Has anyone travelled by car to france form ireland via ferry?

armabelle · 16-07-2016 08:48AM #1

There is a Ferry that goes from Dublin to France that we are thinking of taking to get to the European mainland this summer. Has anybody done this trip before and do you have to book a hotel on the ferry or is that optional?

Also, has anybody driven a right-hand-drive car over in europe? Is it weird due to driving on the other side of the road or can one adapt quite quickly?

_Brian · 16-07-2016 08:50AM

No, I'd say you will be the first ever to attempt such a treacherous journey by sea.

God speed and if you make it please post and let us know how it goes

Or, you could go over to the Travel forum and read the 100's of threads in this very topic

armabelle · 16-07-2016 08:51AM

_Brian wrote: »

No, I'd say you will be the first ever to attempt such a treacherous journey by sea.

God speed and if you make it please post and let us know how it goes

but the service has been running for some time, surely it is used quite often?

_Brian · 16-07-2016 08:52AM

armabelle wrote: »

but the service has been running for some time, surely it is used quite often?

The whole thing is a facade, no one really goes, the ferry just sails out, hangs about for a day or two and comes back.

Infact, I read online that mainland Europe doesn't even exist.

Nekarsulm · 16-07-2016 08:53AM

It saves driving to wexford, but it seems to be less comfortable than the Oscar Wilde. Six of one, half a dozen of the other..
Driving on the right is ok, just be carefull turning out onto empty roads as instinct can take over. The busier the better.

16-07-2016 08:58AM

armabelle wrote: »

but the service has been running for some time, surely it is used quite often?

I'm with Brian.

No one has done this voyage. If it helps, the Victorians always brought a writing desk, an army of natives and crates of claret.

mansize · 16-07-2016 09:00AM

The thoughts of that boat journey- urgh

Collie D · 16-07-2016 09:00AM

_Brian wrote: »

No, I'd say you will be the first ever to attempt such a treacherous journey by sea.

God speed and if you make it please post and let us know how it goes

Or, you could go over to the Travel forum and read the 100's of threads in this very topic

Wonderful use of sarcasm - not something that comes across well in text sometimes.

_Brian · 16-07-2016 09:04AM

Nekarslum is right about avoiding the perilous journey to Wexford.

We attempted it a few years ago and never again, I kid you not but along parts of the N11 the locals were still living up in the trees like savages, it was awful so we turned back to the safety of the M50.

armabelle · 16-07-2016 09:04AM

_Brian wrote: »

Or, you could go over to the Travel forum and read the 100's of threads in this very topic

I did a search on boards with the word travel and this forum appeared so posted here. If there is a Travel forum then apologies but I never knew

_Brian · 16-07-2016 09:05AM

armabelle wrote: »

I did a search on boards with the word travel and this forum appeared so posted here. If there is a Travel forum then apologies but I never knew

The only journeys on After Hours are right down the rabbit hole after Alice.

16-07-2016 09:07AM

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Driving on the right is ok, just be carefull turning out onto empty roads as instinct can take over. The busier the better.

I used to find exiting, car parks, petrol stations etc. the worst. When you just don't think. Unlike say roundabouts or busy roads where people focus.

Saw a head on collision once on a road in Kerry where a tourist just pulled straight out of a junction into an oncoming truck on the tourist's wrong side. Shocking sight.

Nekarsulm · 16-07-2016 09:09AM

Actually posted before realizing it was in After Hours. So sorry, won't happen again!
Now, about them Brits..........

kneemos · 16-07-2016 09:25AM

They get off the boat the opposite end they get on,so get on first.

armabelle · 16-07-2016 09:27AM

_Brian wrote: »

The only journeys on After Hours are right down the rabbit hole after Alice.

i can see, you folk obviously have too much time on your hands:D

Guy:Incognito · 16-07-2016 10:05AM

armabelle wrote: »

i can see, you folk obviously have too much time on your hands:D

You had the time on a Saturday morning to ask on AH about your trip and wait for answers. I think it's you with too much time .

Winterlong · 16-07-2016 10:09AM

Do they still do Bingo on that ferry?

keeponhurling · 16-07-2016 10:10AM

Why not fly to France and rent a car, with steering wheel on the European side

armabelle · 16-07-2016 10:16AM

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

You had the time on a Saturday morning to ask on AH about your trip and wait for answers. I think it's you with too much time .

