Brittany Ferries: masks

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I have just found out that Brittany Ferries are requiring masks for everyone over 6 years old. I have 33 hours on the Bilbao ferry with them and I cannot/will not make my 7 and 8 year olds wear a mask for that duration.

Are they enforcing it? I will have to cancel if they are!

No idea but I would also cancel. Hideous prospect..

Just make something official looking to say they’re exempt.

i wouldn’t let small children wear a mask either.

That is a good idea @underneaththeash. So depressing as we booked the long ferry specifically to make it a fun part of the holiday!

It won't be Brittany Ferries, it's Spanish Government regulations. Masks are required in Spain on public transport, which includes arriving boats, trains and planes.

They're not required on departing public transport, unless it's going to a country that has mask regs that require it.

Assume if you have a cabin they won't be needed in there?

You don't need to wear them in your cabin or when you are sitting down eating and drinking.

It applies to the Roscoff ferry as well so maybe not related to Spanish regs?

What Brittany Ferries have actually said is here - "we are requesting all passengers, unless exempt - older than six years old - to wear a mask while on board in public areas (other than when seated to eat or drink)."

@Paq Aah ok. Then perhaps Brittany Ferries expanding on regs that apply to some parts of their route. Easier to have a flat rule than different for different routes I suppose (although France have recently requested masks on public transport again).

We have travelled on these ferries during the pandemic. Masks were required in all indoor public areas but not outdoors from memory. You didn't need to wear them if you were eating in the restaurant. Both kids wore them and it was no problem, they both enjoyed the trip still. They were expected to wear them in public in Spain (indoors and outdoors except on the beach / in the pool) so it got them in the habit.

although France have recently requested masks on public transport again

But they're not compulsory. I'm in France rn and about 10% of people are wearing masks on public transport.

We travelled back last week and you have to wear them whilst moving around or queuing in the communal areas, not whilst sitting down at tables, not on outside decks etc. They're being strict though - the
barman wouldn't serve me when I forgot to put one on.

Take a lot of entertainment for the kids. Download stuff for you/them to watch or listen to on your phone or tablet as you only get 45 mins of free internet on each journey you have to pay for anymore.

Take card/board games, colouring etc. There's virtually nothing on board to entertain anyone and it's a long old journey.

Thanks @waltzingparrot are the play area/cinema shut?

Easyjet to Spain also require masks for 6 and over.

The cinemas were open when we did Portsmouth-Caen in April, I am not sure about the play area though sorry. There was also unlimited (but very slow) free wifi in communal areas. Masks were compulsory, we wore them so didn’t get challenged.

We're going to calais with Brittany ferries. Is the rule for Dover-Calais too? At least its short I guess...

@BugsInTheBed the info is from the brittany ferry website so yes to dover-calais

@waltzingparrot thanks for this, very helpful. Good idea about entertaining the kids. I just realised, if you don't need to wear them whilst sitting, does that include the lounge areas (as opposed to just restaurants)

Ah thankyou ever so much for that. Despite being super anxious at the beginning of Covid I don't think I could easily lay hands on a mask in my house now!! It seems so long ago - really helpful for the heads up.

I will have a bit of a google about other french rules.

@BugsInTheBed are you sure it’s Brittany Ferries you are going on? I don’t think they go to Calais?

We travelled with Brittany Ferries from Cherbourg to Poole on 1 July and despite their paperwork saying masks were required virtually no one was wearing them. We got served at the bar without wearing them, no one said anything.

ive booked a cabin for the cross, its a night crossing for me in any case and then breakfast on board before leaving at 10am

I would also assume that for Brittany ferries it protects their staff from being off sick during the summer months as the masks wearing will decrease the risk of catching covid

@QueSyrahSyrah I'm not quite sure it's true that all arriving transport to Spain requires masks. As far as air travel is concerned I think it's down to the carrier . Unless it's changed in the last couple of months - Jet2 didn't require masks on either journey when we flew may bank holiday .

Public transport in Spain you need to wear masks. It's only I'm public areas so not much of an issue really. And not when you are eating so not in restaurants on the ship

Ps Spain has no exception for mask wearing. (It isn't quite as strictly enforced now). I love there. I did awe someone fined this morning for not wearing a mask on the train though

@FlyingFlamingo
Oh No I am mistaken! We had hoped to go with Brittany from Poole or Portsmouth as they are easier for us to get to but the dates don't match up (term time) so we are actually with DFDS. Oops... I am over planning for a trip in november and still getting this wrong!