Hints and Tips for the Ferry.

[weemalkie]

Fridge has to be turned off. But you could use freezer packs to prolong cold. Shouldn’t be taking dairy or meat anyway. If you’ve traveled France you’ll be used to their supermarkets, they’re the same in Iberia. Just enjoy Portugal. By the way it’s on the same time as us rather than France and Spain. So you could find yourself getting up at some unearthly hour, not that it’s happened to us of course

We have just travelled Newcastle to Amsterdam then on to France. . Nothing in fridge and never once asked about anything in Motorhome. Normally bring lots for family and friends so a bit peed off that we didn’t. May be different going directly into France mind you.

 

[minesapint]

Thanks Badknee is there much to do on the boat ?

Not a lot, the Galacia is not as passenger friendly as the old vessel, no cinema only one bar, no real entertainment, side decks are the domain of the dog walkers. There is deck space for relaxing on the higher decks, but it is very much a case of cramming as many people on as possible, and forget entertainment. And beware of cabins over the side deck doors as the door closing mechanisms are not very good and the doors slam with great force. The vessel was built in China to Brittany Ferries spec.

 

[Garry - June]

Not a lot, the Galacia is not as passenger friendly as the old vessel, no cinema only one bar, no real entertainment, side decks are the domain of the dog walkers. There is deck space for relaxing on the higher decks, but it is very much a case of cramming as many people on as possible, and forget entertainment. And beware of cabins over the side deck doors as the door closing mechanisms are not very good and the doors slam with great force. The vessel was built in China to Brittany Ferries spec.

Not true.. firstly only one part of the deck is accessible to dog owners...the bar on the Galacia is extremely large and when we were on it in March there was entertainment with a singer and even some games which we took part in.. no cinema i agree but how many folk used that on the Cap Finistère.. and you are conveniently forgetting that all the TV's in the cabins now have access to a large library of on demand feature films so who needs a cinema....

 

[Garry - June]

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

If staying at Port Solent as many do firstly you should go nowhere near the Clean Air zone... when you arrive at Port Solent its good manners to contact the security guard if you are stopping overnight... there are contact numbers for doing this on some of the car park lamposts.. and secondly don't forget to try and use some of the facilities there, even if it's just going to Wetherspoons for a drink... it helps to show they do get something in return for allowing vans to park there. The ferry port is only 10 minutes away.

 

[David & Gill]

I have just looked at the CAZ Web page and it says that at Portsmouth there is no charge for cars and vans.Can anybody living in the area conform this.Also I have read staying at Port Solent is ok for a stop over handy for people traveling down from up north.Is it open over the Christmas period?
Dave

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[Bigjohneaton]

We came out late August was stopped milk bacon and butter taken forgot to pot it away in cupboard never bother switching fridge off as boats regularly pump there bilges to get rid of gas as its heavier than air and sits in the bottom used go do a lot of offshore sailing

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

I have just looked at the CAZ Web page and it says that at Portsmouth there is no charge for cars and vans.Can anybody living in the area conform this.Also I have read staying at Port Solent is ok for a stop over handy for people traveling down from up north.Is it open over the Christmas period?
Dave

If you put your registration number into this gov.uk page it'll tell you whether you need to pay any charge for several CAZ zones: https://www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I have just looked at the CAZ Web page and it says that at Portsmouth there is no charge for cars and vans.Can anybody living in the area conform this.Also I have read staying at Port Solent is ok for a stop over handy for people traveling down from up north.Is it open over the Christmas period?
Dave

Open all year around

 

[Sharned123]

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!

Hope you have successful journey, for keeping fridge cool I freeze large 2 litre bottles of Water, normally 2 in fridge 1 in freezer (but also consider what are you carting given allowances - precool everything( freeze what’s possible) also if have 3 way fridge keep running on gas or battery 12v u til the last minute - just before boarding or at customs if told to turn off.

