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Original poster

To go Portsmouth-Caen rather than Dover-Calais in July?

35 replies

tourdefrance · 03/06/2026 12:14

We have 2 weeks booked in accommodation in South East France in late July but not yet booked the ferry.
Seeing all the stories of huge queues at Dover we are considering going via Portsmouth instead. We live in the Midlands so would need to get the 2.30pm boat and stay in Caen when we arrive.
We did this a couple of years ago and it was fine.
Has anyone experienced passport control at Caen since the new rules came in?
Could we just end up in a long queue in France instead of in the UK?

OP posts:
user1494050295 · 04/06/2026 20:36

tourdefrance · 03/06/2026 17:02

I hadn't considered that option, thanks. Which company is that?

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We used new haven to dieppe last year. Really good. Not too long a wait and a smooth crossing too

Original poster
tourdefrance · 04/06/2026 20:33

I don't really like the tunnel as you don't get a proper break like you do on a ferry.
Will look at Newhaven - Dieppe route.
Has anyone actually done Portsmouth - Caen recently and can report what the border controls are like?

OP posts:
TheDogsMother · 03/06/2026 18:19

tourdefrance · 03/06/2026 17:02

I hadn't considered that option, thanks. Which company is that?

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It’s with DFDS

Strandas · 03/06/2026 17:04

I’d take the tunnel, it’s much quicker and you can drive straight off.

Original poster
tourdefrance · 03/06/2026 17:04

Distance from French port to final destination is actually very close because of doing a dog's leg around Paris. But Britanny ferries much more expensive than P&O.

OP posts:
Original poster
tourdefrance · 03/06/2026 17:02

TheDogsMother · 03/06/2026 12:29

It will add a bit to your journey if you are staying in SE France. I like that crossing but have you thought about Newhaven - Dieppe we’ve recently used this one and no issues at all.

I hadn't considered that option, thanks. Which company is that?

OP posts:
Solmum1964 · 03/06/2026 12:41

TheDogsMother · 03/06/2026 12:29

It will add a bit to your journey if you are staying in SE France. I like that crossing but have you thought about Newhaven - Dieppe we’ve recently used this one and no issues at all.

Very pleased to hear that as we're going Newhaven - Dieppe later this month as we're staying in Normandy.
In the past we've gone Eurotunnel (very early) to try to avoid too many hold ups before driving to the Alps or Pyrenees (stopping overnight half way) but we're lucky that we can now avoid school holidays.

TheDogsMother · 03/06/2026 12:29

It will add a bit to your journey if you are staying in SE France. I like that crossing but have you thought about Newhaven - Dieppe we’ve recently used this one and no issues at all.

Gardeningsideeffects · 03/06/2026 12:22

I realise this doesn't help you Re passport stuff tho.

Gardeningsideeffects · 03/06/2026 12:22

I have done this trip and we stayed in Caen (reverse journey).

We loved the town and have been meaning to go back for years!

The journey worked well for us.