Ferry Travelling in UK – An Overview

The United Kingdom is a scenic and exciting country to visit. It has everything from gory history and chilling be-headings, to quaint English gardens and fine tea. So it’s no surprise that the UK is a hot tourist spot (it’s a something for everyone kind of a place!). Not only does it attract international tourists, there is a lot of local traveling as well. What’s interesting to see is that ferry traveling has become more and more common within the UK in the last few years. According to the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA), ferry travel within the UK last year rose to 11.4 million journeys, an increase of 1.4% on 2008’s figure.

Brittany ferries by Mike Cattell

As the airline business-class began to become more about business and less about class, the ‘no-frills’ policy that they have adopted (from air hostess to flight commando) is putting off travelers from booking with them. Travelers like their trip to be an experience, not an inconvenience. Ferries make trips special. And that is why every traveler to the UK needs a quick overview on them to be able to seriously consider ferries as their prime mode of transport for a vacation.

The Money

At first glance, the ferry may seem more expensive than air travel… but ferries have no hidden costs, also the ticket is per car, not per person, so it may cover several people. Also you get the car to come along, which is a huge comfort on trips and you save on renting wheels. Best of all ferries aren’t nit picky about baggage and allow more baggage than airlines anyways. So there’s almost no excess baggage hassle. With your car, you even save on transport to and from the port! A ferry ticket is a full paid deal with no hassles or strings.

Time Well Spent?

Ferries take longer to get there. No doubt. But you’re on VACATION! What’s the rush? Airlines have now becomes grey, clinical and exact. They are more suited to the business world, where travel time is time lost. If you’re traveling for vacation, then by definition you should enjoy the trip… and a ferry is the perfect way to do that. Not dreadfully slow (it’s fairly fast actually) most ferries have sun decks, organized sports, souvenir shops and  à al carte restaurants so the passengers can relax and enjoy both the scenery and the company. Some bigger ferries that cater to longer trips also have a built in cinema for the kids! (how’s that for frills?)

Blissful Cruising:

England is a land rich with scenic beauty and culture. Flying above all that beauty without savoring it seems like a real waste. A ferry trips make for a riveting journey, where port stops are a delight and the journey is so much more that the destination…. Get a chance to see Buckinghamshire, Oxford shire, Berkshire and the University town of Oxford, hike across the coastal trails of Devon and Cornwall, photograph beautiful bare moors, and get enchanted by the art-lovers resort at St Ives. Let traveling be about what it should be… the unexpected delights of a journey.

Article by Channel Ferries.

Tags: air hostess, airline business, business class, business world, commando, english gardens, excess baggage, ferries, ferry travel, first glance, hassles, international tourists, journeys, no doubt, passenger shipping association, psa, time is time, tourist spot, travel time

Category: Travel Tips, United Kingdom