Restaurants on the Brittany Ferries Salamanca - Portsmouth - Santander

[wessie]

£90???
Bollox to that. As long as brekky is reasonable and I can get something in the evenings I’ll be good. No need for alcohol. Just take some soft drinks and if needs a bottle of wine from will bode me over the 2 evenings…

they sell a quite nice Breton Eau de Vie (similar to Calvados, so apple brandy) in the duty free.

 

[Bloomers100]

Just back, I thought the food in Azul was good. Duck breast one night can’t remember what I had on the way out. Buffet starter I liked. Breakfast was decent too for a tenner. You can sit and stuff your face for an hour. Beer prices reasonable in the bar for a captive audience.

 

[grantmac]

Aside the restaurant any tips for the ferry?
Embarkation, strapping the bikes down, just general stuff would be appreciated. Never been on this one.
Thanks

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Aside the restaurant any tips for the ferry?
Embarkation, strapping the bikes down, just general stuff would be appreciated. Never been on this one.
Thanks

I expect the crew do it all for you
Opt for centre stand if you like

 

[wessie]

Aside the restaurant any tips for the ferry?
Embarkation, strapping the bikes down, just general stuff would be appreciated. Never been on this one.
Thanks

on the new boats from Portsmouth bikes will likely be first on and first off as they put you on the main deck. The crew will put a big pad on the seat and use a ratchet strap. I have used the BF ferries very often and trust them to do a good job so do not supervise. I grab my overnight bag and CPAP, stick the helmet in the box the bag came from and head to the lift. You will have your keycard from check in so you can go to the cabin but might find it is not ready. Simply head to the bar and relax with a drink.

If you want to eat in the posh restaurant, you will need to book a place. On the Plymouth ferry, there is a desk at the restaurant entrance. I assume it is the same on the newer ships (only sailed on shorter crossings from Cherbourg or St Malo so not used the new ship restaurants).

When you come out of the port you ride through the dock area to a motorway junction. The motorways are toll free so best to use them to get away from the urban area.

 

[grantmac]

Thank you @wessie exactly the info i was after. What is CPAP?

 

[wessie]

Thank you @wessie exactly the info i was after. What is CPAP?

continuous positive airway pressure - it's a machine to prevent sleep apnoea. I have to use it to keep my driving licence. It sends the data to my consultant via 4G to evidence I use it as prescribed. DVLA can audit the record, but it has never happened. Sleep quality is so much better and I don't fall asleep on the sofa after dinner.

 

[Berin]

Aside the restaurant any tips for the ferry?
Embarkation, strapping the bikes down, just general stuff would be appreciated. Never been on this one.
Thanks

Check in staff give you your cabin key at the first booth you come to.

Carry a ferry bag, but I’m sure you do anyway. On the new boats bikes seem to be parked in the middle on deck 5, where there are specific bike tie down points. Crew strap your bike down with a cushion and a big ratchet over the seat, I just leave them to it.

Remember which stairs- they are colour coded.

Side stand, in gear, grab your bag and head to the bar! Most people leave their helmets on the bike, and any coats or bike kit, I do too but secure them

 

[Bloomers100]

Ditch your gloves on arrival at port is my top tip.

Book the restaurant at reception on deck 7.

Yep they strap them down, you unstrap. We were on the road 45 mins after docking, and even quicker back in UK. Ship wasn’t full either direction.

Didn’t leave helmet or kit at bike.

Decent prices on booze in duty free.

Fingerprints and photo both ways, takes seconds.

 

[Wapping]

Most people leave their helmets on the bike, and any coats or bike kit, I do too but secure them….

A simple Combiflex cable lock from Abus is really useful for this task. As it is a combination lock, there is no key to lose. Use it anywhere that you don’t want to lug your kit around.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Ditch your gloves on arrival at port is my top tip.

Mine too
Saves a lot of faffing

 

[grantmac]

Ditch your gloves on arrival at port is my top tip.

