Ferries and the Channel Tunnel

Two ferry crossings that many travelers will make are the English Channel and the infamous Brindisi to Patras crossing to Greece, which can be similar to the trip described on p. 14. This is, incidentally, “free” to holders of the right InterRail pass. Apart from the Channel ferries and those between Italy and Greece, others that you might want to consider are those between France and Ireland, which are “free” with a Eurail pass. Your Eurail map will show discounted and “free” ferry routes, as will your InterRail information. “Free” ferry lines will almost always have some way of squeezing money out of you, however. “Summer supplements” and port orj departure taxes are common tactics. Don’t be surprised if your “free” trip ends up costing you twenty or thirty dollars and a Flexi pass day. This is especially true on the Italy to Greece run.

When taking an overnight ferry, you will usually have several price-dependent seating choices. The cheapest option is “deck,” which allows you to find a place on deck or on a bench to camp out. Most ferries also offer airline-type seats for a bit more, but expect clouds of smoke. A bunk in a cabin is the most expensive option, but even that can be cheap enough to fit into a very tight budget. You don’t have to pay for the whole room - bunks are usually sold individually. That ten bucks you could save by sleeping on deck may not be worth it.
Ferry food is very expensive and rarely appealing. Bring enough food and water to last the journey. Coins from all countries served are accepted on almost all ferries. Finally, when you get on a ferry, think of the time zone change. Crossing the English Channel, crossing from Italy to Greece, and crossing from Sweden to Finland each involve a one-hour shift. Be especially careful if you have a connecting train or flight to catch.