Going to France next Friday on the ferry, done a bit of googling on the subject.
From what i can gather…
Stick it on sidestand (tie front brake on)
use rags to protect bodywork, take some racket straps (in case the ferry are shite) and tie from the rear pegs down to the floor and across the seat
Anyone else got 2 pence worth to add? 
Just found this on the MCN forum. May be of help?
Bungee sidestand to handle bar to stop it flipping shut?
Never been on a real ferry, just to the Isle of Wight. I bungee’d my side stand and velcro’d my brake, I was the only one to do anything of all the bikes I met on the way there and back! But its a smooth ferry
Spent 5 hours on a ferry.
Position bike so seat is in line with the anchor points on the floor left and right.
Steering lock on.
Put bike on side stand! :w00t:
Switch off motion alarm.
Look around to see what everyone more experienced than you is doing!
Put something soft over the seat - the ferry I was on supplied cushioned pads, so i used 3 of their pads.
Run the anchoring strap from one anchor point over the pads on your seat and across to the other anchor point (not touching any paintwork)
Tighten ratchet strap until very firm. Don’t compress your suspension too much!
Test the bike wont move side to side and for and aft.
Notes: the ferry had decent straps etc I didnt need to bring my own. I left some gear with the bike too which was there when I got back… disclaimer: on your own head be it!
Job done.
+1 i use the cross channel ferrys on a regular basis, never had any issues. I always leave panniers, tank bag etc… on the bike i even leave my helmet bungied to the bike, but i make sure to take passport, wallet, mobile with me, just in case
one quick note, it is your responsability to make sure the bike is secure, even if a member of the crew helps you, so make sure to check.
Defo make sure you are happy that bike is secured down.
The car decks are locked off at sea so there’s little chance of stuff going missing - it would be bad PR for the ferry company if things did.
I’ve found the deckhands to be quite helpful - last crossing was Irish Sea on a rough night and the bloke did a grand job in helping to anchor the bike.
We’ve done P&O to France once and Seafrance twice. Would definitely recommend Seafrance - their boats have special slots that you ride into, and their staff are very thorough and helpful. The P&O crossing we just seemed to be strapped to the side of the boat!
Oh, and the queues for Seafrance at Dover at about a tenth of the length of the P&O ones …
used P&O and Sea France already this year and just booked for Sea France again, much better IMO than P&O just throw the strap over the bike and using the supplied pad tighten the strap until it starts to compress the suspension a bit. leave the bike in gear, I prefer to leave the bike on its centre stand, you may not have the choice, either way just make sure the strap isn’t in a position where it can slip or loosen and the jobs a good’un. I also leave my helmet on the bike I just secure it with a small cable lock.
Snigger…
I had you down as a SAGAlout not a YHA’er…
Mate booked the ferry yonks ago, think its P&O, well ill make the best of it. Ill take some straps too just in case.
Ta guys
have used ferries with both slots and none, I always got someone to sit on the rear, while I strapped it down in between the slots
have also strapped it to the side of ferry, sidestand towards the wall
never had one fall over yet
went with P&O in June to france with the bike. tbh the deckhands got involved as much as possible and were doing most of the work. just simply ride between the anchor points, pop the bike on the side stand, put it in gear, ratchet strap from anchor point to anchor point over the seat. job’s a good un. did myself and a load of others fine for the journey there and back.
We use furry handcuffs to attach a dedicated deckhand to the bike for the duration of the crossing.
36 hrs to Bilbao was our longest, so we left him with a bottle of water and a chorizio just out of reach so he`d hunker down and tighten the straps.
We threw him a couple of old Pesetas and the key as we left.
Julie works in the field of recruitment and personnel management so I felt vindicated in my actions.
Hola Manuel if yer a member, good job well done and we will be in touch should the need arise again.
I believe the LD Lines high speed ferry now has proper front wheel clamps and straps…
Stenna line also have some slotted bike racks and they then use the rear footpegs to hold the bike down, not a strap over the seat.
If you have a ratchet strap over the seat, make sure the ratchet is on the same side as the sidestand. If it’s the other way round then as you tighten it you pull the bike off the side stand.
