Is ferry to France safe in bad weather?

[Curlewwoohoo]

Just seen there is a coastal event warning in place for the channel on Friday night when we go. It looks to be about coastal flooding. No suprise at it looks like it'll chuck it down all night. Wind is described as moderate. Still, it sounds a little scary?!

If you have a cabin and take your seasickness tablets well before you get on, you'll be all right.

You need to be either looking at the horizon or lying down. Fresh air helps but outside areas will probably be closed in a storm so don't hope for that.

Eat light meals. A light amount of food is better than an empty stomach. If you are sick, take sips of water to replace fluids.

When you get off the ferry you need some recovery time before you drive. Plan that now. A person who is seasick or drowsy from seasick tablets is not a safe driver so park up for recovery before attempting any long drives on the other side.

It will be fine.
If it is too rough they won't sail but it would have to be REALLY rough for that to happen

Worst one we ever had was coming back from our our first motorcycle touring holiday on the continent (back in the 80's).
Roscoff to Plymouth which is quite a long crossing and it was gale force the whole trip (although funnily enough we both felt fine). When we docked we got down to the car deck and could see that there was a lot of commotion but our bike was strapped to the bulkhead adjacent the ramp so we were first off and away.
Watching the local news that evening there was an item about all the cars on our ferry which had moved during the crossing and knocked into each other, there were literally dozens which had dents on all sides.

Take anti motion sickness in good time and you'll be fine. Hyoscine is the most effective medication you can buy - it's in Kwells, Joy Rides and Boots Travel Calm (Boots also do another travel sickness tablet so make sure you get the right one).

Stugeron is your friend.
We don't do the Bay of Biscay crossings @to Spain anymore as too many awful crossings but we go over to France regularly. We have a cabin so I can have a nap or lay down if I feel like it.
They will sail unless its unsafe however bad you might think the weather is.

@PrincessRhaenys it's Plymouth to Roscoff, sets off 10pm gets in at 8am local time, they're an hour ahead.

Been on some bad, bad boat trips. Its not just your family being sick, it's those being sick around you too.

Don't load up on drinks if it's going to rough to avoid the loo. Get fresh air and view of the horizon. I'm never sick but I feel it. Dd threw up before we left the Mersey. Take some nappy sacks.

But it's perfectly safe. I have been in a boat in a all day storm island hoping in Greece with waves so bad we couldn't see land in the dips. It was all grand.

Take travelsick pills a few hours before you go (some need to be taken a few hours before some 30 mins).
If you have a cabin and can lie flat you will all be fine, the motion of the boat will rock you to sleep....if the waves are very big, the rocking motion is just a little more forceful, it's still not unpleasant though!
They won't sail if it's dangerous. They may forbid entry on deck in bad weather. Sometimes they have early boarding, so you can get your head down as soon as you are on board.
It's a short night sleep, although the boat is slowed down slightly for a night crossing, they wake you up ridiculously early! Still at least it's gentle music they wake you up with, used to be a horrible loud bleep.....sounded like an abandon ship call!!

Stugeron are the best! My wrist bands were lobbed into the Irish Sea after I'd been vomiting for 6 hours straight... (I hadn't got any tablets on me!)

That’s a short hop OP, the sea isn’t too exposed and they won’t sail if there is any risk to safety. If you’d been going down to Spain I’d say you were in for a rough one but across to France it’ll be choppy but fine.

Fresh air helps if you’re feeling queasy but should be fine with sickness bands or pills unless you’re very sensitive indeed.

Another vote for Stugeron (as someone who gets seasick).

As lots have said, they won’t sail if it’s dangerous, although that doesn’t mean it will be a nice or comfortable crossing. I can see you’re going with Brittany Ferries, they frequently reschedule sailings to avoid bad weather so if they’re sailing, the captain is comfortable with the conditions.

If you want an idea of the likely conditions, the Met Office shipping forecast has a section on sea state. I like to check so I know what to expect, but on the other hand, you may want to board in blissful ignorance.

Do you have a cabin booked? If so, get the car on - as soon as you get on neck the seasickness tablets and hot foot it to your cabin. Lie down and stay there. Take a light breakfast with you so you can avoid the vomit zones and head straight to your car at the other end. If you’re noise sensitive take some ear plugs as some twat always forgets to turn their car alarm off (lock your car with the key, not the fob) and it wails away intermittently all night. Don’t forget the handbrake!
Having said that, one of my best childhood travel memories EVER was when we went for breakfast on a ferry and everyone’s breakfast fell off the table simultaneously - I was both thunderstruck and amazed at the age of 8!

Oh yes please do remember to turn your car alarm off. This year coming back on the night sailing from Ouistreham the first car alarm started going off in under a minute from the ship moving away from the quayside. (Thankfully we had a cabin on deck 9 so couldn’t hear them)

Gosh this is specific. I feel like you've seen some things! 😣