Ferry Faqs
1st class upgrade
The 1st Class upgrade costs just £15. For this, the smart casually dressed 1st Class passenger gets:
- Access for the 1st Class lounges at both Hoverports
- More privacy, more space, more legroom
- Armchair shopping
- A complimentary hot, cold, alcoholic or soft drink, and newspaper
- First on, first off
- Surf before you sail with wireless internet connection (Dover lounge only)
Destinations
Calais: the capital of the Opal Coast, where an exciting European journey for the family meets bargains galore, monuments to a millennium of conquest, Gallic charm and so much more!
Calais is shopping heaven for day trip foot passengers. But before you shop ‘til you drop, remember: Calais is more than wall-to-wall bargains, hypermarkets, bars and restaurants...
Relax on the white sandy beaches that stretch along its coast. Suitably refreshed, stroll into the Courgain Maritime where matelots have plied their trade since the 9th Century.
Then visit the Old City to see the Citadel's ancient walls, dating from the 12th Century, and the 13th Century Watch Tower in the bustling marketplace of Place d’Armes – both monuments to Calais' war-torn history.
Under King Edward III, the English army laid siege to Calais for 11 months before the locals capitulated in 1347. This moment is commemorated by Auguste Rodin’s famous sculpture ‘The Six Burghers of Calais’ inaugurated in 1895.
The sculpture shows six leading citizens chosen to deliver the keys to the city barefoot to the besieging forces – an act of sacrifice that spared the city’s other residents.
The statue stands in gardens outside the Town Hall. The Hall itself was constructed in the Flemish style between 1911 and 1925 to celebrate the union of Calais with the city of Saint Pierre.
To see the English influence on Calais, visit the Church Tower of Notre Dame, completed in the 13th Century during the English occupation, hence its Tudor style. Inside you’ll find perhaps the highest of high altars – 17m! It witnessed the union of Charles de Gaulle and Yvonne Ventoux in 1925.
And be sure to visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle (Museum of Fine Art and Lace-making) where you’ll find the best local arts and crafts. Then visit Little England where hundreds of years ago thousands of people from Nottingham settled and worked producing lace during the occupation that ended, again by force, in 1558.
WW II comes to life at the Nazi V2 rocket base at La Coupole just a few minutes drive from Calais. La Coupole, Hitler's massive Dome of Destruction, was reopened in 1997 as a museum of war and ballistics. Afterwards see inside the German Navy's headquarters, now home to the Calais War Museum.
Then, get ready for an incredible journey! The Transparent Man, at le Cité Europe, is a remarkable, state-of-the-art multimedia tour of the human body. It's educational fun for the whole family.
And don’t forget, Calais is your gateway to Paris. For more information call 00 333 21 96 62 40.
Frequent travellers
Love France? Love bargains? Join the Frequent User Scheme! Most loyalty schemes involve building rewards slowly, offering points today for discounts tomorrow. But, as you’d expect, Hoverspeed – the fastest Channel ferry crossing – does things quicker.
Hoverspeed offers an instant 20% discount on all its publicly available fares – including 1st Class and day trips. And membership is completely free!
If you travel to the continent at least six times every year, you automatically qualify as a frequent user. All we ask is that you provide us with three Hoverspeed booking references from the previous six-month period as proof of travel.
To join, just complete this application form. We’ll contact you confirming your unique membership number and online booking password. From then on, to qualify for your instant 20% discount simply book your crossing using our quick and easy online reservations service.
Alternatively, call Hoverspeed reservations on 0870 240 8070 and quote your membership number.
If you’re already a frequent user and want to register for online booking, just email entitled Frequent User Online Transfer to database@hoverspeed.com stating your membership number.
Pet travel
Dogs and cats are now able to travel with their owners on Hoverspeed under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS).
All your pet needs to qualify is veterinary certification to prove your pet has been:
- fitted with a microchip
- vaccinated against rabies
- successfully blood tested
- treated against ticks and tapeworm in the period 24-48 hours before entry to the UK
The last requirement is a declaration by the owner that the animal has not been outside the qualifying countries in Western Europe in the six months before entry.
For more information on PETS call 0870 241 1710.
To book your pet, please call Hoverspeed on 0870 240 8070
Prices are per pet, each way:
Dover - Calais £18
Find out more about travelling in Europe with pets:
www.paws4travel.co.uk
www.petSmiles.co.uk
Hoverspeed takes no responsibility for accuracy of the information contained on these sites.
