Question 1

Is the ferry cheaper than driving on?

Accepted Answer

On short crossings rarely, on long crossings often yes. Reckon on around 12 to 14 litres of diesel per 100 km for a motorhome (roughly 20 euros per 100 km including toll), plus 25 to 40 euros per overnight stay en route. Travemünde-Helsinki with Finnlines costs 711 to 968 euros for a motorhome plus 2 people including a cabin, but replaces 2,100 km of driving and 3 to 4 days of driving through Poland and the Baltic states: that overland route soon costs you 450 to 600 euros in diesel, tolls and campsites, plus four days of your holiday. Ancona-Patras, Karlshamn-Klaipeda and Sète-Tanger Med work out the same way. On Kiel-Oslo or Hook-Harwich you are instead paying a premium for comfort and time saved.

Question 2

Can I take an electric motorhome or van on the ferry, and can I charge on board?

Accepted Answer

Carrying one is fine: electric vehicles are accepted on all ferries that carry vehicles, according to the UK trade body Discover Ferries. Charging on board is the exception. Brittany Ferries states explicitly that it is currently not possible to charge your electric or hybrid vehicle on board, and Smyril Line bans charging of electric cars, caravans and motorhomes altogether and also wants you to declare your EV when booking. TT-Line does have charging points on the Green Ships Nils Holgersson and Peter Pan (Travemünde-Trelleborg), and LeShuttle has large charging areas at the terminal on both sides: four 210 kW EVBox rapid chargers plus a 50 kW charger in Folkestone and Calais, and Tesla Superchargers in Calais as well. So plan your charging stops before and after the boat, not on it.

Question 3

Do I have to book a cabin or can I manage with a seat?

Accepted Answer

On some routes a cabin is simply compulsory and included in the fare: Color Line Kiel-Oslo, Go Nordic Cruiseline Copenhagen- and Frederikshavn-Oslo, the Stockholm-Helsinki cruise ferries, the Finnlines motorhome package Travemünde-Helsinki (711 to 968 euros one way in 2026) and the overnight sailing Hook of Holland-Harwich. With TT-Line a reclining seat is also sufficient on overnight sailings. On the Greece routes and with Corsica Ferries you can save 100 to 200 euros with a deck passage or aircraft-style seat — perfectly doable on a summer night, less pleasant in March. Without a cabin one thing applies regardless: you sleep in the passenger area, never in your motorhome.

Travemünde – Liepāja

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