The Port of Dover is running as if it were August with extra sailings, and plenty of spare capacity including foot passenger spaces. Normal turn-up-and-go fares apply.

Eurostar has put on at least an extra 28 trains and says it has 30,000 standard class one-way seats available from today at £89

Tour operators and airlines however, said the backlog caused by the erupting volcano Eyjafjalloekull is so great that it will take up to 14 days to clear.

Many britons held up in Spain are making their way to northern Spanish ports such as Santander to wait for the ferry crossing to Plymouth or else the royal navy ships which are being diverted to help out.

Some great discounts were available, so for next year find out more about the France show and how to get Ferry tickets via www.thefranceshow.com

Declan Mescall, the company’s head of passenger sales, encouraged travellers to consider taking ferries to Ireland from Britain next year.

He said that extensive investment by ferry operators in recent years means ‘the time has passed’ that travellers were forced to rely on air travel.

‘Those who choose to go by sea can look forward to features such as club class lounges on board as well as priority boarding and discharge at ports of departure and arrival,’ Mr Mescall added.

The Irish Ferries spokesman also referred to airport congestion and baggage restrictions imposed by airlines as reasons for travellers to consider the option of sea crossings.

Take the car and up to 2 passengers For Just £7.50 return.

Passengers drive onboard, stay onboard for round trip and stock up with Christmas goodies

You must book and travel before the end of December. Additional passengers £5 return.

On Board Offersm

From 4th December, and only whilst stocks last, we will have:

The Famous Grouse Whisky at 2 litres for £24 (normally £15.49 each, High Street £18.99 each)

Teachers Whisky at 2 litres for just £22 (normally £14.29 each, High Street £17.57 each)

Both these offers are available only whilst stocks last!!

Additionally…

from Friday 27th November, until Christmas Eve

Bell’s Whisky – 2 litres for £24 (normally £14.99 each, High Street £17.19 each)

Gordon’s Gin – 2 litres for £20 (normally £13.99 each, High Street £15.99 each)

And with a bargain offer of just £59 each-way for a car and driver and £20 for additional adults for midweek travel (Monday to Thursday), a family of four can cross the Irish Sea with their car – in peak season – for as little as £99.

These prices apply on the Pembroke/Rosslare cruise ferry crossing; add £10 for Friday and Sunday travel or £20 on Saturdays. On the Holyhead/Dublin cruise ferry the lead-in is £84 for car and driver or £99 for the fast ferry.

All prices represent savings of up to 30 per cent.

For more information and bookings, please visit http://www.irishferries.co.uk/

North Sea Routes : Car Ferry Crossings from only £99 each way

If you are within half a day’s drive of Hull and you are quick you could enjoy a short break in either Belgium or Holland for less than £100 each way. There’s a six day summer sale starting today, June 5th 2009.

Twenty Thousand tickets have been put into the sale at a price of only £99 each way, that’s for sailing on
the following North Sea Ferry routes:

• Hull to Rotterdam
• Rotterdam to Hull
• Hull to Zeebrugge
• Zeebrugge to Hull

With night sailings on P&O luxury cruise ferries you can enjoy great
onboard entertainment, delicious food and relax in your own
comfortable ensuite cabin.

When you arrive in Belgium or Holland, you’ll be refreshed and ready
to go and the excellent autoroute motorway connections in Belgium, Holland and
into France mean you’ll be spoilt for choice on where to spend your
short break.

You’ll have to be quick though, tickets are limited and the best fares
will go quickly. Book by 10pm on Wednesday 10th June and travel before
31st December 2009.

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The 21st June brings a host of reasons why you would want to cross the channel. Firstly, it is the longest day of the year, which means it is perfect for a daytrip! There are a number of attractions within Calais and it’s surroundings, including the pleasant medieval villages of Ardres and Bergues, which are a short drive and perfect for a long lunch.
The 21st June is also Father’s Day, and what could be a better present than a short hop to France to pick up some of France’s finest wine!

Additionally, the 21st June is the British Grand Prix. This is the biggest motoring event in British racing and attracts F1 fans from far and wide. With Silverstone being less than two and a half hours from Dover, it makes it easily accessible for anyone travelling over from the continent.

