Frequently Asked Questions  0871 663
2545
Q. How do I book a
trip starting from Calais?
A. In order to make
a reservation to commence from Calais - Dover, please click here
. If
you have any further queries regarding your reservation from Calais, please
contact our Calais office on +33 (0)8 25 04 40 45 (Monday - Friday 09:00 -
18:30. Saturday 09:30 - 18:00) or +33 (0) 3 21 46 80 00 (outside office hours,
all day Sunday and Bank
Holidays).
Q. Can I take
bicycles on the ferry? How do I book this?
A. If you wish to
take your bicycle with you on your trip, please call one of our travel
consultants on 0871 663 2545. There is no extra to take a bicycle however,
please advise our travel consultant that you wish to take your bicycle as you
will need to check-in at the vehicle check-in
booths.
Q. When will I
receive my tickets?
A. We now operate
a ticketless travel system. Therefore, when you make your reservation
you will be asked to either print off your booking confirmation or make a note
of your booking reference number. On the day of travel you will be asked to
quote your booking reference at the SeaFrance vehicle
check-in.
Q. Can I just turn up at
the port and buy my ticket?
A.
Between 07:00 and 19:30 you are able to buy tickets at the SeaFrance
desk, located inside the Travel Centre. Outside of these hours you can make a
booking by using the red internal telephone marked with the SeaFrance
logo located at the front of the Travel Centre or, alternatively, if you wish to
travel on the next sailing (subject to availability) you can drive direct
to the SeaFrance vehicle check-in and purchase your ticket there.
Please note, only standard brochure rate fares are available to buy at the
port. Prices quoted over the telephone and the internet are not valid
for sale at the port.
Q. What is the procedure for
travelling with pets?
A. SeaFrance are
pleased to accept pets on its ferries. Pet tickets are charged at £25
per animal, registered guide dogs travel free. You can book your pet by
selecting the relevant drop down on the internet booking process. If you
need any assistance please call 0871 663 2545 and speak to one of our
Travel Consultants. Please note all animals must remain in the vehicle
during the crossing and are subject to the necessary documentation, vaccinations
etc. Please visit our PETS
section for more information or click here to visit the Defra
website.
Q. What is the minimum age for
children to travel unaccompanied?
A. Children aged 16 and over are permitted to travel unaccompanied on SeaFrance vessels.
Q. After entering my credit card details, another screen appears
requesting more information. Why?
A. This web site is compliant with 3D Secure credit card
technology. Depending on your card issuer, your Visa or MasterCard may
already be enrolled for the Verified-by-Visa or MasterCard SecureCode
schemes. These schemes ensure that your card cannot be misused on the
internet as it requires cardholder authentication for every transaction.
If your card is already registered, you will be redirected to your bank's
website for authentication purposes. If your card is not yet registered,
the transaction will continue as normal, however, it is possible that you will
be redirected to your card issuer's web site in order to register your card
online.
For further information on these initiatives, please click on either of
the following logos:
Q. How long before
the departure time should I check-in?
A. Vehicles should
check-in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure. Anyone
arriving at check-in after this time may be refused permission to embark.
Please note, port security and immigration checks occur prior to check-in and,
if you miss your sailing due to circumstances outside SeaFrance's control, your
reservation may be subject to a surcharge payable at the port. Please
also note, foot passengers should check-in 60 minutes and disabled passengers and groups at least 60 minutes before your scheduled departure. Passengers travelling with pets
are also requested to allow extra time.
Q. How do I make arrangements for the disabled members of my party?
A. SeaFrance makes every effort to accommodate those passengers with reduced mobility. Please indicate the number within your party who require assistance in order that we can arrange parking near to a lift if travelling in a car. If you are travelling without a car and require transport in our mobility bus please call 0871
663 2545.
Q. Does it matter that I
have a roof box or bicycles attached to my car?
A. It is not a
problem having a roof box or bicycles attached to your vehicle, however, we
do request if booking on the internet that you book it as a High
Car, or if booking by telephone, to advise your travel
consultant. There is no additional cost to taking a roof box or
bicycles unless it increases the length of your vehicle.
