This guide covers all the Portsmouth to Caen ferry information you need for 2026 — crossing times, prices, cabins, ships, port guides and every travel type in one place. Brittany Ferries is the sole operator on this year-round route between Portsmouth International Port and the port of Ouistreham, just north of Caen city in Normandy.
Last updated: June 2026 · All facts verified from Brittany Ferries 2026 timetable and official sources
Mont St Michel Ferry Entering Portsmouth by Roy Hughes, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Brittany Ferries · Portsmouth International Port, PO2 8SP ↔ Avenue du Grand Large, Ouistreham, 14150 · ~95 nautical miles
The Portsmouth to Caen ferry is Brittany Ferries’ most popular UK route, operating every day of the year with up to three crossings per day in peak season. Unlike the Plymouth to Roscoff and Portsmouth to St Malo routes, this service runs year-round — no winter closure, no seasonal shutdown. Portsmouth is within two hours’ drive of London via the M3 or A3, and the port sits directly off the M27, making it the natural choice for travellers from London, the Midlands, the South East and beyond.
The ferry arrives at Ouistreham, a small coastal town at the mouth of the Canal de Caen à la Mer — and notably, on Sword Beach, one of the five D-Day landing beaches. It’s 15km north of Caen city centre. The road network around the port provides direct access to the A13 motorway towards Paris (approximately 2.5 hours), the N13 to Bayeux and Cherbourg, and the N158 south towards Le Mans and the Loire Valley.
Guillaume de Normandie Guide →
| Detail | Information | Full Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Day crossings | 08:00 departure arrives Caen ~15:00. 15:00 departure arrives ~22:00. Note: Caen is 1 hour ahead — all arrival times on your booking are French local time. | Timetable → |
| Overnight crossing | 23:00 departure, arrives Caen 06:45 or 07:30. A cabin or reserved lounge seat is compulsory — you cannot board the overnight sailing without one. Car deck sealed for the crossing. | Cabins → |
| Foot passenger | From £24 one-way. Portsmouth Harbour station is a 30-minute walk or ~£5 taxi from the port — direct trains from London Waterloo (~85 minutes), Cardiff and Bristol. | Foot passenger → |
| Car + 2 passengers | From £114 off-peak. Peak summer prices are significantly higher — book as early as possible for July and August. Motorhomes, campervans and caravans also welcome. | Prices → |
| Cabins | The Guillaume de Normandie has 386 cabins: standard 2 and 4-berth, Commodore, pet-friendly (21 cabins), allergy-friendly and accessible options. Required on overnight sailings alongside reserved lounge seats. | Cabins → |
| Check-in times | Vehicles and foot passengers: check in at least 45 minutes before departure. Travelling with a pet: check in at least 90 minutes before departure. Late arrivals are refused boarding with no refund. | Check-in → |
| Portsmouth parking | On-site APCOA multi-storey car park: 516 spaces, £13 per 24 hours, max height 2.2m, Park Mark accredited, EV charging available, 2–3 min walk to terminal. Cheaper alternatives via JustPark (code BRITTANYFERRIES for 10% off). | Portsmouth port → |
| Caen parking | Free open car park at Ouistreham terminal for a maximum of 72 hours. No booking needed. Parking is at the owner’s risk. No charge for short stays. | Caen port → |
| Pet travel | Dogs, cats and ferrets welcome. Requires: Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued no more than 10 days before travel, microchipped pet, valid rabies vaccination. 21 pet-friendly cabins and 12 kennels on board. Check in 90 mins early. | Pet guide → |
| Onboard | Riva Bella brasserie (345 seats, sea views, French cuisine), Le Jardin self-service restaurant, Les Planches bar, CClub lounge, duty-free boutiques, children’s play areas, Wi-Fi throughout. | Onboard → |
| Ship guides | Full cabin types, deck layouts, facilities and what to expect on both ships that serve the Portsmouth to Caen route. | Guillaume de Normandie → Mont Saint-Michel → |
