Have made the long trail from north Scotland to Spain using Newcastle to Ijmuiden ferry route, and wondering about trying Portsmouth to Bilbao instead next time. Don’t fancy the thought of being trapped on a ferry for 24hrs, but just hoping to get an idea of how users have found this crossing - cabin size, price comparisons, facilities, etc, and generally how a rather claustrophobic & rather nervous traveller could pass the time🤔
Thanks🙂
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We often use Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry, we have pet friendly cabin which is perfectly adequate and more than enough space, they all come with ensuite. There is a good restaurant and a self service cafe, bar, cinema. We find the time soon passes. Not so good though when its blowing a hooly
Prices vary like anything as to time of year. We use it when driving back to UK for Xmas week when its pricey to say the least but worth it to see family.
The ferry Pont Aven which runs to Santander gets better reports than the ferries which run to Bilbao. Even on Pont Aven the two berth, no window cabins are mean and poky - with a ladder to climb into the top bunk - but pay a bit more and the better cabins go up in space and style. Pay a lot more for a commodore cabin and you are in another world. The website has photos.
The rest of the ship has cinemas, swimming pool, sun decks for whale watching, free wi fi, shops, bars, wine tasting, a pianist, a couple of singers and a better restaurant than most of us are used too. Classy.
I can afford it when she runs across from Plymouth to Roscoff, but all the way to Spain is admittedly expensive. Bon voyage .
We make the run from Inversneckie to Porstmouth. Brittany Ferries are great. I cannot recommend them enough. If you wish a discount voucher, contact me on rhj296 at btinternet.com. You will save at least 10 % through their Club Voyage.
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I travelled this year on the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander. The sail going was fantastic, very smooth. Passing the until about 2pm the next day is really easy. Going for dinner/drinks in the bar/quizzes/breakfast. Spotting whales does pass a couple of hours easily.
From about 2pm onwards does get tedious, if you are towing a caravan, expect to be one of the last off.
But would I do it again. ABSOLUTELY!!
Enjoy your trip.
We travelled on the Cap Finisterre from Portsmouth to Bilbao early this month with our caravan. We had a twin bunk room in the doggy section.
You need to be agile for the bunks, but we never heard a yap from the doggies.
Embarking and disembarking was fine: I think they've done it before.
We thought the food was reasonably priced and good; others may be more picky.
Take adaptors, mini kettle, cups and brew stuff for your cabin. We used a cool bag, with freezer packs, for the milk.
We would have no hesitation in using Brittany Ferries again.
Where are you in Scotland, what it your destination and when are you intending to go???
You can get great deals on a ferry and camping cheques package and the BF routes to France appear to be getting the best discounts so may be an option and if you did a Thursday night crossing from Plymouth, as we do, you will be on the Pont Aven.
So depending on destination this could be a viable alternative and when I priced to options last week, for a April 2018 crossing, the Plymouth route was more than £700 less than the Spain route. Another option would be to do France one way and Spain the other.
------------- Allan
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Thank you very much for the information - got us thinking more positively!👍 Also hadn’t thought of going really well prepared with kettle, snacks, books, cool bag, etc etc.
Think I’ve been comparing to Newcastle/Ijmuiden which was lovely initially but a dozen sailings later there’s just nothing left to do, stock in shop hasn’t changed for 8 years and the bars/restaurants are all pretty expensive. Booking commodore cabin makes a huge difference, but prices for that only become realistic during some low season weeks.
Rhj296 - we also set out from ‘Sneckie and it’s a 4 or 5 day slog to Catalonia, so looking forward to cutting down on the driving.
Hadn’t heard of Club Voyage, sounds really good, thanks🙂
If using the Club Voyage works for you that’s great but getting a combined ferry and cheques deal this year saved over £300 on the booked direct price with BF. Whilst less next year the saving is still considerably more than Club Voyage will deliver.
If you are not a CC member you can book direct with Camping Cheques-which is part of CC.
If you go high season with a caravan your ownclub voyage membership always worth it
(camping cheques not being valid then but you can always sell them)
not worth initial cost for club voyage out of season unless you go more than once
Did this comparison for a mate this year
out end july
returning end august all in school holidays
ferry plus 2 berth cabin £1678 full cost
using friends and family discount off here £1532.20
own membership £1222 Plus £220 membership and sign up =£1462 in first yr £1342 following yrs
(If you can find some one to let you sign up as an associate on their card this £220 will come down to £95 (50% of the combined membership and associate charge combined))
------------- 2022
North and West wales grand tour (in T5)
Matlock (in T5)
New forest and IOW (in T5)
New Forest
La tranche sur mer
jevea (Valencia)
2023
Cotswolds
Tenby
(added a Compass Rallye to crew)
Royan
La tranche Sur Mer
2024
royan
La tranche
'Wyrd bith ful araed-Fate will out'
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We have done the longer crossings and the pay off only comes with less mileage to do the other side,I always think its a good idea at the time but in reality it is the most boring tedious journey ever,once you have eaten there is very little to do unless you wish to spend loads of money except read and sleep, and you very soon find the true meaning of cabin fever .Give me the open road anytime,all part of the holiday for me.So we prefer Portsmouth Caen and its still a lot cheaper even with fuel and site fees for about 3 nights.Whenever we have done the Bibao/Santander trip we always say never again,but I dare say we will give it another go if the fare is ever a little cheaper.
We live in n/ east London and have done the channel and ferry routes and there are pros and cons for both
Ferry- pros - relaxing, take the overnight ferry and a chunk of the ferry time has gone, takes you to the top of Spain without the 500 mile drive from Caen or 750 miles from Calais. We enjoy the drive down from Calais but hate the return route when going home, it seems to take ages!
Calais works out cheaper even taking into account the fuel, tolls and overnights but it’s a loooong drive
Con- expensive, can be boring and from London we need to add another 120miles each way. To Portsmouth.
Nest year we will probably take the ferry
It’s horses for courses
Yes Barry915,We have done Portsmouth/Caen going and Santander/Portsmouth return,actually is the best of both worlds and cuts the cost also .win win really.
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: Ferries to Spain