Don't really understand your theory but OK. Glad to hear I can afford such luxury as you know what they say about time..

Allinall · 16-07-2016 10:17AM

Once the ferry has pool tables you won't notice the time going by.

armabelle · 16-07-2016 10:18AM

keeponhurling wrote: »

Why not fly to France and rent a car, with steering wheel on the European side

Yeah thought about that. Actually we want to travel across europe to Croatia and take our time, renting seems expensive for a long time but I will definitely consider it

thanks!

armabelle · 16-07-2016 10:18AM

Allinall wrote: »

Once the ferry has pool tables you won't notice the time going by.

I have two children, I beg to differ. But your reasoning is sound in the case of single male

Nekarsulm · 16-07-2016 10:21AM

Two children? Go on the Oscar Wilde. Our ones were still talking about the ferry and the kids entertainment long after they had forgotten the campsites in France.

PMBC · 16-07-2016 10:22AM

armabelle wrote: »

Yeah thought about that. Actually we want to travel across europe to Croatia and take our time, renting seems expensive for a long time but I will definitely consider it

thanks!

Its ten years since I last made that trip and forty years since first time. You will find the ferry great and the time passes with entertainment on board, films etc. Driving can be occasionally a little hairy but you will do it easily as all before you have. Enjoy your trip. Visit the smaller places in France, more enjoyable. I have rarely heard complaints for this crossing.

eviltwin · 16-07-2016 10:23AM

Oscar WIlde is a lovely boat, worth the drive down to Rosslare

CMOTDibbler · 16-07-2016 10:25AM

armabelle wrote: »

Yeah thought about that. Actually we want to travel across europe to Croatia and take our time, renting seems expensive for a long time but I will definitely consider it

thanks!

Driving on the RHS of the road in a RH drive car is only difficult when overtaking or turning at junctions. Right turns are the equivalent of left turns here.

But if you're driving on motorways, it's really no problem at all. Only issue is getting to toll booths and having a passenger to take the tickets and pay the tolls.

Sailing from Dublin seems like it would be a relatively large addition to the journey time. Rosslare>Roscoff is about 17 hours and a bit longer to Cherbourg. The drive to Wexford would easily oputstrip the time to make the same journey by sea. With the motorways, you'd be in Rosslare in just over 2 hours.

kneemos · 16-07-2016 10:28AM

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Driving on the RHS of the road in a RH drive car is only difficult when overtaking or turning at junctions. Right turns are the equivalent of left turns here.

But if you're driving on motorways, it's really no problem at all. Only issue is getting to toll booths and having a passenger to take the tickets and pay the tolls.

Sailing from Dublin seems like it would be a relatively large addition to the journey time. Rosslare>Roscoff is about 17 hours and a bit longer to Cherbourg. The drive to Wexford would easily oputstrip the time to make the same journey by sea. With the motorways, you'd be in Rosslare in just over 2 hours.

He's afraid of the strawberry zombies.

spaghettifier · 16-07-2016 10:32AM

The Pont Aven that Brittany Ferries sail from Cork is pretty nice. Huge ferry, internal glass elevators and everything.

Overall, it's usually a pretty pleasant trip.

Always treated it as part of the holiday. Unlike flying, it's stress free, loads of space and generally just a very nice way of traveling, when you've got time.

weisses · 16-07-2016 10:33AM

eviltwin wrote: »

Oscar WIlde is a lovely boat, worth the drive down to Rosslare

I would drive down to Cork and take the Pont Aven to Roscoff

WHL · 16-07-2016 10:34AM

If you are coming from Kerry you should consider the Cork-Roscoff ferry. It would cut a few hours off the drive

weisses · 16-07-2016 10:57AM

WHL wrote: »

If you are coming from Kerry you should consider the Cork-Roscoff ferry. It would cut a few hours off the drive

30 -45 minutes extra to Cork from Dublin compared to Rosslare

However sailing time is 3 hours shorter from Cork on a superior Ship

Has anyone travelled by car to france form ireland via ferry?

Comments