Day crossings take approximately 7 hours. The 08:00 departure arrives in Caen at around 15:00 French time; the 15:00 departure arrives at around 22:00. Important: Caen is 1 hour ahead of Portsmouth — all arrival times on your booking confirmation are in French local time. The overnight 23:00 sailing arrives at either 06:45 or 07:30 depending on the date. See the full 2026 & 2027 timetable →
Yes — on the overnight sailing (23:00 departure) you must book either a cabin or a reserved lounge seat before you board. You cannot travel overnight without one, and the car deck is sealed for the entire crossing so you cannot return to your vehicle. Day crossings (08:00 and 15:00 departures) have no such requirement — you can use the lounges, deck areas and restaurants freely. Full cabins guide →
Yes — this is one of the key advantages of the Portsmouth to Caen route over other Brittany Ferries services. The ferry operates every single day of the year with no winter closure. In peak season (June to August) there are up to three sailings per day. Outside peak season there are typically two sailings per day — morning and overnight. The route runs approximately 20 sailings per week year-round. 2026 & 2027 timetable →
Two ships operate this route. The Guillaume de Normandie is a brand-new hybrid-LNG cruise ferry that replaced the much-loved Normandie in April 2025. It carries 1,310 passengers and 470 cars, and features the Riva Bella brasserie, Le Jardin self-service restaurant, Les Planches bar, CClub lounge and 386 cabins. The ship is named after William the Conqueror, who is buried in Caen. The Mont Saint-Michel also sails the route regularly. Your booking confirmation will show which ship you are on. Guillaume de Normandie guide →
Yes — foot passengers are welcome on all sailings. Portsmouth Harbour and Portsmouth & Southsea train stations are both close to the port, with direct services from London Waterloo (approximately 85 minutes). Taxis from either station to the port cost around £5. Foot passenger fares start from £24 one-way. On the overnight sailing you will also need to book a cabin or reserved lounge seat. Note: due to ongoing renovation works at Portsmouth port, foot passenger disembarkation is currently via the garage and may only begin 30 minutes after arrival — allow extra time for onward connections. Foot passenger guide →
Yes. Dogs, cats and ferrets are accepted on all sailings. You will need: an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian no more than 10 days before travel; a microchipped pet; and proof of a valid rabies vaccination. The Guillaume de Normandie has 21 dedicated pet-friendly cabins and 12 kennels. If travelling with a pet, arrive at Portsmouth International Port at least 90 minutes before departure. Dogs must remain in your vehicle once past the security checkpoint at Portsmouth. Full pet travel guide →
Vehicles and foot passengers must check in at least 45 minutes before departure. If travelling with a pet, check in at least 90 minutes before. In peak summer (July and August), arriving 90 minutes to 2 hours early is strongly advisable — passengers who arrive late are refused boarding with no refund. Portsmouth International Port is at PO2 8SP. From the M27 follow signs to the port directly off the motorway. A Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is in place in Portsmouth city — check whether your vehicle is affected before travelling. Portsmouth port guide →
The ferry arrives at Ouistreham, approximately 15km north of Caen city centre. By car, it’s a straightforward 30-minute drive on roads signposted “Car Ferry” from the main routes around Caen. By bus, Twisto bus number 61 runs between Ouistreham and Caen — this is a daytime service only and does not run for evening ferry arrivals. Taxis are usually waiting outside the terminal for all arrivals; fares into Caen city centre are approximately €30 in the daytime and €40 in the evening. Flixbus also operates a direct coach from the Ouistreham terminal to Paris. There is no car hire in Ouistreham — all major hire companies are in Caen next to the train station. Full Caen port guide →
Year-round day and overnight sailings to Caen · Guillaume de Normandie and Mont Saint-Michel cruise ferries · Up to 3 sailings per day in summer · Book early for the best prices
