Which Ferry to Spain? Pont Aven or Finestere?
Hello fellow members,
I have booked next years holiday with BF outward on Pont Aven from Plymouth returning Finestere to Portsmouth!.
I have some flexibility on the homeward stretch and am wondering if I would be better off coming back a day earlier on the Pont Aven to Plymouth as opposed to Finestere to Portsmouth.
I am curious to know if there is a marked difference in the 2 ferries from people who have used both please.
I will be traveling with my wife and two teenage lads... so entertainment is important.
Secondly, I will be traveling onwards to Pembroke to catch the ferry to Rosslare.
Any recommendations please as to which port (Plymouth Vs Portsmouth) has better access for Car + Caravan. The distances look roughly the same, but I would like to make the journey as easy as possible through the UK.
Thanks all for your help.
Michael
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I only know Pont Aven so can't give you a comparison of the two ships, but I would have thought it all depends what arrival time you prefer when you land back in the UK - there is one day a week when Cap Finistere arrives in Portsmouth at 0900 from Bilbao and that would give you time to go right onwards to Pembroke that same day. But evening arrivals back in UK might not be so good.
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PS. Both ships have free wi fi on board. Make sure your boys use that instead of their normal phone service, which is very expensive as it would be via a satellite in the sky.
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Hi Eurotraveller,
Thanks for your response... Irish Ferries sails at 02:45 and 14:45.
I will probably spend a night or couple of nights in UK anyway. Cornwall is on my list of must see places... Looks to me like an English version of county Kerry.
So sail from Santander on Wed to Plymouth arriving Thursday and sail to Ireland on Sunday.... or sail from Bilbao Thursday arrive in Portsmouth on Friday and sail to Ireland on Sunday.
Slightly off topic, but is there a ferry across the Bristol Channel? rather than the drive?
Thanks again
Michael
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My only experience of towing to a UK port was last year I did landbridge to France and drove to Poole from Permbroke.
From recollection as far as Bath was lovely BUT the last 90mins of the drive was beautiful but not exactly easy towing..
All fun and games.. Brittany ferries says that Plymouth port is very easy to get to from the Motorway. Correct?
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The Plymouth ferryport is well signed from the A38, MJOAP. The M5 motorway ends at Exeter and then becomes the A38 dual carriageway to Plymouth. On the reverse journey, Exeter and the A38 are well signed from the City. My recollection of Portsmouth is that, it too, is reasonably straightforward to find your way to/from the docks.
Sorry, I know nothing at all about the ferries themselves.
There is no ferry across the Bristol Channel but a choice of two Severn Bridges near Bristol. they charge tolls and a car + caravan costs around £5 to enter Wales. It's roughly 120 miles from Plymouth to Bristol.
Cornwall is rather like Kerry but more rugged in places. We also share the same type of weather and roads.
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Very little to choose between them, and as eurotraveller says I choose based on timings and port.
A few observations:
The sit-down restaurant on Aven is larger and more airy than Finistere. The hot-food take take-away/cafeteria on Finistere is on the top semi-open deck which can be a bit cold in winter ..... but nothing stopping you taking your food downstairs or to your cabin. Aven has a larger semi-self-service inside eatery.
Shops bigger on Aven, but much the same selection.
If weather is good enough to be outside, I prefer the open deck areas on Finistere.
Cabins are very similar, although on Aven you have to take a 2/4 berth if you want an outside.
Don't get too exited about the 'entertainment' on either ...... it is quite low-key and more 'background in the bar' than something you would go out of your way for. (It is certainly not in same league as the proper 'shows' that they used to have on the old P&O Bilbao ship).
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The ferry port at Portsmouth is very easy to get to.....it is directly off the M275 which heads to Portsmouth from the M27. The check-in area is spacious and always efficient. Sorry, don't know about Plymouth ....have only ever visited by yacht!
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We travelled on the Finestere this time last year. We enjoyed it, cabin a bit basic but clean. Didn't think that the on board prices were too bad considering we were a captive audience. Can't comment about the boats stabilty because the sea was like a mill pond the whole journey.