Finally, the end of June brings one of the biggest events in the global sporting calendar, and that is of course Wimbledon Tennis Championships. This iconic British tournament is widely regarded as the biggest in the world, and attracts tennis and sports enthusiasts from all over the world. Running for two weeks between the 22nd June and the 5th July, it promises sun, rain, Pimms and great tennis. Thousands of people from all over the continent come to Wimbledon, South London for the Championships, and there is no easier way to get there than by making sure you plan your journey with P&O Ferries.

As if that wasn’t enough, P&O Ferries are running a “You deserve a holiday” competition throughout June. Holidaymakers can cross the channel for £30 each way, to help make sure that the holiday budget goes that bit further.

There is the chance to win an amazing 7 day holiday with accommodation and travel. Anyone who enters the prize draw telling P&O Ferries why their friend deserves a holiday can be in with a chance of winning this great prize.

Make sure you enjoy your summer, starting with P&O Ferries and the month of June!

The Scottish Viking, which will sail between Rosyth in Fife and Zeebrugge in Belgium three times a week, finished its maiden voyage and passengers were welcomed off the ship by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond as it arrived into the Scottish port.

He said: “I’m delighted to welcome the Scottish Viking and its first homecoming passengers to Scotland… Maintaining connections with major European markets is vital for Scotland at a time of global economic challenges.

“But not only will the Scottish Viking allow access to important commercial contacts, it will be a boost for the local economy in Fife, and an environmentally friendly route home for Scotland’s friends, family and visitors.”

The ferry, run by Norfolkline, took over the route after it was discontinued by Superfast Ferries in September last year. Its departure from Zeebrugge however was delayed by several hours on Monday when the captain suffered a non-fatal heart attack and a replacement had to be found.

The Scottish Viking was built in an Italian shipyard and registered in Italy, and is therefore required to have an Italian captain on board. However, the ferry service will receive €2 million (£1.8 million) from the Scottish Government through a Waterborne Freight Grant.

As part of his welcome, the First Minister gave each passenger on the Scottish Viking’s maiden journey a special ticket offer for The Gathering, an international clan gathering due to take place in Edinburgh in July.

The Gathering is part of Scotland’s Homecoming Year celebrations, a series of events and festivities taking place throughout 2009 that are designed to put people from across the world back in touch with their Scottish roots.

Brittany Ferries have been plying the route from the West of England to Santander in Northern Spain for decades and have recently refurbished with faster bigger ferries. Sailing from either Portsmouth on the south coasts of England or Plymouth in Devon, Brittany Ferries are well equiped for the longer sea crossings, avoiding the need to drive all the way down through France. Portsmouth to Santander is the newest route, with the flagship vessel Pont Aven adding the departure port option to the existing route of Plymouth to Santander since March 2009. This new crossing takes 24 hours, reducing the need for overnight cabins to one night, which is faster than anything previously.

More like a cruise than a ferry crossing, the Pont Aven is equipped with swimming pool and whirlpool, entertainment and children’s soft play and video areas. Two cinemas, bars and restaurants including seafood buffet meals help to pass the cruise time with quality offerings.

So why take a ferry to Santander?

Santander is a rather smart resort in Cantabria, with close associations with Madrid whose citizens tend to prefer to decant to the north and west of spain if possible in summer rather than to the steaming hot and over crowded southern costas. To the East is the Spanish Basque Country, and then France while to the West is Asturias and then Gallicia, so the whole of the North of Spain is available to explore from Santander.

Cross channel ferry links and rail services make France a good option for British people looking for an affordable break, according to an industry spokesman.

Jean-Pierre Courteau, director of government tourist office Maison de la France, said that the country is a “very inexpensive place to get to” for British travellers.

While he admitted that it will be difficult for the tourism industry to be profitable during the economic downturn, Mr Courteau said that the proximity of France makes it one of the most viable options for Brits travelling on a budget.

“You don’t have to fly there, you can take the ferry or the train. France gives a good opportunity to travel on a budget,” he said.

“I don’t say that we are going to profit from the crunch and the financial situation but people who are aware of not flying and travelling on a budget will come to France this year.”

Mr Courteau pointed out that, with about 11 million visitors every year, Britain is the most important source market for the French tourism industry.