Portsmouth Crossing

Portsmouth Crossing

Author
Discussion

FordyX72

Original Poster:

18 posts

90 months

Sunday 11th September 2016
quotequote all
Thinking of going via the Portsmouth ferry route next year, but only ever done a long ferry crossing between Harwich and the hook in the past so was interested to know people's view on it. Is it a packed crossing like the Dover Calais one or is there actually room to move and relax like a Harwich crossing? Any experience shared would be appreciated. Cheers

SEE YA

3,522 posts

244 months

Sunday 11th September 2016
quotequote all
Done that route myself, was ok no problems.
I went via Plymouth this year far better route.
Longer car friendly roads easier route to follow. Off the ferry only 3-4 hour drive to the track.
Get a cabin, as well I leave Wednesday night arrive Thursday morning. Both ports easy to find as well.

Edited by SEE YA on Sunday 11th September 14:57

chasingracecars

1,696 posts

96 months

Sunday 11th September 2016
quotequote all
Depends what route you want to do and on what day you are travelling.

Portsmouth to Caen is a great route but not cheap. However Caen is the closest port to Le Mans about a 2 hour drive. If you have thristy car this can bring a good idea.

Ferrys on this route get busy from Wednesday. I would imagine that it is packed on Friday. Monday afternoon after the race it's packed as well as the night crossing. Get yourself a cabin!! The afternoon ferry from Caen to Portsmouth gets in very late so you might be better off on the night boat like me.

Hope this helps.

FordyX72

Original Poster:

18 posts

90 months

Sunday 11th September 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the comments. I'm costing up two options so this has been useful. Motorhome via Portsmouth to Caen or Car only, stay in a Portacabin thingy and go via Euro tunnel. It's my 10th anniversary year, so want some comfort :-)

icepop

1,177 posts

206 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
Used the Portsmouth - Caen crossing lots of times in the past, and, boy is it a long crossing compared to the Dover - Calais route, Plymouth- Roscoff is not much shorter. They even have a big active map on board to show you where you are on the crossing, don't look at it, it doesn't seem to move ! Had a cabin one year, made me feel seasick, it was a tad choppy mind, so used the free couchettes after that.

Apart from the first LM in 1992, all my crossings to LM have been done via Dover - Calais/Dunkirk. The drive from Caen to LM is so much shorter, but the cost of the crossing last year for three of us in one car was in xs of £300 if I remember right, vs the £80 to Calais. Add to that a few more quid for the extra deisel from Calais to LM, and it was about £150 more overall.

All that said, after all the messing 'round last year on the return route from Calais, if Dunkirk starts getting iffy too, I'll be looking at the Caen option. There was another crossing that went to Cherbourg, truckers route I think, which is a much shorter crossing, but longer on the road.

Hey, thanks for that, it's my first LM planning thought for 2017 smile

wsn03

1,923 posts

100 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
I'm going via St Malo, pricier than the others, but a long enough crossing to get a proper nights sleep, with the finished bonus of the chance to spend at least a few hours at St Malo, fabulous place. From what I've read on here a lot use it, but it won't be rammed. Think its 3 hrs from Le Mans. The ship as I remembered was bigger and more upmarket than the others.

DMN

2,983 posts

138 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
We've had problems with the return trip into Pompey, but only because we had an onwards ferry booked for the Isle of Wight. It can get very busy when two or more ships arrive at once trying to get through passport control.

chasingracecars

1,696 posts

96 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
Indeed the port security is always very busy on the Tuesday morning after the race.

They don't typically have anything like almost full ships, on the monday afternoon and night sailings from Caen the boats are often sailing at 100% cars and 90% people.

Compare that to the outgoing trip before the test weekend and we could have parked diagonally across the boat on our very own vehicle deck.

MrC986

3,481 posts

190 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
We've done the Pompey-Caen overnighter for the last 4 yrs. We're Midlands based & if we catch the Wednesday night ferry we only have 3 days away from work as we can head down at just after 6pm & catch it comfortably & the scenic route to Le Mans is about 2 or so hours if you don't stop frequently for coffee/beer! We always have a cabin as well for the last decent nights sleep before we get back late on the Monday.

