First time taking the ferry to France then to the Pyrenees
Discussion
Planning a solo trip for early October and although I’ve driven in Europe many, many times, I have never taken the ferry and have never been to the Pyrenees.
Curious as to what the process is when boarding? Last time at the tunnel in April there was no EES checks. What’s the deal at Portsmouth now? Are all checks done from your car like at the tunnel or do you park up and go somewhere else?
Would you bother getting a cabin for a 6 hour crossing or are there enough distractions on the ferry to stay occupied?
I’m thinking priority entry/exit for the car and a WiFi package or is there 4/5g in the channel?
Haven’t chosen overnight stops or sights to see on the way yet so any recommendations appreciated.
Curious as to what the process is when boarding? Last time at the tunnel in April there was no EES checks. What’s the deal at Portsmouth now? Are all checks done from your car like at the tunnel or do you park up and go somewhere else?
Would you bother getting a cabin for a 6 hour crossing or are there enough distractions on the ferry to stay occupied?
I’m thinking priority entry/exit for the car and a WiFi package or is there 4/5g in the channel?
Haven’t chosen overnight stops or sights to see on the way yet so any recommendations appreciated.
Just done Portsmouth to Santander and then across the bottom of France. Now by the coast at Perpignan
Portsmouth - no EES and just a simple check in, security and on to the boat. We were towing so bottom deck.
Santander - because the port does not have two exit /loading ramps the upper deck could not unload until the lower deck was clear. That will take 45 mins. A few priority cars with us. Then it’s to 15 portacabins, well managed and you are directed to which one is free, park, jump out scan passport, finger prints and photo, then back to car and head for security. We were not stopped and waved through, so straight out to the motorway.
As the crossing for us was 33 hours a cabin was needed.
Portsmouth - no EES and just a simple check in, security and on to the boat. We were towing so bottom deck.
Santander - because the port does not have two exit /loading ramps the upper deck could not unload until the lower deck was clear. That will take 45 mins. A few priority cars with us. Then it’s to 15 portacabins, well managed and you are directed to which one is free, park, jump out scan passport, finger prints and photo, then back to car and head for security. We were not stopped and waved through, so straight out to the motorway.
As the crossing for us was 33 hours a cabin was needed.
Sounds like you're planning to cross to Caen. In order to get priority disembarkation you need to book a premium cabin. If you're doing an "overnight" crossing, then you really need a cabin. If you're crossing in the day then you can manage without. However, for October this year, you'll be very lucky if there are any premium cabins available.
If you're going to Caen, which is France, then AFAIK there is no EES there yet. If you are going to Spain, then it is as described above.
If you're going to Caen, which is France, then AFAIK there is no EES there yet. If you are going to Spain, then it is as described above.
omniflow said:
Sounds like you're planning to cross to Caen. In order to get priority disembarkation you need to book a premium cabin. If you're doing an "overnight" crossing, then you really need a cabin. If you're crossing in the day then you can manage without. However, for October this year, you'll be very lucky if there are any premium cabins available.
If you're going to Caen, which is France, then AFAIK there is no EES there yet. If you are going to Spain, then it is as described above.
Caen or Cherbourg would work. Thought about Spain on the way home but I ll try 6 hours on a ferry before committing to 30+If you're going to Caen, which is France, then AFAIK there is no EES there yet. If you are going to Spain, then it is as described above.
Edit to say I checked the Brittany Ferry site and for Caen it allow to book priority disembarkation as a stand alone at £15 e/w
Edited by DeuceDeuce on Wednesday 19th August 18:58
France trip veteran here - 3 or 4 trips per year for the past umpteen years, away again on Sept 6th for a few weeks.
If you've never been before, both Caen-Ouistreham and Cherbourg are easy to drive out from. Le Havre, Roscoff and St.-Malo slightly less so, but still not difficult. Cherbourg is the shortest crossing.
Cabin - overnight or early morning crossing, definitely.
If you've driven a distance to get to Portsmouth for an early crossing, a cabin gives a chance for an undisturbed kip to catch up.
