Hovertravel Sensory Journey Guide

At Hovertravel we want everyone that travels to enjoy their journey with us. We have put together the below sensory guide to help you prepare for your journey with Hovertravel. We look forward to welcoming you and if you have questions about your requirements please email hovercare@hovertravel.com or call 0345 222 0461.

Ryde Terminal

Sights - expect to see…

A queue of people outside and inside.
Potential for a busy people environment, moving, not necessarily orderly.
Souvenir / sweet treats vending.
Televisions mounted on walls with advertisements.

Sound/hearing - expect to hear…

Hovercraft on the pad- loud engines.
Hustle & bustle of other passengers, including children & babies.
Gentle music playing in terminal.
Sounds from the coffee machine.
Dogs - Hovertravel is pet friendly.

Smell - expect to smell…

Coffee machine

Hovercraft

Sights - expect to see...

A queue of people from the terminal door to the front of the Hovercraft.
Potential for a busy people environment, moving, not necessarily orderly.
Freight, luggage, bikes and other passengers offloading from previous flights.
Pilots swapping over turns commanding the Hovercraft.
Possibility of engineering staff standing on side deck refueling Hovercraft.
Potential to be seated next to strangers.
Potential to be seated next to dogs or other pets.
Doors at front of Hovercraft closing & opening.
Safety video playing on screens, followed by advertisments.
Crew members walking around the craft. Possibly using a clicker, notepad or telephone.
Hovercraft skirt inflating, and Hovercraft lifting off the ground.
Hovercraft turning around, and moving at speed over the sea, sand and shingle.
Regular sights out of the windows include spray, people, sand, sea, yachts, ships, hovercraft, small watercraft.
Bright sunlight reflecting off the sea surface.

Sound/hearing - expect to hear...

Hovercraft engines - Although the Hovercraft you are boarding will have engines off, there is the potential for another hovercraft to be running its engines which may be loud.
Potential for a fuel transfer pump to be operating if the craft is being refueled. It is loud and infrequent.
Audible alarm when the front doors of the Hovercraft are opened and closed.
An Audible Horn is sounded from the cockpit before the engines are turned on.
Noise from the safety announcement on departure & arrival.
Noise from the Public Address System.
Engine Noise when the engines are turned on.
Engine Noise as the Hovercraft lifts off the ground.
Occasional clanging and banging noise from the skirt underneath the hovercraft if it is a rough day with larger waves.

Smell - expect to smell…

On rare occasions, there may be a smell of Diesel when the craft is being refueled.

Feeling - expect to feel...

Vibrations from the engines will be felt in every seat on the hovercraft.
Vibrations from the waves striking the skirt will be felt if the weather is rough on the day.
The Hovercraft will move, bounce, and sway in a rough sea.
When embarking and disembarking, the ramp and steps may be wet, or have debris on them such as sand, seaweed, stones and shells.