I travel around Europe aboard all kinds of ferries, from small domestic passenger only vessels to giant cruise ferries and hydrofoils to hovercraft to show you ferry travel is THE way to travel from A2B when visiting the continent.
But, what about this – a giant hybrid double ended ferry!
In June 2023 P&O Ferries introduced P&O Pioneer, the world’s largest double ended ferry, onto their Dover (UK) to Calais (France) route. Having two bows and two bridges nothing like this has ever been seen before.
P&O Pioneer has an array of impressive engineering technology however, as A2B via Sea focuses on tourists around the world who wish to visit Europe, I won't dwell too much on this.
Within the Port of Dover and the Port of Calais it is common practice for ferries to turn within the confines of their respective harbours so the vessel can face the direction of travel. P&O Pioneer is different. Being a ‘double ender’ she simply sails directly off/onto the berth saving passengers valuable time so they can head off on their adventures.
Let’s get aboard this ground-breaking ferry and I’ll show you around.
Grab a cuppa, curl up, get comfy and let’s go aboard.
Both the Port of Calais and Port of Dover are located on major roads offering direct access to the motorway network so, if travelling to Paris, Brussels or London you’ll find travelling to these ports very stress free.
Embarking at the Port of Dover, having passed through French Border Control, UK Border Control and vehicle check-in, you are directed to a designated vehicle lane where you wait until being called forward for embarkation.
On my journey it took as little as 15minutes to pass through these formalities – all very streamlined and stress-free, though please allow additional time at weekends and national holidays.
Below, my vlog of the Port of Dover
Should you arrive at the port early, there is a large building at the head of the vehicle lanes incorporating a coffee outlet, snack bar, shop, WC and an excellent observation deck permitting uninterrupted views of the port.
For those of you travelling to the UK, the Port of Calais benefits from having a large duty and tax free shopping centre offering wines, beers, spirits, tobacco, fragrances, confectionary and children’s toys with savings of up to 50% on high street prices.
Upstairs there is a large, spacious and comfortable lounge where snacks and coffee are available from 0700hrs to 1900hrs Monday to Sunday.
Please note, this facility is only available if your ferry is berthed in the new port.
Embarkation time. Whilst coaches and commercial vehicles are positioned aboard P&O Pioneer’s lower decks, tourist cars, motorhomes and caravans benefit from having a dedicated vehicle deck (Deck 7) which is accessed via a wide non-slip ramp on the ships’ bow.
One will find the dedicated well lit vehicle deck completely unobstructed with wide lanes and no trip hazards. First impressions count and P&O Pioneer does this in spades.
As you will not find any articulated lorries on this vehicle deck you will not have any anxiety caused by intimidating towering juggernauts jostling for space plus, if you are travelling with children who require the use of a buggy, you have the additional room to get everything out of your vehicle. Ideal!
Numerous electric car charging points (22kw AC charging units plus 32kw DC units with CCS connection) can be found on the bulkhead (during the time of my journey these were being wired in - charge may be applied once operational) and direct access to the ships’ main accommodation just one deck above via an elevator or flight of stairs.
It should be noted on the vehicle deck I was overcome by the sound of ‘nothingness’ – no ship engine noise, no engine vibration, no metallic sounds of vehicle lashing chains on bare metal deck flooring – all was very peaceful and surreal and immediately put me at ease and excited to be heading off to the continent.
For those of you travelling with your four legged furry friend there is direct access to the dedicated Family Pet Lounge from this car deck – no need to transit the rest of the vessel where the family dog may get anxious or overwhelmed by other passengers, everyone aboard is catered for! I’ll come back to this later.
Having made the short journey to the passenger decks via a single flight of stairs which were spotlessly clean, I enter the ships’ main accommodation. WOW!
Passenger amenities aboard P&O Pioneer are located on two decks, 8 & 9.
Now, as this ship is a ‘double ender’, for the benefit of this blog I will refer to facilities as the ‘Dover end’ and ‘Calais end’ but don’t worry, navigation aboard is exceptionally easy!
Deck 8 is essentially divided into three with two full width halls separating the sections; if necessary areas of the ship can be closed off.
These halls would not look out of place within a contemporary four or five star city hotel owing to their deep pile carpeting and subtle ceiling lighting which are more akin to works of art - what an entrance!
Large flatscreen digital deck plans adorn the walls conveniently positioned near the stairwells which give access to car deck 7 below and passenger Deck 9 above.
Starting off amidships, dominating the centre portion of Deck 8 is The Food Market, a vast ‘grab & go’ catering facility providing an array of sandwiches, pizzas and pastries plus hot and cold beverages.
