ideas on coping with the peak of panic

I suffer badly with panic attacks and am going on holiday soon on a ferry from Dover to Calais, (following a long drive from my home in Scotland)which I did last year with my family. However, between arriving on the car deck and walking up the two flights of stair to the outside deck, I had massive panic attacks while in the stairwell, even though it was quite a short period of time involved. The anxiety about this has remained with me and makes me reluctant to do the journey. Nevertheless, I AM going, and am looking for suggestions about what to do to help myself at the very peak of the panic, as I feel that I completely 'lose the plot' and am incapable of rational thought, which is very frightening. Also, my husband is a great support, but is sometimes at a loss about what to do to help me at such times. I have been listening to the Panic Prevention Cd which is very helpful, but I would welcome any useful suggestions. CML