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Quote: Originally posted by xtinexoop on 16/9/2009

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I wonder if once you are 'in' you can turn around and go 'out' again (back through passport control) and then come 'in again...

At the end of the day you are in Europe so you shouldn't have to show your passport anyway...


Christine

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Christine

Can't speak for Calais but had to do that at Dover once and it was quite a complicated process going through sets of locked gates.

David

Hi we did the same thing this summer the difference being they wanted to charge us to go on the earlier ferry. We parked up found out like you that there was nothing to do  for 3 hours so we decided to go and pay the extra money to go on an earlier ferry. It turns out that the charge is the checkin persons descretion as the 2nd time we checked in they didn't charge us anything and it was only 20 mins later????

If you haven't checked in and got your lane no you should just be able to drive out   go through passport control again when you are ready.

Hope that makes sense

Jo

Quote: Originally posted by craigh21 on 17/9/2009

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It turns out that the charge is the checkin persons descretion as the 2nd time we checked in they didn't charge us anything and it was only 20 mins later????

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 we allways phone up the ferry companies before hand to check if there is any space on a early boat .Many times we have missed a boat one year it was two lol we have never been charged (or payed before hand for that extra cover for cancellations).A nice phone call has  always worked wonders for us .We always travel in the height of the season.due to the kids.For the life of me i cant remember the name of the beach we park up to wait its like the back entrance of the port .Saves that dreaded wait on the tarmac.Sitting in Mcdonalds in Calais is better than that.

At the Dover end we've always got on the next available boat after arriving at the port - one time three hours before our due sailing, and once (held up by a traffic accident) four hours late, without paying extra.  This time, with Norfolk Lines, we had booked a midnight ferry but arrived in time for, and were put on, the 9.30.  At the other end, (in the past) both in Boulogne, and in Calais, we've had to wait for our booked ferry, and one time when we missed the SeaFrance crossing we had to wait four hours until the next crossing 'in our price band'.  We weren't given the option of paying extra, nor could we have done because in those days we didn't have a sou left at the end of the holiday!

These days I suppose we always book the same times - ie around 11.00 pm to midnight outwards, and 10.00 am home - so we're used to the timings for the return crossing.  We always spend our last night at Gandspette so that we're 'handy' for the crossing and don't have to make an early start or worry about not getting to the port in time.  This time David did go into the Norfolk Lines building at Dunkerque which was very near to the lanes where you queue for the boat, and wasn't impressed!

   Hi all.

 If after you have driven through the check and are unable to get on the boat.

Tell he check in girl you are going out for a meal, then turn sharp right, you will see a pair of gates that allows you to rejoin the motorway and get into Calais or wherever you want

Quote: Originally posted by latecamper on 18/9/2009

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Arrived too early at Dunkerque this July and they said we would have to pay extra to go on the next ferry. Didn't want to do that. We had already gone through passport control but they just said turn left and follow the exit signs and come back in a few hours when you won't have to pay the extra. No problem.

If it had been less than a couple of hours we would have stayed cos as Kabbes says there is a place to have a drink and sit and watch the port which is quite interesting anyway.

Not been via Calais for yonks, can't remember it atall.

Belinda

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