The Food Market is also ideal for a last minute stop prior to disembarking P&O Pioneer to grab some snacks and a coffee prior to your onward journey - why spend time in a motorway service station when you should be enroute to your destination?
The tills are self service but don't worry, staff are on hand should you need their assistance - all are more than happy to help. Plus, as you can see from the picture below, sturdy wooden child high chairs are available should you require one - why haul your equipment around the ship when you can use P&O Ferries?
The Food Market seating area flanks both sides of the servery where passengers can eat their meals and marvel at the passing vistas through the giant walls of curved glass which span two decks and actually extend beyond the sides of the ships' hull - impressive!.
Floor to ceiling partitions effectively subdivide the vast spaces into smaller sections whilst still allowing natural light to flood into the heart of the ship.
Virtually every seat, whether it's a sofa in a 'family booth', bar stool, tub chair or bench
has a USB / three pin power socket in close proximity. No more walking around halls and corridors looking for a seldom socket to charge your camera or laptop.
Below, note the abundance of electrical / USB sockets plus wireless charging pads on the table in the foreground.
The décor within the seating areas is light and unoffensive with a Scandinavian vibe of light wood and brilliant white bulkheads throughout.
Flecks of brass from the light fittings resemble falling autumn leaves, which to me is very apt considering several highly attractive faux trees adorn the dining room and come complete with circular benches around their trunks.
P&O Pioneer has an open plan layout with wide aisles throughout allowing passengers to move around freely with ease, ideal if you are in a wheelchair or have walking difficulties.
Within the Food Market seating area one can find a children’s playroom which offers interactive games such as air hockey and a slide. Its glazed walls allow parents or guardians to watch the children play safely.
On a personal note I would replace the contemporary faux tree nearest too the children's playroom with something more 'fairy tail' so younger children (toddlers) can have a picnic around the trunk of an 'Alice in Wonderland' style tree and create a zone specifically for younger children.
A digital selfi wall where one can scan a QR code and upload a photo for all aboard to see is also located within the seating area of the Food Market– there is a ‘filter’ to stop passengers posting anything 'naughty'.
Moving away from the centralised Food Market, at the ‘Calais end’ of this deck is the ships' Bar Lounge incorporating a coffee shop and exterior deck with seating.
Sub divided into smaller sections, groups, couples and families alike will find a little section to call their own and if you are travelling solo don’t worry, you’ll be assured of a warm welcome and almost guaranteed to make new friends as you gaze out to sea chatting to fellow passengers.
Below, note the giant windows.
You'll note the large array of seating from bar stools, tub chairs and sofas plus some subtle touches thoughtfully introduced by P&O from sofas mounted high on the walls so passengers can see the passing vistas over the heads of those sitting by the windows to 'self aligning' swivel arm chairs which automatically return to their original positions when not in use.
A gaming arcade can be found off one of the side lounges.
At the ‘Dover end’ of Deck 8 the vast airport style World Duty Free shopping area dominates the final third section.
Glossy, brilliant white and matt black floor tiles effectively leads ones eye deep into the mall where wide aisles tempt passengers to meander around the numerous free standing units and floor to ceiling shelving units, all of which are packed full of wines, beers, spirits and fragrances.
The lack of engine room vibration is particularly noticeable here as there was no deafening noise from the bottles vibrating against each other.
Several windows allow glimpses of the sea which makes for a very nice shopping experience though it does mean when travelling to/from the Port of Dover (assuming this double ended ferry is facing 'that' way) this shop is the only public area where views of the White Cliffs of Dover can be observed, unless one heads outside or gains entry to the Club Class Lounge upstairs - I'll come back to this later.
The ships’ main reception is located opposite the shop entrance – the crew within were observed being particularly polite, friendly, welcoming & helpful; all of whom were assisting with passenger queries effectively.
A hearing loop is available in this area for those with hearing difficulties.
Below, note the hard flooring which can be found throughout Deck 8 allowing for ease of movement for those in a wheelchair or motorised buggy.
A nearby ‘accessible’ WC is available for those passengers who are using a wheelchair or motorised buggy. I’m making a particular reference to this as within this washroom one can find a shower unit, bath and a ceiling mounted hoist should the passenger require lifting out of their chair. How good is that!
A partition provides privacy should an assistant be in same room.
Several red coloured emergency ‘pull cords’ are within this facility and should the passenger require assistance, a crew person from the neighbouring reception will immediately come and assist.
Heading up to Deck 9 we’ll start off at the Family Pet Lounge at the ‘Calais end’.
As previously mentioned, there is direct access from vehicle deck 7 meaning it not necessary to walk your family dog through the rest of the vessel.
