Ferry Travel – A Guide for Neurodiverse Families

From our own lived experience as a Neurodiverse family we have found Ferry Travel to be a great option. However, it is not without its challenges.

In this guide, we will explain why ferry travel works for us, and can hopefully work for you, and also provide some tips to help overcome some of the challenges of ferry travel for a neurodiverse family.

Not every Neurodiverse family is the same

Before we get into this guide I want to provide the obvious disclaimer to the content.

We know very well that not all Neurodiverse people and families are the same.

Interests, challenges and needs vary considerably between us all and as a result the information and tips in this guide may not work for you.

However, they will hopefully provide some ideas that you might be able to expand on or develop to find what will work for you.

Additionally, our reasons for finding ferry travel a good option may not work for you either.

I won’t hide from the fact that we are creating this guide very much on our own lived experience and then, with additional research, working to apply it to a wider audience.

All in the hope that it resonates with, and works for, as many people as possible to help them explore more and worry less.

But, we know it won’t work for everyone and if that is you then sorry for taking up your time and I truly hope you can find your guide out there somewhere.

Why Ferry Travel is a Good Option for Neurodiverse Families

Slower pace

The world often feels like a very hectic, fast paced, place.

An everyday environment that leads to increased anxiety and stress, forces a million decisions on us every day, and appears to be quick to judge us on our choices.

So, when it comes to travel we firmly believe that you need to take it a slower and especially as a Neurodiverse family.

We have left our tick list travel days behind us and now look for options that will provide great experiences but at a casual and slow pace.

Removing the anxiety and stress, allowing every family member time to regulate and relax into the adventure.

Ferry travel very much delivers on this.

Ferry travel is a slow process that allows you time to relax and start your adventure in the right way.

Even if you are crossing the channel in 90 minutes from Dover to Calais you still have time to sit, enjoy some food, and start to relax.

Conversely, air travel is great for covering long distances quickly, but the experience always feels stressful and that you need to move at a fast pace – get through check in, get through security, get to the gate, get through another security lane etc etc.

Don’t get me wrong, air travel has its place and it is great for opening up the world. But, if you want a relaxing start to your adventures then Ferry Travel is the (slow) way to go.

You have Space to move around

Ferries are large, certainly larger than a plane or train. As a result, a ferry comes with many spaces for you and your family to move around when you need to.

This can be shops to browse around, large corridors to more in, or outside decks to walk around while enjoying the views, fresh air and hopefully some sunshine.

What this provides is a chance for kids and adults to burn off some of that nervous anxious energy that may be building up and means no one has to just “sit still” for hours on end.

Being able to walk around a ferry also provides an opportunity for a little novelty which can be great for those individuals with ADHD .

Cabins and other quiet space opportunities

Now, you can get a cabin on a plane. But, to do this you need to spend a mind bending amount of money and for all the luxuries of a cabin on a plane they are still quite small.

By Comparison, on a ferry you have lots of cabin options, they are a reasonable size – ok, still not huge but can hold a family of four, and they are at a price that make is accessible for the majority of travellers.

Crucially, the cabin on a ferry will provide you with a safe space. A space where you can largely shut out the noise of the ferry, other people, and relax. Possibly even get some sleep.

Additionally, cabins come with their own toilets and showers which again can remove a large source of stress. Especially, in those times when the stress of travel is causing tummy problems.

Larger range of food options – including bring your own

Most ferries will offer a range of eating options from quick snacks to a 3 course meal. Therefore, you will hopefully have a good chance of meeting the majority of peoples food needs when travelling on a ferry.

Also, one of the other food advantages for a neurodiverse family with ferry travel is that you can largely take your own food and drink on board.

You may find some restrictions for meat and dairy products, but you can load up with the kids and your favourite and safe snacks and food.

As a result, a large part of the stress around food that can accompany neurodiverse travel is reduced, and maybe even removed.

You can take a pet with you

For a lot of neurdiverse families they can find a lot of comfort in a furry companion such as a support dog.

One of the great things about modern ferry travel is that you can take you dog or other pet with you.

In fact, a number of ferry operators have specialist cabins for travelling with dogs and dedicated areas to walk them onboard.

Being able to take your dog or pet with you can provide a much needed additional level of support, while also removing the stress of leaving them behind and worrying about them.

