Santander Plymouth ferry
Discussion
We will be travelling back on this in June. 22hours on board.
Pondering whether to buy up to a 2/4 or even 4-outside cabin (extra £97/125/136). I assume the outside cabins would have a tiny porthole window?
Leaves at 5pm, arrives 2pm the next day
No doubt an hour or three will be spend roaming the ferry, watching the views as we head out....& similarly the next day, we will likely be out watching the views for at least the last two hours.
BUT....is a cabin worth it to have your own quiet picnic dinner or breakfast, as well as a bit of shut-eye?
Is the food on board decent?
Fairly happy to sit in a reclining chair, & not over-enamoured at an inside cabin on a ferry, but never been on that route.
Thoughts?!
Pondering whether to buy up to a 2/4 or even 4-outside cabin (extra £97/125/136). I assume the outside cabins would have a tiny porthole window?
Leaves at 5pm, arrives 2pm the next day
No doubt an hour or three will be spend roaming the ferry, watching the views as we head out....& similarly the next day, we will likely be out watching the views for at least the last two hours.
BUT....is a cabin worth it to have your own quiet picnic dinner or breakfast, as well as a bit of shut-eye?
Is the food on board decent?
Fairly happy to sit in a reclining chair, & not over-enamoured at an inside cabin on a ferry, but never been on that route.
Thoughts?!
I did this journey earlier in the year and did Santander > Bilbao > San Sebsatian > Bilbao > Picos Europe > Santander > Home.
I would say a cabin is very worthwhile, and it's worth paying for a window although the view isn't great as there is a walkway in front of most windows. I preferred it to not get "cabin fever".
I think the 2 berth and 4 berth cabins are the same, it's just a choice as to whether you use all 4 beds.
I don't know which part of a boat is least impacted by rough seas but try and book there as going through the bay of biscay(?) can be choppy. Also, take some seasick tablets before you get on the boat - on the way out it was a dream for us, on the way back it was pretty hairy.
Food in the restaurants is good, you queue and book on the boat but I didn't have any issues. Other than that there is a cafeteria which is OK - one thing, the coffee is awful so if you like a half reasonable coffee take onboard some granules/powder.
Other than that, not much to add. it's a doddle.
Oh, one thing. I was told Pont Avon is the best boat by some way.
I would say a cabin is very worthwhile, and it's worth paying for a window although the view isn't great as there is a walkway in front of most windows. I preferred it to not get "cabin fever".
I think the 2 berth and 4 berth cabins are the same, it's just a choice as to whether you use all 4 beds.
I don't know which part of a boat is least impacted by rough seas but try and book there as going through the bay of biscay(?) can be choppy. Also, take some seasick tablets before you get on the boat - on the way out it was a dream for us, on the way back it was pretty hairy.
Food in the restaurants is good, you queue and book on the boat but I didn't have any issues. Other than that there is a cafeteria which is OK - one thing, the coffee is awful so if you like a half reasonable coffee take onboard some granules/powder.
Other than that, not much to add. it's a doddle.
Oh, one thing. I was told Pont Avon is the best boat by some way.
Thanks!
Pretty sure we cannot select a particular area, just what type of cabin.
Interesting if the 4 berth is the same as the two!
We are generally fair sailors, but nobody can predict it that far off.
eta - I can see their schedule says it is the Pont Avon
Pretty sure we cannot select a particular area, just what type of cabin.
Interesting if the 4 berth is the same as the two!
We are generally fair sailors, but nobody can predict it that far off.
eta - I can see their schedule says it is the Pont Avon
Edited by mikeiow on Wednesday 12th February 15:48
I did this crossing many, many years ago to go to Rally Catalunya. I was tight, so didn't book a cabin and got very little sleep in one of the chairs. I would certainly book a cabin these days.
I think going out it was so rough in the Bay of Biscay the ship had to slow down, so we were a few hours late arriving.
I think going out it was so rough in the Bay of Biscay the ship had to slow down, so we were a few hours late arriving.
I do the trip reasonably regularly; I always (when available) go for a Commodore cabin. It’s slightly plusher, but the main advantage is access to the onboard Club Lounge. There you will find all meals and drinks (including wine and beer) are served without further payment. I have seen reviews where folks seem to report this being “throttled”, but I’ve never found that to be the case myself. For the additional cost, I’ve always felt I’ve got my money back and obviously the experience is somewhat nicer than the more general ship areas.
A cabin is a must. The window is much bigger than a porthole.
We even have a cabin on Poole Cherbourg and Portsmouth Caen.
The food and cinema are fine and helps to pass the time. I am using that route going down at the end of May. I have quite a long drive down, so a bunk for some shuteye when we first board is fine.
