Brittany Ferries Portsmouth-Santander - Cabin/Non Cabin advice please?

[Roberto]

I've been throwing my money about like a bloke with no arms and am now looking for a nugget of advice.

Recently booked a ferry from Portsmouth to Santander on the Pont Aven. An early evening 24hr overnighter. Being on my Jack Jones and thinking thrifty I thought, well I can't justify the extra £100 odd for a cabin, so I opted for the luxurious setting of what is termed as a 'reclining seat'. Mmmm.

Having been in this situation I've caved in before, I know me as it were. On a ferry last year out to Sardinia from Italy I managed to get a cabin to myself for 40 Euros when enquiring at the Purser's office once on the boat. Any experience out there with this? Can the same be done with Britanny Ferries at check in or on the boat, do they sting you for it or can it work out well?

If I don't bother I'm figuring I may get changed out of the bike gear and leave it strapped up on the bike thus I wont be waddling around like that for a day so would plan to take an accessible change of gear. Are there any decent places to nestle on the boat other than the reclining seat lounge?
Also out of interest anyone know if they have lockers on board passengers can use?

On the upside, I know that I only have a half hour ride from Santander to my first hotel so it isn't like I have a 350mile day ahead.

 

[Paul Rochdale]

'Reclining seat'? Not for me. We once crossed the Channel and took that cheap option. They gave us a blanket each and we tried to sleep on a recliner. Hopeless. Others were sleeping both on and under tables, on the floor, on the benches. It was like a 3rd World Country. We didn't sleep a wink and arriving in Cherbourg, we then had to tow the caravan to our campsite in Brittany. Kept falling asleep at the wheel. Never again. Treat yourself to a touch of luxury and get a cabin.

 

[masterman21]

Having done this ferry a fair bit ,normally I would say , cabin every time , but if you only got short distance to hotel , then seat would save you a bit of dosh !

 

[Belper phil]

Having done this ferry a fair bit ,

Snap,

Go for the cabin Roberto - its a long boring way without it!

Unless you hit the bar and then try to kip in the seat - but, it dont work - trust me, you'll feel much better for the sleep

 

[Yellow Peril]

Snap,

Go for the cabin Roberto - its a long boring way without it!

Unless you hit the bar and then try to kip in the seat - but, it dont work - trust me, you'll feel much better for the sleep

With him cabin all the way on that trip, especially if it rains.

 

[sven]

I booked a crossing to Spain in July ages ago, but with outside cabins both ways as SWMBO is claustrophobic. Having decided 23 hours is a bloody long time in a basic cabin (never mind a recliner) , and as she complained about the bunk beds on the North Sea ferry, I've upgraded to a De Luxe cabin with double bed on the way home at an eyewateringly expensive £180 extra Gotta keep the Mrs. happy

The reclining seat area on the North Sea ferry used to look like a refugee camp...

 

[llotse]

If Biscay decides its going to get rough, and you are not a good sailor, you would happily pay £1000 for a cabin after a few hours. Save your money, get a cabin

 

[ralphy]

Getting a cabin is non-negotiable for me: I appreciate the comfort of it and the convenience of having your own bed/toilet/shower.

Regarding 'deals' on board or even quieter places to get your head down, there is a dedicated forum for Brittany Ferry travellers and you can find the answer to anything on there!

http://forums.bfenthusiasts.com

R

 

[wideparting]

yes you can get a cabin from the pursers office.dont know the cost.i go regular and have seen people dossing on the long couches by the lift shaft or on the floor.[take a thin matress].there are quite a few quiet spots on the boat im sure youll find one,once everyone has gone to there cabins.i always get a cabin as swimbo would do her nut if i told her we were dossing on the floor.

 

[Popell]

Took that ferry year before last - was in the car though with the family.
Had a cabin, not really up for discussion at the time.
I did wander into the reclining lounge and had a kip during the afternoon, it was quite pleasant BUT only because I was alone in the big room and I was bathed in sunlight. I have done Hull - Grotterdam and took a recliner - never again - you would not believe the amount of farting that went on!!

Grab a cabin, trying to save money by risking an on-demand service on the ship may not be worth it in the end. IMO

Have a great time either way - and use the posh restaurants-worth it especially if you enter with a 'doggy bag'!!

 

[Gossy]

don't leave it too late to book a cabin cant be guaranteed that there will be spares to book on-board, you have to book either a seat or cabin, not sure if they move you off the lounge seats or not.

The recliner is comfortable enough, but you're in a room with 50+ other people, moving past you, going to the toilet, snorting and farting the night through, sleeping on the floor and arguments over who's taken who's chair/does it matter yes it does its got my number on it, the toilets and single shower is opposite - well it wasn't like the lovely photo when I went.

The other advantage with the cabin is there is somewhere you can stow your gear and not worry about moving it everywhere you go, get some decent rest and take a shower - costs more but overall you'll be good to go when docked.

 

[BRD]

Reading this thread makes me glad I booked a cabin for my forthcoming trip!

 

[sven]

you would not believe the amount of farting that went on!!

There's always plenty of farting going on in our cabin - she once woke herself up and then blamed me

 

[Nutty]

Now if you had the new LC, you'd want to ride down instead of going by boat

 

[stever1]

I came back on the PA its a good ship - which is high praise, as it comes from a man who hates being on a ship. As your going to be on it for 24 hrs think about the way you`ll feel when not being able to go anywhere for a bit of peace and quiet. Cabin wins every time.
Don't leave it too late to book it as ALL BF ships have shortage of cabins, its not like NSF out of hull, they ALWAYS have cabin upgrades available. but BF having couchettes don't often have cabins available

 

[snelly]

Caught the Friday midnight ferry Portsmouth LE Harve for LE Mans last year,LD Lines. Kipped in the kids play area. Being late at night there were no brats to fuck off. Brill, plenty of soft rubber crash mats and fairly quiet. If you look like a fuckin Hobo, leave your cap out, you may collect enough for a breakfast in the morning.

 

[Cogs]

Are you sure...

... you're sailing from Portsmouth? The Pont Aven 'normally' sails out of Plymouth. I've crossed from there to Santander on it thrice. Cabin every time BTW.

CoGS

 

[cookie]

i wouldn't get on the boat without a cabin.

 

[pedro]

Spent about 21 hours in my cabin on the Pont Aven once spewing and walking around the room holding onto the walls. The crossing was terrible, they even had to divert to pick up the crew of a boat that had sunk in the bay of biscay. Would have hated to have done that trip with only a recliner booked. Spaces and availability do become tight on the boat. I had trouble getting a cabin for the dates I wanted last year.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

i wouldn't get on the boat without a cabin.

+1

Especially not across the Bay of Biscay

I usually do Cabin for 1