Channel Crossing

61101MIS 

Transportation

• Drive to the Port of departure  

• Crossing as foot passengers  

• Continue by coach  

Crossing Times
Portsmouth	Le Havre	6 hrs
Portsmouth	Cherbourg	5 hrs
Portsmouth	Caen	6 hrs
Portsmouth (Fast Cat)	Cherbourg	3 hrs

Driving Times
Port:		Portsmouth
London		73 miles		2 hrs
Via Salisbury: London-Stonehenge Stonehenge-Salisbury Salisbury-Portsmouth				1¾ hrs 20 mins 1¼ hrs
Port:		Ouistreham
Caen				30 mins
Port:		Cherbourg
Caen		120 kms		2 – 2½ hrs
Port:		Le Havre
Paris		200 kms		3 hrs

• The ticket for your crossing should be in your TM Packet at the beginning of your trip. It normally includes a passenger manifest, reservations for crossing, luggage trailer and on-board meal. 

• Check your ticket for time of ferry departure. Plan your trip schedule accordingly. 

• YOU MUST NORMALLY BE AT THE PORT OF DEPARTURE 90 MINS BEFORE SAILING TIME. 

– this is a requirement of the ferry operator (check advisory on ferry ticket) 

– allows time for check-in 

– the group can often be boarded ahead of other foot passengers 

• Food: Since the crossings are long, dinner (or lunch) is normally provided on board. Your trip itinerary on the day of your crossing will suggest when/where/how best to manage food other than this. It may be a case of snacking when the opportunity presents itself  

• consider pre-buying snacks for the day 

• if visiting Salisbury Cathedral en route: there is a café in the Cloisters  

• Luggage: a luggage trailer for large/heavy bags is normally reserved in advance as part of our booking. This is used for the group alone. This goes into the hold of the ferry for the duration of the crossing (no access to these bags during crossing) and is brought to the arrival terminal after docking on arrival. The group keeps their hand and small luggage with them. 

• PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED AT BOTH CHECK-IN AND AT PORT OF ARRIVAL 

NOTE: VISAS – it is the responsibility of all participants to ensure they have any required visas for all countries included in their trip. This is not normally an issue for US Passport Holders. Where a participant is travelling on a non-US Passport, check with the Group Leader that the participant has obtained the correct Visa (if required). As part of the check-in procedure, the ferry operator will check that passengers have the correct Visa for travel (where required). They can refuse to carry any passenger where the required visa conditions are not met. Where you have concerns regarding a Passport or Visa issue, contact the Area Office for advice (sooner rather than later!). 

• As you approach the Port, it is advisable to use the time on the coach to explain the check-in and embarkation procedure to the group. This will help you manage the group through these. 

DEPARTURE 

General Procedure: 

On arrival at the port unload and check the coach, tip the coach driver (see Tipping Guide). 

Lead the group into the terminal and find an area where you can all wait. Collect everyone’s passport and then you check in on behalf of the whole group at the ferry operator’s desk. 

• It is important to keep the group together in the terminal building – no wandering off!  They will have to sit around whilst you are busy checking-in. Point out toilets. (The terminal building at Portsmouth also has a kiosk that incl. snacks). Whether there is time for toilets or to buy snacks will depend on time – there can be time whilst you are checking-in but judge this for yourself and ask GL to help you by monitoring this.  

When called for embarkation, Boarding Cards will be scanned before you proceed through to the Customs Hall (this includes Security screening – luggage to be lifted on/off luggage scanners by passengers themselves). Large/heavy luggage is then loaded onto the reserved luggage trailer before you board the Port bus to be taken as foot passengers to the ferry for embarkation. 

At quayside lead the group aboard the ferry. You will normally be met by an on-board crew member/host who will lead you to an assigned lounge area and welcome you on board. 

Check-in 

• TM checks-in on behalf of group 

• Collect Passports (choose the best time for you – either on arrival inside ferry terminal or aboard the coach as you are driving to the Port) 

• Present ferry ticket (in your Trip Packet) and passenger manifest at the ferry operator’s desk.  

• Ferry check-in staff will check the reservations and check-off every person’s name against the passenger manifest (provided to ferry operator at the time the reservation was made). Passengers’ Passports will be checked in the process.  