We even have a cabin on Poole Cherbourg and Portsmouth Caen.
The food and cinema are fine and helps to pass the time. I am using that route going down at the end of May. I have quite a long drive down, so a bunk for some shuteye when we first board is fine.
Are you sure you'd be ok sitting in a chair for 22 hours and using communal bathrooms? I'm not a luxury traveller by any means, and I fly everywhere economy, but sleeping in a bed with privacy and a private bathroom for an extra £100 seems a no-brainer.
Personally I never pay the extra for an outside cabin. If I want daylight I can always go on deck.
Food in the main restaurant is decent, as it's a French-run boat.
Personally I never pay the extra for an outside cabin. If I want daylight I can always go on deck.
Food in the main restaurant is decent, as it's a French-run boat.
A cabin is essential on a 22 hour crossing.
Also be warned The Bay of Biscay can be very rough.
We did this crossing years ago before Covid. Going the sea was like a mill pond. Sun tan on deck, lovely restaurant meal, a mini cruise .Coming back it was horrendous, people rushing to the loo, stuff flying off tables, the restaurants were empty. I’ve never experienced a sea crossing like that.
Poor Mrs Merc spent the crossing in the cabin throwing up.
Also be warned The Bay of Biscay can be very rough.
We did this crossing years ago before Covid. Going the sea was like a mill pond. Sun tan on deck, lovely restaurant meal, a mini cruise .Coming back it was horrendous, people rushing to the loo, stuff flying off tables, the restaurants were empty. I’ve never experienced a sea crossing like that.
Poor Mrs Merc spent the crossing in the cabin throwing up.
Edited by Old Merc on Friday 14th February 09:23
plenty said:
Are you sure you'd be ok sitting in a chair for 22 hours and using communal bathrooms? I'm not a luxury traveller by any means, and I fly everywhere economy, but sleeping in a bed with privacy and a private bathroom for an extra £100 seems a no-brainer.
Personally I never pay the extra for an outside cabin. If I want daylight I can always go on deck.
Food in the main restaurant is decent, as it's a French-run boat.
If the crossing is slightly rough, the extra cost giving you a private bathroom on its own is cheap ay half the price.Personally I never pay the extra for an outside cabin. If I want daylight I can always go on deck.
Food in the main restaurant is decent, as it's a French-run boat.
The public toilets become a scene of absolute horror once the ferry starts to pitch a bit......
Hot and cold running
Been there, done that.
FlyVintage said:
... including wine and beer
Is that still the case?We were on crossings in September last year. Looked like wine was available during lunch/dinner but only 0% beers on offer.
This thread - https://theferryforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2843 - seems to corroborate what we found.
Old Merc said:
A cabin is essential on a 22 hour crossing.
Also be warned The Bay of Biscay can be very rough.
We did this crossing years ago before Covid. Going the sea was like a mill pond. Sun tan on deck, lovely restaurant meal, a mini cruise .Coming back it was horrendous, people rushing to the loo, stuff flying off tables, the restaurants were empty. I’ve never experienced a sea crossing like that.
Poor Mrs Merc spent the crossing in the cabin throwing up.
Wrist bands, they work.Also be warned The Bay of Biscay can be very rough.
We did this crossing years ago before Covid. Going the sea was like a mill pond. Sun tan on deck, lovely restaurant meal, a mini cruise .Coming back it was horrendous, people rushing to the loo, stuff flying off tables, the restaurants were empty. I’ve never experienced a sea crossing like that.
Poor Mrs Merc spent the crossing in the cabin throwing up.
Edited by Old Merc on Friday 14th February 09:23
Road2Ruin said:
Old Merc said:
A cabin is essential on a 22 hour crossing.
Also be warned The Bay of Biscay can be very rough.
We did this crossing years ago before Covid. Going the sea was like a mill pond. Sun tan on deck, lovely restaurant meal, a mini cruise .Coming back it was horrendous, people rushing to the loo, stuff flying off tables, the restaurants were empty. I’ve never experienced a sea crossing like that.
Poor Mrs Merc spent the crossing in the cabin throwing up.
Wrist bands, they work.Also be warned The Bay of Biscay can be very rough.
We did this crossing years ago before Covid. Going the sea was like a mill pond. Sun tan on deck, lovely restaurant meal, a mini cruise .Coming back it was horrendous, people rushing to the loo, stuff flying off tables, the restaurants were empty. I’ve never experienced a sea crossing like that.
Poor Mrs Merc spent the crossing in the cabin throwing up.
Edited by Old Merc on Friday 14th February 09:23
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