Before you go

Don't forget everyone's passports! Make sure they are all valid for a few months after you are due to return too.

Make sure you have valid travel insurance and and E111 card as you never know what could happen. You ideally need to be covered for every eventuality.

Make sure there isn't anything important that you forget - e.g., if you are on medication, bring your medicines.

Check you bring with you your booking reference number if you have booked via the Internet or call centre as tickets need to be collected at check in.

Write a note of all your credit and debit cards, passports, driving licences, travellers cheques etc. as well as the helplines. A little preparation will save you a lot of bother in the unfortunate, but none the less regular occurrence of theft.

Make sure that the ferry company is aware of any disabled travellers or travellers with special needs when booking or as soon as possible after you have booked. Arrangements can then be made for you.

Check that your mobile operator will allow you to use your mobile phone abroad before you leave - it's too late once you've got there!

Arrival at check-in

To keep things moving, try to have your booking reference or tickets and passports for everyone in your party ready at the check-in booth or desk.

Make sure you arrive at the port ontime or better still early. All routes vary in terms of check-in time, make sure you check the booking confirmation otherwise latecomers may find themselves waiting for the next sailing. On some routes this can be a long time depending on the sailing frequency and often will cost you extra just for the change in ferry.

Sailings from Dover & Calais are different to the norm, wherby you can arrive early at the port and actually travel on an earlier ferry without extra charge. This does depend on how early you turn up and also is space dependent. (Tip! If you do turn up early drive straight to vehicle check-in, DO NOT go into the terminal building as they will make a charge for the change in sailing and in my experience the vehicle check-ins do not. Please note, this advice is freely given and I cannot guarentee it being correct at the time of your sailing. However it has always been the same on the numerous occasions I have travelled with family). Likewise if you are running late, the companies will often let you on the next available ship, space permitting. Don't panic if you are travelling late at night and cannot inform the company that you are running late due to problems encountered during your journey. Believe me they have seen it and heard it all before and are fully understanding that when the call centres are shut it is not possible for you to phone and inform them of being late. On the couple of occasions I have arrived at Calais about an hour late, it was a simple case of transferred to the next available ferry.

Listen out for boarding announcements regarding your sailing - don't be late back to your vehicle!

If you do get out of your vehicle at the port, please be very careful when walking around. Ferry Ports can be and are dangerous places if you do not pay attention. This is especially important for the ports of Dover and Calais where there are over 200 marshalling lanes with cars, coaches and lorries moving constantly.

Once onboard

It's in your best interests to familiarise yourself with the safety notices and listen carefully to the safety announcement played on departure.

Keep your belongings with you at all times. Try not to block the stairways or corridors with your bags, as not only it is dangerous, it really gets on peoples nerves!

If you're travelling with kids, remember that the ship isn't a crèche, and your fellow passengers may not appreciate your little bundles of joy crawling between their legs for the whole crossing. For all our sakes, please keep them under control.

Go shopping! Don't forget to pick up all the things you might need for your time abroad - continental adapters? headlight converters? GB sticker?

You might like to know that onboard tills will only accept credit cards (that's Visa, AMEX and MasterCard, but not Visa debit). That means that Maestro, Solo and Visa Electron won't be accepted. Both Sterling and Euros are accepted onboard all the ships.

Don't forget that not all ships run on British time, however the times quoted on your tickets are local times.

Most of all, relax - it's your holiday don't forget.

Disembarkation - arriving and exploring your destination

Just as you did when you checked-in, have your passports ready to show the immigration service.

Don't forget to drive on the correct side of the road!

Don't overload your vehicle! Roughly, a case of beer weighs 17 kg, a case of wine weighs 15 kg, and a case of champagne 22 kg. In France on the spot fines of £100 are levied for overloaded vehicles, in England the penalty is £40 plus 3 penalty points. In addition the Police will issue a PG9 notice which prohibits you from moving the vehicle until the excess weight is removed. You also must have a new MOT done before the PG9 is lifted.

If you are a foot passenger, don't forget that you'll have to get your purchases on and off the ship as well as keeping them safe when onboard. Don't buy more then you can carry or you (and your back) might live to regret it...