Most travel days don’t feel like part of the trip. They’re the in-between — something to get through. Early alarms, airport queues, plastic seats, overpriced sandwiches. So when I booked a ferry crossing with P&O Ferries from Dover to Calais, I didn’t expect much. I thought it would be just functional — get from A to B and move on.
But it turned out to be the opposite. It was calm, surprisingly comfortable, and felt more like the soft beginning of a holiday than a step in transit.
No rush, no sprinting
I drove to Dover with time to spare. Check-in was straightforward. No lines curling around the building, no complicated security. P&O Ferries had everything clearly marked, and I didn’t feel like I needed a travel degree to figure out where to go.
The car boarding process was smoother than expected — someone waved me forward, scanned my ticket, and pointed me into position. Ten minutes later, I was heading up the stairs toward the main deck.
The ship didn’t feel like a terminal
I expected plastic chairs and vending machines. What I got was a space that felt more like a lounge café. The interior was clean, bright, and quiet. Families found booths, couples found quiet corners, and solo travelers had room to stretch out with a coffee.
The journey takes about 90 minutes, but I never watched the clock. I found a window seat, got a tea, and pulled out my book. The sea was calm and the coast slowly drifted away. It was one of the few travel days where I didn’t check my phone every five minutes.
Food wasn’t an afterthought
I didn’t expect to enjoy a meal onboard, but P&O Ferries had a few decent options. The café area served basics — sandwiches, hot food, drinks — but it was freshly made and reasonably priced. There was even real cutlery.
What I appreciated:
- The coffee was strong enough to feel like a break, not just filler
- Seating didn’t feel crammed
- Staff were polite but not overly chatty — helpful when needed
No one rushed you. You could sit with a tray for an hour, and no one blinked.
The space made it easier to relax
There were several areas to choose from. You could stay in the main café or move toward quieter seating further back. I walked around a bit, and each section had a slightly different mood.
What stood out:
- A family area with soft seating for kids
- Lounge-style seats with USB ports
- Clean bathrooms (much cleaner than most airport equivalents)
- Outdoor decks if you wanted sea air and open space
I didn’t realize how much I needed that fresh air until I stepped outside and watched the cliffs shrink behind us. There were no loud announcements, no queues, no stress.
The crossing felt short but full
Before I knew it, Calais was coming into view. Disembarkation was quick. I was back in my car within minutes and on the road without delays. The difference from flying was immediate. No baggage claim, no long halls, no waiting in a tunnel full of people.
It felt like skipping the usual stress and starting fresh.
I’d take this over flying again
For a short trip to France or anywhere nearby, P&O Ferries gave me something flying rarely does — a bit of peace. No one herded me around, nothing felt rushed, and everything was where it needed to be.
It didn’t feel like travel. It felt like a soft start to the break I was already craving.
Travel days don’t have to be stressful, and P&O Ferries reminded me of that. The Dover to Calais route wasn’t just a way to get there — it became a calm pause between daily life and holiday mode. I’ll be taking the ferry again. Not just because it’s easy, but because it gave me back something I didn’t know I missed: time to slow down.
