Ferries from France

doug748

Well-known member
Joined
1 Oct 2002
Messages
13,473
Location
UK. South West.
Visit site
Some sailings require a cabin, others don't. Don't really understand the logic tbh. But if it's an overnight, then you really want a cabin anyway.

There are day sailings from Cherbourg and Caen.

I've rocked up at the terminal and got tickets before, in July, so you shouldn't have a problem.

Good point.

There are also frequent day sailings from Roscoff in the season it's only a c5 hour crossing. The overnight bit is for operational reasons, they park up, mid channel, for a couple of hours to allow sleep and disembarkation early morning.

I would generally recommend a day crossing and arrange a cabin at the desk - for a shower and snooze.

.
 

Frogmogman

Well-known member
Joined
26 Aug 2012
Messages
2,151
Visit site
The high speed network certainly makes rail worth considering. From Paris to Saint Brieuc takes only 2h10 mins for example.

For those who are over 60 a railcard will pay for itself on one return trip, and as well as a 30% discount caps the maximum fare depending on journey length. The SNCF Connect app works well and is easy to navigate.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4002.jpeg
    IMG_4002.jpeg
    647.1 KB · Views: 8

syvictoria

Well-known member
Joined
12 Oct 2009
Messages
1,859
Location
Europe
Visit site
If looking for a more budget-friendly option, don't overlook the long distance coach companies. We've used Flix Bus to get back from NL and it really wasn't an ordeal. Ticket price includes the Channel crossing and onward travel back into London which the majority would require I imagine.
 

westernman

Well-known member
Joined
23 Sep 2008
Messages
14,121
Location
Costa Brava
Visit site
If looking for a more budget-friendly option, don't overlook the long distance coach companies. We've used Flix Bus to get back from NL and it really wasn't an ordeal. Ticket price includes the Channel crossing and onward travel back into London which the majority would require I imagine.
Or a cheap flight. Ryanair flies from some weird places.
 

Chiara’s slave

Well-known member
Joined
14 Apr 2022
Messages
8,232
Location
Western Solent
Visit site
But accurate - never again!
Luton? Or Ryanair. I thought they were a match made in heaven. Or near enough. Having said that, whilst we all love to hate Ryanair, they do fill a certain necessary niche. Sometimes ypu just have to mentally gird your loins and do it. They fly into a wide variety of uk airports, no idea of that would be direct from anywhere in Brittany. If they did, my briefest research of ferries tells me that it’s eminently possible for it to be cheaper to fly, apart from the taxi fare to the airport….. if you’re a sailor, you might well be able to find yourself at Roscoff, St Malo, or Oestreham. All of them have merit as sailing destinations.
 

Stemar

Well-known member
Joined
12 Sep 2001
Messages
24,428
Location
Home - Southampton, Boat - Gosport
Visit site
Luton? Or Ryanair. I thought they were a match made in hell.
Fixed that for you :)

Having said that, whilst we all love to hate Ryanair, they do fill a certain necessary niche. Sometimes ypu just have to mentally gird your loins and do it. They fly into a wide variety of uk airports, no idea of that would be direct from anywhere in Brittany. If they did, my briefest research of ferries tells me that it’s eminently possible for it to be cheaper to fly, apart from the taxi fare to the airport….. if you’re a sailor, you might well be able to find yourself at Roscoff, St Malo, or Oestreham. All of them have merit as sailing destinations.
You're right, of course, but what would we do here if we didn't have viago and Ryanair to take the piss out of?
 

Sybarite

Well-known member
Joined
7 Dec 2002
Messages
27,715
Location
France
Visit site
If looking for a more budget-friendly option, don't overlook the long distance coach companies. We've used Flix Bus to get back from NL and it really wasn't an ordeal. Ticket price includes the Channel crossing and onward travel back into London which the majority would require I imagine.
My x does this about once a month.
 

Daedelus

Well-known member
Joined
11 Jun 2006
Messages
3,812
Location
Hants
Visit site
I found that some ferries were full, even for foot passengers, on Bank Holiday Monday and had to get a much later one than intended. Flew back from La Rochelle to Southampton once. Appalled at how it took about 90 minutes for the flight to cover a journey which had take us 10 days (lousy weather, sail one, wait one for gale to blow thro', then wind on nose so not the port we wanted but only in general direction).
 
Top