P&O Ferries

P&O Ferries sails Dover to Calais in about 1 hour 35 minutes, with up to 15 sailings a day round the clock. It’s the only company on the route that takes foot passengers, the only one with a Pet Lounge where your dog sits with you, and its two newest ships, the hybrid P&O Pioneer and P&O Liberté, were the world’s largest double-ended ferries when they entered service.

P&O traces its history back to 1837, which makes it one of the oldest names in shipping. Today it’s owned by DP World. This guide covers everything you need for P&O’s crossing to France: sailings, check-in, tickets, what’s on board, pets, foot passengers, the ships and how P&O compares with DFDS, Irish Ferries and LeShuttle.

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P&O Ferries at a glance

P&O Ferries Dover to Calais sailings

Dover to Calais is P&O’s only route to France, and it runs day and night. P&O advertises up to 15 sailings a day; on Wednesday 7 October 2026 it had 11 from Dover:

03:30, 06:15, 08:15, 09:45, 11:30, 13:40, 15:05, 16:40, 18:50, 20:45 and 23:55 (UK time).

P&O advertises a crossing of about 90 minutes; its timetable allows 1 hour 35 minutes, and 1 hour 40 late at night and early in the morning. France is an hour ahead, so the 11:30 from Dover arrives at about 14:05 French time. Times change from day to day, so check live times for your date. 2027 sailings are already on sale.

From Calais you’re about 3 hours from Paris and an hour from Belgium. For the full route guide, with DFDS and Irish Ferries times, both ports and driving times, see Dover to Calais.

Check P&O Ferries times and prices →

P&O Ferries check-in times

These are the latest times you can check in after getting through security, not when to arrive at the port. P&O asks you to allow extra time for traffic and security checks, especially at busy times. At Dover the French border checks happen before you board, so you can drive straight off in Calais. See our Dover port guide for directions and the routes into the port.

P&O Ferries tickets and fares

P&O sells three types of ticket. All prices are for a vehicle and up to 9 people.

• Lowest fares: in October 2026 P&O’s offer fares started at £48 one way for a car and up to 9 people, while Standard fares are normally from £110. Foot passengers from £30.
• Offers: P&O was advertising day trips from £55 and short breaks from £110, for travel until 31 December 2026.
• Groups: for more than 9 people, contact P&O.

Fares go up as sailings fill, so book early for school holidays and summer weekends. With a ferry every hour or two between P&O and Irish Ferries, a slightly different time can be much cheaper.

Find the cheapest P&O Ferries fare →

P&O ships on Dover to Calais

Three P&O ships sail Dover to Calais.

P&O Pioneer and P&O Liberté

P&O calls these sister ships its “fusion class”. At 230.5 m long, they were the world’s largest double-ended ferries when they entered service: the P&O Pioneer in June 2023 and the P&O Liberté in March 2024. Double-ended means they don’t need to turn round in port. They’re hybrids, and P&O says they cut carbon emissions by 40%.

• Up to 1,350 passengers and up to 150 crew; gross tonnage 47,653.
• P&O’s largest duty-free shop, at 588 m².
• A Food Market, laid out like the food halls in stations and airports, and The Kitchen, a hot-food restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows.
• A soundproofed Club Lounge with its own outside deck.
• Five lifts and a Changing Places toilet on deck 8.

Spirit of France

Built in Finland and on Dover to Calais since 2012, the Spirit of France is 213 m long with three separate vehicle decks and a top speed of 22 knots. She carries up to 1,750 passengers. On board are a Club Lounge, a coffee shop, bars, World Duty Free, a bureau de change, a video games room and children’s entertainment.

See our full guides to the P&O Pioneer and P&O Liberté and the Spirit of France, with live positions, accessibility and specifications.

The P&O Club Lounge

The Club Lounge is P&O’s premium upgrade, and on Dover to Calais it’s all-inclusive.

• Price: £29 per person.
• Open 24/7, in both directions.
• Included: a self-service buffet of hot and cold food, snacks, and hot and cold drinks, including freshly ground coffee.
• Space to relax: quiet seating away from the crowds, sea views, free Wi-Fi, charging points, private toilets and a private deck with sun loungers.
• Booking: add it on the extras page when you book, or later by logging in to your account. You can also call 01304 44 88 88.

