"Disgraceful P&O Foot Passenger Experience"
Having booked a day trip from Dover to Calais with P&O, I thought this would prove to be a good experience all be it only a day trip.
Firstly the outbound ferry was over 3 hours late leaving Dover which therefore immediately started the diminish my time in Calais. This was not communicated until I’d arrived at the foot passenger area, clearly nobody else there was aware of it either so poor communications on part of P&O. Finally onboard after what is a very tedious process as a foot passenger, it takes over an hour to then get on a bus and be taken through immigration as well as security before even getting to the boat. Finally arrived in Calais at 4:30pm, over 3 hours late, to have a quick late lunch with friends I was meeting. I then only had 1 hour before having to return to the P&O Ticket office/check in area. Upon arrival there and at check in I was told then that the return ferry was also delayed by at least 2 hours.. this eventually became a 3 hour delay without any reason or apology from P&O. I received no notification from P&O while I was in Calais to tell me of this delay.
Finally back on the return ferry which eventually left over 3 hours late, which then meant we didn’t arrive back into Dover until 11:30pm.. of course by this stage there is no public transport options to get out of Dover, the last train to London had left at 10:47pm. P&O had no answer when challenged about how 25+ foot passengers should get on to their next destination or get home, alas we were told to ask when we got to the Dover office. Alas nobody was there and at least 12 of us were then left in Dover at almost midnight by this stage with no transport options and no hotels available in Dover. This was very alarming as there was literally nothing else to do but sleep in the terminal and wait for the the first train out at 7:30am the following morning. Thankfully a very kind couple offered myself and 2 other day trip travellers a lift in their car to Maidstone, from there then 3 of us were able to get a National Express coach back to London. Suffice to say, if booking a day trip with P&O, be very careful and mindful of it failing quickly and the consequences of that.. P&O were terrible and had no duty of care beyond the ferry despite them dumping us in Dover so late at night and with no other options.
Do not book this experience unless absolutely necessary or unless you have back up plans if it all fails.
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Overall Rating:
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General:
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Catering:
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Cleanliness:
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Staff:
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Punctuality:
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Recommended?
No
Reviewed by Steven who travelled with P&O Ferries on Pride of Kent
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