Experiences of getting a ferry from UK to Spain?

[StopFeckingFaffing]

Hi

We are looking at using the Brittany Ferries service from Portsmouth or Plymouth in summer 2023

We would be driving down from North of England

Just wondering what people's experiences of the ferry is like and any advice of whether better to go from Portsmouth (shorter drive to get to Port) or Plymouth (shorter ferry crossing)

Very early days of planning but would be fab to hear people's experiences of the ferry and also spaces to visit and stay at in Northern Spain while we there

I'm sorry I can't help you, but we're always wondering about this too!

Slightly off topic but just be aware of travel times.
we’re doing Portsmouth- Caen in a couple of weeks, from Yorkshire. It’s a 4.30hr drive, which is ok. However don’t forget to factor in that you have to be checked in an hour before departure. Plus driving that far you need to factor in food/loo stops. What started out as a nice potter down the country has turned into an early start and a feeling of panic.

We've done both Plymouth to Santander and Portsmouth to Bilbao. I'd say it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other really. We've not been for a few years but assuming nothing has changed dramatically the ferrries are quite nice with children's play areas, shops etc so there is quite a bit to do to pass the time. The cabins vary according to what you spend of course but they're all at least adequate. We've always been lucky with the weather so I can't comment on what it would be like in heavy seas but we've always viewed it as a kind of mini cruise at the beginning on the holiday. Obviously it's not as plush as a real cruise, but I've always enjoyed the crossing.
We have a marginal preference for Plymouth Santander but that's because it's slightly closer to our destination (we're generally visiting family) but we pick whichever is the more convenient timing/better price. We've flown on our last few visits as we've been very time limited, but if you're not pressed fir time I think the ferry is a nice way to get there.
Northern Spain is beautiful. Lovely beaches, fantastic mountains, quite a lot of history and culture and its very green. Obviously the green thing gives you a clue on the weather though - don't expect the Costa Del Sol! You'll find it warmer and dryer than where you live probably, but I'd say the climate is more like Cornwall than what a lot of people imagine when they think of Spanish summers.

I did this a few years ago Portsmouth - Bilbao. I was just like a mini cruise really with loads of entertainment on board and decent cabins. It was supposed to be two nights going out and one coming back but we hit storms in the Bay of Biscay which delayed arrival by 12 hours. Loads of passengers and crew had to take to their cabins. The cabaret entertainment was entertaining though as they were recreating the Musicals on stage including Starlight Express ..... with roller skates 😂

Frequently used the Santander and Bilbao ferry every year, both from Portsmouth and Plymouth, last time was in March. Not much to choose from, but I would advise booking a cabin, worth the extra £120. Also be aware one of them makes an extra stop so takes longer.

Northern Spain is fabulous. Few British tourists and the beaches are amazing. Nigran and A Coruna are extra lovely and the Vigo area is worth a visit.

Sometimes we drive back through France as we have a friend in Loire, but hotels are cheap enough. The ferry from Dieppe to Newhaven is cheap £89 but quite basic.

Is it possible to do this as a foot passenger?

Yes @forrestgreen i was on the Brittany Ferries website earlier today looking at different options and you can definitely go as a foot passenger

Is it worth investigating as a solo foot traveller? As in, is there a good holiday at the other end?
I've not yet been on a solo hol, ex h used to drive everywhere etc so this seems achievable...

Can't speak for the crossing to Spain but I have used Brittany Ferries for their longest French crossing and found they always put lots of entertainment etc on. The food and cabins are a pretty good standard though. The only negative I've heard about the Spain crossings (from friends and online) is that if you hit a rough patch you can get very seasick.

Thanks lots of useful information so far

If we decide to go from Plymouth we will probably split the UK leg of the journey and drive down to somewhere within an hour or so of the port so we aren't rushing to it in one day and having to worry about arriving in time

Portsmouth we could potentially drive to on the day of the crossing as its a little nearer but would depend if the ferry sails on morning or afternoon

Can't comment on Spain but we have just returned this morning from France with Brittany ferries. Great ferry, plenty of restaurants/cafes. Lots of seating. Entertainment for the kids and kids play room. Cabin basic but useful even for a 6 hour crossing.

We are also in Yorkshire so split the journey. On the way down, we travelled all day Saturday, stopping halfway at a country park for picnic/walk for the kids. Then we stayed overnight at premier inn in Portsmouth and caught 7am ferry across to Cherbourg (although it was actually cancelled and we had to shoot down the motorway to Poole for the replacement at 5am!)

Return leg we caught the 14.30 from Caen, arriving in Portsmouth at 23.30 (after an hour delay) and again, stayed in premier inn before driving back up today.

Hopefully you won't face delays next year as ours were mostly to do with passport control and staffing shortages.

I would say, consider if you can cope with seasickness, either yourself or other passengers, as the faster crossings are very bumpy.

All in all, we find it a more relaxing way to travel with kids and make the journeys part of the holiday.

We did Portsmouth to Bilbao a couple of years ago. There are 2 kinds of ferries that do that route, one with lots of entertainment and a cheaper one with very little. If you have younger children do not book the more basic ferry, and I would definitely recommend a cabin. We thought it would be fine as it listed a children's play area. We thought this combined with time on the tablet, playing and reading to them, a regular loop around the deck, and a steady stream of snacks would be a bit dull but manageable (and help us keep to our budget). Unfortunately the play area was a tiny play house with loads of lego base plates glued to surfaces - my DCs would have loved this and spent hours building, but unfortunately every last brick of lego was missing from the (also attached to the wall) buckets. Stolen with unapologetically no plan to replace them! They were able to put a film on for us to view within the play area, but the seating was set perpendicular to the screen so it was very uncomfortable to sit and watch. Then add in how rough the crossing often gets when the boat goes across the top of the bay of Biscay... 🤢 (I spent 5 hours lying down wishing it to pass, even with the travel sickness pills. The DCs were too young to take them).
We have returned to doing Portsmouth to Caen/Ouistreham crossing and driving down. The shorter crossing and longer drive down is still much quicker overall than the Bilbao crossing and driving back up just over the French border, and it is a much more gentle crossing. The Caen/Ouistreham crossing is fine without a cabin if you've booked a day crossing, but I would want one for the overnight sailing personally.