You can take support items with you onboard

If you can carry it, you can take it onboard.

Unlike an air plane where your hand luggage is restricted by weight and size, with ferry travel you have no such restrictions.

Basically, if you can carry it safely then you can take it onboard with you.

This is incredibly useful as it allows you the freedom to take whatever support items you need. For example, a pillow, cuddly toy, tablets or other devices.

Plus, if you get a cabin, you then have a convenient place to store these items when they are not required and to charge your tablets and other devices.

Flexible Ticket Options

Plans change, often at short notice and especially if you find yourself facing into an autistic shutdown or similar challenges. Believe me, we know.

One great aspect about ferry travel is that you have options for flexible ticketing which allows you to alter your plans and avoid significant costs.

Find out more about flexible ferry ticket options.

The challenges of Ferry Travel and how to prepare for them

It is worth noting that like any type of travel, Ferry Travel does come with some challenges and especially for the Neurodiverse traveller.

In this section we list some of the most likely challenges you will face and provide some tips for how to prepare for and manage them in the moment.

Sensory Challenges

Ferry travel can present a number of sensory challenges including noises, smells and movement that may add stress to your ferry journey.

However, with some preparation the impact of these challenges can be reduced and even overcome.

The following is a table with some of the sensory challenges you may encounter on a ferry and suggestions for how to manage them.

Sensory Challenge	Mitigation (support suggestion)
Strange and loud noises – e.g. engine noise, announcements, people talking, entertainment.	Noise cancelling headphones, cabins to escape the noise, tablets with favourite music or TV shows.
Strong smells – e.g. from the engines, food onboard, other travellers, perfume smells from the shops	Take a collection of handkerchiefs with familiar or safe smells on them. Escape to a cabin.
Ship movement	Explain before hand how the ship may and will move

More tips on managing sensory overload during ferry travel.

Sea Sickness

Unfortunately, we cannot control everything, and as King Canute demonstrated this includes the sea.

One of the challenges of ferry travel is sea sickness, and this is one that often effects us when we travel.

To help manage this we take sea sickness tablets before we board the ferry, use wristbands, book a cabin for a lie down should we need it, and also limit fizzy drinks or rich food.

We recommend you take similar steps to prepare for sea sickness.

Based on experience, we also recommend you put in a change of clothes for the little ones and spare t-shirts for the not so little ones.

Cancellations or delays

Like any form of travel, ferries can be subject to cancellations and delays and we have experienced this ourselves.

Most noticeably, while we were enjoying the parade at Disneyland Paris we received a phone call from Brittany Ferries informing us that our ferry had been cancelled due to industrial action.

What did we do? Quickly booked a flexible ticket on the Euro tunnel and changed our plans to drive to Calais rather than Caen.

Not ideal, but manageable.

The key to handling the challenge of a delay or more importantly a cancellation is to already have a back up plan you can put into action.

For a delay, this could include exploring the local area around your ferry port and getting a meal, right up to understanding where some flexible accommodation options might be near your ferry port if you have an overnight delay.

For example, in Europe you have lots of affordable and flexible options with Ibis hotels.

For a cancellation, this is about understanding your back up transport options such as the Euro tunnel or alternative ferry routes.

The good news is that we have developed a number of travel tools focused on ferry travel to help you with understanding and implementing those options should you need to.

What to expect and how to prepare for Ferry Travel

So far, we have covered the reasons to choose ferry travel and some of the challenges you may face with it. This last section explains what to expect on the day and how best to prepare for it.

At Travelbetter we firmly believe that being prepared is one of the best ways to not only cope with travel but to really enjoy it.

What the day will look like

Here is a summary of a typical day of ferry travel:

• Arrive at the ferry port (at least 1 hr before departure)
• Check in and show you passports – if you have booked a cabin this is usually when you get your key card
• Queue for the ferry (in your car, in the lane you are directed to join)
• Drive through a security check point and proceed towards the ferry
• Board the ferry in your car, parking where directed
• Exit your car, grab you gear and head to the decks and cabins
• Once everyone is onboard there will be some annoucements and you will set sail
• Relax – Sleep, Eat, Shop, Play Games etc
• As you approach your destination port you will hear some more annoucements that will instruct you to leave you cabin
• As the ferry makes its final approach into the dock and annoucement will let you know when to return to your car
• Make your way to your car, put you gear back in and sit and wait in your car
• When advised, start your engine and drive off the ferry as directed
• Staying in your car, go through passport control
• Exit the port and continue to the next stage of your holiday adventure

What’s it like boarding and Disembarking a ferry with a car? 