Q. Is there Car parking at the ports?
A. Yes, the Port of
Dover offers both short and long-stay parking available in the main multi-storey
car park located at the entrance to the Eastern docks ferry terminal. Free
parking in front of the Travel Centre is restricted to 15 minutes. For
more information including car parking prices please click here or call Dover Harbour Board on 01304
240400. The Port of Calais also offers parking facilities for its
passengers - for more information please click here
or call Calais Chambre de Commerce on +33 (0)
3 21 46 00 00.
Q. As a foot passenger, can I take luggage with me?
A.Foot passengers are permitted to travel with
luggage and, for safety and security reasons, you are requested not to
leave your luggage unattended either in the port or onboard the ferry.
Large groups are requested to call our Travel Consultants on 0871 663
2545.
Q. I have a Railpass, can I book a trip
using this from Dover?
A. The Railpass is
only valid if you travel from Calais to Dover as your outbound trip. This is not
valid if you depart from Dover as your first leg of the journey. If you wish to
make a booking using the Railpass, please call our Calais office on +33 (0)8 25
04 40 (Monday - Friday 09:00 - 18:30 Saturday 09:30 - 18:00) or +33 (0)3 21 46
80 00 (outside hours, all day Sunday and Bank Holidays).
Q. As a foot passenger, am I limited to the
times at which I can travel?
A. SeaFrance offers
its customers travelling as a foot passenger eleven crossings a day departing from Dover. Please note
the first departure from Dover for a foot passenger is 08:15 and the last departure time is 19:30. For
departures as a foot passenger from Calais, the first is 08.30 and the last is at 19.30.
Q. Is there a bus service between the ports and
train/bus stations?
A. A bus
service operates between Dover Priory train station and the Port of Dover
ferry terminal. The shuttle bus runs approximately every twenty minutes
and costs £1 per person each way. Please note the bus service starts at
07:00 and the last bus leaves the port for the train station at 23:00.
There is also a bus service in operation between the Port of Calais and Calais
Ville train station situated in the centre of Calais town. The
service runs approximately once every 60 minutes and costs
€1.50 per person each way. Please note the bus service starts at 08:00
and the last bus leaves the station for the port at 21:00.
Q. How long is the crossing
to Calais?
A. The SeaFrance
Rodin and SeaFrance Berlioz take 70 minutes to cross the
Channel while the SeaFrance Cezanne, SeaFrance Manet and SeaFrance
Renoir all take 90 minutes to cross. Please click here
for our latest sailing times.
Q. Can I change my money to Euros onboard the
ferry?
A. All of the
ferries within our fleet offer a bureau de change service
onboard.
Q. Is duty free shopping
still available onboard?
A. Alcohol
and tobacco purchased in our bars and restaurants is still available
free of duty, however, duty free shopping was abolished
within the European Union in 1999. We now offer passengers to buy alcohol,
tobacco and perfume at French duty paid prices in our shops
saving up to 40% on UK high street prices.
Q. Can I smoke onboard?
A. In the interests of passenger comfort, all public
areas of the SeaFrance fleet are non smoking. It is, however, possible to
smoke on the outside decks.
Q. Do I need a
passport to travel to
France?
A. All
persons travelling to France need to be in possession of a vaild passport.
French passport control takes place prior to check-in. For more
information, please click here
or, alternatively, you can call the French
Consulate on 020 7073 1200. Please note, not all British passports are
valid for travel to France.
Q. Where can I obtain a visa to enter France?
A. Visas must be
requested from the French Consulate in London or Edinburgh. For more
information, please click here
or call the Consulate visa line on 09065 540 700.
Please note, visas are dealt with on appointment basis only.
Q. Is travel insurance recommended?
A. We strongly
recommend that all passengers travelling to France are in possession of a
valid E111 health form available from your local post office and travel
insurance.
Q. Are there any legal requirements needed
for my car to drive in France?
A. Vehicles travelling in France are legally required to
have certain breakdown and emergency equipment stored in the vehicle. For
a list of items required, please click
here
. A range of the
necessary items is sold on board our vessels.
Q. Do you ship vehicles which run
on Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)?
A.
Vehicles converted to LPG or camper vans carrying LPG cylinders are accepted for shipment
onboard our ferries. Please note, vehicles are limited to carrying one LPG
cylinder and must isolate it during the crossing.
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