Accessed at the small surcharge of around £6 per pet (maximum of two), the family can enjoy complimentary hot and cold beverages plus there is free water for your dog.
Screened seating booths allow the family and dog to sit together - the screen providing privacy if your dog does not like other dogs, plus if you family pet has a tendency to wonder off, some booths have a table which doubles as a dog kennel – a small hook on the underside of the tabletop enables you too secure the dog lead; P&O Ferries have thought of everything.
The Pet Lounge also benefits from having its own exterior deck complete with grassed area and lamp posts so your four-legged friend can 'do their business'.
Amid ships is The Kitchen, P&O Pioneer’s second catering facility.
Unlike The Food Market downstairs, in The Kitchen meals are cooked to order; simply follow the prompts on the digital screens to select the meal of your choice, take note of your order number and take a seat. Once your meal is ready your order will be displayed on the wall mounted screens for collection.
Fish & chips, plant based burgers and nuggets are available plus soft drinks
The seating area for The Kitchen has a very similar décor to that found in The Food Market; the double height floor to ceiling windows allows magnificent views of the passing vistas.
Floor to ceiling particions effectively zone this large facility into smaller areas whilst still allowing natural light to illuminate its interior which its self has a neutral colour pallet with a Scandinavian vibe.
Below, cruising past the French coastline whilst dining
Below, note the abundance of power sockets at every table whether you are positioned in a family booth with sofas or pirched on a contemporary bar stool.
Commercial drivers have their own dedicated facility on the opposite side of the vessel occupying a similar footprint to The Kitchen and Pet Lounge combined – it is vast.
Although it doesn’t affect us tourists, this facility consists of a large dining room, lounge, reclining seat area and even couchettes so these hard working drivers can rest during the voyage. They also have their own shower room – a display on the exterior of the washroom depicts which showers are available (there are many) plus, commercial drivers also have their own exterior deck.
Back to passenger facilities, we are very lucky to have use of two quiet lounges....
.... a refreshing oasis of calm with sumptuous deep pile carpeting and subtle lighting.
The comfortable seating faces the windows - all seats recline, have individual USB sockets and have a fold out table within the arm rest should you need it.
There is no charge to gain access to these lounges however, this may change in time.
Finally, we arrive at the jewel in the crown of P&O Pioneer – Club Class.
Positioned at the ‘Dover end’ of Deck 9, this is a ticket only facility – a charge of £24 per person if booked in advance or £27 if you purchase your ticket onboard from the ships’ reception (prices subject to change)
One enters the lounge via a pair of double glass doors with an attractive etched emblem; new technology is presently being introduced to allow entry as per the picture below.
Club Class is in an L-shaped configuration wrapping around the deck allowing for two separate areas; a lounge and a dining area.
Below, the dining area
A continuous supply of freshly prepared hot food is provided by an attentive crew person; one can simply help themselves from the buffet during the course of the English Channel crossing.
Alcoholic and soft drinks plus hot beverages are also included in the cost of the entry ticket.
Meals vary depending on the time of day. During my crossing I sampled a hot full English breakfast which certainly set me up for the day and for those of you with a lengthy onward journey this will save you valuable time and money not having to stop enroute.
At the aft end of Club Class is an exquisite lounge with oversized sofas, giant arm chairs and tub chairs, all neatly positioned around a conveniently located table beneath attractive lighting.
As with the rest of the public areas, power sockets are in abundance.
The Club Class lounge benefits from having large windows on three sides permitting views of the passing vistas via a private exterior deck.
This lounge is the only lounge aboard where views of the White Cliffs of Dover can be viewed therefore, if visiting the UK why not treat yourself to Club Class, raise a glass of complimentary wine and take a selfi - don't forget to upload it to the digital screen downstairs and hashtag:
A point worth noting is during the hours of darkness these windows, along with those at the 'Calais end' of the ship, can be tinted by bridge officers by placing an electrical charge through the glass plus, with the interior lighting capable of being dimmed passengers can be assured of an intimate, homely and comfortable environment to relax before their onward journey.
Imagine having an early morning coffee or afternoon glass of wine on deck on a beautiful summers day. Even on my journey, which was regrettably rather blustery, the full height glazed panels effectively work as wind breaks so one can still enjoy being outside.
P&O Pioneer appears to have been designed with space and light in mind; her amenities designed to allow those within the best views of the sea.
P&O Pioneer has exterior decks on both passenger levels with direct access from her passenger facilities and halls, all of which have glazed wind breaks and contemporary seating.
Why would you want to be in a tunnel under the sea when you can cross the English Channel admiring the views thinking about your adventures ahead?!
Here is my journey vlog.
Why not put it on the big screen and [virtually] come aboard for a look around.