Portsmouth to Caen Ferry Prices & Booking Guide 2026 & 2027

Everything you need to know about Portsmouth to Caen ferry prices and how to book — foot passenger fares, car costs, motorhome and caravan prices, onboard add-ons and a complete step-by-step booking walkthrough. The route is operated exclusively by Brittany Ferries, year-round, on the Guillaume de Normandie and Mont Saint-Michel. With up to three sailings per day in peak season and a 15:00 departure running every single day of the year, there is more flexibility on this route than on any other in the Brittany Ferries fleet. The same price structure and ticket types apply to both 2026 and 2027 sailings.

Last updated: June 2026 | All prices verified from the official Brittany Ferries booking page

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Foot passenger from £24 · Car + 2 passengers from £114 · Cabins from £77 overnight

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£24+

Foot Passenger
Per person
one way

£51+

Passenger
+ Bicycle
one way

£114+

Car + 2 passengers
one way
off-peak

£176+

Motorhome /
Campervan
one way

✅Brittany Ferries only — the sole operator on this route, running year-round every day of the year
✅Two ships — Guillaume de Normandie (2025) and Mont Saint-Michel (2002), alternating across all three daily slots
✅Three ticket types — Early Bird, Standard and Flexi, each with different flexibility and amendment terms
✅Cabin or Couchette Plus compulsory overnight — priced additionally on top of passenger and vehicle fares
✅Step-by-step booking guide — exactly what to select at each stage of the Brittany Ferries booking process

Portsmouth to Caen Ferry Prices 2026 & 2027

All prices below are verified directly from the Brittany Ferries booking page and are starting (from) prices per person or per vehicle one way. Fares are dynamic — they rise with demand, proximity to departure, and season. Booking early, travelling off-peak, and choosing mid-week dates consistently yield the lowest fares. Cabin and Couchette Plus accommodation are always priced on top of passenger and vehicle fares.

Passenger Fares

Travel Type	Details	From Price
Foot Passenger	Per person, no vehicle	£24+
Passenger + Bicycle	1 person including bicycle. Tandems, cargo bikes or bikes with trailers: call 0330 159 7000.	£51+
Solo Rider + Motorbike	1 rider + 1 motorbike. Cabin or Couchette Plus added separately for overnight sailings.	£58+
Motorbike + 2 Passengers	Rider + pillion, 1 motorbike.	£95+
Motorbike + Sidecar + 2 Passengers	One sidecar per booking maximum.	£114+
2 Motorbikes + 2 Passengers	Two riders, two separate bikes on one booking.	£117+
Pet Fee	Per pet, each way. Pets must travel with a vehicle — foot passengers cannot bring pets on this route.	£35+

Vehicle Fares

Vehicle Type	Max Height	Max Length	From Price
Car (+ 2 passengers)	2.60m	6m	£114+
Van (+ 2 passengers)	4m	9m	£149+
Minibus	2.60m	6m	£165+
Motorhome / Campervan (+ 2 passengers)	4m	9m	£176+
+ Caravan / Trailer	4m	9m total	+£46+
+ Roof Box / Rack / Roof Bikes	4m total	—	+£30+
+ Rear-Mounted Bike Carrier	—	—	+£15+

All prices are from-prices — off-peak, booked well in advance. Additional passengers beyond the 2 included in the car fare are charged at the foot passenger rate. Accommodation (cabin or Couchette Plus) is priced additionally on overnight sailings. Van passengers confirm no goods or commercial equipment requiring customs paperwork.

⚠️ When Is Accommodation Compulsory?

A cabin, reserved lounge chair or Couchette Plus berth is compulsory on all overnight (23:00) Portsmouth to Caen sailings. You cannot board without booking one. On daytime sailings (08:00 and 15:00 departures), accommodation is optional — you can use the public areas freely — though cabins are available at a reduced daytime rate for those wanting privacy or a quiet space.

Accommodation is priced separately on top of your passenger or vehicle fare. Options range from a reserved lounge seat on the Mont Saint-Michel (from £10 per person) or Couchette Plus berth on the Guillaume de Normandie (from £12) up to the Commodore cabin with private terrace (from £157 overnight). See the full cabin guide →

Ticket Types: Early Bird, Standard and Flexi Explained

Every Brittany Ferries booking requires a ticket type — Early Bird, Standard or Flexi. The choice affects both your price and how much flexibility you have if plans change. Get this right at the time of booking, as switching ticket types later incurs an amendment fee.

