Having heard that the ‘Brexit’ debacle would create Customs & Excise searches, additional passport checks and other travel-bothering delays, I sought to assess the situation with my customary (for the past 20 years at least) annual day-trip to Belgium, using the Dover-Calais ferry route. In that double-decade experience, I have never been subjected to a vehicle search, or much more than a solitary outbound question as to my intended destination.
However mad it may seem to take a day-trip to the continent, it is an adventure that I have always enjoyed, by which to carry out a minor shopping expedition, enjoy a meal, or two, and to take some photographs, all of which had started in the halcyon days of ‘duty-free’. Departing Lincolnshire at 3.15am, to catch a Dover ferry, or Folkestone Chunnel train service at around 7.00am, returning to British soil at approximately 7.00pm, adds additional lustre to the festive period.
Yet, for the first time ever, the delays commenced in Dover. It took more than 30 minutes to pass through Gallic Passport Control at the port. I have never experienced that delay before. The DFDS ticket control was a delight by comparison, my e-mail booking supported by a cheery greeting, notification of priority boarding and receiving the access code for the Premium Lounge (a more comfortable and peaceful means of making the crossing).
Naturally, the ferry ride was fantastic, in favourable (if misty) crossing conditions. The predominantly French on-board staff are helpful and accommodating. Being able to buy Euro currency on-board, at preferential rates, which saved well over £30 in fees (on a £250 exchange, made on the return journey) was an easy benefit. The DFDS on-board shop offers not only a good range of discounted products but an extensive line-up of impulse-purchase items.
Having never been stopped at French Customs on the route into France, until this trip, factored in another minor delay. My usual drive north to Bruges was unproblematic, although a heavier police presence was clear on both the autoroute and other roads. Having completed my tasks, I headed back to Calais for the return DFDS ferry trip. However, before even reaching the DFDS desk, my vehicle was subjected to a boot search by the port Gendarmerie. There was a further delay at the French Passport Control, before another one at the British unit, which was followed by another, thorough car search barely 20m after the first one. This was applied to every vehicle on each line of cars entering the port.
We missed our intended ferry but the return trip on the next one was comfortable and there were no hold-ups at Dover. I took time to ask other travellers if they had noticed the extra delays and all agreed that they were both questionably unnecessary and very time-consuming. When you factor in a future £7.00 travel visa fee per person, what was once a £60.00 annual day trip (not including fuel costs), starts to look inhibitive and, if crossings become more time-consuming with what are intentional and clearly spiteful ‘Brexit’-delays (and we are not ‘out’ yet!), this may be one joy that I shall cease to pursue in future.
