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Brittany Ferries: The Complete 2026 Guide to Routes, Ships and Prices

Brittany Ferries is a French shipping company founded in 1973 by a group of Breton farmers, led by Alexis Gourvennec, who needed a way to get their cauliflowers, artichokes and onions onto lorries bound for the UK. Still majority-owned by Breton farming cooperatives today, the company has grown into the leading ferry operator on the western Channel, running a fleet of overnight cruise-ferries between the UK, France, Spain, Ireland and the Channel Islands.

This guide brings together everything you need to know about Brittany Ferries in 2026, with a particular focus on the three routes we cover in most depth — Portsmouth to Caen (our home route), Portsmouth to St Malo, and Portsmouth to Cherbourg — alongside every other UK sailing, the ships you’ll find on board, cabin options, and the significant route changes Brittany Ferries confirmed at the start of July 2026.

Last updated: July 2026 | Route, ship and pricing details cross-checked against official Brittany Ferries sources and recent news coverage of the 2026 network changes.

⛴️ Brittany Ferries at a Glance

1973
Founded by
Breton farmers
9
Ships in the
fleet
9
UK routes to
France & Spain
From £114
Car + 2 Passengers
Portsmouth–Caen
    • ✅ Over 50 years of history — still majority-owned by the Breton farming cooperatives that founded it
    • ✅ Cabins as standard — the only major operator offering proper cruise-ferry accommodation on every overnight crossing
    • ✅ Genuine French cuisine on board — locally-sourced Breton and Norman produce in every restaurant
    • ✅ The only operator to western Brittany — via the historic Plymouth–Roscoff crossing
    • ✅ Modern hybrid fleet — LNG-electric ships with shore-power capability on the newest routes

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Brittany Ferries UK Routes at a Glance

Brittany Ferries currently sails nine routes from the UK to France and Spain, departing Portsmouth, Plymouth and Poole. Two of these — marked below — are being wound down over autumn 2026, so we’ve flagged that clearly rather than leaving you to find out at the booking page.

Route Duration Ships Status
Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham) ~6h day / up to 8h overnight Guillaume de Normandie, Mont St Michel ✅ Operating year-round
Portsmouth to St Malo 10-12h overnight (day sailing ~11h in summer) Saint-Malo, Armorique ✅ Operating year-round
Portsmouth to Cherbourg ~8h overnight / 5-6h afternoon Galicia, Salamanca ✅ Operating — going daily from Nov 2026
Portsmouth to Le Havre ~5h30-6.5h day / ~10h45 overnight return Commodore Clipper ⚠️ Closing — last sailings October 2026
Poole to Cherbourg ~4h15 Barfleur ⚠️ Closing — last sailings November 2026
Plymouth to Roscoff ~6 hours (day or overnight) Armorique, Pont-Aven ✅ Operating (seasonal, March–November)
Plymouth to Santander ~20-22 hours Pont-Aven ✅ Operating (seasonal, no winter sailings)
Portsmouth to Santander ~31-33 hours Salamanca, Santoña ✅ Operating year-round
Portsmouth to Bilbao ~32-36 hours Galicia, Salamanca, Santoña ✅ Operating (reduced in deep winter)

Durations are typical for each crossing and vary by tide, season and exact sailing — always check the specific departure you’re booking. Ships on the Spain routes rotate between sister vessels through the year, so the exact ship on your sailing may differ from the ones listed. Brittany Ferries also runs separate routes to Ireland, Guernsey and Jersey, which aren’t covered in this guide.

⚠️ Route Changes Confirmed for Late 2026

On 30 June 2026, Brittany Ferries confirmed it will close the Portsmouth to Le Havre route from October 2026 and the Poole to Cherbourg route from November 2026, alongside the sale of two older ships, Barfleur and Cotentin. The company pointed to a €27 million bill in 2026 from EU Emissions Trading System charges, ongoing repayments on a Covid-era loan, falling passenger numbers, and what it describes as unfair competition from a subsidised rival service on the Dieppe–Newhaven route.

The good news for anyone who normally sails Poole–Cherbourg: Brittany Ferries is launching a new daily Portsmouth to Cherbourg service from November 2026 to take its place, making Cherbourg an even more central part of the network. There’s no direct daily replacement announced for Portsmouth–Le Havre, though Portsmouth–Caen is the nearest equivalent for Normandy-bound travellers, and Newhaven–Dieppe (operated by a rival) remains an option for those heading further east towards Paris or Rouen.