Yes, it costs more but it's a decent ferry thats hopefully away from all the local issues at Calais & the Tunnel. The night ferry does go more slowly than the daytime crossings but it's not a hardship & the vibe at the port is always good. We did the Tunnel route the first year we went & although there's lots of amusement at the Tolls, it's a decent schlep down the autoroutes which we don't miss going the current route & we get to LeMans early so we avoid any big queues around the circuit which you can get unless you catch a 'stupid o'clock' early Tunnel crossing.

FordyX72

Original Poster:

18 posts

90 months

Tuesday 13th September 2016
quotequote all
Thanks. Mind is made up. Motorhome via Portsmouth, Tuesday night crossing, arrive in time for practise :-)

LFB531

1,233 posts

157 months

Saturday 17th September 2016
quotequote all
Not of great help to the OP but we've always taken the fast-cat Portsmouth to Cherbourg. Out on the Thursday morning, back Monday afternoon. It's been a breeze.

Trying Poole to Cherbourg next year. Journey is an hour longer each way but a proper ferry, times are pretty much the same and I suspect much less hassle getting back than Portsmouth.

Cherbourg so easy to LM and plenty of cross country options if you don't want motorways.

stemll

4,064 posts

199 months

Friday 7th October 2016
quotequote all
We're going out Portsmouth to St Malo overnight Thursday and back Caen to Portsmouth Monday afternoon.

As we'll have lots of time on Monday we will be looking around around Sword Beach, the Pegasus Bridge Memorial and the Atlantic Wall museum.

All booked up today for Speedchills Bleu Sud. The countdown begins.

perdu

4,884 posts

198 months

Monday 17th October 2016
quotequote all
I went Poole Cherbourg this year

Had a nice run south from Brum with few traffic problems, only a very strong early morning sun in the rear view

Not a problem, the mirror tips out of line wink

Cherbourg exit was easy (must remember to believe sat nav) and the run south involves pretty good roads even by French pretty good roads standards

A million times better for me than the interminable M25 on the way to Newhaven, Dover or Folkestone and nearly as easy as Portsmouth

The ferry ride was good and it is a very nice bateau

Poole Cherbourg again for me ta

stevetav

185 posts

177 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
Have done Portsmouth to St Malo overnight a few times now. Boat leaves at 23.00 so there is plenty of time to drive to the port and wait for the rush hour traffic to go before you battle down the M27. The ship is pretty big, with cinemas and a decent bar with entertainment and lovely restaurant. Arrives into St Malo first thing where its an easy drive down to Rennes and across to Le Mans in less than 3 hours.

Route to Caen is also good but the ship is smaller, the crossing leaves earlier and the thing is always packed, where as the St Malo service is often pretty empty.

MrC986

3,481 posts

190 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
stevetav said:
Have done Portsmouth to St Malo overnight a few times now. Boat leaves at 23.00 so there is plenty of time to drive to the port and wait for the rush hour traffic to go before you battle down the M27. The ship is pretty big, with cinemas and a decent bar with entertainment and lovely restaurant. Arrives into St Malo first thing where its an easy drive down to Rennes and across to Le Mans in less than 3 hours.

Route to Caen is also good but the ship is smaller, the crossing leaves earlier and the thing is always packed, where as the St Malo service is often pretty empty.
I agree with the the comment regarding the size of the ship on the Caen crossing although it's a more pleasant experience IMO with better facilities and also you don't have to have your cars on the roof deck of the ship - We did it 2 years ago as we were too late booking the Caen ferry and the cars were covered in salt when we went to disembark, and given we were on the roof, it took a lot longer to get off! I understand the St Malo ferry is the 'Economie' one, but then again you get the chance if your bothered to have brekkie in Honfleur, which is very on the way and very nice.

stevetav

185 posts

177 months

Friday 21st October 2016
quotequote all
MrC986 said:
I agree with the the comment regarding the size of the ship on the Caen crossing although it's a more pleasant experience IMO with better facilities and also you don't have to have your cars on the roof deck of the ship - We did it 2 years ago as we were too late booking the Caen ferry and the cars were covered in salt when we went to disembark, and given we were on the roof, it took a lot longer to get off! I understand the St Malo ferry is the 'Economie' one, but then again you get the chance if your bothered to have brekkie in Honfleur, which is very on the way and very nice.
The "Economie" route is the Portsmouth - Le Havre service - with what I think is some kind of ex Cargo ship with exposed car decks. The ship on the St Malo route is very nice and is better than the two they use for the Caen route. The best bit is a large bar / disco area where they have live entertainment on the way out... Prices for 2017 are about the same, so I will be booking the St Malo route again!

