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P&O ferry open to Foot Passengers?

Bob from L.A. !

Veteran Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Francis 2012, 2014, 2016. Camino Norte 2018
Over the last few months I have been diligently moving forward with my Via Francigena plans in hopes of starting in Canterbury in early May 2023. As of June 2022 all signs indicated the P&O Ferries was again open to foot passengers and I thought I could look forward from there.
Two days ago I read on The Confraternity to Rome forum that once again the P&O was going to stop taking foot passengers starting in 2023. I checked another online English rail forum and found the same (similar) information regarding foot passengers.
Needless to say I began thinking about exercising my plan "B" (and "C") options, but then Emailed directly to the P&O website for verification on this topic.
Within 24 hours I received a reply telling me the information I read was inaccurate. "Brendan", the author of the email stated they are currently not accepting foot passengers up to the end of this year, but will be accepting new bookings for 2023 and will be available once their IT department updates their website. He closed the reply telling me their IT department will let them know when this goes live.
I Emailed the Confraternity website asking where they had obtained their information and learned they (Confraternity) had already been in talks with P&O about the importance of having this service available to foot passengers. The confraternity representative stated P&O had an open ear to the topic and is considering a reversal to their decision and may introduce revised timetables to allow foot passengers starting in 2023.
Sorry for the long post, but I believe with all of the back and forth decisions it might help/assist others with their planning and pique others to focus on this topic of their planning.

Good luck !
 
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Over the last few months I have been diligently moving forward with my Via Francigena plans in hopes of starting in Canterbury in early May 2023. As of June 2022 all signs indicated the P&O Ferries was again open to foot passengers and I thought I could look forward from there.
Two days ago I read on The Confraternity to Rome forum that once again the P&O was going to stop taking foot passengers starting in 2023. I checked another online English rail forum and found the same (similar) information regarding foot passengers.
Needless to say I began thinking about exercising my plan "B" (and "C") options, but then Emailed directly to the P&O website for verification on this topic.
Within 24 hours I received a reply telling me the information I read was inaccurate. "Brendan", the author of the email stated they are currently not accepting foot passengers up to the end of this year, but will be accepting new bookings for 2023 and will be available once their IT department updates their website. He closed the reply telling me their IT department will let them know when this goes live.
I Emailed the Confraternity website asking where they had obtained their information and learned they (Confraternity) had already been in talks with P&O about the importance of having this service available to foot passengers. The confraternity representative stated P&O had an open ear to the topic and is considering a reversal to their decision and may introduce revised timetables to allow foot passengers starting in 2023.
Sorry for the long post, but I believe with all of the back and forth decisions it might help/assist others with their planning and pique others to focus on this topic of their planning.

Good luck !
Hi, Bob. I am replying on behalf of the Confraternity. On Monday 28 November we were told that P&O Ferries would no longer take foot passengers after the end of this year. They had re-instated foot passenger traffic earlier this year after much energetic lobbying. I got in touch with customer services and they said no more foot passengers after 31/12. Late that night there was an astonishing U-Turn, and they have decreed (I have a confirmatory email) that they WILL take foot passengers next year. The new timetable with "foot" sailings should be issued in the next day or so.
Confused? So were we. But If anyone wants the email forwarded to them please PM me.
 
Thank you for looking into this! And Thank you @Harington for providing information on behalf of the Confraternity. I have been wanting to do the VF and the confusion had left me wondering if it was worth even attempting to start in Canterbury. Glad to hear that P&O will most likely be allowing foot passengers. That said - I hope their foot passenger schedule will be practical for those walking the VF. As in - a daily schedule at decent times for those walking the VF.
 
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Thanks Harrington for the update and confirmation.
Considering all of the recent back and forth over the topic I will only exhale once my boots are lodged firmly on the deck of the big boat and its moving in a southeast direction.
Happy planning!
 
Last edited:
Thanks Harrington for the update and confirmation.
Considering all of the recent back and forth over the topic I will only exhale once my boots are lodged firmly on the deck of the big boat and its moving in a southwest direction.
Happy planning!
I know exactly what you mean.
But let's hope the boat goes in a south east direction! :):):):)🚢🧭
Bon Voyage.
 
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**(Update)** - December 6, 2022 - I just now went to the P&O Ferries website and tried to book passage for May 4, 2023 as a foot passenger.
I was able to input all my information for that date and completed all of the required boxes up until the required credit card information. I did not book it as of yet, but found I could not even get to this point on their site several weeks ago. So with this progress I believe bookings should be available, but I will continue to monitor the site as the weeks move forward in hopes that things remain status quo on their site.

Happy planning !
 
**(Update)** - December 6, 2022 - I just now went to the P&O Ferries website and tried to book passage for May 4, 2023 as a foot passenger.
I was able to input all my information for that date and completed all of the required boxes up until the required credit card information. I did not book it as of yet, but found I could not even get to this point on their site several weeks ago. So with this progress I believe bookings should be available, but I will continue to monitor the site as the weeks move forward in hopes that things remain status quo on their site.

Happy planning !
Yes - I have been able to do the same. It has given me two possible sailings/day to chose from on the days I looked. One early morning and one sometime around 1730. I wish there was a later one... I want to hike from Canterbury to the ferry in one day, but I prefer a later sailing in case I am much slower than expected. The accommodations in Dover were not inexpensive on the day I would need to stay there and there are more inexpensive options in Calais.
 
Jeanine, bear in mind the trip is 1.5 hours and add an hour for the time change, which might help your cause.

Bob
 
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Jeanine, bear in mind the trip is 1.5 hours and add an hour for the time change, which might help your cause.

Bob
Thanks - but it is the departure time from Dover that is on the early side for doing a double stage day. Wouldn't be an issue if I got an earlier start - but since I am paying a lot for my hotel in Canterbury - I figure I should stay long enough to enjoy the English breakfast!
 

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