Traveling with children, even young ones, is in some cases a necessity, but also a great opportunity to teach newcomers the joy of exploring the world. There is nothing better than discovering new places and enjoying vacation days together with your children, showing them, for the first time, the excitement of traveling, sharing space with other passengers, and the unforgettable feelings of family beach vacations. Taking children on ferries is a safe and comfortable choice that never exposes young passengers to risk, yet sometimes parents get a little anxious before departure. In this article we will try to make it fade away, providing some useful information for traveling by ferry with children peacefully and without any unforeseen events.
1) Do children pay for the ferry ticket?
This question cannot be answered with certainty: it depends on the shipping companies. Generally, children up to 2 to 3 years of age do not pay, or receive substantial discounts. For example, the shipping company
Grimaldi Lines
offers free travel to children up to age 3 and 50% discount on ship passage from age 3 up to age 12.
Also Tirrenia,
Toremar
,
Corsica and Sardinia Ferries
, Moby and other major operators also let children travel for free or apply dedicated offers for them.
Please note. When booking a ticket, when filling out the form, Ferryfinder will automatically calculate any discounts, concessions or free tickets that may be active.
2 Where to settle: the best places on the ferry when traveling with children
If you have reserved the cabin, as soon as you embark, you will have to reach for it and wait for the door to be opened for you. The cabin may be the best solution when traveling with children, for here they will have the space they need to play, to eat and to rest and perhaps sleep. If you have also embarked your car, remember to bring along toys, chargers, spare clothes and possibly seasickness medication. Once the hold is closed, in fact, you will no longer be able to access the trunk of your car, and if you have forgotten anything, you will have to do without it until disembarkation.
If you will be traveling in the reserved seats, be aware that those in the middle of the ship and in the lower positions are less affected by the roll and movement of the sea. Take a seat there if you fear seasickness, they are the quietest places on the ferry. Again try to have plenty of toys on hand, spare clothes, and if possible find a place near the power outlets,if you will need to recharge cell phones, ipads etc. etc.. These are places where babies tend to get bored, and if you are traveling at night you will need to avoid having them throw too many tantrums. Especially not to disturb the rest of other travelers.
On short routes and when the weather is neither too cold nor too hot, it might be a good idea to travel on the ferry’s bridge crossing. There is more air here, we are easily distracted, and we can play by raising our voices a bit. Obviously you will be outdoors, so a small umbrella to shield yourself from the sun, a small mat or towel to sit on the ground, and spare clothes to prevent the vagaries of the weather will be essential.
3 Better to travel at night or during the day?
This depends a lot on the character of the children you are taking on the trip. Traveling during the daytime exposes the child to much more stimulation, which can either distract the child and make him or her go peacefully through the hours of travel, or it can make him or her nervous and too lively. If you have the cabin, traveling at night or during the day should be the same. If the baby is used to sleeping on the road, the night choice might be ideal. In fact, many travelers prefer to spend their travel time sleeping in order to arrive rested when disembarking. Conversely, if there is a risk of sleeping through the night, it is better to travel during the day. Ferries, during the night, are places where silence is golden, so in the common areas and particularly those designated for seats, it will be best to avoid crying and tantrums.
Some shipping companies are particularly attentive to the needs of children while traveling. Many ferries are now equipped with areas exclusively for them to play and have fun in safety. The shipping company Moby, for example, has entered into an agreement with Warner Bros to air cartoons on special screens. If you think your children prefer to spend the crossing time playing rather than sleeping, traveling during the day may be the best solution.
Book the ferry on Ferryfinder
By entering the number of children and their ages in the booking form, Ferryfinder will automatically check the children’s fare and show the prices by calculating free tickets and any active discounts.
Ferryfinder is connected directly with the shipping companies’ databases to have real-time availability of seats on all ferries. The search engine automatically compares prices and highlights the most affordable travel solutions. All that’s left for you to do is to choose your route and pack your bags.
