Motorhome Ferry Routes to Europe

Last Autumn, I boarded a ferry in Santander Spain, bound for Portsmouth. With me, was my trusty Hymer and we were on our way home from a six-month motorhome tour.

What Motorhome Ferry Routes got to Europe? There are several options on ferry travel for motorhomes and camper vans to and from the United Kingdom to Spain, France, Ireland, The Netherlands, and the Channel Islands, as well as between many Scottish islands. Finding the best ticket price can be an art form.

My ferry trip with the Hymer from Spain to the UK took just over 24 hours and for me, was the longest ferry trip I have taken with a motorhome. There are shorter routes to mainland Europe, but it really depends on your destination goals. Let’s take a look at the options.

Taking a Motorhome on a Ferry

It is time to take that well-earned trip to France, Spain, Ireland, the Isle of Mann, or to one of the outlying islands of Scotland.

Most ferries accept motorhomes and their passengers, taking you easily across the water to your chosen destination.

In simple terms, it is a matter of booking online or on the phone and off you go. Sometimes it can be a little more complicated.

Ferries vary vastly in size and facilities. On a small island ferry, you may be able to stay with your motorhome or campervan. On any larger ferry, the vehicle decks are sealed off and you are unable to be with your motorhome at all.

Some of the larger ferries where the crossing takes a fair time, offer cabins for relaxation and sleeping. With the largest ferry to Santander, it is a requirement to book and pay for a cabin for all passengers. On other ferries, there are no cabins, so it is a question of finding a spot in the lounges to call your own for the trip.

Booking Motorhome Ferry Tickets

You can book directly with the ferry company, but this isn’t always the cheapest option.

Some clubs offer discounted ferry tickets, as do several online brokers, where you may find a better deal.

When you book, you will be asked for the length of your motorhome. Make sure you include any bicycle rack, even if folded. If you underquote the length to save a few pounds, it is possible that the ferry operator will charge you a significant amount extra when they check-in your vehicle.

If you are towing a trailer or a car on an A-frame, you may need to book your tickets by phone rather than online.

Online booking with a credit or debit card will work for most people and an electronic ticket will arrive by email. If you are able to print your ticket, then do so, but keep or transfer the email confirmation to your phone for safety.

Checking in a Motorhome on a Ferry

Each port will be different.

On arrival, you will need to show your ticket and will then be directed to passport control or security if you are traveling abroad. All passengers will need to present their passports for checking. Some ports may have two passport controls, one for each country. This is the case at the Channel tunnel.

Pet passports will need to be checked and you can expect an inspection to make sure your gas is turned off.

You will usually be given a ticket to hang on your rear-view mirror or place it in the front window, but this isn’t always the case, as each port works differently.

You will then be directed to the pre-boarding parking area and guided to a specific lane to park and wait. Some ports may have basic facilities such as a cafe, toilets, and a duty-free shop. At others there may be nothing at all – but, unlike car drivers, you have all the luxuries of a motorhome during your wait.

If you are several hours early and parked in the boarding area, you may be able to leave and walk into town. This is true at Santander, where there is a gate to leave and return to the port. Here you will need to take your boarding card and passport. At other ports, once you are parked – that’s it.

Can I Stay Overnight at Ferry Port if I Arrive Early?

Sometimes. A few ports allow you to park and sleep, but these can change and will depend on the time your ferry is due to leave.

It may be better to stay close by the port. For instance, not too far from the port at Portsmouth, there is free parking at Port Solent, where there are also restaurants and a cinema. The Aire near Canterbury is about half an hour from Dover and Folkestone.

Can I Leave the Gas Fridge on When Using a Ferry?

No, absolutely not. At some point during the check-in, it is likely that your motorhome will be inspected by port officials, and you will need to show that the gas is turned off.

This is for the safety of all, so don’t be tempted to sneak the gas back on after the inspection. This will be both against the terms and conditions of travel and could, quite frankly, kill someone if there are faults and explosions.

What is There to do on a Motorhome Ferry?

Some trips are very short, so just take some time to watch the water and relax.

On longer trips, for instance, Portsmouth to Santander, there are restaurants and cafes. There are generally bars where you can buy a range of drinks, remembering that the driver does need to be under the drink-drive limit in your destination country.

The large ferry on the Santander route has a small cinema and you might win a prize or two at a bingo session!

Remember, on many ferry trips, you are unable to access your motorhome.

Mobile Phones and Wi-fi on Ferries

Larger ferries may offer a wi-fi connection, generally at a cost.

Once out of sight of land, don’t expect a signal on your phone. It is always amusing to watch people, generally younger travelers, wondering why their phone won’t work in the middle of the Bay of Biscay.

As you near land in France or Spain, you will start to pick up the local mobile phone services. Make sure that you know what your home provider offers in the way of use abroad, to avoid coming home to a huge bill running into hundreds of pounds.

Ferry Routes to and from the United Kingdom for Motorhomes

There are plenty of places to go and different routes to choose from. Here are the main ones from the UK to and from France, Spain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, The Netherlands, and the Channel Islands. Here is a researched selection of the routes.

9 Motorhome Ferry Routes to and From France

Dover – Calais
Dover – Dunkirk
Newhaven – Dieppe
Plymouth – Rostoff
Poole – Cherbourg
Portsmouth – Caen
Portsmouth – Cherbourg
Portsmouth – Le Harve
Portsmouth – St. Malo

Motorhome Ferry Routes to and From Spain

Plymouth – Santander
Portsmouth – Bilbao
Portsmouth – Santander

7 Motorhome Ferry Routes to and From Ireland

Cork – Rostoff
Cork – Santander
Douglas – Belfast
Douglas – Dublin
Fishguard – Rosslare
Hollyhead – Dublin
Liverpool – Belfast

Motorhome Routes to The Netherlands

Harwich – The Hook
Newcastle – Amsterdam

Motorhome Routes to the Isle of Man

Birkenhead – Douglas
Heysham – Douglas
Liverpool – Douglas
Belfast – Douglas
Dublin – Douglas

7 Motorhome Routes to the Channel Islands

Jersey – Guernsey
Poole – Guernsey
Poole – Jersey
Portsmouth – Guernsey
Portsmouth – Jersey
St. Malo – Jersey
St. Malo – Guernsey

Not all routes run year-round and not every ferry can carry motorhomes.