Pont Aven Ferry

[Hurricane]

The Brittany Ferries flagship, The Pont Aven is a special ship for us Brits who keep our boats in Sant Carles.
IMO, she is the most comfortable with the best restaurant - making her a really easy way to drive down to the boat.

Bad News
News today is that there was a fire on board the Pont Aven last night in Biscay.
All OK - see here https://www.france24.com/en/20190429-fire-breaks-out-britain-spain-ferry-no-one-hurt
Apparently a fire in the engine room.
But, according to AIS (at the time of typing), she has turned back.
Some reports are saying that she is heading to Brest for checks.

I hope she isn't badly damaged - we need her in service.
IMO, she is the best ship in the fleet.
Here is a pic from AIS this morning

It seems from her track that they have changed their minds and not now going to Brest - maybe Roscoff where they have port facilities.
Note in the image that the Cap Finistere has left Roscoff so there would be space.
Maybe they will be "offloading" cars/passengers there.

There are 4 Brittany Ferries making this crossing across Biscay.
2 "Cruise Quality" - 2 "Economy Quality"
The Cap Finistere is the other Cruise Quality ship.

I hope she isn't badly damaged - we need her in service.
IMO, she is the best ship in the fleet.

 

[PilotWolf]

I did a New Year booze cruise to Rotterdam on her years ago with an ex, 2 celebrations. - continental time and UK time. I'd been watching the weather charts that the purser had been posting every few hours and knew it was going to be a rough ride home.

The next morning there were bodies all over the public areas and we got great service at breakfast as only one other couple there! It as blowing at least 9 -10 as we rounded Beachy Head through the overfalls and we were getting green water up to the Windows, the cafe IIRC was one deck below the bridge.

Agree a nice ship, friendly competent and helpful crew.

W.

 

[IDAMAY]

Looks as though she did put in to Brest.

Agreed she is the best ship in the fleet. Have enjoyed a few trips on her, some in mid winter. Good accommodation and excellent food. Much better than flying as far less hassle.

Hope she is back in service soon.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Unfortunately Pont Aven does not have dog friendly cabins, so we have to drive to and fro from Portsmouth. We’ve been on both the economie and cruise boat. I can’t say I was that impressed by the economie, the WiFi just would not work, and with only 1 tv showing sky news it made for a long boring trip.

 

[kashurst]

Unfortunately Pont Aven does not have dog friendly cabins, so we have to drive to and fro from Portsmouth. We’ve been on both the economie and cruise boat. I can’t say I was that impressed by the economie, the WiFi just would not work, and with only 1 tv showing sky news it made for a long boring trip.

I think the Cap Finistere has dog friendly cabins https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ships/cruise-ferries/cap-finistere/pets#tab-6
It had a refit a few years ago and is now pretty similar to the Pont Aven, just not as big. The internet is OK in the reception/information area.
I quite liked the Economie, but MrsA said never again.
Hopefully they will get the Pont Aven sorted ASAP - busiest time of year coming up. Lucky no one injured.

 

[Whitelighter]

I looked at going this way but tickets were £1300

I passed

 

[burgundyben]

We use the Portsmouth to St Malo overnight at least once a year, I just love that Brittany Ferries buffet/pig out troughing smash.

 

[petem]

There's something really exciting about the sounds and smells of a ferry car deck. Brings back memories of adventures!

 

[Lulla-Belle]

Not hard being the best in fleet the rest are scrap!

Have a close look at the new paint job on the Armorique Painted by 2 year olds with there hands.

Worst cross channel service out there.

(Home Abroad owner and Club Voyage member 10 years!)

If only the had a decent airport in Brittany

 

[Hurricane]

I looked at going this way but tickets were £1300

I passed

It depends on the time of the year and if you do the crossing more than once a year, it pays to be a member of the Club Voyage for a discount (30% discount for members).
Also, it isn't as expensive as you say.
We usually pay about £700 return in March/April for a car including trailer.

Alternatively, if you drive through France and decide to stay overnight somewhere nice, the costs aren't much different.

The Biscay ferry can be a very comfortable way to travel.

Comparing it to flying, of course, it is way more expensive to drive (unless you get free electric recharges!!!)

 

[kashurst]

I look forward to it - especially the Pont Aven, drive to Portsmouth, board the ship, settle the dogs down in the Kennels, enjoy what is usually a very nice dinner, wine etc. Decent snooze. Arrive late afternoon refreshed. Roll on July ;-)

 

[longjohnsilver]

Not hard being the best in fleet the rest are scrap!

Have a close look at the new paint job on the Armorique Painted by 2 year olds with there hands.

Worst cross channel service out there.

(Home Abroad owner and Club Voyage member 10 years!)

If only the had a decent airport in Brittany

I disagree.

All the x channel Brittany ferries we’ve been on, and it must be all of them by now, have been good. I’ve certainly got no complaints, only the economie from Portsmouth to Bilbao was disappointing, but the food on board was excellent.

 

[Dill et Bound]

If only the had a decent airport in Brittany

A Breton would insist that Nantes is Brittany.

And I have flown into Dinard a few times...... Sorry you said decent..

