Calais (France)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Region
Western Europe - Azores - Canary Islands
Local Time
2023-02-03 13:51
9.4°C
8.1 m/s
45 °F / 8 °C
Calais is a major ferry port city located in northern France. Calais metropolitan area has population around 127,000. This port city overlooks the English Channel's narrowest point - the Strait of Dover, which is just 34 km (21 mi) wide here. This makes Calais France's closest to England town.
Calais port serves a huge number of ferries between the UK (leaving mainly from Dover) and France. English Channel's crossing durations range between 35 min (to/from Folkestone) and 1,5 hours (to/from Dover). The inaugurated in May 1994 Channel Tunnel (aka Chunnel, length 50 km / 31,4 mi) linked by rail the nearby Coquelles to Folkestone.
Since the Middle Ages, due to its strategic location, Calais has been a major port and an important post serving the trade with England. In 1347, it was annexed by Edward III of England and grew into a center for wool production. Calais was a territorial possession of England until 1558 when it was re-captured by France.
The town used to be called "the brightest jewel in the English crown" due to its great importance as a gateway for the tin, wool, lead and lace trades (or "staples"). In 1805, it was a staging area for the troops of Napoleon for several months during his invasion of the United Kingdom. The town was razed to the ground in the early months of WW2. In May 1940, it became a strategic bombing target for the invading Nazi Germany forces who took it on May 21, 1940 (during the Siege of Calais). The Germans built massive bunkers along the coast, in preparation for launching missiles on England.
Calais-Nord (the old part of the town) is located on an artificial island surrounded by harbors and canals. The modern part (St-Pierre) lies to the south and southeast. In the center of Calais-Nord is the Place d'Armes, in which stands the Tour du Guet (watch-tower). The structure was created in the 13th century and served as a lighthouse until 1848. To the southeast of Place d'Armes is the church of Notre-Dame, built during the English occupation.
Calais cruise terminal
Boulogne Calais Port is the operator of both ports - Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. The distance between them is 31 km (19 mi).
Calais Port ferry terminal
Port of Calais is connected to the Europe's motorway network directly via the following routes:
- Route A26-E15 serves central France, also providing access to Paris City.
- Route A16-E40 accesses Northern Europe's Benelux motorway system (Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg).
- Route A16-E402 connects the port to Boulogne and the Normandy region.
- The terminal's ticket office is permanently staffed and operational 24 hours a day.
- The main ferry lines that operate to and from Calais are P&O Ferries UK, and DFDS Seaways.
- At approx 4 ml (6,5 km) from Calais is Coquelles, where is located the Eurotunnel terminal. Coquelles also offers a direct train link Calais - Paris.
- Calais Terminal's location (GPS coordinates) are: latitude (50:57:58N or 50.96622) and longitude (1:51:43E or 1.86201).
- Terminal's address is "Car Ferry Terminal, 62100 Calais, France".
Port's parking service is free - a public car park is located right in front of the Terminal building. However, the parking lot is unsecured and vehicles owners park there at their own risk.
Port Calais cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Calais, France. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.
Day | Ship | Arrival | Departure |
---|---|---|---|
14 August, 2024 Wednesday | ![]() | 15:00 | 21:00 |
29 August, 2024 Thursday | ![]() | 14:00 | 20:00 |
- Accidents
Dover-Calais ferry services suspended due to strike in France
Ferry services to/from Calais (France) were suspended due to a national strike in France. P&O Ferries said it had produced an optimized sailing...
January 20, 2023 - Accidents
Ferry companies DFDS and P&O apologize for long waits at UK border controls
Ferry operators DFDS and P&O Ferries apologized for the long waits at UK border controls on Saturday, August 3. Travelers heading to the United...
September 4, 2022 - Accidents
UK's Ministry of Defence used P&O Ferries despite condemning the company for sacking ~800 staff
The UK government admitted that P&O Ferries had been used by the military, despite condemning the company for sacking ~800 staff without notice...
July 21, 2022 - Accidents
P&O Ferries forced to reverse an attempt to pay its cheaper seafarers less
P&O Ferries was forced to reverse an attempt to pay its cheaper seafarers less. It comes after the RMT Union had received reports of agency...
April 25, 2022 - Accidents
Another P&O Ferries vessel detained by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Another P&O Ferries ship has been detained casting doubt on the firm's Dover (England) operations restarting before Easter. The MCA (Maritime...
April 14, 2022 - Cruise Industry
P&O Ferries prepare to restart Dover-Calais route
P&O Ferries is preparing to get its boats Spirit of Britain and Pride of Kent back in service on the England-France route Dover-Calais "by...
April 8, 2022 - Cruise Industry
Irish Ferries introduces new Dover to Calais service
Irish Ferries announced the new England-France route Dover-Calais, the company's first foray into Britain to France market. According to Irish...
March 27, 2021 - Cruise Industry
Damen Group completes repair on P&O Ferries' Pride of Canterbury
Damen group subsidiaries completed a challenging repair project to replace one of the twin rudder stocks on the cross channel Pride of Canterbury...
January 13, 2021 - Cruise Industry
P&O Ferries' Pride of Burgundy ship could be srapped
A popular 1993-built Cross Channel ship of P&O Ferries UK is currently moored up on Fal River (Cornwall England) due to a drop in demand caused...
January 11, 2021 - Cruise Industry
P&O Ferries terminates the UK-Belgium route Hull-Zeebrugge due to COVID-19 impact
P&O Ferries UK announced it will terminate the route between Hull England and Zeebrugge-Bruges Belgium due to a sharp drop in demand caused by...
October 4, 2020 - show more news