Just been looking at the ferries timetable between the UK and Spain for next year and it looks like BF are doing away with the 1 night crossing from Portsmouth to Bilbao/Santander unless you travel from Plymouth.
Portsmouth to Bilbao/Santander are now all 2 night crossings
------------- Basa
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We are travelling early January to Santander on a one night crossing. 9am sailing from Portsmouth. The crossing later in the week is two nights. If they are all two nights going forward then I'll consider the drive through France.
We fancy that stretch of coast in Spain and then driving into France and then on to Bordeaux but are a bit daunted by the thought of 24 hours on a boat, let alone 48 What's it like ? Is there space to stretch out/chill out other than your cabin, is there much room up on deck to get fresh air, what's the entertainment/food like? We are a 'mature' couple and would be travelling without kids.
------------- Seeking luxury in unexpected places
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We too are a mature couple no kids 2 small dogs. We are in a Motorhome, the dogs have passports, we have travelled with bf more than once to France .
We are looking to visit Spain our first time and France. It’s 90 days maximum , in the eu. We normally use the Plymouth crossing.
Spain would be our first port of call working our way back from France . Any suggestions would be greatly received thanks
Quote: Originally posted by Ironned on 19/10/2021
We fancy that stretch of coast in Spain and then driving into France and then on to Bordeaux but are a bit daunted by the thought of 24 hours on a boat, let alone 48 What's it like ? Is there space to stretch out/chill out other than your cabin, is there much room up on deck to get fresh air, what's the entertainment/food like? We are a 'mature' couple and would be travelling without kids.
There's masses of room on board and plenty of space on deck. With any luck you'll spot dolphins and whales. We've gone to Spain on the ferry three times and it's been a delight every time. If you can push the boat out financially for one of the more luxurious cabins that's nice but not essential.
Quote: Originally posted by Ironned on 19/10/2021
We fancy that stretch of coast in Spain and then driving into France and then on to Bordeaux but are a bit daunted by the thought of 24 hours on a boat, let alone 48 What's it like ? Is there space to stretch out/chill out other than your cabin, is there much room up on deck to get fresh air, what's the entertainment/food like? We are a 'mature' couple and would be travelling without kids.
There's masses of room on board and plenty of space on deck. With any luck you'll spot dolphins and whales. We've gone to Spain on the ferry three times and it's been a delight every time. If you can push the boat out financially for one of the more luxurious cabins that's nice but not essential.
Post last edited on 19/10/2021 17:35:51
Completely agree with seanfdh. We did just what you are considering, Ironned, 6 or 7 years ago now (as a recently retired couple) and really enjoyed the whole ferry experience. We booked one of the Commodore class cabins as a special treat, lovely and roomy with complimentary breakfasts and other goodies, a television and CD player, kettle etc.
We then had a week on the Northern Spanish coast before driving back through France to get the ferry from Ouistreham, stopping off for a week or so in the Dordogne and various other places on the way.
We would happily do it again but have 2 dogs we take with us now, and the long crossing would be too much for them.
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The 2 night crossings are not 48 hours , more like 32.
The departure is around 9pm and arrival is day 2 around 8am (next year, this year departure is 11pm and arrival 07.30 am)
It’s very relaxing onboard with loads of space, there are now 2 new ships which I think are bigger than the existing ship Cap Finistere
i have done both the portsmouth - bilbao and the plymouth santander.
the plymouth santander was 18h and seemed ideal. set off on a sunday afternoon about 3pm and arrive before monday lunchtime.
just enough time for a few drinks, an evening meal, few more drinks, sleep, breakfast time to ride off into the sunset (we were on our motorbikes)
we rode back though france after spain and crossed from cherbourg to poole. the ride back though france wasnt as nice as the time we
we had previously ridden to Bilbao via france crossing the tunnel then taking the ferry back to portsmouth. it was 27h as i remember but only one overnight and the pride of bilbao was an old ship. we boarded in the morning about 11am and disembarked the following evening. it was very boring, dinking most of the first day, watched a film, had a swim, evening meal and drinks then dancing until the night club closed. it was quite amusing watching the people dance as the boat pithed and rolled on the bay of biscay. they would all dance to the left....then all dance to the right.. again we were on motorbikes so couldnt drink on the second day as we were riding home in the evening.
i would choose the plymouth ferry over the portsmouth one even if plymouth is 2h longer drive than portsmouth.
now i am older and take my caravan to france we ususally take the overnight from portsmaouth to caen. if anything the crossing is too short so you only actually get 4h sleep by the time you have gone to bed and been rudley awaken by the cleaners kicking you out of the cabin.
------------- First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
now i am older and take my caravan to france we ususally take the overnight from portsmaouth to caen. if anything the crossing is too short so you only actually get 4h sleep by the time you have gone to bed and been rudley awaken by the cleaners kicking you out of the cabin.
Exactly the reason we pay a bit extra and go out to St Malo, nice long kip. Come back from Caen on morning boat with a cabin, minimal charge through BF club voyage.
------------- 74,going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder
We have always really enjoyed the crossing to Spain. It is great to have a cabin for a bit of personal space but there is loads of deck space and other on board areas. On the last crossing we did, several years ago now, the weather was lovely and we sat out on the open deck for quite a bit of the day. We saw dolphins close up and whales at a distance and enjoyed just relaxing with a good book.
We also really enjoyed that north coast of Spain but you need to remember that it is the Atlantic coast and you will not get the same weather as you would if you went to the east coast of Spain on the Mediterranean. I think we spent about 10 nights on the north coast before moving on into France (in July) and the weather was very changeable with quite a bit of rain and it was also very breezy. There was a couple on the pitch next to us who had been there the previous year and had wall to wall sunshine for a fortnight but then we were talking to another couple who go to the area every year and they say that it is about 50/50 whether you get decent weather in the summer.
------------- Pixie
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An old friend once bought a return ferry ticket for a weekend in Santander - I think he had been watching TV programmes about Rick Stein’s weekends away. But it was stormy, the sea was rough, the journey was hell, and he was very sick.
So he tore up his return ferry ticket and spent his entire weekend in Santander working out flights and trains and re booking, so that he could get back to UK without going on that ferry again.
Quote: Originally posted by madasaman on 22/10/2021
now i am older and take my caravan to france we ususally take the overnight from portsmaouth to caen. if anything the crossing is too short so you only actually get 4h sleep by the time you have gone to bed and been rudley awaken by the cleaners kicking you out of the cabin.
Exactly the reason we pay a bit extra and go out to St Malo, nice long kip. Come back from Caen on morning boat with a cabin, minimal charge through BF club voyage.
It would certainly be a better crossing for the vendee but it’s quite a lot more expensive.
I only hope that in 2022 I can use my crossing from 2020 that’s now been moved forward twice.
I crossed once from esbjerg to harwich, it was 16h overnight but it was long enough for dinner, a good sleep and breakfast. It was a really rough crossing though but since I was alone it didn’t matter. It was certainly cheaper than driving to Calais from rendsberg in Germany where I was working. Actually the hobby caravan factory.
------------- First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
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Topic: Brittany Ferries 2022
What's it like ? Is there space to stretch out/chill out other than your cabin, is there much room up on deck to get fresh air, what's the entertainment/food like? We are a 'mature' couple and would be travelling without kids.
via mobile 19/10/2021 at 11:07pm