If you already hold a booking on either closing route for later in 2026, Brittany Ferries will contact you directly — both routes remain fully operational and bookable right up to their final sailing dates. We’ve marked both routes clearly below, in their own sections, so there’s no confusion about what’s changing and when.

Portsmouth to Caen: Our Home Route to Normandy

✅ Operating year-round

Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham) is Brittany Ferries’ busiest crossing and the route this site specialises in. It’s the most flexible of the three key routes, with daytime and overnight sailings every day of the year, and it lands you closer to the D-Day beaches and central Normandy than any other Brittany Ferries option.

Route Overview:

  • Duration: around 6 hours by day; up to 8 hours on the overnight sailing
  • Frequency: multiple sailings a day, year-round, with a mix of daytime and overnight departures
  • Ships: Guillaume de Normandie (new hybrid-LNG ship) and Mont St Michel
  • Price range: from £114 for a car and 2 passengers
  • Port: Ouistreham, 15km north of Caen, with direct access onto the autoroute network

Why Sail Portsmouth to Caen:

✅ Closest to the D-Day Beaches: Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword are all within around 30 minutes of Ouistreham.

✅ A Sailing to Suit Any Schedule: With both day and night crossings running daily, you can pick whatever timing works for you.

✅ Straight onto the Autoroute: Ouistreham feeds directly onto fast roads towards Paris (via the A13), the Loire, Brittany and the south.

✅ Our Newest Ship: Guillaume de Normandie — named after William the Conqueror, who is buried in Caen — brings LNG-hybrid technology and refreshed cabins to the route.

Onboard Guillaume de Normandie:

  • Riva Bella restaurant (deck 7) for classic French brasserie dining, and Le Jardin (deck 8) for lighter, plant-focused meals
  • Les Planches bar and the CClub Lounge, both on deck 8, plus a sun deck and outdoor gym on deck 10
  • Duty-free boutique and delicatessen, an indoor games room, and an outdoor play area for children
  • Free onboard Video on Demand and Wi-Fi packages throughout the ship
  • Pet-friendly cabins and onboard kennels — see our pet travel section below

Cabin Options & Prices (from, day sailing rates):

  • 2-berth Commodore Cabin: from £55 day / £157 night — queen bed, private terrace, Phytomer toiletries
  • 2-berth Outside Club Cabin: from £53 day / £130 night — sea view, tea and coffee facilities
  • 4-berth Outside Cabin: from £32 day / £88 night — porthole, bunk-style beds, sleeps up to 4
  • 4-berth Inside Cabin: from £27 day / £77 night
  • Couchette Plus (reclining seat area): from £12, day and night, with access to a shared lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible cabins: from £22 day / £44 night on Mont St Michel; from £27 day / £65 night (outside) on Guillaume de Normandie

💡 Family Tip: We’d always recommend a cabin over a reserved seat on this crossing, even on a day sailing — it gives you somewhere quiet to settle a baby for a nap or ride out any seasickness, away from the busier public decks. Pack a couple of small travel board games or a tablet loaded with films for older children, and take advantage of the play areas, arcade and cinema (on Mont St Michel) to break up the journey.

Travelling with a Pet:

Pet policy differs between the two ships on this route. Guillaume de Normandie offers 21 pet-friendly cabins on deck 7, plus 10 small and 2 large onboard kennels, with a dedicated exercise area — dogs must be muzzled and on a lead any time they’re outside your cabin, vehicle or kennel. Mont St Michel has no kennels or pet-friendly cabins; pets stay in your vehicle for the whole crossing, with ventilation and welfare checks available on request via the information desk (not on overnight sailings). Check-in with a pet takes 90 minutes rather than the standard 45.

Best For:

D-Day beach tours, touring Normandy (Bayeux, Honfleur, Étretat), driving on to Paris, families wanting flexible sailing times, and anyone who’d rather have a full choice of day or night departures than be tied to a single evening crossing.

Portsmouth to St Malo: The Overnight Cruise to Brittany

✅ Operating year-round

If you’d rather sleep through the crossing and wake up in France, Portsmouth to St Malo is Brittany Ferries’ flagship overnight route into Brittany, and it lands you noticeably closer to Mont Saint-Michel and the start of the GR34 coastal path than the Caen crossing does.

