Hints and Tips for the Ferry.

pau1phi11ips said:
Why does the fridge need to be turned off? Is this in the ferry rules? Seems a bit odd.
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I suspect the gas needs to be off for safety reasons and as there’s no EHU it won’t run for 30 hours off the batteries, so it will be off
 
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OldCodger said:
Thanks Badknee is there much to do on the boat ?
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I've only done that crossing once and I was as sick as a dog .. it was a calm crossing too. But I was on cap finisterre

The evening we left was OK...had dinner and a few pints in the bar ..good entertainment.

But next morning I was unwell and spent the day lying down in bed till we docked.

It's put me off doing it again , prefer to just drive through France now
 
3 years ago we did it with a 10m swell - confined to cabin. You either weighed nothing or 200kg. Could hear the waves slapping.
Poor dogs couldn't be attended to for 28 hours (late arrival).
Returning 4 weeks ago was a millpond with dolphins in our wake.


(P.A. restaurant still rubbish though)

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Howard B said:
What is included in the Drinks & Snacks selection?
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Mainly wine plus tea and coffee and some soft drinks. Limited spirits - only gin, vodka and whiskey and maybe bottled beer. Food wise it’s cold meats, cheeses, bread and pastries. Enough to keep you going in between boarding and your allocated evening meal time.
 
The only thing that has not been said is, put something absorbent in the bottom of the fridge (small towel?) so that IF it thaws, moisture does not seep out onto the floor of your M/H when you open the door. Frozen bottled water is good!

PS. The 'Bay' has a fearsome reputation but its usually better in the summer.
 
Reading this thread with interest as we sail on Pont Aven from Santander to Plymouth next week. The website info says that there is a pool on board but I don’t see any mention of this in the thread. Does anyone know if it’s the case please? Thanks!
 
Yes, there is a small indoor pool, but I have never seen it open in the dozen or so times I have been on the ship!
 
philann said:
Yes, there is a small indoor pool, but I have never seen it open in the dozen or so times I have been on the ship!
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Thanks philann. Handy to know to manage the children’s expectations 😄

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I have occasionally seen the pool in use for swimming in the summer months so you'd be as well to take the children's bathers with you just in case. I've also seen it being used for children's fishing competitions too, hooking plastic fish out of the pool.
 
On Pont Aven it’s a good indicator of sea swell
 
solaris said:
On Pont Aven it’s a good indicator of sea swell
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😂I’ll probably be lying low with a bucket anyway. Not the best traveller!

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We have been on the Galicia a few times but the crossing now takes 2 nights as it’s a bit slower than the Cap Finistere
Used the club lounge but it was packed out the last time, not a great selection of snacks , wine only available at certain times and the prices have now increased significantly. More expensive on the return crossing.
Looked at the ferry prices for next year and they have also increased quite a lot even booking now for May next year.
Seriously looking at the tunnel and driving through France.
 
All this to remember, and worry about
Travel around Blighty and Ireland
no hassle or lists of "remember to bring/do"
And we decided to go it alone,remember,
Brexit decision
 
Basa said:
.
Looked at the ferry prices for next year and they have also increased quite a lot even booking now for May next year.
Seriously looking at the tunnel and driving through France.
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when I did the sums with diesel at around €1:90 plus tolls it was fairly similar in cost. Yes, we could have avoided the tolls and meandered through France but it would have taken 2-3 days longer and put another 2000 miles on the clock. We decided all in all that the ferry was better “value”. Who knows what next years rices will bring!

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OldCodger said:
We are heading down to Portugal later this month on Brittany Ferries. We’re on the Galicia from Portsmouth to Santander. This will be our first ferry trip with Betsy - but we are seasoned channel tunnel users and have driven a lot in France.

Are there any hints and tips folks can give ?

What are the newbie errors to avoid ? E.g. How do you keep the fridge cool ? Or do we forget any idea of taking fresh food and buy it all there?

Any tips gratefully received!
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Don’t let my wife steer it, she was allowed to drive the Fetlar island RoRo ferry last year and she was all over the place, journey took 10mins longer 🙀🙀
 
For those that have done this journey, I’d appreciate some advice please as we are going this route in December.

Firstly, on arriving at Portsmouth, is there anywhere to park up and get a meal before the ferry

Secondly, on returning I understand the ship docks around 8pm now. So for those of you who have a good distance to get home, do you just head straight for home or is there somewhere relatively nearby where you can settle down for the night.

Thanks
Graham
 
At both Portsmouth and Santander there’s a small cafe/restaurant and shop where you can get food and drink and there toilet facilities. Nothing fancy. Not sure of the opening hours though.

They let you on the dock quite early and folks were getting coffeees etc for a while. Lots of bikes use the ferry (we are queuing at Santander right now) and there’s about 20/30 queuing - including one that is being pushed round the car park trying to bump start it!

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At Portsmouth you can Park at Port Solent.
Nice Harbour and housing development with assorted shops and restaurants. We left home early to ensure we didnt miss the crossing and spent a couple of hours there.
Just check you dont fall foul of the congestion fee.
 
DBK said:
I've only done the trip in the Pont Aven which has a nice restaurant you have to book for evening meals. I'm not sure the Galicia has one but there will be a self-service place.

There might be ”entertainment” of the singing variety if that appeals. But I suggest taking binoculars and a warm jacket and join in the whale watching. We saw a sperm whale once and you might see a fin whale, the second largest after the blue whale but dolphins should be a certainty and pods of pilot whales are not uncommon. If it's the same as the Pont Aven listen out for the announcement about any talk from the ORCA representatives on the ship or speak to reception. Folk spend thousands on whale watching trips but you get it for free on this route. The prime time is in the Bay of Biscay and particularly as it nears Santander. Hopefully this will be in daylight!

For the cabin make sure you have a continental two pin adaptor with a hole for the French earth pin as you won't be able to recharge anything without one.

0Sick bags are free of charge if it turns rough. :)
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Just come back Cherbourg to Portsmouth on Galicia. Cabin had tv and 3 pin uk plug sockets as well as euro sockets. Tapas Restaurant was closed on deck 8. The only other Restaurant is a que up one on deck 7.
Only complaint from us is the que! 20m to 30 min and the ship wasn't full.
Other than that I thought it was great! (y) Enjoy!
 
Badknee said:
None for us. Take an extra pillow if you need two. Travel kettle with adaptor, tea coffee milk, we take snacks. Load your iPad/puter up with films, turn your phone off.
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We got straight through in june, just passport. However sometimes they check for meat and dairy. We always put bottles of frozen water in fridge .
 
As seasoned ferry travellers, we sometimes take a cool box keeping it plugged in whilst on the move. You can get down in temp by plugging in at home 36 hrs before leaving. If you’re keen, you even take it up to your cabin. Take essentials like water, milk etc. Stop at E. Leclerc or Lidl/ Aldi or Intermarche for the rest.
 
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OldCodger said:
We are heading down to Portugal later this month on Brittany Ferries. We’re on the Galicia from Portsmouth to Santander. This will be our first ferry trip with Betsy - but we are seasoned channel tunnel users and have driven a lot in France.

Are there any hints and tips folks can give ?

What are the newbie errors to avoid ? E.g. How do you keep the fridge cool ? Or do we forget any idea of taking fresh food and buy it all there?

Any tips gratefully received!
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The Galicia is lovely and the food that comes in with cost is good. Frozen water bottles in fridge do trick. If you take the coast road there aren’t any tolls until a coruna. The tolls in Spain are much lower than France. I’m jealous lol

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