Air travel is experiencing a period of heightened uncertainty, with thousands of flights cancelled and growing concerns that the Iran conflict could reduce jet fuel supplies to critically low levels. As a result, many Britons are booking staycations to avoid the risk of flight cancellations, with holiday companies reporting patterns similar to those seen during the pandemic.
However, holidaymakers need not abandon their dreams of a summer abroad, as ferry travel presents an excellent alternative. DFDS has resumed routes to St Malo from Jersey with improved schedules and to Jersey from Poole, according to BBC reports. Meanwhile, the Isle of Wight now boasts a new late-night ferry route connecting it to the mainland.
Ferry holidays may seem old-fashioned to some, but passenger numbers on international services are growing, reaching 18.4 million annually in the latest count by Transport Statistics Great Britain. Most trips are to France (74 per cent), though journeys to the Netherlands, Ireland, and Spain remain popular, peaking during July and August but busy throughout the year.
Destinations and New Routes
To the Netherlands
Newcastle to Amsterdam: A ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam can cost from £69 each way, based on four people in an inside cabin and car. DFDS operates this route, departing from North Shields and arriving at Ijmuiden port, with a 25-mile bus journey (£9 each way) to Amsterdam. On board, there are buffet and a la carte dining options, live music, a kids' play area, and a cinema. Journey time: 15.5 hours. Book it from £69 each way (four people, inside cabin, car) or from £192 each way with a car.
Hull to Rotterdam: A trip from Hull to Rotterdam costs £312 with P&O Ferries on July 12. This overnight service features cinemas, arcade rooms, kids' entertainment, and dining options like roast cod and sweetcorn chowder. Coach transfers to the centre from Europoort terminal are £12 return. Journey time: 12 hours. Book it for £312 one way with a car, departing 8pm, arriving 9am.
Harwich to Hook of Holland: Heading from Harwich to the Hook of Holland costs £143.50 each way with a car. Travel day or night on Stena Britannica or Stena Hollandica, with four daily sailings. On board, enjoy video games, G&Ts, pizzas, and burgers. Upgrade to the Stena Plus Lounge for £25pp. From Hook of Holland, it's a 30-minute train to Rotterdam or 90 minutes to Amsterdam. Journey time: 7 hours 15 minutes. Book it for £143.50 each way with a car, departing 9am, arriving 5.15pm.
To France
Dover to Dunkirk: Dover to Dunkirk costs from £89 each way for a car and up to four passengers. Services run up to 22 times a day, popular for visiting WWII memorials and museums. On board, enjoy fish and chips, Malaysian curries, and beef stews. Duty-free 'Reserve & Collect' offers half-price savings. Journey time: 2 hours. Book it from £89 each way.
Dover to Calais: Dover to Calais can be booked one-way from £89. Three operators (DFDS, Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries) offer 30+ daily crossings. Nearby attractions include Touquet-Paris-Plage and Nausicaá aquarium in Boulogne-Sur-Mer. Journey time: 90 minutes. Book it from £89 one way with a car and up to four people.
Newhaven to Dieppe: Newhaven to Dieppe is a four-hour sailing from £117 one way for a car and four passengers. DFDS operates two daily crossings to Normandy, ideal for visiting D-Day beaches. On board, enjoy the Beachy Head bar, restaurant, and play area. Journey time: 4 hours. Book it from £117 one way.
Portsmouth to Le Havre: Portsmouth to Le Havre is a six- to ten-hour journey from £111 each way with a car. Brittany Ferries operates this route, with Le Havre being closest to Paris (two hours away). Sail aboard the Commodore Clipper. Journey time: 6-10 hours. Book it from £111 each way with a car, departing 11am, arriving 6.30pm.
Portsmouth to Caen: Portsmouth to Caen is from £111 each way with a car. Visit the Caen Memorial Museum, Romanesque abbeys, and Chateau de Caen. Sail on Mont St Michel or Guillaume de Normandie ferries with gyms, cinemas, and restaurants. Journey time: 7 hours. Book it from £111 each way with a car, departing 3pm, arriving 10pm.
Portsmouth to St Malo: Portsmouth to St Malo is from £293 each way with a car. Sail on the Saint Malo, a clean ferry powered by LNG/electric batteries. On board, enjoy Brittany-inspired dishes, a play area, outdoor gym, art gallery, and bar. Arrive at St Malo with its cathedral, castle, ramparts, and aquarium. Journey time: 11 hours. Book it from £293 each way with a car, departing 8.15pm, arriving 8.15am on July 12.
Jersey to St Malo: DFDS Ferries has launched improved schedules from Jersey to St Malo with more convenient timings. The Tarifa Jet, repaired after a March accident, is back in service. Journey time: 1 hour 45 minutes. Book it from £40 each way on July 12, departing 8.25am, arriving 11.20am.
Poole to Cherbourg: Poole to Cherbourg is a 4-hour 45-minute sailing from £131 each way with a car. Join the Barfleur ferry with a self-service restaurant, bar, sun deck, and play area. Cherbourg offers art galleries, an aquarium, medieval basilica, and umbrella factory tours. Journey time: 4 hours 45 minutes. Book it from £131 each way with a car, departing 8.30am, arriving 2.15pm on July 12.
Plymouth to Roscoff: A ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff costs from £175 each way with a car. Travel on the Pont Aven ferry with a spa treatment room, cabaret, DJ, pool, and children's activities. From Roscoff, take a 15-minute ferry to Ile de Batz for exotic gardens. Journey time: 10 hours. Book it from £175 each way with a car, departing 10pm, arriving 8am.
To Jersey
Poole to Jersey: Poole to Jersey by ferry is priced from £180 each way per car and including two people. DFDS's Levante Jet has relaunched the 4.5-hour trip. Journey time: 4 hours 30 minutes, departing 8am, arriving 12.30pm. Book it from £180 each way.
To the Isle of Wight
New Late-Night Route: The Isle of Wight has a new late-night ferry route connecting West Cowes and Southampton, launched by Red Funnel. The first midnight service from Southampton set sail on May 23. Journey time: 1 hour. Book it from £75.50 for the evening service (departing 11.59pm, arriving 12.59am) on July 12 for one person with a car each way. Daytime routes cost around £89.75 each way.
To Spain
Plymouth/Portsmouth to Santander: Ferries run from Portsmouth to Santander from £418 each way on July 10. Brittany Ferries operates three return weekly crossings from Portsmouth and two from Plymouth. On board, enjoy digital games areas, sun decks, wellness areas, and cinemas. Santander offers a long beach, galleries, and food scene. Mini-cruise return trips available. Journey time: 20-33 hours. Book it from £418 each way with a car, departing 10pm from Portsmouth on July 10, arriving 8am two days later.
Portsmouth to Bilbao: Portsmouth to Bilbao costs from £398 each way with a car on July 12. Sail on the Galicia to the Basque city of Bilbao, home to the Guggenheim Museum, tapas bars, and beaches. On board, enjoy a tapas restaurant, sun deck, gym, and children's play area. Journey time: 34 hours. Book it from £398 each way with a car on July 12, departing 10pm, arriving 8am two days later.