Car parking
Hoverspeed provides car parking for foot passengers at Hoverports in both Dover and Calais. Car parking tickets are available for purchase from ticket machines in our car parks, or from Hoverport reception. Car parking rates at Dover are £2.50 for up to four hours and £5 for the full day.
Coach and rail
By national rail: Alight at Dover Priory station, turn left out of the station, right onto the High Street, right down the Esplanade and the Hoverport is five minutes on your left (next to the sea)
For international rail travel:
For information, or to book all inclusive tickets for rail travel right across Europe, call Hoverspeed on +44 (0) 870 240 8070
By coach:
Hoverspeed has special rates on the following routes:
London – Dover
Canterbury – Dover
London – Ostend (via Calais)
Canterbury – Ostend (via Calais)
Dover – Ostend (via Calais)
For more information and to book tickets, call Hoverspeed on +44 (0) 870 240 8070
Motoring guide
Be Safe – Be Legal
By carrying the following items of emergency and breakdown equipment you can ensure you comply with EU motoring regulations:
Save money by buying any of these items at street-beating prices in the Hoverport:
Headlamp Beam Adapters
Your headlamps are designed for driving on the left hand side of the road. When driving in Europe on the right, your headlamps will dazzle oncoming drivers unless you fit headlight adapters. Failure to do this renders the vehicle UNFIT for use on the road and will invalidate your motor insurance and could result in spot fines
GB Sticker
A GB sticker/plate must be displayed on the rear of your vehicle, caravan or trailer to indicate Country of Registration as required by International Law
Spare Bulbs
All lamps, lenses and reflectors must be in working order at all times. Failure to be in a position to replace a blown exterior bulb could result in temporary cessation of your journey and/or a spot fine
Warning Triangles
If your vehicle breaks down or is involved in an accident, you must place a warning triangle 50-150m behind your vehicle to warn approaching traffic. Hazard warning lights alone are NOT sufficient
First Aid Kit
Every driver must be able to render first aid when required. If you can’t an on the spot fine applies
Fire Extinguisher
In the event of a fire it is an offence not to be able to render assistance or take necessary precautions to prevent the fire from escalating
Checklist
Check to see what is required for the countries that you are visiting or travelling through:
Save money by buying any of these items at street-beating prices from Travel Spot Ltd in the Hoverport
Further Information
Insurance Policies
Somewhere, in the small print in every Motor Insurance Policy, is a statement to the effect that it is the driver/owner’s responsibility to ensure that the vehicle complies with the law and is roadworthy for the Country he intends to visit. Failure to discharge this responsibility could result in the Company repudiating liability under the Policy.
Failure to Comply
In the event of prosecution and conviction for failure to comply with the legal requirements, the courts in all EU countries have wide powers to impose swinging penalties, and the arresting officers have extensive powers to impose “on the spot fines”
On the Spot Fines
The moment these are demanded, they have to be paid in cash, in the local currency, to the arresting officer. Credit cards or travellers cheques are not accepted, and in some countries inability to pay, risks impounding the driver’s vehicle until the fine is paid.
Travel Insurance
When travelling abroad, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially if your language skills are a bit rusty. For information and rates on personal travel insurance and European vehicle breakdown cover just call 0870 240 8070
Stopover hotels
Driving while tired doesn’t just make you irritable, it’s dangerous for you, your passengers and everyone else on the roads.
If you’re crossing the Channel on Friday evening after a working week, or you’ve been driving all day to get to Dover, maybe coming back to the UK on Sunday night for work on Monday, you need rest.
Hoverspeed Holidays can recommend a number of hotels across the Southeast. Yo can book in, clean up, unwind and sleep before setting off fresh and ready in the morning. Just click to choose
[http://www.hoverspeedholidays.com/ukstop/home.asp]
Ferry News
Sign up for Hoverspeed’s email newsletter and you can:
- be the first to know about Hoverspeed’s special deals, discounts and offers on fast ferry crossings for cars
- find out about cheap and cheerful, low prices on wine, beer and spirits.
- get the latest savings for day trip foot passengers sent straight to your inbox
- find out just how much wine, beer and cigarettes Customs will allow you bring back into Britain
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