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Dare we risk it! We have booked Dover Calais with Ferrysavers.com on P&O - we may/may not have our eldest son who still cant decide if he is coming with us + we are considering changing the return Calais Dover crossing from 1100 hrs to 0630 on a Saturday - several colleagues are advising us just to turn up at the time we want to return and that normally we could just get on the next return ferry - not to amend now and incurr amendment fees just incase out son does not join us and we miss the earlier ferry anyway. Has anyone done this and are we taking a risk?

they charged us last time we arrived very early.  when I queried it, they explained that up to so many hours (can't remember now how many - but they will tell you if you phone them) either side of the booked crossing, they cancel what you have booked, and re-book you on the next available ferry, at the price on the day !!  This could be very different from the early booking price that you got.  Then, on top of that, they charge an amendment fee.

Michael

Thanks - very useful information - Michael - was that the Dover to Calais crossing that you were charged or on the return?

Hi Nicky

They now charge you if you turn up at a different time than stated on your ticket.if you turn up about 2 hours either side of your stated time they might not charge you .If you have a late night crossing and turn up at peak time the charge can be up to £200 as i was charged last year.If you change your time well in advance there will be no charge and if you turn up at dover with 1 less person they will just amend your ticket, but it is best to check first.

gary1

calais/dover

Michael

I have also been charged to get on an earlier ferry. £25 with P&O and the same with Sea France. It seems to be the luck of the draw because we have also been allowed on earlier ferrys with the same companies in the past. We stick to Norfolk Line now. They are cheap and cheerful and because we are 300 miles from Dover we like to set off really early to make allowances for holdups and we always get on earlier ferries with them with no charge. Even when you turn up the day before as we did once in France when OH was ill.

Carol

Generally we have been put on an earlier ferry but in 2004 we arrived at Calais 2 hours early and they wanted to charge us some rediculous extra fee so we waited. If you are very early it might be worth parking rather than going directly to the check in booth. Go instead to the booking hall where you might get a better reception. The trouble is once you have been refused at the booth the main reception is unlikely to over rule that decision.

David

Obviously seems to be more of a problem on the French side!

David

Have crossed Dover - Calais every summer for the last 5 years and don't think we have ever turned up on time. always early, one time about 12 hours early as the weather forecast was horrendous for the last day and set off the night before. Travel from Leeds to the Dordogne and we always say you can never tell what the traffic will be like over such a long distance. Have never been charged any extra. once we were told it would be £50 extra but said we didn't want to pay that and we would wait and they let us on the next ferry anyway. I would definitely risk it.

By the way booked for July and P&O wanted £100 - booked through SAGA (no you don't have to be over 50) and it has cost us £50. Same crossing times and even the booking pages look identical to P & O booking pages and the rules and regs are exactly the same.