Poole sits on the Dorset coast, around the shore of the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney's. Brittany Ferries and DFDS Seaways sail from here to Cherbourg and St Malo in France, and to Guernsey and Jersey in the Channel Islands. The historic quayside, host to tall ships, fishing boats and yachts, opens straight onto the Old Town. Poole also sits between Bournemouth, the Isle of Purbeck and the Jurassic Coast, a good base for exploring the rest of Dorset.
With a vehicle
- Getting in
- The passenger car park runs pay-on-foot, with fees due by card at the exit machines. Brittany Ferries lets drivers leave their vehicle at check-in to use the terminal, if there's time, and asks them to listen for the call back. DFDS's car check-in is well signposted from the road; drivers check in, clear security, then drive onto the ship, where staff direct them to park.
- Queue
- Brittany Ferries directs drivers into a staff-designated lane before security, then into departure car lanes, where they wait with their vehicle until the ship's Loading Officer waves them aboard.
- On board
- Brittany Ferries asks drivers to apply the handbrake and disable alarms once parked on the car deck. Crew strap down motorcycles and bicycles; cyclists push their bikes on the quayside and aboard.
- Papers
- Brittany Ferries asks drivers to follow signs to its vehicle check-in booths with their booking reference and travel documents ready; passports come back with a boarding card that hangs from the mirror and doubles as a cabin key. DFDS asks for a valid passport or ID, the booking confirmation, and any vehicle or pet documents at the terminal.
- Limits
- Jersey restricts vehicle dimensions on its roads and can require a permit for oversized vehicles. DFDS's standard car category on this route covers up to 1.85m height and 5m length; its high car category up to 2.2m height and 6m length.
At the port
Both operators check in at the same passenger terminal on New Harbour Road South. DFDS's terminal has wifi; there is no ATM there, but one is available in the centre of town.
- Luggage
- Luggage trolleys are available in the passenger terminal.
- Parking
- Passenger car parkA car park sits opposite the foot passenger hall on New Harbour Road South; it runs pay-on-foot, with fees due by card at the exit machines. Brittany Ferries lets caravans and motorhomes park overnight in its vehicle check-in lanes for £15, unattended and at owner's risk, for early or late sailings.
- Access
- Passengers needing assistance should tell their ferry company at least 24 hours ahead; specialist vehicles then carry foot passengers to and from the ferries, and car park visitors can press an intercom buzzer or call the duty foreman. Brittany Ferries' terminal is a single-storey, wheelchair-accessible building with an adapted minibus, disabled toilets and a wheelchair on request for the shuttle bus.
- Shuttle
- Brittany Ferries runs a shuttle bus for foot passengers between its terminal and the ship.
- Food
- Brittany Ferries' terminal has a café open daily from 06:00; DFDS's terminal has its own café/restaurant.
- Wi-Fi
- DFDS's terminal has wifi for passengers.
- Cash
- There is no ATM at DFDS's terminal, but one is available in the centre of town.