⛴️ By Sea
By Sea
Ferries are the most under-documented way to travel – so here is how they actually work: booking, taking a car or pet aboard, overnight crossings and the best island-hopping routes in the world.
Ferries are the most under-documented way to travel – so here is how they actually work: booking, taking a car or pet aboard, overnight crossings and the best island-hopping routes in the world.
The aggregators, the operators and how to find the right crossing.
The short answer is no — here's why, and what to do instead.
The car ferry checklist before you sail: what to know, how it works and how to do it well.
Travelling by cargo ship explained: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Duty-free and shopping on ferries: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Ferries in Japan: a guide: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Ferries in Scandinavia: a guide: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Ferry vs Eurotunnel: crossing the Channel: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
When a cabin is worth booking on an overnight crossing.
Ferry prices explained: why fares vary: what to know, how it works and how to do it well.
Foot passenger or take the car on a ferry?: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Greek ferry classes and tickets explained: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
How ferry check-in works: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Where to sit, what to take and how to beat mal de mer.
How to book a ferry with a car: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Island-hopping ferry passes explained: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Booking by length, gas rules and taking a camper by sea.
Cabins, reclining seats and how to sleep your way across the sea.
Overnight ferries in Europe: what to expect: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Kennels, pet cabins and the rules for taking your dog by sea.
Ro-pax vs fast ferry: what's the difference?: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Taking a bicycle on a ferry: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Costs, check-in, deck rules and what to know before you drive aboard.
Lashing points, boarding first and riding onto the ferry.
Taking the ferry with children: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Weather cancellations, your rights and how to rebook.
What to do on a long ferry crossing: what to know, how it works and how to do it well — clear, practical and up to date.
Italy to Croatia and down the Dalmatian coast by sea.
Catamarans and car ferries from Split and Dubrovnik.
Building a route through Santorini, Naxos, Paros and beyond.
Crossing the Bosphorus and the Turkish coast by sea.
To the Ionian islands from Italy and the mainland.
From Piombino to the Tuscan island.
The short Malta crossings to the smaller islands.
From Sicily to Valletta by fast catamaran.
Adriatic crossings from Italy to Bar and Kotor.
Crossing the Strait of Messina, with or without a car.
Hydrofoils to Lipari and Stromboli.
To Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza by sea.
Rhodes, Kos and the islands off Turkey.
Reaching Sardinia from Italy and beyond.
Sailing from Marseille, Toulon and Nice.
Greek ferries in winter: what to know, how it works and how to do it well.
Piraeus, the Cyclades and how the famously confusing system works.
Overnight from Ancona, Bari or Brindisi.
Fast ferries and hydrofoils to the island.
Day-trip islands from Piraeus - Aegina, Hydra, Poros.
Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar from Tarifa and Algeciras.
Across the Adriatic to Istria by catamaran.
Dover–Calais and the rest: the routes, operators and when to sail.
Crossing the Irish Sea from Britain and France.
NorthLink from the Scottish mainland.
From Galway and Doolin to the Atlantic isles.
To Jersey and Guernsey by sea.
CalMac from Ardrossan to 'Scotland in miniature'.
The Steam Packet from Liverpool and Heysham.
The Scillonian from Penzance to the far south-west.
The quick crossings from the English south coast.
Island-hopping the Hebrides with CalMac.
Overnight cruises and quick hops between the Nordic and Baltic capitals.
Overnight crossings from Copenhagen and beyond.
Waxholmsbolaget out to the islands.
To the Danish Baltic island from Ystad and Koge.
Germany's only high-sea island by catamaran.
The Smyril Line from Denmark via Iceland.
To the German and Dutch Wadden Sea islands.
Car ferries and express boats to Lofoten — Bodø to Moskenes and beyond.
Car ferries and express boats along the fjords.
The Hurtigruten coastal voyage: what to know, how it works and how to do it well.
Hopping between Tenerife, Gran Canaria and the western isles.
The Smyril Line ferry from Denmark via the Faroes — taking a car to Iceland.
The Madeira ferry links: the Porto Santo line and the seasonal Canaries connection.
Inter-island Atlanticoline between the nine islands.
Brittany Ferries straight to Santander and Bilbao.
Vancouver to Vancouver Island and beyond — how BC Ferries works for visitors.
The Cook Strait, Spirit of Tasmania and harbour ferries.
The Dhaka launches and the Rocket paddle steamers.
The River Plate crossings and coastal island boats.
Belize cayes, Panama's islands and the Gulf of Fonseca.
The Navimag, the fjord crossings and Chiloe.
Bohai Sea crossings, the Yangtze and coastal island boats.
The Caribbean coast and the Pacific launches to Nuquí.
Zanzibar crossings, the Lake Victoria and Lake Malawi boats.
Nile crossings, Lake Nasser and the Red Sea to Jordan.
The Star Ferry and the outlying-island boats.
Mumbai, the Andamans, Kerala backwaters and the Jaffna route.
Bali, the Gili Islands, Java and the inter-island boats.
Inland Sea and island ferries across the archipelago.
Langkawi, Penang and the boats to Borneo and the islands.
The Irrawaddy river boats between Mandalay and Bagan.
BC Ferries, Washington State Ferries and the East-Coast routes.
Lake Titicaca boats, the Amazon riverboats from Iquitos.
Busan to Jeju, the south-coast islands and Japan crossings.
Boats to Kinmen, Penghu, Green Island and Orchid Island.
The slow boats between Manaus, Belém and Iquitos.
Island-hopping between the Antilles by ferry and catamaran.
Ferries in the Maldives: what to know, how it works and how to do it well.
The UAE-Iran crossings, Qatar and the island boats.
2GO ferries and the island-hopping boats.
Mekong Delta boats, Phu Quoc fast ferries and the islands.
The lagoon boats, Cape Verde and coastal crossings.
Ferries to Tasmania: the Spirit of Tasmania: what to know, how it works and how to choose well — clear, practical and honest.
Across the Pearl River Delta by TurboJet and Cotai Water Jet.
The Interislander, New Zealand: what to know, how it works and how to choose well — clear, practical and honest.
Riding the iconic Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour — routes, fares and tips.
New York's free harbour crossing — Statue of Liberty views without a ticket.
Seattle to Bainbridge and the San Juans — how the network works.
The train-and-ferry combo, the bus-boat ticket, or flying.
Reaching Koh Samui, the Phi Phi islands and the Andaman coast.
The high-season island-hopper all the way south.
North to the diving island by Lomprayah and Songserm.
The island-hopping ferry down the Andaman coast.
The short hop between the two by frequent catamaran.
By ferry, minivan-and-bridge or the island-hopping boat.
From Klong Jilad pier to the famous islands by ferry.
The Andaman's far-south gateway by speedboat and ferry.
From Rassada pier to Tonsai by big ferry or speedboat.
Across Phang Nga Bay to the quiet island by longtail and speedboat.
From Ban Phe pier to the weekend island by wooden ferry or speedboat.
Across to the Full Moon island by car ferry and catamaran.
The main gateway to Samui by Raja, Seatran and Lomprayah ferries.
Out to the diving island by high-speed catamaran or night boat.
From Laem Ngop's piers to Thailand's second-biggest island by car ferry.
The long speedboat and slow ferry to the far-eastern island.