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Hi, we have booked 4.40 am ferry on Friday, 13th August (leaving Scotland after work about 2.pm on the Thursday).  It may be that we can both get the Thursday off which means we could start travelling down to Dover about 4 am on the Thursday arriving at Dover about 3 on the Thursday afternoon.  Rather than hang about we would like to get straight across (perhaps a t-time crossing) and do a bit of driving in France before stopping somewhere for the night.  What are our chances of getting on ferry so early - any idea what the charges might be?

We only used P&O once and did our usual arrive 3 hours early as we always do with Norfolk Line. Norfolk Line never charge a penny but P&O wanted £40 to put us on the next boat. We declined and were given a pass to hang in the windscreen to get us out of the port. There is nowhere to park up if you dont want to pay for the next ferry. We spent a couple of hours parked up by the marina. You could ring them and ask.

Carol

Go for it feeblecat. I would pay that for an extra day in france. Have a good holiday.

Carol

our experience of P & O has been ok.  First year we came home a day early due to sunburn and was allowed on no problems and no extra charge.  Other occasions we have been about 3 hours early (difficult to sometimes gauge travelling times from Yorkshire) to be allowed on without extra charge but warned that next time we would be charged, so it seems like there is no definitive answer.  I'd go for the extra day, would go now if I could lol

We've never been a day early, but have been a couple of hours early, and four or five hours late, without problems, on both Norfolk Line, and P and O (and previously Seafrance and others!).

If you choose to amend, in advance, then generally you do pay a standard amendment fee, plus the difference in the cost of the ferry you want to travel on compared to the cost of the one you've paid for.  On very rare occasions this can be cheaper - we got a refund in 2007 when we had to amend our booking (done through the Caravan Club) and the new crossings were cheaper than the crossings we'd booked.

I think you should be fine at Baie de la Somme at that time.  You should get a place in the caravan/motorhome area at the far end, which is the nicest bit, and head off early.  Thursday night shouldn't be a problem.

We're worrying this time because we're having to travel over the peak 'return' weekend for the French - so it will be intesting to see how we go on!