🔵 Early Bird

The lowest price — for firm plans booked 60+ days ahead

Available: 60+ days before the outward sailing
Payment: Full payment required at booking
Amendments: £20 fee per change (add £10 if made via Contact Centre rather than online)
Cancellation: No refund
Best for: Travellers with fixed dates who want the cheapest fare and are certain they won’t need to change

🟢 Standard Most Popular

A sensible balance of price and flexibility

Amendments: Free up to 2 weeks before sailing; £20 fee after that (plus £10 via Contact Centre)
Cancellation: No refund within 15 days; 25% refund as voucher if cancelled 15–59 days before
Payment: Full payment if booking within 60 days; 75% non-refundable deposit if 60+ days ahead
Best for: Most passengers — good value with enough flexibility to adjust if something comes up

🟠 Flexi

Maximum flexibility — amend up to 4 hours before sailing

Amendments: Free up to 4 hours before sailing; £20 fee after that (plus £10 via Contact Centre)
Cancellation: No refund within 24 hours; 50% refund back to original payment if cancelled earlier
Payment: Full payment if booking within 60 days; 50% non-refundable deposit if 60+ days ahead
Best for: Anyone with genuinely uncertain plans — work commitments, elderly relatives, or weather-dependent itineraries

📌 Booking validity: All bookings are valid for a maximum of 12 months from the original travel date. On return tickets, both the outward and return journey must be completed within that 12-month window.

Onboard Add-Ons: Food Passes, CClub Lounge & Priority Disembarkation

After selecting your accommodation during the booking process, you can pre-purchase onboard add-ons. These are cheaper to buy during booking than on board and cannot be added afterwards, so consider them before completing your payment. Not all add-ons are available on both ships — the CClub Lounge is exclusive to the Guillaume de Normandie.

🍽️ Food Pass — Available on Both Ships

The Food Pass gives you pre-paid credit to spend on food and drink on board, with a bonus percentage on top. Valid in all cafés, self-service restaurants and à la carte restaurants. Can also be used at the bar between 5am and 10am British time.

Food Pass	Price	Bonus	Best For
Small	£25	+5% extra spend	Solo traveller, light meals or snacks
Medium	£40	+10% extra spend	Couples or a full dinner and drinks
Large	£50	+15% extra spend	Families or a dinner + breakfast on overnight sailings

Example restaurant prices to help you choose: Main course ~€16.90 · 2 courses ~€28.50 · 3 courses ~€35.00 · Children’s menu ~€10.50. Prices are shown in euros on board. The Food Pass percentage is calculated on the sterling price paid and converted at approximately £0.85 to €1.

Food Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and valid only on the selected sailing. Cannot be exchanged for cash. Must be purchased during the booking process — cannot be added afterwards.

🛋️ CClub Lounge Day Access — £36 per person

Guillaume de Normandie only. The CClub Lounge is a premium passenger space on the Guillaume de Normandie with panoramic sea views and a premium buffet including hot dishes and drinks. Access can be purchased per person during booking at £36 (free for children under 2).

A genuine upgrade for day crossings — particularly the 7-hour 08:00 or 15:00 sailings where having a premium lounge with food and views included makes the crossing feel genuinely enjoyable rather than just a means of getting across. Not available on the Mont Saint-Michel.

🚗 Priority Disembarkation — £15 per vehicle

Priority Disembarkation gives you a priority parking space on the car deck, ensuring you are among the first to drive off when the ferry arrives in port. At £15 per vehicle this is a straightforward add-on for anyone with a tight onward connection from Ouistreham.

Particularly useful on the overnight sailing when arriving at 06:45 or 07:30 and heading straight onto the motorway towards Bayeux, Paris or beyond. Not available on the Mont Saint-Michel.

How to Book the Portsmouth to Caen Ferry: Step by Step

Booking directly with Brittany Ferries gives you access to all available dates, all cabin and Couchette Plus grades, and all add-ons in one place. Here is a complete walkthrough of every step of the booking process.

Steps 1–5: Set Up Your Search

Single or Return? — Decide whether you want a one-way or return crossing. Returns save time and may offer a small combined saving. However, if you think you might want to change each leg independently, two separate Flexi singles gives you more control — see the tips section below for why this matters.

Select Route — Choose Portsmouth to Caen. The booking engine only shows dates with confirmed sailings — if a date has no sailing it will not be selectable.

Select Dates — Pick your outward travel date. See our full timetable guide for which departure times operate on your chosen date, and which ship is confirmed.

Number of Passengers — Enter the total number of passengers. Children aged 4–15 travel at half the adult fare on most ticket types. Children under 4 travel free. Enter ages accurately — they affect the price automatically.

