Before the days of the “Chunnel” and the fleets of huge catamarans that depart from Folkestone, an English person traveling to the Continent would take the train to Dover and book passage on a steamer to Calais.

Here is the Google summary:

“The history of the Dover to Calais route is extensive, spanning millennia, with evidence of maritime travel dating back to the Bronze Age. Early crossings used sailing vessels like cutters, followed by the development of steam-powered ferries in the 19th century.“

In clear weather, this jaunt across the English Channel would provide a spectacular view of the White Cliffs, an enjoyable sea voyage, and (if the skies were unusually cloudless and sunlit) a brief, simultaneous glimpse of England and of France from mid-Channel.

When the weather was inclement, and the seas turbulent, the Channel crossing can be a harrowing experience, even today.

From the last quarter of the 19^th century, many English travelers made the crossing – as the middle classes expanded and grew more prosperous, and as tour operators and tour guides proliferated.

https://www.quora.com/How-would-people-travel-from-England-to-the-European-continent-in-1901-Which-ports-were-used-and-what-routes-were-usually-taken

For the gentry, the “Grand Tour” of European cultural sites and monuments (a necessary complement to one’s upbringing and education) became swallowed up in the advent of mass tourism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Tour

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This postcard photograph shows one of the many steam ships that operated between the Port of Dover and the French city of Calais.

The “turbine steamer” is shown at Dover, the white cliffs and Dover castle are clearly seen in the distance.

A printed legend indicates that this view is from the “Dover Standard Series”, which suggests that there were a variety of sailing vessels in operation.

The postcard was printed in Great Britain -for the English market.

Alas, the postcard was not mailed, so we do not know if the souvenir was connected to a European adventure.

Postcard collections of ships were very popular at the turn of the century, as new designs and innovations occurred rapidly.

I have crossed the English Channel by boat several times, and I would not consider replacing that journey with an underground train trip -even if speedier.