NOTE: Where there has been a change in group participants after the reservation has been made but before commencement of the group’s trip, it is likely there will be a name discrepancy. This is not a problem. Have a group list on hand. Passenger manifest will be amended 

• You will receive individual Boarding Cards for all members of the group and (subject to the ferry operator’s procedures at the time) also meal tickets. 

• The check-in staff will arrange the luggage trailer and give you instructions about luggage procedure 

• You will be given instructions on Boarding Time for the group. (N.B. this is often ahead of general embarkation and may be at least 45 mins ahead of the scheduled sailing time)  

• Crossing from France to UK: non-EU citizens are no longer required to fill in UK Landing Cards. 

• Return to the group and distribute Boarding Cards – each person needs their own. These should be kept safe but to hand for embarkation. (These will be scanned by ferry/port staff during the embarkation procedure; once at the start as you enter the Customs Hall and again as you are about to board the ferry). 

• Where Passports are required during embarkation distribute these (normally French Ports only). If not required, you can choose the best time to distribute, which may be once on board the ferry. 

• Assemble the group for embarkation at the time required (or when called by the ferry operator) 

Embarkation: 

• Lead the group through the Customs Hall. To help with managing the group, ask a Teacher to bring up the rear. Keep group together wherever possible.  

• French Ports only: there is normally Passport Control as you enter the Customs Hall. 

• Having passed through Customs/Passport Control and Security, large/heavy luggage should be loaded onto the reserved luggage trailer. Ferry staff and trailer will be waiting for you. Once all the group’s bags are loaded, inform ferry staff. Luggage trailer will then be towed aboard the ferry. Group board’s Port bus to be taken to quayside for embarkation. Check everyone is on board! 

• At quayside, lead group up steps/escalator/ramp to ferry (advisable to avoid using lift – takes too long and group become separated). 

• Boarding Passes will normally be scanned again just before you board ferry  

• On boarding the ferry you will normally enter into the main reception area where an on-board crew member/host will meet you. 

• Groups are normally assigned a reserved group lounge for the duration of the crossing. A host will be waiting as you enter the ship in the reception area. This can often be for your sole use. Your host will inform you whether or not this is the case. 

• Your on-board host will lead you to your assigned lounge, welcome the group aboard, explain the ship’s facilities, give details of any onboard entertainments taking place during the crossing (normally of only interest are the films in the on-board cinemas – admission charged; times can conflict with meal time) 

• Check with your host the meal time and restaurant assigned to the group (there is often more than one restaurant. Group is normally assigned to the self-service restaurant but occasionally this can be ‘sit down’) 

• The group should meet you in the lounge both for your on-board meal and before disembarkation at your Port of arrival 

• Before allowing the group to disperse: 

• Set meeting time for on-board meal (e.g. 10 mins ahead of time) and for arrival at Port  

• Make any other arrangements or announcements  

• Remind group to be aware of the personal security of their belongings – even though you may have a reserved lounge, it is still a public place. 

Note: 

If no reserved lounge is provided for the group (rare), choose a suitable area of the ship as “base camp” and where everyone must meet at meeting times (any on-board meal; disembarkation). 

ON BOARD 

There are cafes, restaurants, shops, and a cinema (or 2!) as well as exterior open decks. Bureau de Change is normally available at the Purser’s Office if necessary. The group is free to explore!  

• Ship time is normally the departure-country time zone (time change at arrival Port) 

• Both EUR and GBP accepted on board.  Use cards where possible. 

• Bureau de Change rates aren’t very good so don’t change money.    

• land-based mobile phone coverage often lasts up to 30mins into open water. Once in open water, satellite-based coverage can now often be available. 

• If not already done so, often the best time to give Passports back to group. Ensure they keep them safe! 

• If you require any on-board assistance, contact the Purser’s Office. 

On-Board Meal 

Usually 3-course meal with drink included. Good quality & substantial! 

Normally it is from the self-service restaurant – choice of pre-prepared starters, desserts, drinks with hot-plate main course served on the spot by Chef. Free water and ice available in seating area. 

