Holidaymakers hoping for an Easter getaway were facing fresh travel delays at Dover on Thursday.
Pictures from the port showed lengthy queues, while ferry operator DFDS warned passport checks at the port to France were taking up to an hour.
The operator told its customers: “Unfortunately due to high volumes of traffic there are queues at border controls.
"Once you arrive at check-in we will get you away as quick as we can."
It comes despite hopes of avoiding a repeat of the “horrible” scenes last weekend, when some ferry passengers, including schoolchildren on foreign excursions and elderly travellers, faced delays in excess of 14 hours.
One passenger caught up in the delays for cross-Channel crossings: said: “We have been standing for 50 minutes. No movement whatsoever."
The three ferry operators at the port – DFDS, Irish Ferries and P&O – are aiming to “spread the load” of coaches over three days from Thursday, with Friday expected to be the busiest day.
Delays at the port have been blamed on French border officials carrying out extra checks and stamping UK passports following Brexit.
The French border force has promised to have a full rota of officials available to speed up the process, while the port is also installing temporary infrastructure to speed up checks.
Port officials said they held an “urgent review" with ferry operators and the French authorities in an attempt to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s travel misery.
They said: “All Port of Dover stakeholders are acutely aware that last weekend was a horrible situation for many travellers, including the elderly and schoolchildren.
“It is the top priority of all parties to ensure a better experience for travellers this weekend.”
Transport minister Richard Holden described last weekend's conditions at Dover as “unacceptable".
He told Sky News: “I don't want to see kids on coaches or families in cars queueing up and waiting unnecessarily long periods of time."
Asked who should apologise for the situation, he added: “The port have made it clear that there is a difficult situation there, but there were some weather-related issues in the Channel as well, and there are going to be pinch points at peak times of the year, and small things can knock those best-laid plans off as well.”
Meanwhile, drivers have been warned to expect long delays on popular routes over the coming days as Brits attempt to make the most of the four-day weekend.
The RAC is predicting that up to 17 million leisure trips by car will take place between Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Major roads in south-west England and some in the Home Counties are likely to experience the worst congestion on Good Friday.
Queues are likely to be increased by engineering work on the railways, including the closure of London Euston station over the bank holiday weekend.
