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Original poster

ferries to France , what do the children do?

10 replies

mixedbag · 05/08/2007 09:25

I have just been for a short trip to France on the fast cat ferry,(3 1/2 hours) which was quick and smooth. however there was nothing for children to do, no games rooms etc. because it is a much smaller vessel I suppose, But there were so many parents running around after bored children that I felt someone needs to come up with some ideas. Perhaps someone at Brittany ferries will read this.

OP posts:

pointydog · 05/08/2007 09:39

I don't know what the fast cat ferry is but on normal brittany ferries there is LOADS for children to do.

Maybe you just need to take stuff with you to amuse the dc, like on any other long journey. Not that hard on a ferry.

scienceteacher · 05/08/2007 09:44

We were on the Brittany Ferries Fast Cat a couple of years ago with our five kids. They were more or less happy to sit in our assigned seats, and read their comics, colouring books, chat, etc., with a few trips outside to check progress.

ISTR a small soft play area for little ones though, and a video arcade, but we didn't use these.

fruitful · 05/08/2007 09:44

Well my children want to just run around on a ferry. They're not bored, they're having a lovely time! But they do need a parent running around after them. (not me, though, I'm too busy staring fixedly at the horizon and pretending I'm not on a boat).

scienceteacher · 05/08/2007 09:48

The Fast Cat doesn't have decks running round the boat. They just have a little bit at the back, which would not be suitable for unattended children.

If the kids were to run around, they would seriously annoy the other passengers. It is basically a big space with all the seats in rows, and small aisle between the groups.

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 05/08/2007 09:52

Well, I suppose then that that is not the place for children to run around but to be entertained at their seats, as difficult as it may be, by their parents.

The above may look insane but thousands of parents manage to do it during flights.

MaloryTowersHasManners · 05/08/2007 10:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scienceteacher · 05/08/2007 10:14

We just set up expectations beforehand that they will sit quietly. This then makes trips to the snackbar and toilet extremely exciting.

When they are in France, they are well set up for sitting through 2-hour lunches without anything special for kids

wheresthehamster · 05/08/2007 10:22

They draw. They read. You filter snacks and drinks. You change seats. You have a game like 'I went to the market' or 'I spy'. You talk. You look out of the window. Then repeat from the beginning. You'll be surprised how quickly time passes.

chopster · 05/08/2007 10:24

mine were happy enuff goign for a wander and then sitting with drinks and snacks. There was a play area on ours, but it was packed so we avoided it. Also took them for a trip up to see the sea and the UK dissapearing.

Leslaki · 15/08/2007 08:17

portable dvd Player - always works!! We avoid fast cat tho due to a travel sick dd who on one famous trip to St Malo vomited over all her spares clothes, ds' spare clothes, the spare clothes another mum gave me then I had to be escorted down to the car to get even more spare clothes. NOT a fab relaxing journey! We do overnight ferry now which is far more sophisticted and avoids vomiting children!!

The proper ferries have loads for kids to do

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