• Ahead of time, know which restaurant has been allocated for your meal. 

• Meet group in group lounge just ahead of meal time. Lead them to restaurant. Group eat together at the same time. 

• Where meal tickets have been provided (at Port check-in) distribute to group beforehand. 

• Where no meal tickets have been provided, each person’s meal choice will be logged by restaurant at the tills. You can assist crew by directing group to one till or ask participants to say they are part of the group and then inform crew once group is through.  

• If asked, the Purser’s Office is normally willing and able to lock your lounge for security whilst you go for your meal. 

Disembarkation 

You disembark from your lounge. As the ferry enters the Port, public announcements will be made. Wait in your lounge for your on-board host who will come to you when it is your time to disembark and will lead you to the exit.  

• Your group must return to the lounge for disembarkation. Pre-set a meeting time for everyone to meet in lounge e.g. 15 mins ahead of scheduled arrival time or as public announcements are made 

• Make sure everyone has been to the toilet before disembarkation! (saves delay exiting Port) 

• Passports needed (keep them to hand but safe. You are often amongst the last to disembark. This has its advantages – easier keeping the group together and you’ll all get on the one Port bus at quayside. 

ARRIVAL 

General Procedure: 

The reverse of embarkation. You lead the group from the ferry to quayside; board a Port bus, which will take you from quayside to the ferry terminal. You pass through Customs/Immigration where Passports are checked; collect the luggage from the luggage trailer, which will be brought to the ferry terminal building by ferry crew. 

Meet coach & coach driver, load coach and continue with your programme. 

• The order in which you do things varies slightly between French Ports and UK Portsmouth: 

OUISTREHAM PORTSMOUTH 

• Tell group to wait together in public area of terminal once they have passed through Passport Control.  

• your coach and coach driver will  be waiting immediately outside the ferry terminal 

NOTE: 

• Ouistreham 

• It is often possible for TM to hover beyond Gendarmes but within Customs Hall to watch group through 

• ATM: Soc Gen on R/H wall in the terminal’s public area after exiting Customs Hall 

• There can often be a short wait for the luggage trailer to arrive. This can be a good opportunity to have a chat with your coach driver about your programme. Leave group inside terminal. 

• Ferry crew and coach driver are usually willing to transfer the heavy bags directly from luggage trailer to coach. To ensure everyone is happy their bags are there, it is advisable to ask them to ID their own bag as it is transferred. Once ID made they can board the coach. (it is more time consuming to offload bags from luggage trailer to tarmac and group to hand their own to the coach driver) 

• TIME MAY BE AN ISSUE – if you are arriving at Port late evening and needing a prompt start (e.g. for visiting D-Day beaches), you need to be driving away from the Port without too much delay to allow coach to be parked-up at hotel and on overnight rest time (9hrs) before it’s too late in the evening (e.g. parked up by 11pm means you should be able to start 8/815am) 

• Portsmouth 

• It will probably take some time for the group to be processed by UK Immigration. UK Authorities will not allow anyone to wait inside the Customs Hall. 

• Once group have passed through Passport Control, there is a seating area at the far end of the public area by the terminal entrance/exit 

• ATM: ‘Travelex’ just after you exit Customs Hall. 

• Whilst waiting for the group to arrive through Passport Control, this is a good time to meet your coach driver and chat through your programme.  

• If your itinerary is tight, you need to have group and bags loaded onto the coach with as little delay as possible. Your departure time from the Port will give you your time marker for the remainder of the day. 

• THE TIME ZONE CHANGES AT ARRIVAL PORT  

PORT INFORMATION: 

FERRY CROSSING POINTS OF INTEREST: 

PORTSMOUTH 

• Home Port of the Royal Navy (since the time of Henry VIII) 

• HMS VICTORY – Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar can be seen set back from modern-day quayside of the Naval Dockyard (look for the masts and rigging amidst the warehousing)  

• Part of the D-Day fleet gathered in the Port and sheltered waters of the Solent, hidden by the Isle of Wight ahead of 6 June 1944 

OUISTREHAM 

• the eastern end of the D-Day landing area. As you approach (or leave) Port, the beaches you see stretching west are some of the D-Day beaches. (Sword – Juno..)