Travel Schedule
Your step-by-step guide to travelling through the Port. Follow our travel schedule so you know exactly what to expect when you arrive.
Start with a passport!
All adults and children travelling to France or Spain must have a valid 10 year passport. As a special concession, children under the age of 16 can continue to travel on a parent’s passport (when travelling with the parent) until it expires. Be sure to apply for new passports in good time.
When to go
Check details of sailing times and fares online or contact the ferry companies direct
Brittany Ferries Tel: 0870 536 0360
Condor Ferries Tel: 0870 243 5140
LD Lines Tel: 08704 284 336
P&O Ferries Tel: 0871 664 6464
Wightlink Tel: 023 9281 2011
Boarding
In the interests of safety, every passenger must give their name, age and sex and state any disability. You may also be given a boarding card, depending on the sailing.
Foot passengers should present their ticket vouchers at the appropriate ferry company desk within the main terminal. A loudspeaker announcement will advise you when to board, at which point, you should make your way through to customs/security gate. A two minute bus ride takes you to the ferry.
Motorists should drive up to one of the ferry company booths to present tickets and passports. You need a GB car sticker for the Channel Islands and the Continent. You may be asked to pass through the controls right away or to park for a while. You will be directed by the ferry company’s marshals. Make a note of where you are parked on the ship and remember to take everything you will need for the crossing with you as you won’t be able to return to the car during the journey.
Enjoy the ship
Sit back and relax as you sail away. Conventional ferry crossings from Portsmouth take five hours – plenty of time to enjoy the luxurious cruise ferries. Depending on the ship your options can include: bars, beauty salon/hairdresser, casino, children’s play area, cinema, lounges, crèche, shopping, live entertainment, money changing, restaurants, relaxing on the sun deck, sauna and swimming pool. Click here to find out more about the ships sailing into and out of Portsmouth.