For the past few summers we have taken the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo, France for our holidays. We’ve both taken ferries many times before and thought we were seasoned travellers. But it is very different when you are travelling with kids on the ferry! The first time we did it, our kids were 18 months and 4 years old. Let me tell you, I was not prepared for how excited the kids would be, or how our routine would look. It went completely out of the window! As we’ve done it quite a few times now I thought it would be useful to share some of our top tips for sleeping on the ferry with small children.

Take a picnic dinner.

By the time you have boarded and found your cabin (and they have explored every inch of it. Then watched the ferry leave the dock, it’s likely that the kids are getting hungry. It’s also the time that everyone has the same idea and suddenly the queues for the restaurants are HUGE! It’s fine to take food on board the ferry so we prefer to pack a picnic dinner. That way when the kids are hungry all we have to do is find a table and chairs, next to a window so that we can watch Portsmouth slip by as we eat. Of course Tom and I have a glass of wine too. It’s the start of the holiday after all! Even if you decide to eat at one of the restaurants it’s a good idea to take plenty of snacks. Just remember that you may not be allowed take some food through customs once you dock in France.

Get the wiggles out!

Take time to explore the ferry and get the wiggles out before you try and get them to sleep. We usually do this before dinner so that once they have eaten we can go back to an area they really liked. So the kids get rid of any energy before bedtime. We sailed with Brittany Ferries, which is very family friendly, and they had a new ship this summer. The new ship has outdoor as well as indoor play areas. It’s perfect for keeping the kids entertained on the ferry. If the kids need to wind down before bed there are quiet areas on the ferries too.

Take a small overnight bag.

Get the kids to pack their own overnight bag. Just make sure they know what to pack for a ferry so they at least have the essentials, and not just a backpack full of toys. We keep ours to a minimum with a change of clothes, PJ’s, and a comfort stuffy for bedtime. If your child wears nappies/ pull ups at night remember to pack some in the overnight bag. I forgot a few years ago and had to buy some on the ferry. Not only did I pay an extortionate amount for just two nappies, but they only had one size so they didn’t even fit properly. 0/10, would not recommend.

Make them a little toiletries bag for the ferry.

Obviously this isn’t necessary but I do it for my kids and they absolutely love it! It doesn’t have to cost much. I just used a couple of small toiletries bags that I already had and included a small bamboo toothbrush, mini toothpaste, some hand gel and a magic expanding face cloth. Once they have finished using it I put it away. Then it is ready and has everything they need for the ferry home.

Stay hydrated!

Take water bottles onto the ferry so that everyone has a drink in the cabin. The cabins are sometimes hot so everyone might be more thirsty than normal. Most ferries have water refill stations/ outlets. Or you can always ask in one of the restaurants and they will fill the bottles up.

Be prepared…

My kids have never got seasick but I always make sure there are sick bags in the cabin just in case. If there aren’t any in your room you can always ask for some at Reception. It’s also a good idea to have a pack of wet wipes to hand in case you need to clear up and are not near the bathroom. I’ve never regretted taking a pack of wet wipes with me.

Ferry announcements and wake up calls.

Let your kids know that there is a speaker in the room. Ferry announcements/ wake up music will be broadcast into the room. I didn’t think to tell my kids about this and my son was really scared in the morning when he was woken up by an unfamiliar voice in the dark!

Get breakfast early.

Set an alarm and get up early if you want breakfast before you disembark. We usually shower before waking the kids, then split up. One of us will get the kids up and ready. While the other goes and grabs pastries and coffee/ orange juice. My daughter likes to have breakfast the minute she wakes up, so this means we can be ready and have the kids fed by the time we have to go down to the car.

Enjoy it.

Accept that sleeping on a ferry is fun (no matter how many times they have done it before!) and bedtime will take longer than usual. The windows looking out to sea, the bunk beds, the teeny capsule bathroom, it’s all just too exciting. We know that it’s going to be a later than usual bedtime and just let them enjoy it. Ultimately our kids always sleep well on the overnight ferry so a later bedtime isn’t the end of the world.

What other hints and tips would you add?