I will say that whatever route I have used, Brittany ferries are very good. Nice ships, very nice food and a great way to start your trip!

stevetav

185 posts

177 months

Friday 21st October 2016
quotequote all
LFB531 said:
Not of great help to the OP but we've always taken the fast-cat Portsmouth to Cherbourg. Out on the Thursday morning, back Monday afternoon. It's been a breeze.

Trying Poole to Cherbourg next year. Journey is an hour longer each way but a proper ferry, times are pretty much the same and I suspect much less hassle getting back than Portsmouth.

Cherbourg so easy to LM and plenty of cross country options if you don't want motorways.
We did the fast cat this year on the Tuesday. 3 hours crossing time and the fact that Derek Bell was a fellow passenger were both great news, but storm force 6 seas were enough to put me off using it again! the bloody thing was all over the place!

LFB531

1,233 posts

157 months

Friday 21st October 2016
quotequote all
stevetav said:
LFB531 said:
Not of great help to the OP but we've always taken the fast-cat Portsmouth to Cherbourg. Out on the Thursday morning, back Monday afternoon. It's been a breeze.

Trying Poole to Cherbourg next year. Journey is an hour longer each way but a proper ferry, times are pretty much the same and I suspect much less hassle getting back than Portsmouth.

Cherbourg so easy to LM and plenty of cross country options if you don't want motorways.
We did the fast cat this year on the Tuesday. 3 hours crossing time and the fact that Derek Bell was a fellow passenger were both great news, but storm force 6 seas were enough to put me off using it again! the bloody thing was all over the place!
That's why it's affectionately known as the 'Vomit Comet' by regular users! smile

wsn03

1,923 posts

100 months

Wednesday 26th October 2016
quotequote all
stevetav said:
Have done Portsmouth to St Malo overnight a few times now. Boat leaves at 23.00 so there is plenty of time to drive to the port and wait for the rush hour traffic to go before you battle down the M27. The ship is pretty big, with cinemas and a decent bar with entertainment and lovely restaurant. Arrives into St Malo first thing where its an easy drive down to Rennes and across to Le Mans in less than 3 hours.

Route to Caen is also good but the ship is smaller, the crossing leaves earlier and the thing is always packed, where as the St Malo service is often pretty empty.
+1 ... booked via St Malo, and I think because of demand it is now slightly cheaper than the other options too! We're going to leave the car at the ferry port when we get there, and spend the morning at St Malo - one of the most interesting towns in France - beaches that expose castles when the tide goes out, loads of bars and restaurants, walk round the walls of the town etc

Edited by wsn03 on Wednesday 26th October 14:22

lowdrag

12,868 posts

212 months

Wednesday 26th October 2016
quotequote all
I've regularly used all four when I go back to the UK from my home at Le Mans. If you want a no frills cheap service, use Brittany Ferries Portsmouth-Le Havre, or if you want more comfort the Portsmout-Ouistreham. The latter has better boats and comfort, a proper restaurant and is about 40 miles nearer to Le Mans. If want a quick crossing, then I use Portsmouth - Cherbourg which takes only three hours on the fast cat. Portsmouth-St Malo is equivalent to the Ouistreham route really. But overall, and perhaps it is through habit, I prefer the Portsmouth - Ouistreham route.

Whichever of these, and they are all Brittany Ferries, it may well pay you to join their Club Voyage even if you only use it once a year. It gives a discount of 30% off the fares, and if there are four of you in the one booking you'll be quids in. Even off season it is viable; I travel to the UK on Monday next on my own, and for an annual cost of £70 I have saved £71 on this one trip. In high season the savings are much greater. I make about five trips a year, so you can see the savings are well Worth while.