We are due to travel in a couple of weeks on the Portsmouth - Bilbao route, we have had mixed reports on food prices etc and did not know whether to take food or to buy it. Can anyone tell me the average price of breakfasts, meal etc or your own experience of this crossing.
------------- Kaz
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You have different food type places on there.
You can get sandwiches and pizza's and pasties for around the usual coffee shop type prices.
or
If you go into the main restaurant area IIRC it's around £8.00 each for breakfast and £15.00 each for dinner, they are however all you can eat help yourself buffet style affairs.
I do believe that they do deals on the food tickets which you buy from the reception on board.
The crossing is fine gets a bit rough round the bay of biscay but otherwise ok.
There is a small swimming pool on board, but I took my laptop and watched dvd's to pass time.
I went on this ship 2 years ago in late August, when they had a dolphin and whale watch with specialists available to teach about what to look for. It was brilliant!
As Ben9 said, it gets somewhat choppy in the Bay, but we are good travellers and had no problem. If you do get a bit travel sick it may be wise to stock up on some tablets before setting off even if you are usually ok on ships, because it really does pitch about a bit.
The cabins were 'compact' as expected and the food was cheap and cheerful, but Mum and I had a great time.
The 'cheap and cheeful' cafe have a range of options from stews to fish and chips, and they seemed to cater to the British palate rather than the French. I would sugest you go early though because it gets quite busy, but later the quality seems to be not quite as good, we had some 'almost cooked' mashed potato the meal we went late!
The staff were very helpful though, My mum is 80 and struggled to balance when the ship was pitching all over the place, and I use a wheelchair, add to that a dinner tray and you can just imagine it! The servery and clearing staff were always happy to assist though and by the return journey were on the look out for us, offering to collect our cups of tea for us.
They also had pack lunch style kids meals, with a sandwich, drink, apple, bun etc all served in a happy meal type box. I am sure even with your fussy ones you will find something to suit.
You can pre-book the meals in the carvery buffet style restaurant, its expensive tho, just checked for us 4 and it was £246 return for all the meals. Thats for 3 evening meals x 4 and 3 breakfasts x 4. They also said that you save 10% if you pre-book and it saves you a lot of time queuing up etc.
We did Bilbao-Portsmouth 3 weeks ago and Biscay was like a millpond. If you use the cafeteria the food is good and reasonably priced,however, pay in sterling, as it is cheaper because the exchange rate they use is very unfavourable.The staff were all very courteous and helpful and the facilities were good, particularly the entertainment which was excellent. Would definitely do it again but would not use my Sat-Nav to get me through Bilbao but that`s another story!
We're praying Biscay is like a millpond for us to. I keep watching the video on you tube of the storm and have got myself in a state!! got the sea sickness tablets ready tho so am hoping we will be ok.
did this crossing a few times several years ago,
take binoculars - the whale is a permanent feature - although not always seen
head for observation lounge area if weather not so good- get great views and you can see the horizon - which helps prevent sea sickness
as for food - varied - ok - and remember - nothing worse than throwing up on an empty stomach
the bands are supposed to work really well if you have a problem
Just got back on Saturday using the ferry. Prices can be expensive but dont have to be. Prices are all for 2 adults and 2 kids age 12 & 10. Lunch was baguettes/paninis and pizza with drinks - 33euros. Dinner was in the restuarant - 22 euros for family meal. I had fish n chips - lovely, OH had steak pie - said it was good too. DD had spag bol and said it was as good as mine!! DS had chick n chips - not feeling too well but said what he ate was okay. Breakfast was a bit more expensive as we ate in the 'posh' restuarant - eat as much buffet - we thought if we have a brunch style meal we wouldn't have to do breakfast and lunch - only one. This was 33 euros but the food was great - we sat for over an hour and got the best seats in the boat - overlooking the sea in front. Drinking at night could be pricey but doubles are only 1euro more - drinks for 4 allow 8euros. Bilbao to Portsmouth only one night, double this for the south crossing as its 2 nights. We didn't see any dolphins/whales but the south crossing saw 631 dolphins and a few whales. The ferry has a small pool and 2 cinemas - family about 20 euros. Shopping is vast with lots of perfumes etc. Could buy drink and have it taken down to car - obviously you go too and this is during the crossing. They also have beauty salon if you want to have your toes done. Have a great time - wish I was going again. PS cabins are compact but there is plenty room.
Fiona
------------- July - Avignon
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Thanks for that Fiona, you have given us all the info we need and sounds quite reasonable, I expected it to be more expensive from what people have said previously. How was your crossing? smooth? last time we went across the bay of biscay it was like a millpond going but not so good coming home lol.
I did this journey about three years ago and had a great time.The crossing was not particularly rough but since we had an inside as opposed to sea view cabin the effects might have been easier for us. The food is definitely on the expensive side but the whale watching is fantastic. It is difficult to spend time watching out for them all the time but the captain announces over the tannoy if anything is passing by then you get a bit of a mad rush to the decks to catch a glimpse of the school of dolphins or whatever it is that has been spotted!
Keep an open mind and you will not be disappointed.For me it is all part of the holidayand if you are in a relaxed mood you are bound to enjoy it!
------------- Life is what you make it...Just get on with it!
Hi, we did the return crossing last April, returning mid May. We also ate in the posh restuarant for brekkie, eat all you can and we think we paid £8.50 ea. We took the danish pastries back with us to eat later. We also had dinner both ways and on the return leg neither me or OH wanted a big meal, so we got 1 dinner between us and a pud each. Staff were exceptional and carried my tray (I've had a Knee replacement and couldn't walk far so used my electric buggy). Again we always pay in sterling. We've never had a bad time on this boat and will probably be going again Dec/Jan time again. Hope you have a great time and a good holiday. Jan
Glad that I could help. The crossing started off really good with hardly a ripple but then turned a bit more rough later on - we watched a movie from 4pm - 6pm and it was during this - heavy noise coming from the front of the ship and the captain tannoyed that it was a 'wave slap'. We did reach force 7 and although my husband and some others were a bit 'sick' most people seemed to be okay - they sell tablets at reception if you forget them or think that you dont need them and then do!! On the whole it wasnt bad and I've heard different reports about what is normal. I would go again despite the weather and crossing and so would hubby - now hese back on dry land he has forgotten.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Pride of Bilbao
