Boats are strange. A big cross-channel ferry can be one of the most accessible ways to travel in Britain — you drive on, you park, there are lifts, there is space, nobody hurries you. A small tourist boat on a lake can be one of the least accessible things you will ever encounter. The word “ferry” covers both.
Big ferries: usually good
On the major routes, things generally work. You book assistance in advance, if you driver you are parked near the lift, and the accessible cabins are properly done. Points to confirm:
- Ask to be parked on the lift deck. This is the single most useful request and it is usually granted if you ask when booking.
- Check whether you are allowed to stay in the vehicle during the crossing — on most routes you are not, so you need the lift to work.
- Ask how many lifts serve the passenger decks. One lift is a single point of failure on a four-hour crossing.
- Book an accessible cabin early on overnight routes. There are very few and they go first.
Small boats: ask about the gap
Here is the thing about boats that catches people out. The tide moves. A gangway that is level at high water can be a one-in-four slope four hours later, and no amount of goodwill from the crew changes the laws of physics.
So the questions to ask a small operator are:
- Is there a fixed pontoon that rises and falls with the tide, or a fixed quay wall with steps?
- At what state of the tide is boarding easiest, and can we book that sailing?
- Is there a ramp, and how wide is it? Some are narrower than a wheelchair.
- Once aboard, is there a step down into the cabin? This is very often overlooked and very often a dealbreaker.
- Is there a toilet on board that we can use? On smaller vessels, frequently not.
The honest answer we like best
“I’m sorry, we can’t board a wheelchair safely on this boat.” That is a good answer. It is disappointing, but it is honest, it is safe, and it lets us make a different plan.
The bad answer is “we’ll manage, we’ll lift you on” from a cheerful crew of two who have not thought it through. Being manhandled over a gap onto a moving deck is how people get hurt. It is entirely reasonable to say no thank you, even when everyone is being kind about it.
Your turn: if you have experiences of your own — the places that got it right, and the ones that got it badly wrong — tell us in the comments below. Every report helps the next traveller.