Share your questions about ferry travel with expert Mums - £200 voucher to be won

[CeriMumsnet]

Are you going on holiday by ferry this summer? Perhaps you’ve never taken your family away by ferry but you’re keen to find out more?

Mums Rachel, Kirsty and Sybil have all just returned from different Brittany Ferries trips with their families and they’re here to help! Whether it’s choosing the destination, what to pack, how to keep kids entertained or what the onboard facilities are like, share your questions on all aspects of the experience for our expert Mums to answer.

• Everyone who shares a question on the thread below by 29 June will be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice
• Our experts will be back online in a few weeks to answer some of your questions

Here’s what Brittany Ferries has to say:
“Brittany Ferries is an award winning Ferry Travel and holiday company who are experts in Western Europe, and winners of the Best Travel Company for Family Holidays at the 2022 British Travel Awards, voted by consumers. We offer a choice of routes from UK and Ireland to France and Spain that save you miles of driving, avoids airport queues and delays, and offers award winning on board service with space and comfort, ensuring you are on holiday from the moment you drive aboard. ”

About our experts
Family 1 - Rachel
Rachel travelled with her husband and two children (aged 3 and 1) on the Portsmouth to Caen route.

Family 2 – Kirsty
Kirsty travelled with her Mum and two children (aged 3 and 6 months) on the Rosslare to Bilbao route

Family 3 - Sybil
Sybil travelled with her cousin and two children (aged 4 and 1) on the Portsmouth to Santander route.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ
Insight T&Cs apply

Is there a facility to heat food ?

How likely am I to get seasick? And what can i do to prevent it? (Andfor little ones)

What is accessibility like for children in wheelchairs?

What are the overnight facilities like?

What safety information do you get.

Wow some of those are quite long trips how long did they take, where there any areas that were more quite and private for kids to wind down and sleep or did you have to book some sort of cabin?

How long before your holiday would you book your place on the boat, and do you need to book your car and cabin at the same time - go get a better slot on board - is it better sooner - or later if the price may drop and unallocated cabins maybe cheaper - what's your experience ?

Did the kids actually get any sleep?! We’re planning an overnight ferry with cabin with 6 and 9 year olds. I’m a little worried we won’t actually get them to sleep! How stable does the boat feel when you’re in bed, can you feel it moving?

Name your one must-have thing to take on-board overnight with young children?

How easy is it to find a first aider on board - and do you know how well equipped a ferry is for medical treatment

This is what I'd ask !

Also, are the cabins en suite and do they have a shower?

What entertainment is there for 0-5 yr olds?

Do you provide a kettle/drinks making facilities in your cabins? We were surprised not to have one when travelling with P&O, but have had one when travelling to British islands with other companies (spot the tea addict!).

Is it really worth the cost and time involved compared with flying? Or getting Dover Calais ferry and having an extra drive if you want your car.

what are the travel cots like - and would you recommend taking one ?

Are there any routes from Dover?

Is there tea/coffee making facilities in the cabins? Especially the Rosslare to Bilbao route as we’re possibly going that way in September.

Are there any decent shops on board - just in case we forget something - and what are they like, also is there a duty free, and what are the prices like ?

I'd love to do the Portsmouth to Santander route but it seems so long.
Did it feel difficult with young dcs?
How did you spend your time on board?

My DS is going on a ferry for a school trip for quite a few hours. I’d like to know how common it is to feel seasick as the couple of times I went on a ferry for more than an hour I felt sick as a dog. I’m trying to work out whether to send him with travel sickness pills.

Have you had experience of the De luxe and club 4 plus cabin - I'd love to try one - but not sure it's worth the extra

Did you eat in any of the restaurants on board - if so what were they like ? is the menu good ?

How long was your wait at customs - at each end off the trip please ?

We are thinking about doing this with a 6m and 2y old.

Did you find much to do with them on the boat? How does it compare to flying? Any challenges that you faced that you would have tips for dealing with?

This has just given me a great idea for a summer trip. What is the cabin set up like for travelling with two teenagers? I used to love the ferry on childhood holidays.

The sea safari cruise also
look amazing.