Channel Crossing – Portsmouth

General Notes

• Drive to the port of departure.
• Cross as foot passengers.
• Continue by coach on arrival.
• Tickets are included in your Trip Manager packet (with manifest, reservations, luggage trailer, and on-board meal).
• Check the ticket for ferry departure time and plan accordingly.
• Arrive at the port 90 minutes before sailing (check-in, boarding, and early boarding for groups).
• Passports are required at check-in and arrival.
• Participants are responsible for required visas (non-US passports may need additional checks).

Crossing Times

From	To	Time
Portsmouth	Le Havre	6 hrs
Portsmouth	Cherbourg	5 hrs
Portsmouth	Caen	6 hrs
Portsmouth (Fast Cat)	Cherbourg	3 hrs

Driving Times

• Portsmouth – London: 73 miles / 2 hrs
• London → Stonehenge: 1¾ hrs
• Stonehenge → Salisbury: 20 mins
• Salisbury → Portsmouth: 1¼ hrs
• Ouistreham → Caen: 30 mins
• Cherbourg → Caen: 120 km / 2–2½ hrs
• Le Havre → Paris: 200 km / 3 hrs

Food & Luggage

• Meals (lunch/dinner) usually provided on board. Plan snacks in advance.
• Luggage trailer for large/heavy bags is pre-reserved. These are stored in the ferry hold (no access during crossing).
• Group keeps hand/small luggage with them.

Departure Procedure

• Unload and check coach; tip the driver.
• Keep the group together in the terminal. Collect passports for group check-in.
• Check-in includes presenting tickets, manifest, and passports. Name discrepancies can be amended.
• Receive boarding cards (and meal tickets if applicable).
• Large luggage loaded onto trailer before boarding port bus.
• Group boards ferry as foot passengers and is escorted to a reserved lounge.

On Board

• Cafés, restaurants, shops, cinemas, open decks available.
• Meals: usually 3-course in self-service restaurant (starters, mains, desserts, drink).
• Meeting times for meals and disembarkation should be set in advance.
• Reserved group lounge is typical—remind group to keep belongings secure.
• Bureau de Change is available but with poor rates. EUR and GBP accepted.
• Mobile coverage lasts ~30 mins offshore; then satellite signal is possible.

Disembarkation & Arrival

• Meet in lounge before arrival; host will escort the group off the ferry.
• Customs and passport checks at terminal.
• Collect luggage from trailer (often brought to terminal or directly to coach).
• Coach and driver will be waiting outside terminal.
• Ensure bags are identified before loading onto the coach.
• Time is critical if arriving late and continuing to visits (e.g., D-Day beaches).

Port Notes

Portsmouth

• Home Port of the Royal Navy.
• HMS Victory (Nelson’s flagship at Trafalgar) visible at the Naval Dockyard.
• Part of the D-Day fleet assembled here in 1944.
• Expect delays at UK Immigration.
• ATM: Travelex after Customs Hall exit.

Ouistreham

• Eastern end of D-Day landing area (Sword and Juno beaches visible).
• ATM: Société Générale inside terminal public area.
• Luggage trailer may take time to arrive—use time to brief with coach driver.
• Important to depart promptly in evening to allow driver rest hours.

Cherbourg & Le Havre

Procedures similar to Portsmouth and Ouistreham: Customs, Passport Control, luggage trailer retrieval, and coach pickup.