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Ferry travel tips

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 11:38am
15 replies920 views10 members subscribed
Mart1959

Posts: 26

9 helpful points

Location: Pinoso / El Pinós

Joined: 22 Jun 2017

Hi everyone, I’m taking the long ferry from Portsmouth to Santander in 2 weeks and was not able to book a cabin so only have a reclining seat. Apparently the crossing takes 33 hours and I was wondering if anyone has done this and how they found it. I must admit I’m not looking forward to it. Are there showers available etc. Any info most welcome.  Thanks, Mart

Kimmy11

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:19pm

Kimmy11

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 6869

12554 helpful points

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:19pm

Hi Mart,

I've done it twice.  The first time was because our ferry from Plymouth to Santander, on which we'd had a cabin booked, was cancelled the morning of the crossing and the only alternative was Plymouth to Roscoff, France.  The second time was last year, on the Caen to Portsmouth crossing.  The difference between the two journeys was that the second had dedicated rooms with the reclining seats that you could pre-book, whereas the first was just in an open area on one side of the ship.  In reality, both were awful.  The seats aren't dissimilar to airplane seats and they barely recline, but the worst of all was the selfishness of other passengers.  I won't bore you the details, but I would recommend that you take an eye mask and ear plugs, and don't choose a seat on a back row, unless it backs onto a bulkhead.

Kind regards,

Kim

Mart1959

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:48pm

Mart1959

Original Poster

Posts: 26

9 helpful points

Location: Pinoso / El Pinós

Joined: 22 Jun 2017

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:48pm

Kimmy11 wrote on Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:19pm:

Hi Mart,

I've done it twice.  The first time was because our ferry from Plymouth to Santander, on which we'd had a cabin booked, was cancelled the morning of the crossing and the only alternative was Plymouth to Roscoff, France.  The second time was last year, on the Caen to Portsmouth crossing....

...  The difference between the two journeys was that the second had dedicated rooms with the reclining seats that you could pre-book, whereas the first was just in an open area on one side of the ship.  In reality, both were awful.  The seats aren't dissimilar to airplane seats and they barely recline, but the worst of all was the selfishness of other passengers.  I won't bore you the details, but I would recommend that you take an eye mask and ear plugs, and don't choose a seat on a back row, unless it backs onto a bulkhead.

Kind regards,

Kim

Hi Kim, ok thanks very much for the info. My brother in law has booked it and he just said we have reclining seats, that’s all I know at the moment. Must admit I’m not really looking forward to it. Mart

Darro

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 3:01pm

Darro

Super helpful member

Posts: 1452

1260 helpful points

Location: Catral

Joined: 8 Sep 2021

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 3:01pm

Kimmy11 wrote on Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:19pm:

Hi Mart,

I've done it twice.  The first time was because our ferry from Plymouth to Santander, on which we'd had a cabin booked, was cancelled the morning of the crossing and the only alternative was Plymouth to Roscoff, France.  The second time was last year, on the Caen to Portsmouth crossing....

...  The difference between the two journeys was that the second had dedicated rooms with the reclining seats that you could pre-book, whereas the first was just in an open area on one side of the ship.  In reality, both were awful.  The seats aren't dissimilar to airplane seats and they barely recline, but the worst of all was the selfishness of other passengers.  I won't bore you the details, but I would recommend that you take an eye mask and ear plugs, and don't choose a seat on a back row, unless it backs onto a bulkhead.

Kind regards,

Kim

I think I'd pack a lethal weapon of some sort!

Kimmy11

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 3:13pm

Kimmy11

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 6869

12554 helpful points

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 3:13pm

Darro wrote on Sat Aug 20, 2022 3:01pm:

I think I'd pack a lethal weapon of some sort!

Just as well I hadn't, Darro, as I would have been sorely tempted to use it on the bloke that took 20 minutes to make up his "bed" on the floor behind my back row seat and then unleashed his own "lethal weapon" throughout the night!  At the risk of offending anyone, I wish my travel kit had included a nose clip and neutralising spray! 😳😩

Kind regards, 

Kim

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eileen36

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 1:52pm

eileen36

Helpful member

Posts: 84

95 helpful points

Location: Rojales

Joined: 2 Feb 2020

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 1:52pm

Kimmy11 wrote on Sat Aug 20, 2022 3:13pm:

Just as well I hadn't, Darro, as I would have been sorely tempted to use it on the bloke that took 20 minutes to make up his "bed" on the floor behind my back row seat and then unleashed his own "lethal weapon" throughout the night!  At the risk of offending anyone, I wish my travel kit had ...

