Travelling with kids is generally considered a nightmare. The question is, which is less of a night mare; Ferries or Aeroplanes?
I was really nervous of trying a Ferry out considering the disaster of the Costa Concordia and that last time that I went on a school trip and puked the whole way.
I’ve had my share of aeroplane disasters though with an engine blowing up, wheel falling off, dropping a couple of hundred feet, and trying to get off a dangerous plane and past the men with guns.
It’s not that which really stresses me though. It’s memories of being a teenager with two disabled parents who steadfastly refused help, but took a LONG TIME to get through the airport, so I was constantly panicking that we wouldn’t make it to the plane. (No one told me that once you are booked in they can’t leave without you!).
I basically freak from the moment we set off to the airport and don’t settle until we are on the plane.
Now that I have kids I freak all the way through the plane journey until we land as well.
That’s a lot of freaking!
So the ferry seemed like a really good idea. But there was hardly any information about it for a control freak like me and I had no idea how it would work.
It’s really easy though: just a pile of different queues. You arrive and queue in the right place for your trip. You can even get out and go to the main building, but I don’t recommend it as several people were caught out as the queues moved. Then you get put in a queue for your car shape and size. Then you started to queue up to go on the boat, where you park in a queue.
Remember the level and letter of where you are though!!!!!!!
We had a bag ready to take with us, and off you go up to your cabin and the ferry. Wander around for a few hours. Then leave your cabin half an hour before the end and head back to the right staircase for your car. Pop in your car as soon as the automatic door opens, and depending on where your car is, you’re off!
Pro’s to Plane:
Quicker (the ferry was 6hrs).
Heathrow/Luton/Gatwick are nearer to us.
Can go further away than just France, Spain or Holland.
You don’t get scared shitless by having to walk around the outside of the plane with your two kids!
I have puked on a plane, but less often than on a Ferry.
Quicker to go to nearby places.
Pro’s to Ferry:
No need to park the car.
No limit (apart from size of car) on how much stuff you could take: So we had wind break, Boogie board and Radio Flyer!
Less faffing around at the airport.
No waiting for suitcases afterwards.
More shops.
Things to do on board: Cinema, Soft play, Magician, Dinosaur show.
Choice of food (3 different places)
More space: you can even have a cabin with bunk beds that come down from the roof, which was fab.
Kind of the same for each:
Price: You can probably find cheaper options of both.
Customs was quick for us, but slow for one of our friends.
Both journeys can take up pretty much a whole day.
On the way out I would have said that I’ve come away a lot keener on ferry trips and didn’t puke once (I had some homeopathic pills).
From talking to other people, it’s better to go on the slow ferry than the fast one if you are prone to puking!
HOWEVER, on the way back it wasn’t rough but it was ‘choppy’ apparently. Well, whichever the way the ‘chop’ was going I was bed ridden for the whole trip and the big hairy northern one tried to brave it out, but because he’d walked around for longer, ended up feeling sick for hours after as well. You DEFINITELY need a cabin when travelling with kids.
For the sea sickness I tried homeopathic pills, ginger biscuits and in the past have used those pressure bracelet things. Basically the only thing that helped was keeping my head low and then having some bitter lemon when we left (I had some in my bag, because the bubbles and sugar seem to help me). When we got home I had a pack of crisps; I might like healthy eating, but crisps work a treat for me when I feel sick!
Here are all my other posts about Siblu:
An adventure in Normandy: my official review of Domainne De Litteau
What would have happened if Germany had won WW2: a review of the american Omaha cemetery
How to go on holiday with more than 2 children and not pay a fortune: One of the key benefits of Siblu
Disclosure: I was given a return trip from Portsmouth to Caen with Brittany Ferries as part of a review trip I was doing on Siblu Holidays.
If it wasn’t for the stormy crossing last year I would have really enjoyed the ferry! However, I have yet to take the girls on a plane as I’m to chicken, and not a great flier myself! Maybe next year though ;-/ Eeek x
I was a great flier despite the guns, forced landings and engine fires – but it’s very tricky with kids! Stick to the chunnel or ferry!
Good article – thanks for sharing it. However, seriously for Northern / Atlantic coast France it’s hard to beat the Chunnel for price, speed and ease of use. French autoroutes are easy to drive on. Ferries cost a lot more and we always seem to spend another €100 / €150 in food / sweets etc… Any further than the middle of France and air line and car hire start to look good. Our boyz have been flying since they were 6 mths old so planes hold no mystery for them – I fly on business a lot and just hate the hurry up and wait process of air travel. 🙂
Thank you so much for your info BarryD – I think you are right, we’ll go for the chunnel next time.
I get seasick walking over a puddle so I can’t travel on a ferry without seasick tablets – called Stugeron here and Nautamine in France. Two just before we board, two before bedtime and two when I wake up (we do the crossing from Rosslare to Roscoff) and I’m happy as a clam, even in gale force winds so bad that the truckers go to bed early…
If I ever set foot on a ferry again, and tbh I still think I prefer it to a plane for ease with little kids, then I’m soooooo going to get me some stugeron! Thank you Babaduck!!!