Calais-Dover.com » Dover-Calais Ferry Updates

Dover-Calais Ferry Updates

Storm rolling in, or a delay on the departure board? This page gathers every official live source for the Dover-Calais crossing in one place. It is the most resilient route across the Channel: three ferry operators sail around the clock, so even when the weather bites you are rarely stuck for long.

Live updates per operator

Each operator posts delays and cancellations on its own channels first. Check yours before you set off:

P&O Ferries

DFDS

Irish Ferries

Taking the train instead? LeShuttle publishes live departures and answers travellers via @LeShuttle_Help.

Delayed or cancelled: what you can expect

With dozens of departures a day across three operators, a cancelled sailing usually means moving to the next boat rather than losing your trip. Contact your operator or simply check in as planned unless they tell you otherwise; delayed sailings often still load.
The three operators also have arrangements to carry each other’s passengers when sailings are disrupted. We have experienced this ourselves: we were simply waved onto an earlier boat from another operator.
Under EU and UK passenger rights rules (Regulation 1177/2010), a cancellation or a departure delay of more than 90 minutes gives you the choice between rerouting and a full refund, plus meals and refreshments while you wait.
On a crossing of this length you are also owed compensation if you arrive late: 25% of the ticket price from one hour of delay, 50% from two hours.

Storms and the Strait

Most disruption on this route comes from south-westerly gales. The crossing is short and both ports handle rough weather well, so delays are far more common than cancellations, but in a severe storm sailings can be suspended for a few hours. The wave map below shows what the Strait looks like right now: the calmer the colour, the smoother the crossing.

Traffic around Dover

When sailings are disrupted, traffic around Dover often reacts before the ferries do. During busy spells or disruption, Operation Brock queues lorries on the M20 and the Traffic Assessment Project (TAP) holds them on the A20, so allow extra time on the approach roads even if your sailing is running. Car traffic follows the normal signed route into the port.