I remember the first time I drove onto a ferry, I was quite nervous, wondering just how it would work and whether it would be tricky to manoeuvre the car onto the ferry.

In the end, I had very little to worry about. 

Despite the large number of cars, lorries and other vehicles at the port, the process for boarding a ferry with a car is actually quite simple and easy to follow. 

As you arrive at the port you will be directed via signs or marshalls to the correct lane to wait to board. The signs to look out for are your ferry operator e.g. Brittany Ferries, the route e.g. Portsmouth to Caen, and the symbol of a car. 

You will then move through the ferry port as directed, with clear lane markings to help you. 

TIP – If you do find yourself in the wrong lane, then simply and carefully change lanes. 

As you approach the ferry you will likely find yourself driving up and onto a bridge (gang plank) to drive into the ferry. During this process you will have marshal’s directing you and there will be clearly marked lanes on the road and inside the ferry. 

As you enter the ferry and follow the lane assigned a marshal will guide you forward and tell you when to stop and park. 

Note, they will often move you closer to the car in front then you might choose yourself. But, they are experts in this process and do still leave enough room for the car in front to open their boot. Trust them and stop when they say. 

Once parked, grab the gear you want for your journey and head up on deck. Making a note of your parking location, normally this is a deck number and door letter e.g. 5A.

Disembarking a ferry is the same process. You will be advised when to start your car and move off and you simply stay in your lane until you reach the passport control area.

Remember to shut off your car alarm

One thing to remember when locking up your car is that you need to turn the alarm off.

Otherwise, with the movement of the ferry during travel, you are at risk of it going off (lots) during the voyage. This will not only annoy passengers and staff – including yourself, but risks draining your battery. 

Check your car’s online manual for how to do this.

A video guide to help

To help prepare you further for boarding and disembarking a ferry then a take a look at this informative video from Brittany Ferries.

Be prepared for people

While ferries offer a lot of space and cabin options, in the high season of summer they are busy and some areas may feel crowded or have long queues.

The most noticeable areas are around the bars and restaurants.

Some additional questions answered on Ferry Travel

Here are some more general questions on ferry travel answered.

Is a Ferry Cabin worth it?

Absolutely, priced between £50 and £120 a cabin is definitely worth it for ferry travel as it gives you a private space, a comfortable place to sleep, and your own bathroom.

Here are some examples of cabin options on a ferry.

Which Ferry Operators are the best?

Our favourite ferry operator is Brittany Ferries who we have travelled with many times. We like them as they have the routes we like, have plenty of space on board and generally take care of their passengers well.

Which Ferry Routes are the best?

While our favourite ferry route is Portsmouth to Caen, is really depends on your individual needs and final destination. However, to help you understand which routes suit your needs best then take a look at our ferry travel tools.

For example, in these tools you can look up which ferry route is best for different areas of France.

Is it best to travel on a day crossing or a night crossing?

A night crossing is a really useful way to start your holiday as early as possible and maximise your adventure time and tends to be my default choice these days.

However, a night crossing does come with some additional challenges that you wouldn’t face with a day crossing. Therefore, if it is your first time on a ferry then we would recommend you do a day crossing.

More Ferry Travel Support

As you can tell, we believe ferry travel is a great choice and we have used it many times.

As a result we have taken our lived experience, mixed it with our research and development skills and created a number of ferry guides and supporting tools to help you and your family explore more and worry less with ferry travel.

Feedback – let us know if this guide helped you

Hopefully, this guide to ferry travel for neurodiverse families has provided you with the confidence to give ferry travel a go and provided you with some useful tips.

If it has, and you do give it a go, please let us know how you get on.

Conversely, if you are seasoned family ferry travellers and can help others with your own tips, that we haven’t already covered, then be sure to let us know what they are so we can add them.

For either option, just join the Travelbetter community below and then reply to your welcome email with your ferry travel stories, tips and whether you found this guide useful.

While we can’t promise to respond to every email we receive we do read them all.

Happy Travels

Carl – aka Travelbetter Dad

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