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?

Yes - agree with this. Turn off roaming on your phone. It doesn't have to be airplane mode. Once you're on land most EU countries have roaming arrangements with UK mobile companies but if you remember roaming charges in the 00s, international waters still charge like that and your phone doesn't differentiate so you will end up with a bill.

Calmac aren't expensive, their tariffs are government set and very cheap compared to other ferry companies.

The loading staff are great and will direct you exactly, as PP said you only drive in a straight line and they'll show you when to stop so you're close enough to the car in front.

The macaroni cheese on Calmac ferries is very much loved by the regular travellers.

Probably not as important one the shorter Scotland ferries, but make sure you don't leave interior lights on (the car decks can be dark) otherwise you get the embarrassment of having to be jump started by the staff while everyone waits...

(Overnight ferry to the Netherlands!)

The directions couldn’t be clearer - you can’t go wrong. I didn’t know about the alarm thing my first time and had to phone someone to find out what to do.

If you are coming to Harris (and do! It’s the best place in the world!) you need to book a fair way ahead and make sure you have accommodation booked as it’s got a lot busier in recent years.

But you will have a fantastic time!

Quicker drive/longer ferry on Ullapool to Stornoway (our usual route)
Longer and slower drive/shorter and calmer crossing Uig (Skye) to Tarbert.

I did a road trip right around the outer Hebrides which involved several car ferries, it's great fun. You just follow directions for it all...there are staff who usher you into the correct waiting lane at the ferry port then they tell you when to drive on and where to put your car. They sort it all. Then you leave your car and go up on to the ferry. Some ferries are small some are big, depends on the crossing.

Then when on the ferry when you are nearing the destination port, the tannoy announces when you have to go back down to your car. You sit in your car with the engine off until the staff indicate it is time for you to drive off, and that's it.

You can also take your own food and drink on board, if you don't want to pay on the ferry.

Although I do remember years ago going to Coll or Jura or somewhere small everyone who’d already parked stood on deck and watched the cars which had to be reversed into place, and one poor man took about three goes, and then one of the staff told him to get out and did it for him. I would have died of shame.

Handy tips.

1. Buy your fuel at one of the supermarkets on the mainland before you set sail. Fuel is generally more expensive on the islands, as they have to factor in the cost of bringing the fuel over from the mainland.
2. Buy a hopscotch ticket if you are doing more than one island.
3. If you do Iona you have to travel across Mull.

A few years ago on the overnight boat from Rottadam to Hull, it was a maxed out car deck. Turns out the last few cars have to reverse onto that aswell... up a spiral ramp! I was very appreciative we were in the disabled area so had boarded a lot earlier despite running late.

That is true. The last time I was on a ferry my car's parking sensors were going nuts. I thought I was going to park in the car in front's boot.

The Cal Mac ferries have been a bit of a disaster the last few years. No practical advice apart from be prepared to have your journey cancelled at very short notice.

If you enjoy your crossing to Skye, you might also enjoy the ferry from Aberdeen to Shetland. I’m told it’s quite an experience….

These tips are really handy to know. I'm off to Orkney this summer and have had to book ferries. I like to know what I need to do in advance and managed to find some videos on YouTube that show the person checking in and driving on board. I wonder if there'd be some for your journey...

Calmac's Scottish breakfast is wonderful value. Reflux permitting, it's what I have to start the long trek back to London after visiting my Mum. I once saw Robbie Coltrane demolishing a huge plateful.

"The littlest was between the mainland and Skye."

Isn't there a bridge for that one?

"I'm off to Orkney this summer "

Enjoy! It's fab. BUT when my travel sick partner and I took the car ferry back, he has NEVER been sicker on any form of transport. It was rough. The ship's captain took two goes to get the damn boat in the harbour (which frankly didn't help.)

Anyone prone to seasickness, take pills!

Isle of Wight. You have 3 options Wightlink Portsmouth to Ryde or Lymington to Yarmouth (both about 30 minutes), Red Funnel Southampton to East Cowes (about 1 hour).

The Lymington route is the prettiest, going to the Needles side of the Island. You can get from 1 side of the island to the other in about an hour once you're there. Driving round the back of the Island along the Military Road from Yarmouth to Ventnor, Shanklin and then Ryde is one of the prettiest coastal drives you can do.

Southampton to Cowes is the most practical trip as it takes you to the heart of the Island. Red Funnel has both car ferries and the Red Jet passenger ferries. You only need to book the car ferries.

You could take the hovercraft (no cars) from Portsmouth to Ryde as an alternative to the 3 car ferry routes.

I think the easiest car ferry is Lymington to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight (and I last used this on Thursday!). It’s very easy to find, the staff are great and so helpful, they guide you through everything. It’s exactly the same process as, say, a cross Channel ferry except no passport control or customs. Park where they tell you to, go upstairs, do the crossing, go back to your car when they tell you to, drive off. It’s a great starter ferry.

Yes. But Skye is a big island and there are still ferries from the southern tip

Unless the hire-car-insured driver has been so sick he's unable to move. (See my PP). Then you wait for a lovely lady to say "Is that your car the clearly irritated captain on the tannoy is asking to get moved off the car deck? Would you like to give me the keys and you get that bloke off the ship?" Then you decide if she looks like she'll nick the hire car and give her the keys. The car will be left on the quay with the keys on the front seat.

One of my best 'kindness of strangers' stories.

I did not know that! Ta. 😀

oh, they are not!! They are heavily subsidised. We got the ferry from Oban to Mull with a big car in May this year for £57 return. The car was £16 each way for a journey of over an hour!! How is that expensive? And 3 adults were £4 each…

Calmac did have big problems with a shortage of ferries: seems OK at present but don't leave booking till the last minute. A previous post has mentioned the excellent macaroni cheese! If you simply can't work out how to disable your car alarm, just don't lock the car (because then the alarm isn't set). Perfectly safe: no access to the car deck while sailing, and you'd take your handbag to the passenger lounge with you anyway. Driving on when boarding: just watch the loaders' hands as they indicate what you should do: easier than you'd expect. EXCEPT if you choose Orkney, the inter-island ferries are very small and you have to reverse down a slope onto the Rousay ferry, and I couldn't actually even see the loading ramp in my rearview mirror. Gulp. Have fun!