which in itself 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 not as well maintained, which left 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, which ultimately made the experience pleasant. Of course, we were lucky to have beautiful weather, which certainly added to the enjoyment!
Day 2: Arrival by ferry in Dover
Arriving in Dover by ferry is truly spectacular, offering stunning views of the iconic White Cliffs. Be sure to head to the deck as you approach the coast to take it all in!
Dover’s port is smaller and more compact than Calais, which can make it feel a bit chaotic during busy periods. The infrastructure around the port isn’t ideal, so on peak days, you might experience some delays when arriving or departing.
Fortunately, our experience was fairly smooth. After disembarking, we made a quick turnaround 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 fairly busy, creating a lively holiday atmosphere. However, comfort was somewhat lacking, as we struggled to find truly comfortable seating – though this was partly due to how crowded it was.
One downside was the lack of outdoor seating. There were no benches or chairs 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 a bit 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!
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 ↗.
For longer journeys, we prefer the ferry as the more relaxing and enjoyable option. 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 a bit more for it.
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 really enough to fully summarise both 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!
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