Safe journey

 

[Wildbill]

Freeze bottles of water at home and stick them in the fridge . Enjoy your trip !

If you are salt to them it gets the fridge even colder
Bill

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[OldCodger]

Not a lot, the Galacia is not as passenger friendly as the old vessel, no cinema only one bar, no real entertainment, side decks are the domain of the dog walkers. There is deck space for relaxing on the higher decks, but it is very much a case of cramming as many people on as possible, and forget entertainment. And beware of cabins over the side deck doors as the door closing mechanisms are not very good and the doors slam with great force. The vessel was built in China to Brittany Ferries spec.

We’re just back and rather liked Galicia, but we didn’t know what’s before. We found the cabins comfortable, but they might be a bit cramped if you four people and a lot of overnight luggage. Food was excellent in the restaurants, although it was as self service. There was only one section of deck reserved for dogs (Deck 7 port side). On our way out it was calm and sunny and the top decks, although busy, we’re far from cramped. There was also a program of entertainment- competitions, dolphin talks. Today (Royal Funeral) the TVs on deck seven and eight were all on the BBC with sound on so you didn’t miss the events.

Overall- we enjoyed it.

With the frozen water/milk (ssshhh!) the fridge stayed cold.

Biggest tip I can offer? Don’t worry about arriving too early there’s only a basic restaurant and loos at the ports in Portsmouth and Santander. They seem to board more in size order than anything else so our over 3m MoHo was in among the trucks and among the last to board (and among first off)

Security checks were strong. But customs checks or Meat and dairy smuggling checks - non existent

 

[Loftyjeff]

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!

Great ferry ⛴ we always do the 2nighter arriving early on second day 24hour flasks a must

 

[Linda farley]

Not a lot, the Galacia is not as passenger friendly as the old vessel, no cinema only one bar, no real entertainment, side decks are the domain of the dog walkers. There is deck space for relaxing on the higher decks, but it is very much a case of cramming as many people on as possible, and forget entertainment. And beware of cabins over the side deck doors as the door closing mechanisms are not very good and the doors slam with great force. The vessel was built in China to Brittany Ferries spec.

 

[Linda farley]

We found the Galicia good. Only fault I found is that because I am disabled I couldn’t go to the sun deck as there is no lift. They did offer to carry me up! Apparently it would have cost an extra million to put a lift in! The bar is big and there was a group performing in the evening. The disabled cabins are roomy but the ones with windows are difficult to book. Apparently people who are not disabled book them because they’re good. It is very difficult to get a wheelchair in any other cabin.

 

[RobertJary]

is there much to do on the boat ?

We’ve sailed on the Galicia twice. There’s not much to do - much less than on the Pont Aven.

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[Linda farley]

We’ve sailed on the Galicia twice. There’s not much to do - much less than on the Pont Aven.

Tbf I’ve never been on the pont aven. Am hoping to use it next year to go to France. Trying a different route to go to moncontour in the Vienne. The route back to Caen last year was fine but we paid around 100euros for tolls.! Via st Malo there are no tolls so we’ll give that a go. Have travelled it once before and the roads were good. Also tbf we’re not bothered about entertainment, but the band on the Galicia was good and we made some friends so it felt more like a mini cruise.

 

[busby]

I take it the advice re switching fridge off is for 3 way fridges and not using gas?

mine is 12v compressor obviously working off the leisure battery will it be safe switched on for my 12 hour ferry trip? The intention this year is to take frozen prepared meals, will they stay frozen?

Should do if you leave your compressor fridge switched on.BUSBY.

 

[busby]

Why does the fridge need to be turned off? Is this in the ferry rules? Seems a bit odd.

Naked gas flame,,petrol and diesel!!!BUSBY.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Should do if you leave your compressor fridge switched on.BUSBY.

Fridge remained fine and cold enough to keep stuff frozen as well both going up and coming back down from Shetland, there is a night setting so kept it on that and all was well.