Route Overview:

  • Duration: 10-12 hours overnight (20:15 departure, arriving 08:00-09:00 French time); a day sailing (~11 hours) also runs in peak summer
  • Frequency: up to 8 sailings a week during July-September, dropping to around 3-4 a week outside peak season
  • Ships: Saint-Malo (Brittany Ferries’ first LNG-electric hybrid ship, in service since February 2025) and Armorique
  • Cabin: compulsory on all overnight sailings — you cannot travel without booking one

Why Sail Portsmouth to St Malo:

✅ True Overnight Comfort: Evening departure, a full night in your cabin, and you dock in Brittany with the whole day ahead of you.

✅ Newest Ship on the Network: Saint-Malo carries 386 cabins, including 28 pet-friendly options and an exclusive Admiral suite.

✅ Closer to Mont Saint-Michel: A noticeably shorter drive than from Caen, plus quick access to Dinard, Dinan and Cancale.

✅ Easy for Foot Passengers: St Malo’s Gare Maritime connects onward to Rennes and Paris by train.

Onboard Saint-Malo:

  • Le Littoral (brasserie-style, deck 7) and Le Jardin (plant-focused market-garden concept, deck 8) restaurants
  • CClub Lounge with panoramic sea views (closed on overnight sailings)
  • Five grades of Commodore cabin, plus the Admiral suite — the largest cabin in the fleet, with a separate lounge and panoramic portholes
  • Duty-free shopping, sun decks and family-friendly play areas

Best For:

Mont Saint-Michel and the GR34 coastal trail, exploring Brittany rather than Normandy, foot passengers relying on train connections, and anyone who’d rather sleep through the Channel than watch it go by.

📍 Full Route Guide: For complete timetables, cabin-by-cabin pricing and destination guides for this crossing, visit our sister site at www.portsmouthtostmalo.co.uk.

Portsmouth to Cherbourg: A Quieter Route into Normandy, Soon Going Daily

✅ Operating — expanding to a daily service from November 2026

Portsmouth to Cherbourg is currently the smallest of the three routes covered here, but it’s about to become significantly more important. From November 2026, Brittany Ferries will run a new daily Portsmouth-Cherbourg sailing to replace the closing Poole-Cherbourg service (see below), so this is a route worth watching if you’re planning travel into 2027.

Route Overview (current service):

  • Duration: around 8 hours on the overnight sailing; roughly 5-6 hours on the afternoon crossing
  • Frequency: currently up to twice a week, year-round
  • Ships: Galicia and Salamanca
  • From November 2026: a daily service will operate on this route, taking over the connection previously provided by Poole to Cherbourg

Why Sail Portsmouth to Cherbourg:

✅ The Cotentin Peninsula: A quieter, more rural stretch of Normandy’s western coast than the busier Caen corridor.

✅ Overnight or Afternoon: Choose a late-departure overnight crossing or a shorter afternoon sailing depending on your schedule.

✅ Growing Frequency: A daily sailing from November 2026 makes this a far more flexible option than it’s ever been before.

✅ Modern Ships: Galicia and Salamanca both offer full cruise-ferry cabin accommodation for a restful crossing.

Best For:

Western Normandy and the Cotentin Peninsula, Mont Saint-Michel via Cherbourg, D-Day beaches from the western end, and — from late 2026 onward — anyone who previously relied on Poole to Cherbourg and needs a comparably frequent alternative.

Portsmouth to Le Havre

⚠️ Closing — last sailings October 2026

Until it closes, this route offers the shortest drive to Paris of any UK ferry crossing — around 2 hours via the A13 — thanks to a daytime outbound sailing and an overnight return aboard Commodore Clipper.

  • Duration: around 5h30-6.5 hours by day; roughly 10 hours 45 minutes on the overnight return
  • Frequency: daily sailings, Monday to Thursday
  • Ship: Commodore Clipper
  • Why it’s closing: Brittany Ferries cites unfair competition on the eastern Channel, linked to subsidies supporting a rival’s Dieppe-Newhaven service

Best alternative: Portsmouth to Caen is the closest equivalent for Normandy-bound travellers; those heading further east towards Paris or Rouen may prefer Newhaven-Dieppe with a rival operator.

Poole to Cherbourg

⚠️ Closing — last sailings November 2026

A quick daytime crossing on Barfleur, this has long been the shortest route to France from Poole and has suited travellers in Dorset and Somerset well.

  • Duration: around 4 hours 15 minutes
  • Ship: Barfleur (being sold as part of the 2026 restructuring)
  • Replacement: a new daily Portsmouth to Cherbourg service, launching November 2026

Best alternative: Portsmouth to Cherbourg — a longer drive to port for anyone based near Poole, but a considerably more frequent sailing schedule once the daily service begins.

