A note on our links
SailLink is three people and one catamaran, and every ticket goes back into Echoes and the crossings. The brands marked "Affiliate link" chose to back us early. Book through our link and they pay us a small share of the sale, at no extra cost to you. Booking direct is fine too. If you do use our links, thank you: it helps us plan next season and shows them they were right to trust us.
As soon as you book
Papers
Everyone needs a passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the trip. Landing in Dover also takes a UK ETA, unless you hold a British or Irish passport.
Landing in Boulogne takes a valid passport, or a national ID card for EU citizens. No ETA on this crossing.
Landing in Dover takes a passport and, unless it's British or Irish, a UK ETA.
Every passenger needs a passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the trip.
Landing in France
On a UK passport, it must also have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive. Since April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System takes fingerprints and a photo the first time a non-EU traveller comes in, so allow a few extra minutes on your first trip. ETIAS, the EU's travel authorisation, is due to follow: when it opens, apply only on travel-europe.europa.eu.
EU citizens can land with a passport or a national ID card.
GOV.UK entry rules for FranceNo commission
Passport validity and the latest rules for UK travellers.
Landing in the UK
Most EU travellers need a passport. National ID cards only work for a few people, such as those with EU Settlement Scheme status.
GOV.UK visa and ETA checkNo commission
Tells you in two minutes what your nationality needs.
Anyone landing in Dover without a British or Irish passport needs one, children included. It costs £20 per person on GOV.UK or in the official UK ETA app. Apply early, because we check ETAs in our system a few days before each crossing.
Unofficial sites charge several times the price for the same form. The official address ends in gov.uk.
UK ETA on GOV.UKNo commission
The official application, also available as the UK ETA app.
There's no terminal: you board from the pontoon, up a few steps. Every passenger needs to board without help and wear a certified life jacket, which fits a chest of up to 150 cm (60 in). Flat shoes with soft soles are best on deck.
If any of this is a concern, write to us at info@saillink.co.uk before you book. Travelling with a recognised assistance dog? It travels free, and our assistance dogs page explains what to prepare.
UK residents can get a free GHIC from the NHS, and EU residents can use their EHIC in the UK for necessary care. Travel insurance covers the rest, and a bike needs a policy of its own. Living in the EU? Check the travel cover on your bank card before buying anything.
Yellow JerseyAffiliate linkPerk: code to add
Cycle travel insurance for UK residents, with bike cover as a separate policy.
Free UK GHICNo commission
Apply on GOV.UK. Other sites charge for a card that is free.
Two weeks before
To the marina
We sail from marina to marina, in the centre of both towns, so you can arrive by train and walk to the pontoon.
Departure times are fixed and boarding starts an hour earlier, so sleeping in town takes the rush out of the morning. Pick a room you can cancel: in rare cases we move a crossing because of the weather or because too few passengers have booked, and you then get a full refund or a free transfer.
71 of 72passengers who answered our 2026 survey stayed at least one night in the area.
In Dover
Dover Marina Hotel & SpaAffiliate linkPerk: SailLink rate
Tapestry Collection by Hilton, on the seafront a short walk from the marina.
In Boulogne-sur-Mer
Hôtel Monsieur GeorgesSailLink partner
Hotel and restaurant on Quai Gambetta, facing our pontoon.
Hôtel La MateloteNo commission
On the seafront opposite the fishing port, with a seafood restaurant downstairs.
B&B Hotel Centre Les PortsNo commission
The simpler, cheaper option in the port district.
More places to stay in Boulogne
To Dover. Dover Priory station is 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the marina, or 5 by bike, with direct trains from London St Pancras in about 1 hour 5.
To Boulogne. Boulogne-Ville station is about 20 minutes on foot from the marina, with direct trains from Paris and Lille.
TrainlineAffiliate link
British and French trains in one app, so both ends of the trip sit in the same place.
Bringing a bike? Our guide to crossing with one
That hour is for passport checks by the border police, life jackets and the safety briefing. Your details go to the border authorities in advance.
Meeting point in Dover
The pontoon gate between the Bella Vita restaurant and the swing bridge. Early? Wait at The Salty Dog Harbour Café on the marina, two minutes from the gate.
Dover pontoon gate
Open the meeting point in your maps app.
The Salty Dog Harbour CaféNo commission10% off with your ticket
Coffee and homemade cakes while you wait.
Meeting point in Boulogne-sur-Mer
The gate of the Prestige pontoon, on Quai Gambetta.
The week before
Packing
Pack for a day on the water, and only what you can carry along the pontoon yourself.
It's usually cooler on the water than on the quay, even in August, and you don't need to buy anything for this. Panniers and the bags you can carry yourself are included in your fare.
Wear
- Layers you can add or take off
- A waterproof jacket
- A hat and sunglasses
- Flat shoes with soft soles
In your bag
- Your passport, plus your ETA if you need one
- A charged power bank: there are no sockets on board
- Food and water
- Sun cream
Since Brexit, roaming between the UK and the EU depends on your network, and some charge by the day. A travel eSIM avoids the surprise: you install it at home and it connects when you arrive. Check that your phone takes an eSIM first.
SailyAffiliate linkPerk: code to add
Travel eSIM app from the team behind NordVPN, with plans for the UK, France and the rest of Europe.
