A ferry ticket is not one product. It is a combination of decisions: passenger or vehicle, seat or cabin, catering included or not, peak or off-peak crossing.
Getting these decisions right before you buy determines both your experience on board and your total cost.
The Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk routes carry over 11 million vehicles per year. Two main operators serve the crossing:
DFDS: Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk
P&O Ferries: Dover to Calais
| Ticket | What it Covers | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Foot passenger | One person, no vehicle | £15 to £35 |
| Car + driver | One vehicle and driver | £30 to £90 |
| Car + driver + passengers | Vehicle and up to 9 people | £45 to £115 |
| Car + cabin | Vehicle, driver and overnight cabin | Not applicable on Channel; day crossings only |
The Channel crossing takes 90 minutes (Calais) or 2 hours (Dunkirk). Cabins are not available on these short routes.
Book 4 to 8 weeks ahead for the cheapest rates. Summer and school holiday prices are significantly higher than off-peak.
The Eurotunnel (Le Shuttle) carries vehicles through the Channel Tunnel in 35 minutes. It is faster and more reliable in bad weather than the ferry. Prices start from £70 per car return. For the time saving and weather reliability, it is worth comparing against ferry prices before booking.
Enter your departure port, destination port and travel date to get a complete journey plan including ferry schedules, onward connections and total travel time. Works for cross-channel, Scandinavian, Greek island and Mediterranean routes.
Plan Ferry JourneyCalculate Ferry FareThe DFDS and Tallink Silja overnight ferries connecting Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Germany are among Europe's best-value travel options. The ticket covers transport and accommodation in one.
| Cabin Type | Description | Indicative Price (Stockholm to Helsinki) |
|---|---|---|
| Seat | Reclining seat; no cabin | €40 to €60 |
| 4-berth inside cabin | No window; basic facilities | €70 to €110 per person |
| 2-berth outside cabin | Window; private bathroom | €110 to €180 per person |
| Deluxe cabin | Larger room; sea view | €180 to €280 per person |
The 2-berth outside cabin is the sweet spot. You get a private space with a window and bathroom, arrive refreshed and avoid paying for a hotel night.
Book direct at dfds.com, tallinksilja.com or directferries.com for comparison.
The Greek island network connects Piraeus (Athens port) to over 100 islands. The main operators are Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways and Seajets.
| Class | Description | Indicative Price (Piraeus to Santorini) |
|---|---|---|
| Deck class | Open deck or indoor seating; no berth | €35 to €45 |
| Aircraft seat | Reclining seat inside | €45 to €60 |
| 4-berth cabin | Shared cabin | €65 to €90 per person |
| 2-berth cabin | Private cabin | €90 to €140 per person |
For daytime crossings under four hours, deck class is adequate and saves money. For overnight crossings (Piraeus to Rhodes takes 12 to 16 hours), a cabin provides a genuine quality advantage.
Book at ferryscanner.com or ferryhopper.com for price comparison across operators on the same route.
Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines all have extensive island ferry networks. Speed boats are faster but more expensive and have a less consistent safety record than regular ferries.
Regular ferries between these three islands take 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the route. Speed boats take 45 to 90 minutes.
| Option | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Regular ferry | 2 to 3 hours | THB 200 to 350 |
| Speed boat | 45 to 90 minutes | THB 500 to 800 |
For day trippers with flexible schedules, regular ferries are the sensible choice. For travellers with tight connections to onward trains or flights, speed boats justify the higher price.
Book at 12go.asia or directly at piers on the day. Ferry bookings rarely sell out outside of major Thai holidays.