We have taken the ferry to Spain several times. Please note that the ferries used on the route have completely changed in the last few years. Cap finistere has been sold. Therefore the choices now are the new ferries Galicia and Salamanca from Portsmouth or Pont Aven the BF. Flagship from Plymouth. Pont Aven was custom built for Brittany Ferries and has a greater choice of restaurants and a small pool. It has spacious commodore and delux cabins but you have to book them early and obviously they are quite expensive. The standard outside four berth cabins are fine with younger kids. Galicia and Salamanca are identical in layout but Salamanca is better as it has lng fuel which is less environmentally damaging. The commodore cabins on the new ships only sleep two and are no bigger than normal cabins but they apparently have better bedding. However booking them gives access to the c club lounge which is nice. The newer ships are bigger and more stable I would say. They also travel slower so you get more of a mini cruise experience. The dining is less flexible on the new ships and one meal and breakfast are included in the price. Whereas the best restaurant in my opinion is Le flora on Pont Aven if you don’t mind paying the price for it. We always enjoy the crossing whichever ship we go on and it is a relaxing way to start the holiday.

Can I ask how long people are going for, the thing that puts me off is that we're about 3 hours away from Portsmouth (and about 7 away from Plymouth if we're lucky)

So theres that journey, then the waiting to board as you have to be there in advance, then the ferry trip, I think I worked it out to be a good 2 days.

Are people away for a couple of weeks as I dont think it would work for a weeks trip

I forgot to say the reason Im interested is that I hate all the queuing and waiting at airports, cant stand it.

We have done this from Portsmouth to Santander and then we drove to Portugal.

all I will say is that the crossing was incredibly choppy on the way out and it was a very long crossing and we were all very very sick. the return journey wasn’t as bad but I wouldn’t do it again.

however the highlight of the return journey was seeing dolphins in the bay of Biscay!

northern Spain was fantastic for driving, beautiful and the roads were quiet. Vigo was nice. Santander itself was a nice place too. Bilbao is one of the best cities I’ve ever visited 🙂
I am sure you will have a fantastic trip!

We did Portsmouth to Bilbao in May. The ferries on both routes (we were on the Salamanca) are brand new and lovely. We booked a cabin (sailed 9.30pm on Sunday, arrived 8am Tuesday, so 2 nights). It was an inside cabin BUT they have an amazing picture on the wall of a window open on a balcony with the sunny sea beyond, and it's internally lit in such a way that you really feel you're looking out the window! So I'd say don't splash out on an outside cabin.
There was some entertainment but we didn't get involved. Walking on deck and watching the Brittany coast and seeing dolphins was brilliant. The food is excellent. They've thought a lot about the art on board and it's well worth doing the little walking tour in the afternoon and learning about it.
It's not cheap and we ended up coming home from Roscoff for the short, cheaper crossing. But it was a lovely start to the holiday.

We were going for 6 weeks (yes, I am very, very lucky) so it was part of the holiday anyway, but only a small part!

We once did Portsmouth to Bilbao with P&O (don't think they do it any more, but I think Brittany Ferries does?) and the best bit was the really enthusiastic whale watching bloke who did a really good talk and would put an announcement over the tannoy whenever he spotted some whales! As others have said though, the Bay of Biscay is rough and it was a bit rocky at times!

Thanks @myrtilles for such a detailed reply that is all useful information

For those asking about length of stay we are probably looking at about 2 weeks

We won't be travelling with DC, it would just be DH and I

So theoretically it is possible for a 10 day trip, leave on the Friday travel down to Portsmouth, take an evening sailing,, arrive in Spain on the Sunday morning, drive to accommodation.

Then the same in reverse but leaving on the Saturday to get home for Monday evening

If it’s just the two of you I’d book a commodore cabin on Salamanca from Portsmouth.. Two weeks would be fine.

We have done this about 8 times now, we love it. Our last trip was this March.

Personally we prefer Portsmouth and having done all the ferries, the new ones (Galicia and Santander) are lovely. They are smaller so loading and unloading is much quicker. On the very biggest which are 3 times the size, it can be hours getting your car on or off.

(Quick tip, you must lock your car, not with a button but with a key, whilst disabling the alarm, in case it's choppy and it sets off your car alarm and you end up with a flat battery!)

I really would get a cabin, it's lovely just to have a meal and chill in your cabin after too much wine and it's a lovely start to the holiday if you make it part of your holiday.

Northern Spain is fabulous, lots to recommend there.

@Roussette thanks for the info, yes we would definitely plan to get a cabin

Do have any top tips for places to visit in that part of Spain? We will be in a motorhome so can be quite flexible with planning where to stay but would be good to have an idea of places that come highly recommended for a visit

We have done the Hull - Rotterdam ferry several times so happy on an overnight crossing but the ferry to Spain is obviously quite a bit longer

The Picos is a National Park and is just beautiful. It is so much not like the Spain we know... it almost has a Swiss feel to it... the trees and the dwellings which are like chalets.

We stayed in the Picos a couple of years ago, and it was fabulous for long walks and taking in the scenery.

We stayed in Cervera de Pisuerga which was great, near the National Park.

I haven't stayed in Bilbao but I have a friend who raves about it.