We take up to 12 bikes per crossing, loaded as they are with no dismantling, and kept inside the cabin away from salt and spray. Take your bags off before boarding: they're stored with the rest of the luggage. A bike costs £10, a cargo or large bike £15. For any other kind of bike, contact us first.
OrtliebAffiliate link
Waterproof panniers and dry bags that unclip from the bike in seconds.
Bike prices and rules on Prices & Info
Cards work almost everywhere on both sides. One that converts at the mid-market rate saves you the exchange fees.
WiseAffiliate link
Multi-currency account and card, with the rate and the fee shown before you pay.
On the day
On the day
Twelve passengers at most, a departure time that doesn't move, and an arrival the wind decides.
- One hour beforePassports, life jackets, safety briefing.
- DepartureAt the time on your ticket.
- At seaAbout 4 hours 30 on average, 2 hours 18 at best in 2026.
- LandingBorder police check passports, usually in ten minutes.
- AshoreStraight off the pontoon into town.
Depending on the conditions, the crew may ask if you'd like to hoist the sails or take the helm. You can ask too, and nobody has to. In 2026 we covered 74.5% of our distance under sail, with the engine helping when the wind drops.
There's no catering on board. Bring water, a sandwich and a few snacks: you can eat, drink, use the toilet and even lie down during the crossing.
Before you board in Boulogne
Café ProquaSailLink partner10% off with your ticket
Coffee roasted on site and takeaway food for the crossing.
Before you board in Dover
The Salty Dog Harbour CaféNo commission10% off with your ticket
Coffee and homemade cakes on the marina, two minutes from the gate.
Everyone reacts differently to the sea, and nobody can predict how you'll feel. Echoes is a catamaran, so she sails flat instead of heeling over like a monohull, and fresh air with a clear view of the horizon tends to help.
If you know you're sensitive to motion, or you've never been to sea and can't tell, bring whatever usually works for you: travel-sickness tablets, ginger or acupressure bands. Some tablets need taking before you board, so ask a pharmacist which suits you. A light meal beforehand is kinder than an empty stomach.
A light wind can stretch the crossing to around 5 and a half hours. Avoid a tight connection on the other side, especially after an afternoon departure. If the weather stops a crossing altogether, the FAQ explains what happens.
The other side
Ashore
Once the border police have checked passports, the town is a few steps from the pontoon.
Arriving in Boulogne-sur-Mer
The pontoon puts you straight onto La Vélomaritime (EuroVelo 4), the coastal cycle route.
Café ProquaSailLink partner10% off with your ticket
Coffee roaster and café in town, with the Accueil Vélo label for cyclists.
CyclesPassionNo commission
Bike repairs at 18 place Louis Lumière, a short ride from the marina.
Staying the night? Hôtel Monsieur GeorgesSailLink partner
Facing the pontoon, about a minute from the boat.
Arriving in Dover
Dover Priory has trains to London, and the NCN1 heads north via Canterbury.
The Salty Dog Harbour CaféNo commission10% off with your ticket
Coffee and homemade cakes on the marina.
Bikes Spares RepairsNo commission
Bike repairs in Dover, if something needs fixing before you ride on.
Staying the night? Dover Marina HotelAffiliate link
On the seafront, a short walk from where you land.
Post your photos with #smilesofthechannel and tag @saillink.sailferry. Other travellers find us through photos like yours.
Still wondering
Questions passengers ask us
Do I need an ETA to sail from Boulogne to Dover?
Yes, unless you travel on a British or Irish passport. The UK ETA costs £20 per person, children included, and lasts two years. Apply on GOV.UK or in the official UK ETA app, as early as you can.
Do I need an ETA to sail from Dover to Boulogne?
No. The UK ETA is only for entering the UK. To land in Boulogne you need a valid passport, or a national ID card if you are an EU citizen.
What time should I arrive at the marina?
One hour before departure, at the pontoon gate. We use that time for passport checks, life jackets and the safety briefing.
How long does the crossing take?
About 4 hours 30 on average. The departure time is fixed and the arrival time depends on the wind: our fastest crossing in 2026 took 2 hours 18 minutes, and a light wind can stretch it to around 5 and a half hours.
What about seasickness?
Everyone reacts differently to the sea, so we cannot predict how each person will feel. Our catamaran sails flat, unlike monohulls that heel, and fresh air with a clear view of the horizon tends to help. If you are sensitive to motion, or have never been to sea, bring whatever usually works for you.
Is there food on board?
There is no catering on board, so bring your own food and water. Café Proqua in Boulogne does takeaway, and The Salty Dog in Dover serves coffee and homemade cakes, both with 10% off when you show your ticket.
Can I charge my phone on board?
No, there are no sockets on board. Charge everything the night before and bring a power bank.
Can I bring my dog?
Recognised assistance dogs travel free of charge, and our assistance dogs page explains what you need for each direction. Pets and other dogs cannot travel with us yet.
What happens if the weather stops the crossing?
We move you to the next available departure, or add an extra one if the timetable allows. If neither works for you, you get a voucher or a full refund. Some passengers choose to cross from Calais instead, with P&O as foot passengers or DFDS with a bike.
Do your affiliate links cost me more?
No. The brand pays the commission and your price is the same as booking direct. Where a partner adds a perk for SailLink passengers, it is written on its card.
