Brittany Ferries Portsmouth to Bilbao - what should I know / take with (incl 3YO)

[MisSalLaneous]

As above, really. We're taking the Portsmouth - Bilbao ferry, before driving around Northern Spain for a couple of days. I'm a pain picky about hotels, so have those prebooked.

What I am wondering about, is how the actual ferry crossing will be. Should I take a sleeping bag or is their bedding nice (enough)? I know it's ridiculous, but I always imagine there are bugs in suspiciously looking beds. We've got a deluxe, outside cabin with double bed, if that makes any difference.

Secondly, does anyone have experience of this trip? Ds is 3, and from the website it looks interesting enough, but actual experience would be greatly appreciated! Oh, and can you prebook a table for dinner? I tried searching, and someone mentioned the the wait for a table at dinner was too long.

Haven't done this particular trip, but regularly do the overnight crossing to Caen, and have never bothered to take extra bedding - what's there always looks nice and clean to me. The only time I took sleeoing bags was when each of the DDs was tiny, and I took their gro-bag.

Ok good, I will relax then. Thanks for the quick reply!

For ds I'm taking one sleeping bag and his travel cot. He's really a bit big for it now, but I thought I'd rather have it with me in case the hotel rooms aren't quite as advertised (e.g. just one double, which has happened before and ended with dh and I taking turns on the ground due to wriggly toddler!) I love how baggage isn't such an issue when not flying, which is our usual method of travelling.

On other things, I take a toy bag, with drawing things, books and lots of little 'busy' stuff. Take DS out of deck when you're leaving - when you get into the main part of the sail, there'll be bugger all to look at, so DH always drags our lot out on deck to watch Portsmouth slipping past the boat. DH has also taken our older DDs to the cinema on the boat, which he said was fine (though not cheap!).

There is a small soft-play area on the Caen ferries, which the children enjoy. Unfortunately, some parents see it more as a creche (there is no official supervision) and abandon their children in there, so it can get a bit rough. I ended up wandering around trying to find the parents of a 6-yo who'd fallen and bumped his head the last time we were on the boat.

We usually quire enjoy our sail - the DDs get really excited, and it's a lovely start to the holiday (though we're only on for 9 hours).

Great tip re deck, ds would love that.

Shocking (though, sadly, not too surprising) re 6-yo - I'm not an overprotective parent (at all!), but I'm astonished about how some people would just leave their young children to it in public places, not even within hearing distance should something go wrong. It does also, as you say, make it less useable for little ones.

Apparently there is a pool on our ship, which I think I'd push dh to take ds to. I fear the journey is not long enough for the other passengers to get over the shock of seeing my pale, gigantic backside without sufficient covering up...

Movie sounds good, and will pack goody bag as suggested - great idea. If I survive this, I owe you! I'm kind of hoping it will be fun, as after the last 24 hour Heathrow delay (bl**dy BA), I'm a bit off flying.

We often go on the longish sailings between Portsmouth and St Malo. One thing I do is to take my laptop with me (with plug adaptor as sockets are French ones), and we watch DVDs in the cabin. It's not brilliant quality,as there is quite a bit of engine noise sometimes in the cabin but it passes a couple of hours at a time and is much cheaper than taking whole family to the cinema. The St Malo crossing often has some children's entertainment, eg a magic show and bingo, so I find out when that is and work around it. Hope you have a lovely time.

Hi Corriewatcher. Thank you very much for the info. Will get a couple of DVDs together now, including (especially!) for ds in case he won't sleep easily with all the excitement. Engine noise is something I stupidly didn't even think about, and is slightly concerned about as I'm a princess light sleeper - will take noise cancelling earphones with. Only previous time I've even gone to sleep with them was when the windows was actually rattling (wedding season with loads of fireworks, old / historical building, India), so maybe it won't be too bad.

Wish me luck! :)

How long does it take to get to Bilbao? We love Spain and tend to fly there but could consider this as have never toured Northern Spain and really fancy it. Plus dp has been learning Spanish for a couple of years so it'd be nice to go somewhere he could practice.
Hope you have a great trip MSIL

Urgh, please ignore all the spelling and grammatical errors in my post above.

Curiousmama, it takes around 24 hours. It's this crossing. I'm so tired of airports that I really hope we enjoy (or at least don't hate!) this, as it would be so much easier with a toddler in tow. You're lucky to have dp to translate too - I've been meaning to learn some basic phrases for the last month, and didn't get around to it... Will keep phrase book at the ready, as my boss (who is Spanish) said in some areas you do need more than just English. Whoops. Thanks for the wishes. :)

Thanks MSIL. Dp has learnt Spanish from cds and reading books. He has allsorts. You can get cds and books from the library too. I seem to pick it up easily so should really get down to learning some too

We did Portsmouth to Santander last year with a 14month, 4 year old and 6 year old and the 24 hour went really quickly. We are doing Portsmouth to Bilboa this year in August. It was so so stress free unlike flying the adventure started from the moment we got to the terminal to be honest.

Firstly - the pool is B freezing and I'm an openwater swimmer so swim in 9 degrees but even I found it cold.

There is usually lots of activities for the children laid on throughout the day and a disco at night. Things like circus skills etc which all mine loved.

If you want to eat then you need to book your table as soon as you get on otherwise you'll end up with a 10pm sitting!

I'd say take on food with you as you can setup your own picnic anywhere.

One family of 6 setup a full breakfast table with plates, napkins and a pot of tea!

I'd say use the take out at the top of the boat near the pool for a box of pasta, which was lovely and only about £4.00 and book breaksfast instead

There is a little shop on board that does breakfast etc.

But best of all everyone was lovely, lots of families to chat too, but not crowded and lots of space for the kids to run/walk/draw and play. Lots of seating and best of all you can sit and start your holiday with a nice glass of wine and watch the sea go by.

Oh and the cabin - we booked a travel cot and this was great, the bedding was lovely fresh quilts as well so no itchy sheets.

oh and we saw whales and dolphins on the crossing!