Book the restaurant at reception on deck 7.

Yep they strap them down, you unstrap. We were on the road 45 mins after docking, and even quicker back in UK. Ship wasn’t full either direction.

Didn’t leave helmet or kit at bike.

Decent prices on booze in duty free.

Fingerprints and photo both ways, takes seconds.

Thanks JB. A couple of points! The gloves, yes, always when on the ferry put them in my top box until I reach the other side. Passport in handlebar bag as well.

1. why not leave kit as @Berin suggests and lid on the bike. In case the crew nick it? I really was planning to leave my helite airbag vest and lid on the bike as I don't want to lug it around
.......But to be safe I have just ordered one of the cable locks for 18 euros from ABUS.. 105 cm should be fine
Don't need to worry about the prints as I have a EU passport as well as UK.

 

[grantmac]

Carry a ferry bag, but I’m sure you do anyway.

Thanks for that; actually I don't but the idea is a good one. On overnight ferries i normally stuff a clean pair of grundies in my pocket, go to the room, sleep and off next day. No need for a change but on this ferry its 2 nights and a day so will prepare a small bag in my top box with some bits. Thanks
Alternative is top take my roll bag off, its attached via Rok Straps so 2 seconds and its off and then I have everything I need!

 

[Wapping]

Yup, a simple overnight bag, whether on a ferry or to save lugging Lord know what into a hotel for one night, is very handy. A rucksack type, has the advantage of leaving both hands free, too. Failing that, a bag with a shoulder strap.

On a vaguely similar theme, what I do find useful is an Ikea blue bag (or similar) * lobbed into a pannier. In the event of a serious breakdown, with your bike vanishing away on a low loader, it’s great to get out of your bike clobber on the side of the road and chuck it all (helmet, boots, gloves, Buff, the whole damned shooting match) into the bag and change into something more comfortable. You can then easily carry the bag (much easier than juggling loose gear) or, give it to the recovery driver, to keep with the bike. I have done both.

* They weigh next to nothing, squash down flat and are remarkably voluminous / strong. The Ikea bag is also good in that it has two straps; one over shoulder and one handheld. Genius, those Swedes.

 

[Wapping]

…. and I don't fall asleep on the sofa after dinner.

One of the few remaining pleasures in life…. Providing you don’t spill a large glass of handheld red all over the upholstery.

 

[wessie]

One of the few remaining pleasures in life…. Providing you don’t spill a large glass of handheld red all over the upholstery.

it's the waking up at 4am, freezing cold, I do not like, as the heating went off at 11pm.

 

[wessie]

on the 2 night crossing where you might be pacing about the deck muttering you are bored as you have used your free internet allowance, a decent coat can be a benefit in the middle of Biscay. Hence I would wear my bike jacket to the cabin!

 

[Berin]

Thanks JB. A couple of points! The gloves, yes, always when on the ferry put them in my top box until I reach the other side. Passport in handlebar bag as well.

1. why not leave kit as @Berin suggests and lid on the bike. In case the crew nick it? I really was planning to leave my helite airbag vest and lid on the bike as I don't want to lug it around
.......But to be safe I have just ordered one of the cable locks for 18 euros from ABUS.. 105 cm should be fine
Don't need to worry about the prints as I have a EU passport as well as UK.

Let us know how that works. Getting off the boat at Santander, as far as I could see, everyone was marshaled to the fingerprint booths anyway.

I guess when you get there you could show your Dutch passport then you may not have to go in, but I didn’t see a separate queue for EU.

 

[grantmac]

Probably because the boat comes from UK so they expect all to be UK citizens. I’ll just get waived through once they see my NL passpprt

 

[Berin]

Probably because the boat comes from UK so they expect all to be UK citizens. I’ll just get waived through once they see my NL passpprt

Yes, report back how it’s organised, would you? There may have been an EU option that I didn’t see, or they may, as you say, just wave you through where the stop the bikes at the booths.