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"would opt for Portsmouth every time and avoid Cornwall traffic"
Plymouth is in Devon, David, so there's no need to travel west and cross into Cornwall unless you choose to experience the glories of our county.
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I'm not sure who "you pair" refers to, David, - it's not a very polite term of address - but if you mean me, I'm trying to help the OP by giving useful info and pointing out the somewhat misleading comment made in your earlier post.
Still, I'm sure Ro would love to hear from you.
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It's four hours quicker on the ferry to or from Plymouth than it is to or from Portsmouth. That's enough to sway it for me.
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Guys,
Please don't take the "Michael" of people trying to help me.....
I know Plymouth is in Devon.... but perhaps I misguided by mention of Cornwall. I would love to bring my wife for dinner to Padstow and stay in Cornwall for a day or so, I believe there is a reasonably good fish restaurant there!!!. Some German named guy, became very wonderfully British and opened a restaurant or two in this neck of the woods.
This would be no doubt facilitated by returning to Plymouth... maybe not so easy by returning to Portsmouth.
Anyway thanks for all the comments, some of which have been very helpful and actually stayed on topic.
Michael.
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You were perfectly clear, Michael. No misguiding at all.
If you really want to visit Cornwall, then Plymouth's your best bet. I'd recommend avoiding the peak 6 weeks or so from late July until the start of September as it does get very busy here at that time. It's also an expensive time to visit. Mind you, you'll need deep pockets to visit Stein's at any time.
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Have done Portsmouth - Santander on Pont Aven. Like others a very smooth crossing. Re ship; clean and comfortable. Loading straight forward. Cabin, as we expected 2 of us in a 4 berth inside so plenty of room. As mentioned, entertainment not spectacular but pianist played nice music; not sure it would suite teenage children! The childrens entertainment was aimed at younger children but you could despatch them to the cinema. Saw some dolphins and whales! Catering excellent although in main restaurant only the buffet was available not a'la carte. Next month we are out on Pont Aven and returning on Finestere in Oct so will be able to give immediate comparisons. Access to Portsmouth port very straight forward - the motorway takes you to 200 mtrs of the entrance!
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I haven't sailed on either of these boats. All I know it's a much longer of a trek to Cornwall from Portsmouth than it will be from Plymouth.
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Have used both Plymouth and Portsmouth, but only on Pont Aven to Santander. Lovely ship, excellent restaurant as well as cafeteria for something less formal and for breakfast. Portsmouth is very easy to get to and access to the port straightforward. Loading easy.
Santander was excellent for returning to Plymouth, as you can leave your outfit parked in a safe secure area on the dockside all day from 9.30am until loading in the evening. Docks fairly easy to find. Plymouth we hated on the way back, arriving at afternoon rush hour, the traffic was awful and we didnt think the signposts were very clear, too easy to get in the wrong lane and nobody lets you change if you have a caravan behind.
Outward journey wasnt too bad as you arrive Santander midday with an afternoon to get some miles on the clock before evening.
The M5 is pretty awful in both directions with masses of heavy trucks, but the services near Gloucester are a real star!
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We've travelling on both of these ferries and they are wonderful. Personally prefer the Pont Aven, but would happily travel again on either.
Brittany Ferries also run an "Économie " service on these routes but we haven't tried that ferry yet.
If it runs to it, it's worth paying the extra for one of the commodore or delux cabins, they are superb.
Whatever you decide, have a great time.
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We also have used both ferries many times and agree with the other replies that they are both very nice ships. Yes Plymouth is your best bet if you want to visit ' God's own country' and I can definitely recommend The Sea Food Restaurant , especially if it's a special occasion! Just as an aside have you thought of taking a ferry from Cork to Roscoff and spending some time in the second most beautiful part of the world in Brittany and then getting the onward ferry to Spain. I'm not sure which ferry calls in at Roscoff from Portsmouth you will have to check out B F website. Just a thought !
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