Plymouth used a footway, similar to an air bridge last time I travelled through Plymouth Brittany Ferries.

 
With the exception of the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry route, we find when using ferries to mainland Europe or Ireland as foot passengers that we are stuffed onto buses that are overcrowded to the "rammed" level. It's for a relatively short ride between the terminal and the ship. And we find that we are loaded onto the bus some time before it leaves while we wait for the last stragglers. And we find that it's very much "survival of the fittest" in getting on and off the bus, and onwards through the next stage - the seats go to those who, perhaps, least need them.

I can understand the ecomomics of keeping a fleet of buses for just one or two very short journeys a day; financially, the arrangement makes sense for the companies.  And they can use the crappest of old vehicles too.

The "survival of the fittest" is an interesting one and I will leave an open question here as to whether that should, or should not, be an issue.  Don't get me wrong - staff are extemely helpful, but as we joined the bus in Portsmoouth, and then again on the ship in Santander, we were back of the line. Just about space for mobility aid "Henry" on the bus, but Lisa had to struggle to stand while people averted their eyes / looked the other way.  And when we got off the bus in Santander to pass through the immigrations system we were, of course, behind everyone else again.  There's no right and wrong here - just a challenge to find a happy medium; no demand for preferrential treatment but it would be lovely not to consistently be the ones waiting or standing.









I am somewhat limited in the pictures here - rules are not to take pictures in security / passport control / customs areas, and I've not done so.