Plymouth to Roscoff

✅ Operating — seasonal, no winter sailings (March–November)

This is the crossing that created Brittany Ferries — the very first sailing the company ever ran, back on 2 January 1973. It’s still the only direct route into western Brittany.

  • Duration: around 6 hours, by day or 7 hours overnight
  • Ships: Armorique (usual vessel) and, on selected sailings, the flagship Pont-Aven
  • Good for: travellers from Devon, Cornwall and the wider South West, who’d otherwise face a long drive to Portsmouth

📍 Full Route Guide: See our complete Plymouth to Roscoff guide at www.plymouthtoroscoff.co.uk.

Plymouth to Santander

✅ Operating — seasonal, no winter sailings

The most direct way to reach northern Spain from the South West, running aboard Pont-Aven, Brittany Ferries’ flagship cruise ferry, complete with a swimming pool, two cinemas and fine dining at Le Flora.

  • Duration: around 20-22 hours — shorter than the equivalent Portsmouth crossing, being further west
  • Season: spring to autumn only (roughly early April to early November); no winter sailings
  • Ship: Pont-Aven
  • Cabin: mandatory on this crossing, as on all Spain routes

📍 Full Route Guide: See our complete Plymouth to Santander guide at www.plymouthtosantander.co.uk.

Portsmouth to Santander

✅ Operating year-round

A genuine mini-cruise as much as a ferry crossing, Portsmouth to Santander runs year-round and drops you right in the centre of Santander, a short walk from the city’s train and bus stations.

  • Duration: around 31-33 hours, spending one or two nights on board depending on the sailing
  • Frequency: twice weekly year-round, with an additional summer sailing in peak season
  • Ships: primarily Salamanca and Santoña, both LNG-powered sister ships — the exact vessel on a given sailing can vary through the year
  • Cabin: included as standard, not optional, as with all Brittany Ferries Spain routes

Best for: Northern Spain touring, city breaks in Santander itself, and anyone who’d rather treat the crossing as the first day of the holiday than a means to an end.

Portsmouth to Bilbao

✅ Operating (reduced in deep winter)

Brittany Ferries’ longest UK crossing, Portsmouth to Bilbao sails right into the heart of the Basque Country, docking in Zierbena with a free shuttle bus into central Bilbao near the Guggenheim.

  • Duration: around 32-36 hours
  • Frequency: twice weekly, dropping to a single weekly sailing in the depths of winter
  • Ships: Galicia, Salamanca and Santoña rotate on this route across the year
  • Cabin: included as standard, not optional

Best for: the Basque Country and northern Spain, whale and dolphin watching across the Bay of Biscay in summer (Brittany Ferries partners with marine conservation charity ORCA), and anyone wanting to skip a long drive through France altogether.

What You’ll Find On Board a Brittany Ferries Ship

Facilities vary ship by ship, but a few things are consistent across the fleet: proper cabin accommodation on overnight crossings, French cooking rather than generic ferry catering, and a genuine effort on accessibility and pet travel that goes beyond the bare legal minimum.

🍽️ Dining on Board

  • À la carte and self-service restaurants on every ship
  • Locally-sourced Norman and Breton ingredients
  • Children’s menus available in every restaurant
  • Pre-paid Food Passes: Small (£40, +5% spend), Medium (£50, +10% spend), and a Large option for families or bigger appetites

🛏️ Cabins & Rest

  • Standard, Club and Commodore-class cabins on the newest ships
  • Allergy-friendly cabins with vinyl flooring and fragrance-free toiletries
  • Cots available to pre-book for infants up to 24 months (maximum 1 per cabin)
  • Cabins must be vacated 30 minutes before arrival

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Travelling with Children

  • Play areas, games rooms and — on Mont St Michel — two cinemas
  • The Ferrynauts app for children aged 7-14
  • Baby changing facilities and microwaves for warming baby food
  • Infants aged 3 and under travel free

♿ Accessibility

  • Lifts to every passenger deck on all ships
  • Wheelchair-accessible cabins — numbers are limited, so book early and flag requirements at the time of booking
  • Assistance dogs travel free and may access any cabin and all public areas, muzzle-free
  • Request lift-adjacent vehicle parking and additional boarding assistance at least 48 hours ahead

🐕 Travelling with a Pet

  • Options vary by ship: pet-friendly cabin, onboard kennel, or your own vehicle
  • Pet fees start from £35 per pet, each way
  • Check in 90 minutes before departure with a pet, rather than the usual 45
  • EU pet passports issued to British residents before 22 April 2026 remain valid; otherwise you’ll need a UK-issued Animal Health Certificate

🌿 Fleet & Sustainability

  • 9 ships currently in service across the network
  • Guillaume de Normandie and Saint-Malo are LNG-electric hybrids, with shore-power capability
  • Two of the oldest ships, Barfleur and Cotentin, are being sold as part of the 2026 restructuring
  • Still majority-owned by the Breton farming cooperatives that founded the company in 1973

Getting the Best Price on Brittany Ferries

A few practical extras can make a real difference to both your budget and your comfort on board.