Special Assistance — If any passenger requires wheelchair access, boarding assistance or other accessible facilities, enter the details here so Brittany Ferries can make the right arrangements before you arrive at the port.

Steps 6–10: Vehicle, Travel Type & Extras

Select Travel Type — Foot passenger, car, van, minibus, motorhome/campervan or motorcycle. The price tables above show the starting price for each category. Select the option that accurately describes your vehicle.

Motorbikes and Bicycles — If riding, choose the appropriate option (solo, pillion, or two bikes). Cyclists select their number of bicycles. Tandems and bikes with trailers cannot be booked online — call Brittany Ferries on 0330 159 7000.

Vehicle Registration — Enter your number plate. This is used for check-in at Portsmouth International Port, so double-check it carefully. If you are hiring a car, you can update the registration later in Manage My Booking once you have it.

Vehicle Add-Ons — Declare any extras: a roof box, rack or bikes on the roof (from +£30), a rear-mounted bike carrier (from +£15), a caravan or trailer (from +£46), or sidecar. These affect pricing and the deck space allocated to your vehicle — don’t skip this step if they apply.

Pets — Select the number of animals if travelling with a pet. The fee is from £35 per pet each way. Pets must travel in a vehicle — foot passengers cannot bring pets on the Portsmouth to Caen route. See our pet travel guide → for all documentation requirements.

Steps 11–14: Sailings, Return & Accommodation

Search Sailings — The system shows all available departure times for your selected date. Prices shown are live — the same sailing may cost more tomorrow if demand rises. Up to three departure times may appear (08:00, 15:00 and 23:00), though not all run on every date.

Choose Your Ticket Type — Select Early Bird, Standard or Flexi for the outward sailing. This governs your amendment and cancellation rights — review the ticket types section above carefully before deciding. The cheapest option available is Early Bird, but it has the least flexibility.

Return Journey — Click Continue. If booking a return, tick to use the same passenger and vehicle details, or amend if needed. Select your return sailing from Caen and your return ticket type, then click Continue to proceed to accommodation selection.

Select Accommodation — On the overnight 23:00 sailing a cabin or Couchette Plus berth is compulsory. On daytime sailings accommodation is optional. Choose from the grades available for the ship confirmed on your booking. See the full cabin guide →

Steps 15–17: Add-Ons, Review & Pay

Return Accommodation — If your return sailing is also overnight, select accommodation for the return leg. For a daytime return, accommodation is optional but available at the daytime rate.

Select Add-Ons — Choose your Food Pass (Small £25 / Medium £40 / Large £50) and any other add-ons including bottled water (£5.50 for 2 bottles), a bottle of Champagne (£55), CClub Lounge Day Access (£36 per person, Guillaume de Normandie only) and Priority Disembarkation (£15 per vehicle). Add-ons cannot be purchased after booking.

Enter Details, Review and Pay — Add passenger details and review the full booking summary carefully before payment. Check passenger names, vehicle registration, dates, ticket types, accommodation and add-ons. Your e-ticket and confirmation arrive by email shortly after payment. View, amend or cancel via Manage My Booking on the Brittany Ferries website.

Start Your Booking →

7 Tips for Getting the Best Portsmouth to Caen Ferry Prices

Lock in the date before worrying about the price. Fares on this route are dynamic — they rise as departure approaches and as specific departure times fill up. Once you have dates in mind, check immediately. The most significant price jumps on this route typically happen inside 4–6 weeks of departure, and again inside 2 weeks. Early action consistently yields the lowest fare.
Shoulder season on a year-round route is particularly good value. Because the Portsmouth to Caen ferry runs every day of the year, the contrast between peak and off-peak pricing is very visible. May, early June and September offer some of the sharpest value — the port and crossings are quieter, the weather is often still excellent for Normandy, and fares can be significantly lower than July and August equivalents.
Mid-week departures cost less than weekend ones. Friday evening and Saturday departures carry a consistent premium on this route. Choosing a Tuesday or Wednesday overnight on the same week as a Friday can yield a noticeably lower fare for an identical crossing experience.
Early Bird is worth it if your plans are settled. If you are booking 60 days or more ahead and have fixed dates, Early Bird is the cheapest ticket type available. There is no refund on cancellation and a £20 amendment fee, so it only makes sense when you are genuinely confident your plans will not change. For most families with booked school holidays, this is the right call.
Two Flexi singles rather than one Flexi return. When you check in for the outward leg of a Flexi return ticket, your amendment rights on the return leg are cancelled. Two separate one-way Flexi tickets keep each leg independently amendable right up to 4 hours before that specific sailing. It is a well-known tip among regular Brittany Ferries passengers and is worth the small additional admin for anyone whose return plans might shift.
The Large Food Pass pays off if you plan to eat well. At £50 with 15% extra spend, the Large Food Pass covers a main course dinner, drinks and a full breakfast on the overnight sailing with room to spare — making it considerably better value than paying on the day. It must be purchased during booking and cannot be added afterwards. If you are on the overnight, take this seriously before completing payment.
Club Voyage is worth considering if you cross more than once a year. Brittany Ferries’ loyalty programme costs £130 in year one (a one-off £60 registration fee plus a £70 annual membership), then £70 to renew annually. Benefits include savings of up to 35% on French routes, free or discounted cabins on daytime sailings, 10% off onboard dining, a €12.50 food and drink voucher per passenger on overnight cabin sailings, and 50% off onboard Wi-Fi. For a family making two Caen crossings a year, the membership typically covers its cost on the first booking.