On a 90-minute crossing, it’s worth it if you’d otherwise buy a meal and drinks on board, or if you want a quiet seat on a busy summer sailing.

Book P&O Ferries with Club Lounge →

Food, shopping and entertainment on P&O Ferries

• Food: three places to eat on each ship, all serving hot and cold food and drinks. On the Pioneer and Liberté that’s the Food Market and The Kitchen; the Spirit of France has a coffee shop and bars.
• World Duty Free: P&O says you can save up to 50% on alcohol and tobacco, and up to 40% on high street prices on other products. With Reserve and Collect you can order up to 30 days before you travel and pick it up on board.
• Bureau de change for euros on board.
• For children: a play area, live entertainment in peak season, and the Deep Sea Pioneers app, a digital scavenger hunt round the ship. There’s a video games room too.
• Free Wi-Fi on all ships; ask at the information desk for access.
• Outside decks, so you can get some sea air and see the White Cliffs.

Pets on P&O Ferries and the Pet Lounge

P&O takes dogs, cats and ferrets to France, and has two options on Dover to Calais.

• Pet Lounge (dogs only): from £12 each way for one dog and one adult. You and your dog share your own space, with free refreshments and a private outdoor deck. It’s popular, so book ahead.
• In your vehicle: all other pets, including cats and ferrets, stay in your vehicle for the crossing.
• Booking: pets must be booked in advance; spaces are limited and you can’t book at the port. You can bring up to 5 pets per booking.
• Not accepted: UK banned dog breeds. Registered assistance dogs are welcome in all passenger areas; choose them through the special assistance options when you book.
• Foot passengers can’t take pets on Dover to Calais.
• At the ports: P&O’s terminals at Dover and Calais both have pet areas where your dog can stretch its legs, with a few obstacles to play on, before boarding.
• Check-in closes 90 minutes before departure.

Paperwork for your dog

If you live in Great Britain, your dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, an up-to-date rabies vaccination and an Animal Health Certificate from an official vet, issued within 10 days of travel, for each trip to the EU. P&O warns that you should no longer use a pet passport if you live in Great Britain, even one issued in the EU, as your pet could be refused entry. Coming home, dogs need tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 hours and 5 days before arriving in Great Britain.

Vets near the ports

If your pet is unwell on the way, P&O lists these vets:

• Dover: White Cliffs Vets, Unit 11, Whitfield Court, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield CT16 3PX. 01304 41 41 41.
• Calais: Clinique Vétérinaire, 139 Boulevard Curie, 62100 Calais. +33 (0)3 21 82 15 11.

Check opening hours before you go.

P&O Ferries foot passengers

P&O is the only ferry company that carries foot passengers between Dover and Calais. Fares started at £30 one way in October 2026.

• Check-in closes 90 minutes before departure, at the terminal in Dover.
• A shuttle bus takes you from the terminal to the border control (Entry/Exit System) building and on to the ship.
• No luggage limit, but you carry it all on board yourself: there’s no baggage reclaim.
• No pets for foot passengers.
• Bring a valid passport.
• Foot passengers get off 30 minutes after the ship docks, so allow for that in your onward plans.
• If you need assistance as a foot passenger, tell P&O at least 48 hours before you travel.

In Calais, the free Balad’in shuttle bus runs from the ferry terminal to the town centre from Monday to Saturday. See our Calais port guide for times and the walk to the station.

Cycling with P&O Ferries

• At Dover, cyclists go in and out on the cliff side of the port: follow the thick red line on the path and road.
• Go to French border control first, where your documents are checked.
• Check-in closes 90 minutes before departure, the same as for foot passengers.
• Get off and walk your bike across the bridge to the ship, as it can move.
• P&O recommends reflective clothing, a puncture repair kit and a charged phone, and reading up on European cycling laws.

Cars, motorhomes and caravans

• Declare your vehicle’s size accurately when you book.
• After check-in, crew direct you onto the vehicle deck. Once you’ve parked, take your valuables with you to the passenger decks.
• Motorhomes and caravans: declare gas bottles, turn them off and secure them. The maximum is 47 kg in total.
• There’s no luggage limit: bring whatever fits in your vehicle.

