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 first aid on board and any medical professional / paramedic?

What would you think is an easier crossing, a day crossing - trying to keep your DC's occupied ? or a night crossing when you may have a broken nights sleep - being somewhere new and noisy ? - and why ?

What are the prices like on board for eating and shopping - and are they any good - or did you take your own food for the crossing ?

Are there enough seating areas if not in a cabin?

Can you bring dogs on board?

How far in advance did you need to book to secure a cabin?

What are the arrangements for travelling with a dog?

Do you have quiet spots with no bar/music for people who don't want a cabin

I always think about getting the ferry... But why. Ferry over flying?
Leanne

Great way to travel, so relaxing. The only thing that stops us sometimes is lack of time.

Does the ferry holiday price include the destination hotel price? Just wondering what ferry holiday means... do you stay on board even at the destination? And then the ferry travels back?

Did you find that it was quiet enough at night time if you did an overnight crossing with the children - having a good night's sleep is so important to us for a great start to our. holiday.

not Brittany Ferries but we recently did an overnight crossing (England - Netherlands) with children. Obviously ships and cabins vary but ours was quiet and peaceful and there was a gentle rocking motion of that boat going out but nothing coming back. I didn't sleep - this was a me issue rather than a boat issue - I am just too distracted by the noises the other three make! The other three did quite happily. I would avoid crossing with early arrivals though as you get woken up 60-90 minutes before arrival and the clocks will have gone forward so that could mean 5am (or earlier!).

thank you

Did you eat on board - if so what's the food like, and is it expensive ?

Is there a soft play area on board - and if so how did you find it ? was it clean - or would you avoid it - and why - I'd like to take my DD somewhere - but know some of these places can have poor cleanliness - tq

Is there a fast track option for the queues - if so, is it worth buying IF most travellers buy one ?

@CeriMumsnet Confused. We asked questions and were supposed to compete by 29th June. 1 week late and no answers. Watching with interest!

Hi everyone

Thanks for all your questions! We are looking forward to answering some of them over the next couple of weeks and sharing our experiences of ferry travel with children!

Rachel, Sybil and Kirsty

Hi @HobNobAddict Now that my children have reached an age where they no longer require this amenity, I didn't require it but (as a mum), I couldn't help notice that the restaurants have microwaves available for heating up baby food. Additionally, if you don't have a cabin, you can find baby changing facilities conveniently located in the play areas.

Rachel

Hi @sparkleice Despite my initial concern about my husband potentially experiencing seasickness due to his tendency to get car sick, I was relieved to discover that he was perfectly fine. The key is to embrace the experience and divert your attention away from being on the water. Once you're immersed in the activities and fully engaged, you'll hardly even notice it.

Rachel

Hi @Orchidflower1 I was truly impressed by how they surpassed my expectations, particularly considering we were travelling with two young boys. It felt as comfortable as staying in a hotel room. There are multiple options available, catering to various budgets. Opting for an overnight journey significantly alleviated the typical stress that comes with traveling alongside bored children. Additionally, having our own en suite facilities was an added bonus, allowing us to freshen up in the morning before disembarking the ferry. These are extra advantages that are typically unavailable during car or air travel. As a result, we all woke up feeling refreshed, clean, and fully prepared to kick-start our holiday!

I don't recall getting safety information onboard but check the documentation you receive when booking.

Rachel

Hi @Cotswoldmama Our overnight journey commenced from the UK at 20:15 PM, and we reached France at 8:15 AM. Although it may seem like a considerable duration, the beauty of this trip is that you can enjoy a full night's sleep while travelling. Waking up at your destination is an added advantage. This experience has completely revolutionised my perspective on travelling with children in the future. It was incredibly convenient, particularly for someone like me who grapples with travel anxiety. I can honestly say that the impact was barely noticeable. And the best part... I didn't feel exhausted from the journey, which is something that has never happened before.

Rachel

Hi @Adropofink After getting on board, we enjoyed dinner at the main restaurant and then put the kids to bed, to my surprise, my children slept soundly until our arrival in France. In fact, I had to coax them out of bed eventually! I won't deny that you can feel some movement on a ferry sailing through waves, but I was pleasantly surprised by how remarkably gentle it was. My husband and I even found ourselves missing it the following night! It turned out to be quite a relaxing experience.

Rachel

Hi @Lambhenry Pack an overnight bag containing a spare set of clothes to account for the messiness that often accompanies children. With the convenience of being able to shower and arrive at your destination feeling refreshed, having a fresh outfit on hand will make the entire experience feel as though you've just stepped out of your own home.

Rachel