Portsmouth to Caen Ferry Prices — Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Portsmouth to Caen ferry cost in 2026 and 2027?

Starting prices for 2026 and 2027: foot passenger from £24 per person one way; car plus 2 passengers from £114; motorhome from £176. Accommodation is compulsory on all overnight sailings and is priced additionally — Couchette Plus from £12 (Guillaume de Normandie), reserved lounge seat from £10 (Mont Saint-Michel), private cabins from £77 overnight. All fares are dynamic and rise during peak summer, school holidays, and Friday/Saturday sailings. Booking early consistently gives the lowest prices.

What is the cheapest way to book the Portsmouth to Caen ferry?

The most reliable route to a lower price is booking as early as possible — ideally 60 days or more ahead using the Early Bird fare. Travelling in shoulder season (May, early June, September) rather than peak summer, and choosing mid-week (Monday to Thursday) over Friday and Saturday departures, both reduce costs significantly. Children aged 4–15 travel at half price; under 4s travel free. Book directly with Brittany Ferries for access to all sailing times, all accommodation grades and the full Early Bird discount.

What are the differences between Early Bird, Standard and Flexi tickets?

Early Bird is the cheapest — available only 60+ days before departure, full payment at booking, no refund on cancellation, £20 amendment fee. Standard is the most popular — free amendments up to 2 weeks before sailing, a 25% voucher refund on cancellations 15–59 days ahead, nothing within 15 days. Flexi offers the most flexibility — free amendments up to 4 hours before sailing, a 50% cash refund on cancellations with more than 24 hours’ notice. All ticket types carry an additional £10 surcharge for amendments made via the Contact Centre that could have been completed online.

Do I have to pay in full when I book?

If booking within 60 days of departure, full payment is required for all ticket types. If booking 60 or more days ahead: Early Bird requires full payment regardless of lead time; Standard requires a 75% non-refundable deposit with the balance due nearer travel; Flexi requires a 50% non-refundable deposit with the balance due later.

What are the maximum vehicle dimensions for the Portsmouth to Caen ferry?

Cars: maximum height 2.60m, maximum length 6m. Vans and motorhomes/campervans: maximum height 4m, maximum length 9m. Minibuses: maximum height 2.60m, maximum length 6m. Caravans and trailers are booked as an add-on to the car fare, with a maximum total length of 9m (towing vehicle plus caravan/trailer). Roof boxes and roof-mounted items take your vehicle into the roof items category (from +£30) — measure your total vehicle height with all items fitted before booking, as the 4m maximum applies to the vehicle in its travel configuration.

Do children get a discount on Portsmouth to Caen ferry tickets?

Yes — children aged 4–15 travel at half price on most fares. Children under 4 travel free. Ages are entered during booking and the discount is applied automatically. A cabin or Couchette Plus berth is still required on overnight crossings for all passengers regardless of age. CClub Lounge Day Access is free for children under 2 on the Guillaume de Normandie. Infant cots can be pre-booked in any cabin for children under 24 months — select the infant option at the start of booking.

Is the Food Pass worth buying on the Portsmouth to Caen crossing?

The three Food Pass options — Small £25 (5% extra), Medium £40 (10% extra), Large £50 (15% extra) — can be used in all cafés, self-service and à la carte restaurants on both ships, and at the bar between 5am and 10am British time. If you are on the overnight sailing and planning a dinner plus breakfast, the Large Pass at 15% extra spend is clearly the best value option. They are non-refundable, valid only on the sailing purchased and must be added at the time of booking. Not worth buying if you are unlikely to eat more than a snack — in that case the Small Pass at £25 is the appropriate choice.