Mid-day crossing probably not (we have Club Voyage membership so we get mostly free cabins anyway, but had many years without this bonus).
WiFi on board isn't brilliant, we never bother. Coming out of Portsmouth, there is 4G/5G all the way down the Solent until the Isle of Wight is out of sight, then a few hours of peace/eating/music or podcasts on headphones until mainland France is within sight. Be careful to turn mobile data OFF when you get to sea or the Maritime Internet will kick in and potentially cost a fortune.
Our usual stop-off point from Caen or Cherbourg for coffee or lunch (depending on timing) is Bain-de-Bretagne which has some nice cafes, boulangeries and restaurants. The E3/N137 runs a long way South through France and quite easy to follow.
Hotels en route that we have used include the Campanile at Le Mans Sud, Arnage (basic, cheap, nice lakeside setting), Hotel Kyriad Saumur Centre (city centre, parking outside), Le Coligny at Brantome (lovely historic town with a good selection of restaurants) and (on the way back up to Cherbourg) Logis Hotel de la Croix D'Or at Avranches.
If you've never been before, both Caen-Ouistreham and Cherbourg are easy to drive out from. Le Havre, Roscoff and St.-Malo slightly less so, but still not difficult. Cherbourg is the shortest crossing.
Cabin - overnight or early morning crossing, definitely.
If you've driven a distance to get to Portsmouth for an early crossing, a cabin gives a chance for an undisturbed kip to catch up.
Mid-day crossing probably not (we have Club Voyage membership so we get mostly free cabins anyway, but had many years without this bonus).
WiFi on board isn't brilliant, we never bother. Coming out of Portsmouth, there is 4G/5G all the way down the Solent until the Isle of Wight is out of sight, then a few hours of peace/eating/music or podcasts on headphones until mainland France is within sight. Be careful to turn mobile data OFF when you get to sea or the Maritime Internet will kick in and potentially cost a fortune.
Our usual stop-off point from Caen or Cherbourg for coffee or lunch (depending on timing) is Bain-de-Bretagne which has some nice cafes, boulangeries and restaurants. The E3/N137 runs a long way South through France and quite easy to follow.
Hotels en route that we have used include the Campanile at Le Mans Sud, Arnage (basic, cheap, nice lakeside setting), Hotel Kyriad Saumur Centre (city centre, parking outside), Le Coligny at Brantome (lovely historic town with a good selection of restaurants) and (on the way back up to Cherbourg) Logis Hotel de la Croix D'Or at Avranches.
If we are doing any day crossings from St. Malo or Caen, we always get a cabin. There not expensive and it gives you the chance to have a sleep and properly refresh.
On the night sailings, I never sleep that well in the cabins so would typically limit my next day driving to 300 miles. This isn’t bad as it allows you to get as far as mid west France from St. Malo.
On the night sailings, I never sleep that well in the cabins so would typically limit my next day driving to 300 miles. This isn’t bad as it allows you to get as far as mid west France from St. Malo.
We usually overnight ferry to/from Portsmouth but this spring we did day ferries each way. We didn't have a cabin on the way out and regretted it, booked one for the return trip and slept most of the way back. Even booking reserved seats would give somewhere you could relax a bit.
I'd question the value of priority boarding/disembarking at a time I imagine the ferries are pretty quiet anyway; we were on the outbound ferry about two minutes after the first people and third out of the gate on the other end. If it's an afternoon ferry to Caen the B&B Hotel Ouistreham is convenient and automated so getting into your room is a breeze, perfect when tired.
I'd question the value of priority boarding/disembarking at a time I imagine the ferries are pretty quiet anyway; we were on the outbound ferry about two minutes after the first people and third out of the gate on the other end. If it's an afternoon ferry to Caen the B&B Hotel Ouistreham is convenient and automated so getting into your room is a breeze, perfect when tired.
DeuceDeuce said:
I'll try 6 hours on a ferry before committing to 30+
The Spain crossings are nice, take a good book and relax. I prefer the crossing from Plymouth as it is only 24hr. I've seen whales from the deck at dawn and for me the Bay of Biscay has always been calm, though can be spicy I hear!Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff