Frequently Asked Questions
 0871
663 2546
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 2546. 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 recieve 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 2546 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 45
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 2546.
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 2546.
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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