Has anybody done Ferry Route Bilbao to Portsmouth (Campervan) with Britany Ferries?

FrankFalcon

Hi all

Just seeing if anybody has done this route and asking what the ferry was like? I ask this because a family member has asked me to plan a trip through France, Spain etc in their campervan.  I am 60% of the way through and I am planning on bringing them back from Bilbao sailing into Portsmouth.  My question about the boat is...Whilst I realise that the sailing is 32 Hours etc, are there any facilities on the ship, such as bars, discos, shops, casino etc or is it a purely business route that doesn't cater for holiday makers?  We recently sailed Anglesey to Dublin and the sailing was really boring with no facilities because it was very short.  We also went on a cruise a couple of years ago from Hull to Bruges and it was a big overnight booze up with a disco running all night and tribute bands.

Thanks all

FlorayG

I have but it was 50 years ago so possibly not much help to you - except that I remember the sea was VERY rough and nobody was in the mood to attend any entertainment the whole way 

daveyjp

The ships aren't quite cruise ships, but are better than a pure short haul cargo ferry.

Plenty of videos on youtube.

eskbanker

FrankFalcon said:

I am planning on bringing them back from Bilbao sailing into Portsmouth.  My question about the boat is...Whilst I realise that the sailing is 32 Hours etc, are there any facilities on the ship, such as bars, discos, shops, casino etc or is it a purely business route that doesn't cater for holiday makers?

No personal experience to counter this but their (inevitably positive!) website suggests plenty of facilities:

Our Portsmouth ferries to Spain carry cars and passengers to Santander and Bilbao with a choice of sailings each week and the ability to mix your ferry routes for the most convenient journey.

Make a one or two-night crossing with a choice of comfortable cabins and unrivalled onboard experience on one of Brittany Ferries' cruise ferries. Enjoy cinemas, swimming pool, games room, children's entertainment and a choice of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops for a cruise that feels like part of your holiday.

Take a Portsmouth ferry to Spain with your car to bring as much luggage as you like and enjoy an easy onward journey from the port. A relaxed, affordable alternative to air travel.

https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry-routes/ferries-spain/portsmouth-spain

born_again

Quite a few u-tube video's by people who have made that trip.

Tucosalamanca

I've done Santander to Plymouth, a few hours shorter journey.

Better than a ferry, not quite a liner (we've travelled on Pont Aven).

I'd say booking a cabin is essential. Food was acceptable and reasonably  priced, as were the bars.

The ship has a pool, cinema, entertainments etc. That's not really our thing but other passengers seemed to enjoy it.

It's a journey that I'm happy to make in summer but wouldn't dream of it in winter. Other than the risk of cancellation, there's no way I'd endure the journey in rough seas, I'd rather do the drive in those circumstances...

Alfrescodave

I've done both trips, Portsmouth/ Bilbao and Portsmouth Santander and found them to be very comfortable and have all the necessary facilities. They are primarily aimed at "holiday travellers"
Several people I spoke to were actually staying on the boat and treating it as a mini cruise, 

jimi_man

I did this exact trip (Portsmouth to Bilbao) a couple of weeks ago. It was extremely rough weather to the extent that the Capt had to undertake some serious course deviations in order to ensure a slightly more comfortable second night. Notwithstanding that, it was a very pleasurable trip. A cabin is essential as has been said. Ours was two nights, not sure what the return is but two nights without a cabin would be very dismal I would think.

The food is excellent - we ate at the restaurant which wasn't expensive and was good. There is a buffet place as well - not sure what that is like. The ship is mostly holidaymakers - with camper vans. I think a lot of people stay in their cabins and watch TV as we didn't see a lot of people. We preferred to sit in the main part of the ship and watch the sea go by, read, etc. 

I'd do it again quite happily. Definitely not a booze cruise and I never found a disco. (To be fair I didn't look for one!)

Nebulous2

I've done it a couple of times pre-covid, with a caravan, and have booked again this year - in the opposite direction. The pet-friendly cabin is the main attraction for us. 

We weren't looking for a cruise, my wife doesn't like boats, due to travel sickness. Staff were friendlier than on short-crossing ferries. One was an ex-teacher and gave basic Spanish lessons, which I enjoyed. 

Possibly our time of year, but a lot of people were ex-pats who had been home for the summer going back to their Spanish homes. If you move between Spain and the UK you'll often have a lot of stuff to carry which makes driving more practical than flying.

A lot of moans about growing too old for this,  and not liking the journey. 

In practical terms, driving across and around the top half of Spain, then a leisurely return up through France, followed by a channel crossing, worked very well for us. 

FrankFalcon

Brilliant, helpful comments...And...I scold myself for not thinking of youtube first.  Thank you all.

RAS

Take time to visit the Picos de Europa, even if only to go up one of the cable cars and spend a day.

We came in from the south on what is now the N621 and stayed at Potes. Scariest drive of my life, even if it looked like an illustration out of Tolkein's Two Towers.

Unless the road's improved massively I'd recommend accessing off the A8 to the north, so not too far from Bilbao.