I have also used Brittany Ferries back from St Malo to Portsmouth overnight and then Portsmouth to Guernsey day sailing with Condor... That is a bit of a long trip just to get home.

I think Brittany provide an excellent service, and hope the Pont Aven ...Which I have also used is back in service soon.

 

[Racingfrank7]

My dad was on her.
Not that relaxing or that good an experience by all accounts.

 

[Hurricane]

Not hard being the best in fleet the rest are scrap!

Have a close look at the new paint job on the Armorique Painted by 2 year olds with there hands.

Worst cross channel service out there.

(Home Abroad owner and Club Voyage member 10 years!)

If only the had a decent airport in Brittany

I don't entirely disagree with your comments.
But not in the ship's actual quality.
These comments are only about the UK Spain routes.

I think that more attention could be made to the services on board.
Pont Aven is excellent - given that she is a ferry and not a cruise ship even though Brittany Ferries class her as a cruise ship.

The other ship that Brittany Ferries consider as a "cruise ship" is the Cap Finistere.
I've used the Cap Finistere quite a lot - including recently this year.
Food on board the CF is either the "silver service" restaurant or a cold self service cafeteria on the top deck.
Two extremes - I do like good restaurants but I don't like the silver service restaurant on the CF - IMO expensive and not the best value.
And the cafeteria is far too cold for our winter/spring crossings - food OK but gets cold quickly.

I've not used the Baie De Seine but I have heard good things about her - economic rather than cruise - cafeteria is OK I believe - no silver service restaurant.
I used the Etretat earlier this year - again economic rather than cruise - comfortable - cafeteria OK - no silver service restaurant.

The economic class of ships are about £150 cheaper than the cruise ones for a return fare (inc car and trailer).

The cabins are roughly the same on all the ships with the exception of the Pont Aven which has a few "Commodore Class" suites which book up very quickly.

Without a doubt, I prefer to pay the extra and book the Pont Aven - indeed, I booked her last Saturday for a return trip this summer.
I'm now hoping that she will be back in service in time.
The great advantage for me is that Pont Aven also operates from Plymouth rather than Portsmouth - much easier access from Devon and the West Country.
Unfortunately, Brittany Ferries don't operate a Plymouth to/from Spain over the winter months - only Plymouth Roscoff/St Malo.

 

[jordanbasset]

I don't entirely disagree with your comments.
But not in the ship's actual quality.
These comments are only about the UK Spain routes.

I think that more attention could be made to the services on board.
Pont Aven is excellent - given that she is a ferry and not a cruise ship even though Brittany Ferries class her as a cruise ship.

The other ship that Brittany Ferries consider as a "cruise ship" is the Cap Finistere.
I've used the Cap Finistere quite a lot - including recently this year.
Food on board the CF is either the "silver service" restaurant or a cold self service cafeteria on the top deck.
Two extremes - I do like good restaurants but I don't like the silver service restaurant on the CF - IMO expensive and not the best value.
And the cafeteria is far too cold for our winter/spring crossings - food OK but gets cold quickly.

I've not used the Baie De Seine but I have heard good things about her - economic rather than cruise - cafeteria is OK I believe - no silver service restaurant.
I used the Etretat earlier this year - again economic rather than cruise - comfortable - cafeteria OK - no silver service restaurant.

The economic class of ships are about £150 cheaper for a return fare (inc car and trailer).

The cabins are roughly the same on all the ships with the exception of the Pont Aven which has a few "Commodore Class" suites which book up very quickly.

Without a doubt, I prefer to pay the extra and book the Pont Aven - indeed, I booked her last Saturday for a return trip this summer.
I'm now hoping that she will be back in service in time.

Agree with all of that, especially about the Cap Finistere, we try and avoid her at all costs, Pont Aven much better

We do the Spaiin route twice a year and have been quite impressed with the Baie De Seine, of course it does not have all the facilities of the larger ships but we never use those facilities anyway, only the bar and restaurant. The cabins are just as good, the bar is more than enough for what we want and the restaurant is good, especially the breakfasts. Being a smaller boat it is also easier to get around as not such large distances. Quicker to load and unload but the ferry does take longer on the crossing itself

 

[slipknot]

I’m booked to sail on the Pont Aven next Tuesday from Portsmouth to Santander. Just got an apologetic email from Brittany ferries telling me that it is now departing from Plymouth. Grrrrrrr!

 

[Hurricane]

I’m booked to sail on the Pont Aven next Tuesday from Portsmouth to Santander. Just got an apologetic email from Brittany ferries telling me that it is now departing from Plymouth. Grrrrrrr!

Sorry for your change of plan but I've been watching the AIS over the last couple of weeks.

I was worried that the Pont Aven was taking too long in Brest.
Looking at the AIS right now, it seems that she left Brest earlier today.
So, maybe she is back in service and on her way to pick up her first set of passengers since the fire.
Hopefully after a week or so, the backlog will be cleared and she will get back on schedule.

 

[adey]

I thought we just paid them £50M to have spare capacity this month because of Brexit?
They left me stranded in Santander two weeks ago. Their attitude sucked. They told me to drive 11hrs to Roscoff. They reckon they don’t owe me any compensation.
We’ll see about that!

 

[slipknot]

Great! Completely cancelled now. Grrrrrr!