P&O Ferries accessibility

• Wheelchair assistance to and from the ships, and crew can meet you on the vehicle deck.
• If you need to park near a lift, tell P&O before you travel.
• All lifts are wheelchair-friendly, and accessible toilets are on decks 8 and 9.
• On the Pioneer and Liberté: five lifts, a Changing Places toilet on deck 8 next to World Duty Free, wheelchair spaces in every seating area and a hearing loop in front of reception.
• On the Spirit of France, a small number of wheelchairs are available to borrow on board.
• Foot passengers who need help should tell P&O at least 48 hours before travelling. P&O warns that foot passenger boarding may not suit larger wheelchairs.
• For help at your destination port, email customer.services@poferries.com before you travel.

P&O vs DFDS, Irish Ferries and LeShuttle

Choose P&O if you’re on foot, want your dog beside you, are travelling as a big group in one car, or want the all-inclusive Club Lounge. Otherwise compare all three ferry companies for your date. If speed is everything, LeShuttle takes 35 minutes, but you stay with your car and there’s nothing to do on board. For more, see Dover to Calais compared.

About P&O Ferries

P&O dates back to 22 August 1837, when its founders signed a government contract to carry mail by steamer between London and the Iberian Peninsula. That’s where the name comes from: the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Over the next century P&O sailed to Australia during the gold rush and carried troops in the Boer War, and by 1924 it was the largest shipping company in the world. Its short-sea ferries began in 1965 with a roll-on, roll-off service from Hull to Rotterdam.

P&O Ferries is now owned by DP World, the Dubai-based ports and logistics group. Besides Dover to Calais, it sails Hull to Rotterdam (overnight, with dog-friendly cabins and kennels) and Cairnryan to Larne in Northern Ireland, and runs freight services under P&O Freight and P&O Ferrymasters.

Other ferry companies to France: Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth, Plymouth and Poole, and DFDS and Irish Ferries from Dover. See every ferry company to France.

Book P&O Ferries Dover to Calais →

P&O Ferries FAQs

Where do P&O Ferries sail to in France?

Dover to Calais is P&O Ferries' only route to France. P&O says it takes about 90 minutes; its timetable shows 1 hour 35 minutes (1 hour 40 late at night and early in the morning), with up to 15 sailings a day; on Wednesday 7 October 2026 there were 11 from Dover. P&O's other routes go to the Netherlands (Hull to Rotterdam) and Northern Ireland (Cairnryan to Larne).

How early do I need to check in with P&O Ferries at Dover?

Check-in for Dover to Calais closes 90 minutes before departure, whether you travel with a car, with a dog in the Pet Lounge, on foot or by bike. That's the latest you can check in after passing security, so leave extra time for traffic and border checks.

Can you be a foot passenger on P&O Ferries?

Yes. P&O is the only company that carries foot passengers between Dover and Calais. Check in at the Dover terminal at least 90 minutes before departure; a shuttle bus takes you to the border checks and on to the ship. You carry your own luggage, and you can't bring a pet.

How much is the P&O Club Lounge?

On Dover to Calais, £29 per person. It's open 24/7 and includes a buffet of hot and cold food, drinks, snacks, free Wi-Fi and a private deck with sun loungers. You can add it when you book or later through your account.

Can I take my dog on P&O Ferries to France?

Yes, if you travel with a vehicle. Your pet can stay in your vehicle, or you can book the Pet Lounge (dogs only), from £12 each way for one dog and one adult. Pets must be booked in advance and can't be booked at the port. Foot passengers can't take pets.

What are P&O's ticket types?

Standard (non-refundable, a fee to change it, travel within 4 hours either side of your booked time if there's space), Flexi (refundable, travel within 4 hours either side if there's space, no amendment fee, just pay any difference in price) and Fully Flexi (refundable, take any sailing, and nothing to pay if you keep the same details).

Which ships do P&O Ferries use on Dover to Calais?

The P&O Pioneer and P&O Liberté, 230.5 m hybrid ferries that were the world's largest double-ended ferries when they entered service in 2023 and 2024, and the Spirit of France, a 213 m ship on the route since 2012.

Who owns P&O Ferries?

P&O Ferries is owned by DP World, the Dubai-based ports and logistics group. P&O dates its history back to 22 August 1837.

Is there a luggage limit on P&O Ferries?

No. With a vehicle you can bring whatever fits in it, and foot passengers have no luggage limit either, though you must carry it on board yourself as there's no baggage reclaim.