English Channel Boat Trips

Have a look at ferries from Portsmouth and other South Coast ports to either France or the Channel Islands, plenty running.

would they like to move between the France and England or v.v. or just an out-and-back jolly? Depending, I may have thought of an idea...

We do need to travel between England and France as we have several days of touring planned for Paris. We welcome all of your ideas as we have a bit of flexibility.

so will you be based in England and want to go to Paris and then back to England or are you starting in one and ending in the other? Is Paris the only place in France?

Have you considered a coach (bus) from Paris to London if they use the ferry? Many coaches use the tunnel so if that were the case you'd have zero scenery. If your bus is on the ferry you can get out and go up on the deck for a view. A warning that the Calais/Dover ferries have quite a small outside deck - they do their best to keep folks inside eating or buying.

I agree with JC if you want a bunch of sea. The ferries from Portsmouth certainly provide the wide part of the Channel and are slower because the distance is much longer, but you won't get the White Cliffs moment... Navy ships to see in Portsmouth though, which you don't get at Dover.

As someone who has used the ferries from Portsmouth many times, I can assure you that you will see white cliffs as you sail. However, these are the white cliffs of the Isle of Wight and of Portsdown, the hill above Portsmouth. You will see white cliffs for a lot longer, and possibly while eating a very good meal.

Can I add the arrival and departure from Portsmouth are a lot more interesting than the equivalent at Dover, as you sail past the naval dockyard and very close to the entrance to the harbour with its various fortifications from medieval times onwards.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/london-normandy-paris-help-with-itinerary-transport-options

I can assure you that you will see white cliffs as you sail. However, these are the white cliffs of the Isle of Wight and of Portsdown, the hill above Portsmouth.

I was once sailing on the ferry between Gosport and Portsmouth when two American tourists asked if the chalk cliffs of Portsdown Hill that they could see were the White Cliffs of Dover. I politely let them down but evidently they're significant enough to be an alternative cliff experience albeit not so iconic.

I agree with Bob that the departure/arrival from Portsmouth Harbour is far more impressive than that of Dover. You pass the naval base with all its resident ships. Quite frequently there are visits from the huge US aircraft carriers that are too large to dock so have to set anchor in the harbour. There's Spice Island from where naval ships left for war for centuries and where convicts set sail to colonise Australia and a multitude of sea forts built in the 1800's to defend the harbour from French invasion. You will also sail past Southsea Castle, built for Henry VIII and from where he observed the sinking of the Mary Rose not to mention the launch site for the massive D-Day invasion. It sure beats Dover.

just watch out for Navigating Officer Sub-Lieutenant Phillips .... Left Hand Down a Bit ..... Everybody Down!!

HMS Troutbridge at Pompey