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Original poster

Ferries to Brittany?

17 replies

herbatron · 03/01/2008 21:41

I am all confused by the choice available on ferry crossings to Brittany. Can anyone advise - is it best to do the long drive - or a longer crossing (bearing in mind we will have a 5 year old and a 2 year old). We have always gone for Dover-Calis in the past, but am tempted by the shorter drive - even for the extra cost. Anyone any experience of this - does it make a difference or just make the pain different??

OP posts:

ivykaty44 · 03/01/2008 21:46

I prefer the ferry crossing from Portsmouth to St Malo, thing is it has gotten more and more expensive at peak times and having LPG it is cheaper for me to drive the distance.

You get on the ferry at Portsmouth in the eve, set sail, there is entertainment on board - so it feels like the start of the holiday already, you can have a drink and relax as you dont need to drive until 7 am in the morning. I did always get a cabing though which is extra.

Or if you go from Poole to Cherborge (sp?) it is a shorter ferry crossing about 3-4 hours depending on which boat and it is approx 145 miles between St Malo and Cherborge - so if the ferry is much cheaper Poole Cherb then it may be the better option.

Katisha · 03/01/2008 21:47

Long ferry journey can be a bit of a chore - depends how they are in the car I'd say. If they just go to sleep then fine. Last year we went for the shorter drive option and I have to say it was great to get to the gite in an hour instead of 5 .

welshdeb · 03/01/2008 21:48

We do the overnight crossings portsmouth to st malo or caen.

We have a touring caravan so only my dh drives, so its mostly his choice about the long drive versus the more costly crossing.

Also we live in Wales so its also closer to Portsmouth that Dover.

This year we have booked (in September) with LD lines who were much cheaper than brittany ferries.

I like it as it really breaks up the journey, especially if you aren't a very good sailor.

Also my dc get very bored and start to bicker and squabble after about 4 hours in the car so its a very good way of breaking the journey for them too.

littlelapin · 03/01/2008 21:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BettySpaghetti · 03/01/2008 21:51

WE've usually done the overnight crossings too. I'm not overly keen on ferries so would rather be lying down/sleeping so we get a cabin and sleep.

Children find it a big adventure too.

pointydog · 03/01/2008 21:51

we liked more ferry time and it was very exciting to sleep on it (portsmouth to st malo too). As others have said, lots of good entertainment. Although you've to do the long ferry journey during the day on the way back which didn't save us journey time as we don;t like driving through the night

ChippyMinton · 03/01/2008 21:53

From London to Brittany I usually book the Poole-Cherbourg ferry (not the fastcraft aka vomit comet) as it cuts down on the driving, compared with Dover-Calais. Does cost a lot more though. LD lines is a good alternative (Portsmouth -Le Havre).

gigglewitch · 03/01/2008 21:55

we have done the overnight ones. it does work out more expensive, because you have to have a cabin, but it is soooo much less stress.
BTW - and sorry if you already know this...ramble alert!! If you are a member of the camping&caravanning club or whatever, check their links, we do it with the caravan club and get cheap insurance through them plus money off the ferry fares, a decent percentage off. if you are not in one of the clubs it might even be worth looking into joining as you'd save more than the thirty quid or so it costs to join. also look into Tesco clubcard deals if you have points with them cos you can have something off there too.

Lucycat · 03/01/2008 21:56

we're going out Plymouth to Roscoff which is even closer to Brittany for you and returning Caen - Portsmouth via the Loire.

both overnight as I need to lie down too to survive the ferry"!

nuttynoel · 03/01/2008 21:57

I'll join the consensus for the overnight.
The kids used to fall asleep in the cabin before the ferry left. Loved their faces the following morning when they realised we were in France!
Also, can't really say why, but I used to love getting the overnight ferry back from Le Havre (when you could). Something lovely about sitting in the ferry line. Weird arent I.

cat64 · 03/01/2008 21:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

cat64 · 03/01/2008 21:59

This reply has been deleted

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BettySpaghetti · 03/01/2008 21:59

Lucycat -glad I'm not the only one who has to lie down for the entire duration of crossings.

DP thinks I'm some sort of weird freak because I feel sick on ferries , just because he doesn't suffer

Lucycat · 03/01/2008 22:03

oh god absolutely!

I'm ok if it's daylight and I can sit out on deck and watch the skyline, so I'm ok when we go to Ireland - but I have really bad memories of crossing the channel on a Seacat in October when it was swimming in vomit....

I need a cabin

pointydog · 03/01/2008 22:06

plymouth to roscoff both overnight?

Lucycat · 03/01/2008 22:09

no outwards from Plymouth to Roscoff, returning into Portsmouth from Caen, but both crossings are overnighters. does that make sense?

Original poster

herbatron · 03/01/2008 22:11

gosh - thank you for all your replies. Great advice from you all. I will definatley check out LD Lines as well as joining the caravan and camping club! I do fancy the overnight ferry now - it does make it sound quite exciting (umm, maybe should get out more)

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