Any tips for Brittany Ferries Plymouth to Santander?

[BillWright]

As previously said, get an outside cabin if possible. A view resembling looking out of a washing machine is better than no view at all. If any gear gets wet en route to the ferry, it will stay wet in the cabin. Have everything you need for 24 hours on the ferry in your topbox, if you have one. Leaving your helmet in there is one less thing to carry up/down several flights of stairs in full bike kit, and one less thing to store in a small space. Especially if the Bay of Biscay is entertaining.

 

[AustinW]

If you get travel sick take a couple of Kwells (or whatever) before you get on the boat. As soon as you feel queasy lie down on your berth and stay lay down as much as possible. That’s what works for me - I once spent an entire Santander/Plymouth crossing in my cabin only getting up to pee and even then I was ready to lie down again straight away. If I let travel sickness get a grip I’m a quivering shaking mess for a few hours after I’ve got off the boat. Riding is all but impossible for me.

 

[Berin]

There is. Bring your own, especially from Spain
A visit to a supermarket before boarding the ship & then have a picnic in the public area with easy access to pints and tea/coffee
Job done

A scabby stale sandwich on day 2 doesn't sound very attractive

 

[G&T]

You lot don’t know you’re born

---

‘I can’t get no sleep’

Thanks to the generosity of a fellow ‘UKGSER’ my slightly discounted trip on Brittany Ferries is here.

Not too early, not too late, the bowels of the Pont Aven beckons.

What a feeling it is to ride down the ramp into the warm underbelly of your host for the night. Of course there is the sharp wake-up call to mind the cables, metal pucks and tie down cushions. An assault course in other words!

Now, the luxury minded of you will of course have booked the Commodore class cabin, with your private sofa and shower. Not me, oh no, I’m solo this time so I’ve taken the budget priced ‘Lounge Chair’ for €7 along with a few other hardy travellers.

View attachment 294776

There is something special about boats and its passengers compared with air travel. Maybe it’s the time to talk, to share expectations, to roam around.

Well, I can tell you a room full of people in the lounge learned something about each other in the night. I have spent countless hours on plane chairs that recline and support and that was my novice expectation here. Not this time! I couldn’t find a comfy position no matter how hard I tried. The Karma Sutra is nothing compared with the leg positions I entertained to try and sleep. Observing the awkward movements of my fellow room-mates, they felt the same way.

But worse, way worse was the young lady in seat row 1c. Could she snore! All night bellowed the lungs of a hippo. Even her boyfriend got up and moved. So what with the seat and the snoring it was quite the crossing.

 

[lmg]

A scabby stale sandwich on day 2 doesn't sound very attractive

It’s a 24hr ferry from Plymouth to Santander - departing at 1545 and disembarking at 1315, so it’s a dinner and a breakfast - even meal deal sandwiches can survive that long.

 

[Arsey]

It’s a 24hr ferry from Plymouth to Santander - departing at 1545 and disembarking at 1315, so it’s a dinner and a breakfast - even meal deal sandwiches can survive that long.

Your maths is shite

 

[lmg]

Your maths is shite

It is, but in this instance I’m only eating two meals so your assumption can go whistle

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I genuinely despair sometimes

Pay £600+ for a ferry and then baulk at buying decent food and make do with Tesco meal deals

 

[lmg]

I genuinely despair sometimes

Pay £600+ for a ferry and then baulk at buying decent food and make do with Tesco meal deals

I paid £217 and I quite like a Tesco sandwich.

 

[Arsey]

I genuinely despair sometimes

Pay £600+ for a ferry and then baulk at buying decent food and make do with Tesco meal deals

Yeah but the same idiots pay £22k for a wankpanzer then save £50 by fitting AliExpress brake levers . Genius

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I paid £217 and I quite like a Tesco sandwich.

That is cheap ? is that return with a cabin ?

 

[lmg]

That is cheap ? is that return with a cabin ?

I suspect I’m kipping in a lifeboat on the deck but the ticket says twin inside cabin. Probably sharing wife osama bin ladens crazier cousin.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I suspect I’m kipping in a lifeboat on the deck but the ticket says twin inside cabin. Probably sharing wife osama bin ladens crazier cousin.

Return or one way ??

And are you sure thats the Plymouth -Santander boat as it sounds more like Isle of Wight ferry price

 

[lmg]

Tis a return Plymouth/santander although on the return leg apparently I have to do the washing up.

 

[Kritou]

my phone has never killed the card key, plus the cabins are mostly above reception on deck 6. There's also a lift directly from floors 7-9 to the reception desk.

Well done on not putting your card key next to your phone …

 

[wessie]

Well done on not putting your card key next to your phone …

au contraire - I have put them in the same breast pocket on my jacket and thigh pocket on my trousers on many overnight ferry trips with BF. I don't believe *my* phones make a strong enough magnetic field to corrupt the strip on the card.

 

[twizzle]

Ride down through France,,,,,

Sorted

 

[chablis]

My advice

1. Don't do it as a mini cruise, arriving on a public holiday ( one of the Saints ), it is like a ghost town.
2, Try to avoid travelling across the Bay of Biscay when there are storm force conditions, it is unpleasant, and even steaming off in the direction of the America's made f'all difference.
3. Have a great time

 

[MrC99]

au contraire - I have put them in the same breast pocket on my jacket and thigh pocket on my trousers on many overnight ferry trips with BF. I don't believe *my* phones make a strong enough magnetic field to corrupt the strip on the card.

TBH I think this was a problem *years* ago as I remember it happening to me a couple of times perhaps 20+ odd years ago and having to join the queue of shame at the help desk. Like you it's not happened since and I now just shove the cards in my pocket next to my phone with no issues (and we use BF a lot).

 

[wessie]

TBH I think this was a problem *years* ago as I remember it happening to me a couple of times perhaps 20+ odd years ago and having to join the queue of shame at the help desk. Like you it's not happened since and I now just shove the cards in my pocket next to my phone with no issues (and we use BF a lot).

maybe early 2G phones had a loudspeaker magnet large enough to degauss a magnetic strip but not anything made in the last 20 years