The ferry opens the door to great motorhome trips: islands, or crossing to other countries while saving kilometres. But boarding a camper has its own particular logistics. Here's everything you need to know to do it without stress.
Booking: the sooner, the better
Spaces for large vehicles are limited and sell out, especially in high season. Book ahead, stating the real dimensions of your motorhome (length and height) correctly: the price of the ticket depends on them, and declaring them wrong can cause problems when boarding. Measure your vehicle properly before you book.
The price
The ticket is calculated based on the vehicle's dimensions (above all its length) and the passengers. Motorhomes, because of their size, pay more than a car. Comparing operators, dates and offers helps; overnight crossings can be good value (you save a night's accommodation). [Note: fares and conditions vary by operator and route — check the current terms directly.]
Before and during boarding
- Arrive at the port with plenty of time to spare: boarding large vehicles takes a while.
- Documents to hand: ticket, vehicle documents and personal ID.
- Gas: many operators require cylinders to be closed off (and sometimes sealed); check their rules.
- Follow the crew's instructions for manoeuvring and parking on the car deck; space is tight.
During the crossing
- You can't access the car deck during the crossing on most ferries: take everything you need (and pets, following the rules) before heading up on deck.
- There's no hook-up on the car deck: your fridge will run on the battery throughout the crossing, so arrive with the installation ready to go (use the calculator).
- Long crossings: consider a cabin so you can rest.
In short
Crossing by ferry opens up great trips (islands, other countries), but it requires booking early with the real dimensions, arriving with time to spare and knowing the rules (gas, access to the car deck). The step you can take today: measure your camper properly, book ahead stating the correct dimensions, and prepare the battery for the crossing (there's no hook-up on the car deck); with that, you'll board without stress.