...included a nose clip and neutralising spray! 😳😩

Kind regards, 

Kim

Hi,we traveled last year fromm Portsmouth to Santander but booked a cabin. I wouldn't do the journey without a cabin,you could ring the ferry company and ask to change the booking,it is a long journey and if you have a cabin you can relax,watch TV,(as all the TV's in the lounge showed football),nap,read. The meal service was excellent but again you were called through by your cabin number,so not sure how you access your evening meal as it is included in your cabin ticket price. If I was you I would try to upgrade. Otherwise you are going to have a horrid trip.

Spanish Pensioner

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 5:09pm

Posts: 6

7 helpful points

Location: Cox

Joined: 9 Aug 2021

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 5:09pm

eileen36 wrote on Sun Aug 21, 2022 1:52pm:

Hi,we traveled last year fromm Portsmouth to Santander but booked a cabin. I wouldn't do the journey without a cabin,you could ring the ferry company and ask to change the booking,it is a long journey and if you have a cabin you can relax,watch TV,(as all the TV's in the lounge showed football),n...

...ap,read. The meal service was excellent but again you were called through by your cabin number,so not sure how you access your evening meal as it is included in your cabin ticket price. If I was you I would try to upgrade. Otherwise you are going to have a horrid trip.

Hi.  I agree.  We've crossed to Santander many times over the past 10 years and used a cabin (a pet friendly cabin from choice) each time.  I definitely wouldn't consider a reclining seat. It's a long journey and would only think about booking a seat if you're young, fit and easy going.  If you've not been able to book a cabin yet, then suggest you phone BF every day for at least a week before you're due to travel in order to try to secure a cabin.  They get cancellations every day (I know I've done it!)  so I presume it's just timing it right.  Good luck.

Mart1959

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 5:22pm

Mart1959

Original Poster

Posts: 26

9 helpful points

Location: Pinoso / El Pinós

Joined: 22 Jun 2017

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 5:22pm

Spanish Pensioner wrote on Sun Aug 21, 2022 5:09pm:

Hi.  I agree.  We've crossed to Santander many times over the past 10 years and used a cabin (a pet friendly cabin from choice) each time.  I definitely wouldn't consider a reclining seat. It's a long journey and would only think about booking a seat if you're young, fit and e...

...asy going.  If you've not been able to book a cabin yet, then suggest you phone BF every day for at least a week before you're due to travel in order to try to secure a cabin.  They get cancellations every day (I know I've done it!)  so I presume it's just timing it right.  Good luck.

Thanks for the info 

My brother in law has booked it, I’m travelling with him to empty the villa he has just sold. It’s a last minute booking hence no cabins available. Not looking forward to it

Re

David Grindrod

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:40pm

Posts: 1

2 helpful points

Location: Orihuela Costa

Joined: 5 Apr 2022

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:40pm

We did it once, same route 4 weeks ago and hope never to have to do it again. There is one little room for reclining seats, it was cold and very uncomfortable and we ended up nodding on the seats outside on both nights, not great but better, comfort wise. Although the bar doesn't close until midnight and you get people around that just can't go to bed, so you have also to put up with the noise in the public areas. The free meals were nothing to shout about, breakfast was continental, if you want cooked, you have to pay extra. The queues for the evening meals were horrendous, stretching back past the bar area. Don't wish to sound glum but the only thing to enjoy was getting off in Santander.

Karate kid

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:42pm

Posts: 12

4 helpful points

Location: Pinoso / El Pinós

Joined: 28 Apr 2022

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:42pm

Hola

We did the Santander to Plymouth crossing as 10 hours less than going to Portsmouth. We had a cabin and very pleased with it. We were lucky as the sea was calm and warm enough to sit out until sunset. To be honest we were shocked with the reclining seat area as very small and tightly packed in. All the other unpleasant issues mentioned aside what an covid? Wearing a mask on board is mandatory but not many followed the rules. There are showers in the toilet blocks. There are bars and restaurants and entertainment. We travel back next week and hope for a calm crossing.  Good luck and best wishes.

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