‘I ditched flights and decided to take ferries around Europe – I saved so much’

Would you ever skip flying abroad for a ferry instead? Well, one traveller did and managed to bag herself some pretty good deals along the way. 

Claire Martin, 31, from Devon is a YouTuber and travel content creator who usually spends a lot of the year travelling as she loves to “explore new cultures and spend time in nature”.

Speaking to OMIO, Martin shared her European ferry itinerary, experiences and her top tips for exploring Europe by ferry while on a budget.

When asked why she chose to travel by ferry, Martin told OMIO: “Ferry is often the most direct route, and I love the feeling of sailing over the seas; it feels like a proper adventure! 

“The sunsets and coastal views are always stunning too. I also love how you’re never constrained to a seat – there’s a whole ship to explore!”

The traveller managed to visit several European countries by ferry:

• Mallorca – Barcelona
• Plymouth – Roscoff, France
• Tallinn – Helsinki
• Marseille – Algeria
• Italy – Albania
• Aberdeen – Shetland Islands
• Calais – Dover

Not only is there a lot to see on a ferry, but the journey can also be a lot smoother and faster than booking a traditional flight and going to the airport. 

Martin has travelled to and from more than eight countries and has also shared which country was her favourite and why.

She said: “I loved travelling from France to Algeria by ferry. The experience of sailing across the Mediterranean was awesome and I loved seeing the different cultures on either side of the sea. It was a really nice ferry and I had my own cabin, so I thought of it as a mini Mediterranean cruise!”

Martin admitted that when she travelled between Tallinn and Helsinki it was an “ultra-modern” ferry she didn’t manage to “soak the experience in” due to it only lasting two hours.

Martin saved hundreds of pounds by choosing ferries over flights and was able to travel to each destination without breaking the bank.

According to her calculation, she had an estimated saving of more than £200 across her travels.

She explained for routes such as Southern Spain to Morocco or Tallinn to Helsinki there is “no need to fly”.

The Aberdeen to Shetland route was also much cheaper than flying with the ferry costing around £40 per person with a cabin whereas flying was about £200.

Finally, she said that she is planning a “ferry-only trip” where she will be spending four nights on different ferries and hopping around Spain, France and Italy.

Do you prefer to get a plane or travel by ferry? Let us know in the comments below.