3 Ways to Reduce Sensory overload On A Ferry

Travel Tips for Quiet, Anxious and Neurodiverse families.

Ferry crossings can be exciting, but also overwhelming. Especially for neurodiverse travellers. This isn’t how you want your holiday to start or finish. To help avoid this, here are 3 tips to reduce sensory overload on a ferry and ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible.

Tip 1: Choose The Quietest Sailing Time

If possible, book an early morning or mid-week crossing. These tend to be less busy, with shorter queues and quieter onboard environments.

It’s worth calling the ferry operator helpline as well to ask which sailings are the quietest.

Tip 2: Create a Personal Calm Kit

To help reduce sensory overload on the ferry be sure to pack a calm kit.

This can include items like noise cancelling headphones, sunglasses and a favourite calming toy or stim. Even a hoodie can help create a bubble of calm in busy spaces.

Also, it is worth letting your children help create their own calming kit as choice brings confidence.

Tip 3: Know your quiet spaces

Many ferries have quieter lounges or family rooms away from the main dinning and busy areas.

Before you travel, look up the deck plan on the operators website (if available), or ask the staff as you board to locate these areas. Just knowing where they are can help lower anxeity.

Also, if you haven’t already and your budget allows, then we strongly recommend you get a cabin to provide you with that safe space should you need it.

You may also want to check on Youtube for videos showing how boarding works for that operator and what to expect. This can help manage yours and your children’s expectations and be prepared.

Find the Best ferry for your needs

If you are still searching for the best cross channel ferry to meet your families specific needs then be sure to check out our Cross Channel Ferry Finder tool.

We’ve developed this tool to enable you to search for cross channel ferry based on needs rather than just date or locations. For example, you can search for ferry’s that offer cabins, or night crossings or that have an autism or neurodiverse policy to support travellers.

Give it go and let us know how you get on.

Join The Travelbetter Community

Travelbetter is here to help quiet, anxious and neurodiverse families travel more and worry less. Making long lasting, happy memories, one quiet trip at a time.

To gain early access to our tips and tools, and crucially help us shape the future capabilities of Travelbetter, sign up and join the Travelbetter community today. Simply use the form at the bottom of this post.

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