St Malo or Cherbourg return crossing

[ptttc]

Hi,
Looking for advice from anyone who has returned on the ferry from a holiday to Brittany.
Outbound we are going Portsmouth to St Malo over night.

But stressed about the return! 8.5 hours in the day with three kids under 4 seems v long indeed for the return leg from St Malo.

The Cherbourg to Portsmouth express (3 hours) sounds tempting but have heard horror stories about people vomiting everywhere and nothing to do on board.

Any words of wisdom from mums in the know?

Place marking as we’re in the same boat!

We booked a cabin for the return daytime crossing. It was well worth the money!

The ferry we went on had a small soft play area, there was a cinema and there was a pantomine for entertaining the kids. The pantomine was on in summer holudays dont know if they have it all year round.

Caen to Portsmouth - the really early boat if you can manage the drive in the morning - it's five hours but if you get a day cabin/ have breakfast and go to soft play etc it goes quickly

I have always avoided the longer crossings. Especially with the DC in tow, preferring to drive further and even take an extra overnight en route.

Have done the Portsmouth to Cherbourg fast crossing . There wasn't much to do but our DC were fast asleep after getting up so early to drive down to the ferry port. I didn't see much vomitting .

We’ve done both, depending on the time of year there is entertainment on the St Malo to Portsmouth. In the summer hols I think they have a pantomime and appearances by Pierre the Bear, whoop whoop! As a pp says, book a cabin too - it’s well worth it. Might be worth looking at the Ouistreham - Portsmouth crossing over the fast cat ‘vomit comet’. We took this option when our kids were young and found it too busy to wander around (mid June) and a bit erm, bouncy

We've been doing it for 16 years now and it's actually part of the holiday fun, we love being on the ferry. The food is amazing on the slower ferries as well. Depending on the boat there is entertainment, possibly a film. We always get a cabin as it makes everything so much easier. People may not like them but I've found using reins on any small mobile children worth it for the peace of mind (but then I had an ADHD toddler who liked to climb so go figure). Another thing is less popular sailing times can be much more pleasant as less people. You can tell by the prices on the website which sailings are more popular as they can be hundreds more expensive.

We also love the fast cat but if there is really anything in the way of swell it can be very unsettling unless you are a good sailor. On a clear, settled day it is my favourite way to travel as it can go full speed and I'm sure we got across in under three hours one year.

We do Caen to Portsmouth overnight. Highly recommend musee du Caen if you have time before catching the ferry.

I've lived in Brittany for 15 years and have done every imaginable combination backwards and forwards! The overnight crossing is imho by far the best. You're asleep for most of it. Get on board, have some dinner, little play in the childrens area for the tiny ones or otherwise the bar and magic show, all go to sleep together, and wake up in St Malo. I only do the vomit comet if the crossings are not at suitable times for my trip!

I have discount code you can use for BF if you need one - probably best to pm for it.

The fact that is rarely if ever an overnight St Malo - Portsmouth crossing is a bummer, but I've done it twice with a preschooler and preschooler + baby and to be honest by the time you've got a cabin (£35 or so, with cbeebies on the tv!), done the soft play meal times, watched the sea (we saw dolphins one time) etc. the time goes really quickly. I prefer the long crossing as I love a calm smooth one.

My next preferred route is the Caen route.

Overnight the St Malo route is excellent as you actually have enough time to have enough sleep, particularly important if you have far to drive the next day.

I'm told there is a new crossing beginning from Ramsgate to Ostend (OK not Brittany) - but it'll be very very soon. They do nice pizzas on board, I've heard.

We're thinking exactly the same! We did the st malo return with a 15 month old and it was hard going, it's boring for them and all to do really is go from one cafe to another.

Depending on where you're staying, but last time we went to France we went home from Calais, it was a nice easy crossing. It did mean we spent a day in the car but it's easier when you can stop and get out and the rest stops in France are excellent.

If you are in Brittany what about sailing from Roscoff? Much less driving on the French side.

I personally would not go from Cherbourg- I hate the drive up to there, it seems to take ages. Also the crossing might be quicker but there is little to do on the boat and it's not called the Vomit Comet for nothing.
The longer crossings, Roscoff, St Malo or Caen, have entertainers on during peak times plus a cinema (book as soon as you get on board ) plus a day cabin is cheap.
I much prefer an overnight crossing- although it is more expensive.

If you want a code for Brittany Ferries discount, pm me.

We’ve had similar dilemmas and live very conveniently for Portsmouth, but the cost of particularly the St malo crossing in school holidays is just not justifiable for us. We’re going on the eurotunnel for £86 each way, and doing a longer drive (6 hrs instead of 3 hrs on the French side, 2 hrs instead of 30 minutes on the UK side) but the actual crosssing itself is less than an hour.

But we are not doing Brittany - we’re doing the vendee. Do compare the drive from Calais though.

I would never, ever EVER do the high speed Cherbourg to Portsmouth again. Very rough day. Everything in the shop clingfilmed to the shelf. Forgot (didn't think) to take a change of clothes for anyone. DD1 puked all over me and herself. DD2 puked all over DH and herself. Vomit everywhere. Very sympathetic but battle worn cleaner handing out rolls of blue tissue all round. Old lady had to be carried by two men to the bathroom as she couldn't make it alone. Rinsed out my top in toilets without checking hand driers. They didn't work so spent rest of crossing shivering, damp, and smelling of vom.

We can laugh about it now.

I've done the fast crossing twice, and it wasn't worth the time saving, especially with small children. As other posters have said, it's cramped and boring.
We view the Portsmouth/Caen crossing as part of the holiday. Once you step onboard, that's when you can relax! Book a cabin for R&R. Once you've had something to eat, checked out the entertainment and Duty Free - you'll almost be in France.
We all enjoy the night crossing home. Dinner in France, nightcap on board and then bed.