📅 Book Cabins Early: Pet-friendly and wheelchair-accessible cabins in particular are limited in number and sell out fastest, especially around school holidays.

🍽️ Pre-Book a Food Pass: Small (£40) and Medium (£50) passes give you 5% and 10% extra spend respectively against restaurant and café bills.

🚗 Priority Disembarkation: From £15 per vehicle each way, this gets you off the ship and through border control ahead of the main queue — subject to a specific check-in time depending on your ship.

🛋️ CClub Lounge Access: £36 per person (free under 2) buys panoramic sea views and a premium buffet with hot dishes and drinks included.

👶 Reserve a Cot: Select “infant travelling” when booking and you can add a cot for your cabin at step 4 — bring your own blankets, as only an undersheet is supplied.

♿ Flag Accessibility Needs Early: Tell Brittany Ferries about any disability or reduced mobility at the time of booking, and again at check-in, so the right support is arranged in advance.

Brittany Ferries: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brittany Ferries still running Portsmouth to Le Havre?

Yes, for now. Brittany Ferries confirmed on 30 June 2026 that Portsmouth to Le Havre will close from October 2026, but the route continues to operate and take bookings right up until its final sailings.

What’s replacing the Poole to Cherbourg route?

Poole to Cherbourg closes in November 2026. In its place, Brittany Ferries is introducing a new daily Portsmouth to Cherbourg sailing, giving travellers who previously used Poole a more frequent — if slightly further to drive to — alternative into western Normandy.

Do I need to book a cabin on Brittany Ferries?

Yes, on every overnight sailing across the fleet — St Malo, Caen, Cherbourg and all Spain routes (Plymouth-Santander, Portsmouth-Santander and Portsmouth-Bilbao) included. A cabin, Couchette Plus berth or reserved lounge seat is compulsory once the car deck is sealed for the crossing, and you cannot board without booking one. It’s optional only on shorter daytime routes.

Can I take my dog on Brittany Ferries?

Yes. Depending on the ship, your pet can travel in your vehicle, in an onboard kennel, or in a pet-friendly cabin, from £35 per pet each way. You’ll need a microchip, rabies vaccination and an up-to-date Animal Health Certificate or valid EU pet passport, and you should check in 90 minutes before departure rather than the standard 45.

Which Brittany Ferries route is quickest to Normandy?

Portsmouth to Caen is the fastest and most frequent option, at around 6 hours by day, with several sailings running every day of the year. Portsmouth to Le Havre is the second quickest at around 6 hours 30 minutes.

Which ships sail to Spain?

Portsmouth-Santander, Portsmouth-Bilbao and Plymouth-Santander are covered by four sister ships — Galicia, Salamanca, Santoña and the flagship Pont-Aven — which rotate between routes across the year, so the exact ship on your sailing can change by season.

Can I travel as a foot passenger on Brittany Ferries?

Yes, foot passengers are welcome on Portsmouth-Caen, Portsmouth-St Malo and Portsmouth-Cherbourg, with fares from £24 on the Caen route. Note that pets cannot travel with foot passengers, cyclists or motorcyclists — only vehicle passengers can bring a pet on board.

What are Brittany Ferries’ check-in times?

Standard check-in closes 45 minutes before departure. If you’re travelling with a pet, allow 90 minutes. Priority disembarkation passengers should check the specific check-in time for their ship, shown on their ticket, as it varies from 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes.

Explore Our Other Brittany Ferries Route Guides

⚓

Portsmouth to St Malo

Full timetables, cabin options and destination guides for the overnight route into Brittany

Visit Site →

🇫🇷

Plymouth to Roscoff

The route that started it all in 1973 — everything you need for the crossing into western Brittany

Visit Site →

🌊

Plymouth to Santander

The flagship Pont-Aven crossing to northern Spain — pool, cinemas and fine dining included

Visit Site →

🏰

Mont Saint-Michel Day Trip

Our complete visitor guide, including how to get there from the Caen ferry

Read Guide →

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