Brittany Ferries - Economie Sailings (1 Viewer)

[Bollard]

Has anyone used the Portsmouth to Bilbao/Santander Brittany Ferries Economie service. The ordinary sailings on the bigger boats to Bilbao for September are all full. All the over winterer's going over! I can go Santander but prefer Bilbao - Haro - Benicassim. The general facilities look much less but perfectly adequate and the boat smaller. Cabins look ok. Maybe a bit rougher if conditions are bad. Looking for a Funster who has had first-hand experience using the Economies service. Thank you in anticipation!

 

[Flamenca]

I have used the Economie service from Santander but made the mistake of choosing a reclining seat rather than a cabin. The reclining seats were in an area which was not shut off from the bar by full height partitions so very noisy from the late night revellers. If I use the service again I will definitely book a cabin. I will probably drive up through France rather than using the service again.

 

[Mikeco]

I think that it''s okay until it''s your turn to man the oars. Too small a boat for me and have booked on the Pont Aven

Mike

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[bhs]

Was great for me, had a cabin which was on the same deck as the car, boarding ticket worked the door, dog was allowed in cabin, all clean and tidy, loads better than the LD lines ship that it has effectively replaced on this Portsmouth - Le Havre crossing

 

[bhs]

Not finished doh, I agree the Santander route needs the biggest boat you can get, found that crossing very seasick making, but apart from that the facilities were fine, is this an ex DFDS/LD lines ship do you know,, Brittany seem to be taking over a number of routes

 

[gloworm]

Done Santander & Bilbao many times without problems, but done the economy once and its the only time ive ever been sick, good job we had a cabin as we never left it for 11 hours.

Eric

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[bjandlin]

We came back from Santander at the end of January, boat & facilities were good but glad we had a cabin as weather was a bit rocky. Take a pill or two & sleep ! we did.
Have not crossed there before with Brittany so can't compare the different boats.
Cost wise very good.
Barrie.

 

[tinhat]

Hi,
We went on the economie service last November from Portsmouth to Santander. The ship was basic but clean. No carpets on the floors in the cabins but you still get the en-suite shower/toilet. There is a café and a bar which was busy before we set sail. When it started to get choppy we went off to our cabin and spent most of our time in bed snoozing. Took a travel kettle with us so we could have hot drinks in our cabin and a cool bag with various eats and drinks so we didn't need to surface from our cabin for the whole journey. We have booked the economie service again this year for November from Portsmouth to Santander, but I do believe that it is a different ship this year. As it was so popular last year, BF have put on more sailings. Definitely do not book a reclining seat, they looked uncomfortable and I really felt sorry for the people using them. When you get back to your vehicle before coming off the boat, make sure all the chocks have been taken away from your wheels.
Hope all this is of some use to you and that you enjoy whichever crossing you make.
Ruth

 

[Portland]

Was great for me, had a cabin which was on the same deck as the car, boarding ticket worked the door, dog was allowed in cabin, all clean and tidy, loads better than the LD lines ship that it has effectively replaced on this Portsmouth - Le Havre crossing

Well that's certainly put the stopper on me using it!! I prefer sleeping in a cabin not a kennel!!

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[busby]

Well that's certainly put the stopper on me using it!! I prefer sleeping in a cabin not a kennel!!

You won't get a cabin that has had a dog in it if you don't have a dog. only a limited amount of cabins are allocated to dogs and they are booked early. Used Economy and it was fine...BUSBY.

 

[EuroTrotters]

As a fairly regular traveler on these routes and the old POB. I have never yet used the "economie" versions. We travel by Car, Minibus or Motorhome.

I have just been through some quotes for October, November, December and January. As a Club De Voyage member, most of the crossings only come out at most £25 or so more expensive for the Pont Aven or Cap Finsitere vessels. When I say crossings, I mean the actual passage fees. Cabins and seats vary so much in price. Yes, nice to have a commodore cabin (not on Cap Finistere as if you suffer sea sickness, you will be in for a bad time).

If you are a member and 4 of your crossing, a cabins works out better if you are a `CDV member as you get a breakfast allowance of £7.90 each. You do not get this with 4 seats @ around £10 a pop.

I too prefer Bilbao for convenience (Javea/Play Montroig) trips mainly.

If you have the time to get to Spain, Via France and Belgium (Hull-Zeebrugge). Stena Harwich - hook of Holland or the good old Dover - Calais / Eurotunnel routes. Thats is fine. But in many cases, the cost of the BF Spanish routes is often equally as expensive if not cheaper and easier.

But then, I don't get sea sick and Mrs. TM only gets it beyond Force 7/8

TM

 

[Neil S]

nothing wrong with the economy boat , we used it last October the MV Etretat and the cabin was clean and was carpeted and the on suite shower and toilet clean .
The twin single beds were also very comfortable

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[sdc77]

Done Santander & Bilbao many times without problems, but done the economy once and its the only time ive ever been sick, good job we had a cabin as we never left it for 11 hours.

Eric

Sounds terrible tbh and no fun at all. I assume the prices are also eye watering?

 

[EuroTrotters]

I meant to add.....

The latest vessel added to the economie is Baie De Somme (From the DFDS Denmark route) . But if you want a nice cabin. The limited commodore are around £200 a trip. So you may as well go on CF or PA and get a standard cabin

 

[rolandrat]

We haven't found a problem with Economie sailings to Santander or on the return back to Portsmouth. The internal layout seems to be more suitable than the so called cruise ships. OK the ships are smaller in length and maybe prone to a little more rolling about in heavy seas, perhaps the stabilizers aren't as good either. One point to mention about the larger cruise ships is this, if you are unlucky and are directed to park at the open stern part of the ship you will be directly below the ships engine exhaust funnels. When you dock and return to your motorhome you will most likely notice that it will be covered in a thick black layer of soot. My advice would be not to move it until the docking officer has told a seaman to blast it off with a hose pipe using fresh water. Unfortunately there was still some left on the motorhome roof. They were very good about it as it's a regular occurrence so we were told.

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[DanielFord]

I think that it''s okay until it''s your turn to man the oars. Too small a boat for me and have booked on the Pont Aven

Mike

My sentiments exactly, we love the Pont Aven, especially when we manage to get a commodore cabin (which we have for next year )

 

[Mikeco]

My sentiments exactly, we love the Pont Aven, especially when we manage to get a commodore cabin (which we have for next year )

Rich git sorry meant person