This seems bad. No ferry across the Channel that takes foot passengers
 

Hello,

Our family of four was scheduled to take a P&O ferry across the Channel on the 9th of May. However, because of the strike, P&O cancelled our reservation. Our only other option is to take a DFDS ferry across, but they don't allow foot passengers. I booked us as having a bicycle, but I'm reading if we don't show up with bikes then we won't be allowed on. Is this true? If so, does that means there's no way to get across for foot passngers?

Thank you for your help,

Chris

No you can't travel Dover to Calais -- but there is Brittany Ferries. So you can travel from Plymouth to Caen, St Malo and (I think) Cherbourg)

Wow, those are so far from Dover. We're going to be staying in Kent, so those other options aren't feasible for us. I'm very surprised there aren't more options for getting across.

It also looks like I can't take the Eurotunnnel as a foot passenger. Is our only option to travel all the way back to London to take the Eurostar?

Where exactly are you trying to get to in France? Depending on ultimate destination - options could include Plymouth to France by ferry, or Eurostar train from London (Ashford is not available), or you could fly from LGW to Jersey and take a ferry from there, or you could fly from LHR to lots of places, or you could fly from LCY to Quimper . . . but you can't get from Dover to France.

(and even without the strike I would be wary of that route because of the P&O ferry mess)

Newhaven to Dieppe any use?

I'm staying in Tenterden, UK then had planned to take ferry across and then go to Amiens for one night. Then, we're on to Paris. I suppose we could skip Amiens and go straight to Paris if there's no better option. Seems like a shame to miss the countryside.

I will have a rental car that I picked up from London (which I can't return in Calais). If I'm going to take the Eurostar from St. Pancreas, any suggestion where I should return the rental car? Should I just drop it off a train station, take that train into St. Pancreas, and switch to the Eurostar?

I thought about, but AFAIK DFDS has the same policy on that route -- no foot passengers (bike is OK)

. . . Meant to add, If you are planning on taking the Eurostar, book ASAP because it is booking up even faster than normal due to the P&O mess.

It looks like you can book a car ferry trip on DFDS. Have you considered keeping your car and dropping it off outside of Paris? You might want to contact your car rental company to see what the drop off options are.

We dropped off a car in Paris on one visit and it really wasn't too difficult to do.

You could also drop the car off at a Paris airport, if you don't want to drive into Paris. The Beauvais airport is just south of Amiens and it looks like they have shuttles to the center of Paris. You could visit Amiens and then drop the car off the next day.

Driving an English car in France when I'm from the states seems a bit dangerous. What does anyone else think? Edited to add that returning in France is not an option for my rental car, so can't do that.

Seems like the best bet is to drop my rental car off in Ashford, take the train up to St. Pancreas, and then grab the Eurostar to Paris. Sounds good to everyone here?

Have you tried calling DFDS to see if they are making any exceptions due to the P&O Ferry mess? It doesn't hurt to ask!

If that won't work, I think your Plan B makes sense.

PLUS - the drop off fee for a UK (RHD) car in France is likely to be enormous

That is the simplest for sure - but first do make sure there are Eurostar seats available for your date.

ktravel I did call this morning but the offices are closed on Sundays. Glad I didn't have a reservation for tomorrow!

Everything I've read on several sites (DFDS FAQs, TA, and 2 or 3 others) states DFDS does not allow foot passengers on any UK > France route. They do on routes to other countries. Now, they may have made a temporary change due to P&O's mess with the take over, firings, strike etc. So good luck -- but I'd book Eurostar before the cheapest seats sell out. You don't mention the ages of the children but unless the kids are little the cheapest fare for a family of 4 mid-day will be close to £130 per person. If the cheap seats are gone it could be twice that.

Have you looked at buses? Look at https://www.eurolines.de/en/home/ or https://www.flixbus.co.uk/ for instance. Not as luxurious as the train but you can get one from Ashford.

I would imagine that the foot passenger problem could possibly be linked to the migrant problem.

kerouac, you could be right, but migrants have been known to get into cars, under bus wheel arches etc, I suspect it is more about lack of capacity due to the P&O disaster and DFDS just chosing the service they want to offer after COVID.

I like the bus solution, if I had to do this I'd choose that.

DFDS don't have the facility to load foot passengers. Only P&O do, but since they sacked all their employees and put unapproved foreign crews on instead they can't sail due to maritime safety issues. Nothing to do with migrants.

Why though ?
 

Why is it that a bicycle makes a difference ? Seems bizarre that they would accept a passenger with a bicycle but not one without.

In fact, I fired them a query today to see what would happen if one were to have their bike stolen prior to departure. Would they be prevented from travelling ?

Will let you guys know if they reply.

UK law identifies bicycles being ridden as a vehicle. Entry is via the vehicle ramp. Pedestrians are not allowed on the ramp. This law is at least 125 years old.

A bicycle is a vehicle.

Some of the longer crossings, such as those by Brittany ferries allow foot passengers. Portsmouth Caen for instance. Also DFDS Newhaven Dieppe allows foot passengers.

It's funny -- when I took a cargo trip in the Baltic a couple of months ago, obviously the only access on foot was by the vehicle ramp, since it was a RO-RO vessel. Used by me and the other passenger as well as the entire crew.

I geet that old laws can affect how we do things in the weirdest of ways. However, there is nothing stopping the ferry company using a bus to bring foot-passengers onboard, Stena do it all the time. Alternatively, whatever happend to gangways ?

I think the companies have little desire to cater to foot-passengers. That's what's really going on. In fact, the connections between Ireland and Britain are probably only there because of some bizarre law which requires licenced ferry companies to offer service to foot passengers as some sort of public service obligation.

Are you planning to travel as a foot passenger from Dover to Calais? Foot passengers used to board the ferry from Dover Eastern docks passenger terminal, before foot passenger travel was suspended.

Also true on the ferry Ancona/Split.

foot passengers are ok Hull to the Netherlands, it must just be an issue down near London where the money is all about get them off quick

That would seem to be the case. But I don't think it's get them off quick. Foot passengers are generally no slower at aligthing than the family of 5.

I'd imagine it's more a case of charging for lane space. If everyone booked as a foot passenger, there would be a lot of empty lane space.

Does anyone know if a kick scooter is a valid form of vehicle ?

A human powered one isn't a vehicle. An electric powered one is still illegal in the UK, and mustn't go faster than 20Km/h or be ridden on the pavement in France.

For the purposes of travelling on a ferry, in this case, a vehicle is required. And a bicycle according to a previous commenter is a vehicle under UK law.

A bicycle is a vehicle, a kick or electric scooter is not under UK law.
The UK law on electric scooters, which are currently illegal is due to change this year.
Electric scooters are also illegal in the Netherlands.

Scooters like Vespas obviously are vehicles and need insurance and a helmet and are allowed on ferries.

This thread has become fascinating.

lets add to it

a bicycle has two brakes, one for each wheel and pedals
a kick scooter does not
herein lies the magic between vehicles and non vehicles
electric scooters may have brakes but is really a motorbike, but requires MOT, insurance and number plates