Can you tell me about car ferries?

[Seagullandclouds]

DH wants to go to the Western Isles (Harris or similar) and take the car. His idea being that we’ll enjoy the trip, and if so do similar to go to Isle of White, over to Ireland etc.

The idea slightly freaks me out, but I can’t find out much about the process of taking a ferry. In my head it’s a smallish boat with about 20 cars 😅and you just sit around and wait, but I see from the pictures that they are big!

So, can anyone tell me a bit more about what they are like? Any tips or tricks? How do you load your car on (I’m worried it will be like a really tight car park). How do you get from your car to the rest of the boat? Is there anything to do? How bad is it for getting seasick? Anything you would recommend for passing the time? Anything you wouldn’t do?

You’re over thinking it! You usually get told while line to line up in with your car then you drive on to the ferry via a ramp, as easy as driving on a road, then you’re on the ferry. Then you can get out of your car and go upstairs (via stairs or a lift) where you can get a hot drink and there’s some seats (depending where you’re going and how big the ferry is). On the ferries I’ve been on, you’re not allowed to stay in your car.

You’ll be fine! It’s easy and really isn’t a big deal.

You follow the loading directions of the ground staff and loaders on the ship. It can be very tight.

There are stairs (or maybe a lift) to get from car deck to passenger decks if needed.

They’re much bigger than you would expect. Driving on them is a piece of piss and you’ll have someone directing you to exactly where to park. It’s like car jenga. Also the Isle of Wight ferry is scandalously expensive.

I get sick on the longer ones so take a kwells and that really helps.

Leave your car alarm unset, otherwise it may keep going off.

If your car has a motion-sensitive car alarm, turn it off before you leave the car otherwise it'll be going off for the whole trip.

Also once you leave your car you probably won't be allowed back to the car deck until the end so make sure you take everything with you that you'll need.

We took the ferry from Oban across to one of the islands in April.The ferries themselves are like cross channel ones.You book,arrive,are guided onto the boat and shown where to park ( think of a garage) then there are steps up to the upper decks where there afe plenty of seating areas plus a cafeteria.You can sit outside or walk around the deck too if you wish.Have a look at the Caledonia McBrayne website-they operate all the ferries in Scotland.

Parking on them is similar to parking in a multi-story car park- easier than the old multi-stories where the turns are very tight. You are told exactly where to park. Once parked, you get out and go to the nearest staircase to go up to the upper decks. There you will find an overpriced restaurant, various seating areas and toilets etc. You can go out onto the outside deck areas and sit on benches to watch the sea go by.

When you arrive, they call passengers in groups to go back to their cars. The staircases can be a bit crowded. Then you follow everyone else off the boat.

You might get seasick on a rough crossing. I find sitting outside helps.

Thank you. These are all really helpful! I actually travel both internationally and regionally loads for work, but have never been on a ferry.

So, getting on the ferry we get in a lane and follow the instructions.

Good call on the car alarm.

If we’re not allowed back to the car then I assume it would be sensible to have a small rucksack each with things for they journey, like hand luggage on the plane.

I’ll get some Kwells.

Caledonian Macbrayne have lots of different size ferries. The one that goes from Oban to Craignure on Mull is like the cross channel ferries where you park up , leave your car and go up to the upper decks . However the one that goes from Lochaline to Fishnish (on Mull) has an open car deck where you can sit in your car.
The staff guide you on and off.

Also put your handbrake on. You'd think that would be obvious but....

Be prepared to be in the pre-loading car park for an age. Definitely have some entertainment and snacks planned for that as there are pretty much no facilities available pre-loading.

It might be a very long drive to the port. Think about getting a Hop Scotch ticket - so start at the top of the Western Isles and work your way down. You will be a ferry pro by the end!

Make sure you take everything out of the car you need, as once you leave the car you can't get back down to the car deck until it is time to get off.

I hadn’t even thought as far ahead as what happens at the other end, so thanks for adding that 😁

And it makes me feel less silly hearing about the one to mull with the car deck. I think maybe I had heard someone talk about that one before, which might be where my confusion came in with seeing how big they are in the photos.

They usually make you park half an inch away from the next car but you get very directed.
They are shockingly expensive.
I enjoy a wee snack on them.

Ferries are great and the people tell you what to do it's all fine.i was worried the first time as taking dogs but it was totally fine.they vary in size so have a look at the exact ferry on line,the company show videos etc if each ferry.on the Ireland crossing for instance the swift is quick but a squeezy car deck so I much prefer the Ulysses which is enormous.the website and videos will tell you all you need to know it's all very helpful.yes take a bag when you leave your car and relax,they are brilliant like a mini cruise,the French crossings have a pool.

The one on the north of the Isle of Bute lasts for about four minutes and is very tiny.

i am starting to get excited rather than nervous now 😊

There's a great BBC Scotland docu-series called Island Crossing it follows the ferry operators for Caledonian MacBrayne. It's entertaining but also shows the full process and some behind the scenes stuff on the ferries. You'll get it on iPlayer.

Think the old easyjet series Airline, but for boats.

You just drive on and off in pretty much a straight line. You do have to stop close to the next car but there's no parallel parking or tight turns or reversing round corners or anything. It's dead easy.

If you're sailing the Stornoway to Ullapool route...take sea sickness pills. We went in a storm but apparently it's always rough. We saw dolphins swimming alongside which was lovely.

It’s brilliant! I got one last year and it was the most relaxing holiday I have ever had. The holiday started the minute we drove on the ferry. It was huge and we had a lovely time.

I hope you enjoy it too.

Scottish ferries are brilliant, although they're a novelty in that we don't do them that much. The littlest was between the mainland and Skye.

Really, don't sweat it - roll on and roll off. The ferry guys are really helpful and patient with tourists too.

If you do take the ferry to Ireland, make sure you turn your phone to airplane mode. If not, then once you are in international waters you get charged a fortune.

The ones we've been on are not like car parks at all - it is more like a motorway when the traffic is totally stopped. There aren't car parking spaces, just lanes. You drive up to the back of the car in front (leave enough room for them to access their boot) and stop. Sometimes an attendant will come and direct you how close to get.