The most convenient ferry routes
ranked

The study focused on assessing the amenities suitable for families on holiday along popular ferry routes in Europe. To achieve this, we selected 50 of the most popular ferry routes based on internal booking data from Omio in 2023, encompassing both car ferries and passenger ferries.

We evaluated the selected ferry lines based on 12 carefully chosen criteria, reflecting amenities relevant to the target audience (families with children).

Family expenses: Cost is a crucial factor for families deciding between traveling by car and ferry or by plane for their holiday. Therefore, we researched the ticket costs for a standardized family of two adults and two minors. The presented ticket price above is based on bookings made two months before departure in the off-season and excludes the ticket for a car. Since ticket prices vary significantly depending on the length and duration of the ferry ride, the costs were not included in the study’s evaluation.

Cost per mile: Instead, a price per mile was calculated based on the cost for a family and the distance covered by the ferry from departure to arrival. The least expensive ferry route received three extra points, while the most expensive one received no extra points. All other ferry routes received extra points according to their results.

Type: Many families prefer to travel by car on holiday. A car ferry provides maximum flexibility at the destination and typically offers plenty of space for luggage. Many of the analyzed ferry routes operate car ferries, as sourced from Omio’s internal data. In all cases, bringing a car requires an additional booking and additional costs. In contrast to passenger ferries, car ferries were given an extra point in this study’s evaluation.

Private cabins: During lengthy ferry routes or overnight rides, a private cabin, including sleeping facilities and a private bathroom, provides a comfortable way to spend the journey in peace. In all cases, booking a private cabin incurs additional costs. Information on the availability of private cabins onboard was sourced from Omio’s data. Ferry routes offering the option to book private cabins received an extra point in this study.

Shopping: Ferries with dedicated retail spaces onboard offer passengers the opportunity to shop during transit. Due to the specific circumstances at sea, some ferries include duty-free shops offering tax-free products such as cosmetics, jewelry, spirits, clothing, and souvenirs. Ferries with retail spaces and shopping options onboard received an additional point in this study.

Restaurants: Especially on longer ferry routes, families rely on adequate onboard catering. Ferry lines with proper restaurant service offering hot meals and service received an extra point in this study.

Self-service booths: Most ferries without restaurant service have self-service stalls that sell packed snacks and beverages, as well as kiosks or vending machines selling small travel necessities. Ferries with such facilities received an additional point in this evaluation.

Wi-Fi: A public Wi-Fi connection saves mobile data volume. Therefore, we examined the availability of Wi-Fi onboard European ferries. Ferries equipped with a public Wi-Fi connection received an additional point.

Kids area: A designated area where children can play in a safe environment provides parents onboard with the means to entertain their kids during transit. Ferries offering a play area for children received an additional point in this evaluation.

Live entertainment: Especially on long-distance ferry routes, passengers benefit from an entertainment program featuring live music or other show elements. This entertainment makes the journey enjoyable and provides an opportunity to relax and spend time onboard in a meaningful way. Ferry routes offering live entertainment received an extra point in this study.

Spa area: With a rising number of ferries resembling small cruise ships, some providers offer onboard entertainment options, including wellness and spa facilities. In some cases, the use of these facilities is included in the ticket price. Routes where providers offer such amenities free of charge received two additional points. A single point was added when wellness facilities were available but at an extra cost.

Cinema: In addition to other services, some providers offer a wide movie theater program on their ships to entertain passengers during transit. In some cases, passengers can visit the movie theater onboard free of charge. If this was the case, the ferry route was rewarded with two additional points in the evaluation. Only one additional point was added if a movie theater program was available but at an extra cost.

Dogs: Bringing their dog along on vacation is essential for many families. We found that all analyzed ferry lines allow dogs on board. This aspect, along with an assessment of the cost for bringing the dog, was researched for all ferry lines and taken into account in the evaluation. Ferry routes where dogs can travel free of charge received 3 points. Two points were awarded if the dog ticket costs less than 10 euros (equivalent to $11). One point was given if the dog ticket costs more than ten euros.

Sources: Thorough research was conducted to gather information on all criteria and amenities. Primary sources included official data provided directly by ferry operators. Additionally, reputable media reports and credible passenger reviews were consulted to ensure comprehensive research. All sources were carefully vetted for accuracy and reliability. The research was conducted in February 2024.

Evaluation: Points collected for each criterion were totaled to determine the final ranking. To facilitate comparison among ferry lines, the collected points were standardized on a scale of 0 to 100. The ferry route with the highest point total received a score of 100, while the route with the lowest received 0. All other routes were ranked between 0 and 100 based on their respective point totals. The resulting ranking represents the best ferry connections for families. Standardization was achieved using a common normalization formula.