Brittany ferries - Portsmouth to Caen

[tomgrey]

Hi,

Looking at a crossing in May and wondered what advise people have. Just the two of us on the start of a long road trip. I thought that Brittany had some quiet areas (commodore club) on the ferries but can't seem to find anything for this crossing. Does anyone familiar with the route and ship have any tips on what to book to make the crossing as relaxed and stress free as possible? Thanks

 

[seasideBill]

Don’t overthink it, just go with it and hope for calm conditions. They’ll be a quiet lounge somewhere, there always is. Only thing best avoided is groups of school kids! If you’re lucky and it’s a sunny day, you can often find a sheltered seat somewhere on deck to enjoy the cruise. Make sure you turn your mobile off for the duration to avoid roaming charges.

 

[EuroTrotters]

prefer roscoff or St. Malo Myself

 

[Jenben]

A day cabin on a crossing isn’t much money and allows you to just chill out .

 

[Vanderek]

We crossed from Portsmouth to Caen on Friday, now in sunny Biarritz 16° .... anyway , it was a very smooth crossing on the Barfleur ship. Only three motorhomes on board. There were very few passengers, however we used the club class seats, cost £13, only 8 people using the room, so very quiet, and help yourself to as much tea, coffee, biscuits as you like

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[EuroTrotters]

We crossed from Portsmouth to Caen on Friday, now in sunny Biarritz 16° .... anyway , it was a very smooth crossing on the Barfleur ship. Only three motorhomes on board. There were very few passengers, however we used the club class seats, cost £13, only 8 people using the room, so very quiet, and help yourself to as much tea, coffee, biscuits as you like

I think Barfleurs's easy are numbered, sadly.

Good old girl.

Like by many, loathed by others.

If the Chinese sisters cope well, there will be more on the way.

 

[tomgrey]

That's very helpful thank you. The boat will be the normandie which does not appear to have club class seating

 

[Suenliam]

We always travel this route overnight so usually quiet. As recommended book yourselves a day cabin or even a couchette. These area are usually quiet. When we travelled during the day it was great to sit in the front couchettes and dolfin etc. watch when not snoozing.
Sue

 

[TDub49]

Hi,

Looking at a crossing in May and wondered what advise people have. Just the two of us on the start of a long road trip. I thought that Brittany had some quiet areas (commodore club) on the ferries but can't seem to find anything for this crossing. Does anyone familiar with the route and ship have any tips on what to book to make the crossing as relaxed and stress free as possible? Thanks

Sounds like you are booked already (although BF can be quite flexible if you speak to them nicely) otherwise I would suggest the overnight Portsmouth-St Malo route, especially if the long road trip you refer to has a westerly leaning to it. Nice meal on board, turn in for the night, off the boat reasonably early and 60 miles of the Cherbourg Peninsula already behind you. Join Club Voyage and you will enjoy discounts on food and duty frees and just about save the joining fee as well.

 

[Fragle]

Sounds like you are booked already (although BF can be quite flexible if you speak to them nicely) otherwise I would suggest the overnight Portsmouth-St Malo route, especially if the long road trip you refer to has a westerly leaning to it. Nice meal on board, turn in for the night, off the boat reasonably early and 60 miles of the Cherbourg Peninsula already behind you. Join Club Voyage and you will enjoy discounts on food and duty frees and just about save the joining fee as well.

Most crossings on BF are flex now up to point of travel.

The lesson we learn't this trip was don't book a return crossing.
Book 2 single crossings as you can then make amendments to the outbound as well as the return crossings with no charge. Up to 4 hrs before I think. Just gives you the flexibility to make a last minute change on the return crossing without charge.
once you have set off on a return ticket any change to the return is chargeable.

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[tomgrey]

Thank you again for the ideas. We are headed first to Italy, near Venice so Caen seems a good bet. Many years ago I did an overnight crossing and it was awful. Eventually got my head down about 11pm and was then kept awake by all the people that had, I presume, been to the bar and were now wandering the corridors talking loudly and calling to each other as they searched for their cabins and then slamming their doors closed, when they went into their cabin. Eventually manage to get off to sleep at about 3.30am (bar must have closed by then) only to be woken at 4.30am, but was actually 5.30am in France because the ships tannoy was used and they wanted to be sure everyone was up and having breakfast before the boat arrived at 7am, french time. Drove of the boat feeling as though I had no sleep all night but still needed to do loads of miles. So reluctant to try that again. Have things changed?

 

[Jonny1953]

Sounds like you are booked already (although BF can be quite flexible if you speak to them nicely) otherwise I would suggest the overnight Portsmouth-St Malo route, especially if the long road trip you refer to has a westerly leaning to it. Nice meal on board, turn in for the night, off the boat reasonably early and 60 miles of the Cherbourg Peninsula already behind you. Join Club Voyage and you will enjoy discounts on food and duty frees and just about save the joining fee as well.

That's the route we always take and then drive down the west coast of France on our way to Spain. That ferry also gets into port one hour later than the Caen overnight ferry, so still an early start (8.00 local time) but an extra hours sleep.

 

[Jonny1953]

Hi,

Looking at a crossing in May and wondered what advise people have. Just the two of us on the start of a long road trip. I thought that Brittany had some quiet areas (commodore club) on the ferries but can't seem to find anything for this crossing. Does anyone familiar with the route and ship have any tips on what to book to make the crossing as relaxed and stress free as possible? Thanks

Have you actually booked your crossing?

Brittany are doing a deal on their Club Voyage France where they are waiving the registration fee so it is only the £60 annual membership fee to pay but this deal ends tomorrow.

 

[tomgrey]

Thanks for your reply. Missed out on the 'offer' for club voyage. I was wrestling with best crossing and eventually decided that Poole to Cherbourg would probably be best. There is an extra hour of driving in France but the cherbourg peninsular has good roads now. Also I have relatives in Poole just 15 minutes from the ferry, so I can stay over there and then drive the 3 miles to the ferry. That balances out the attraction of Portsmouth-Caen, even though there are friends there that we could stay with, but did that before and we were still almost an hour from the ferry port, versus 15 minutes in Poole. So, finally getting to the point, as the route is Barfleur has anyone got any tips that would make the crossing more relaxing? It's 8am from poole arriving 1400 hrs. Thanks

 

[Spriddler]

has anyone got any tips that would make the crossing more relaxing?

Setting yourself deadlines/timescales is a recipe for stress.
You don't say for how long you have for the trip but my approach is always to relax and just accept whatever comes along. If I didn't feel like driving upon arrival in France I'd just pull in somewhere and have a kip. After all, you have a comfy bed with you.

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