Portsmouth - Bilbao Ferry

[Jacques le foot]

Good-day everyone,

We are thinking about taking the Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry when we go to Portugal next Feb. I have priced up the return trip with inside cabin at £506 sailing on weekdays (a little more if we went/returned weekends). If any of you out there have done this trip, can you advise if this fare sounds good (we would need to book very soon to get this price I think), and also your comments on the whole experience would be appreciated.
We said at first that we would do Dover/Calais and drive down through France, but I don't think France in Feb will be a very nice journey...and probably not that much cheaper when all costs considered.

Look forward to reading your replys,
Thanks a lot,

Jackie

 

[redgate]

bilbao

If you are traveling on the pride of bilbao excellent ferry reasonably priced food and drink excellent entertainment. I used it last year a very relaxing way to start your holl's. Hope you have a good holliday

 

[guerdeval]

Worth trying Brittany ferries, their boat the Pont Aven is excellent and it goes from Portsmouth and Plymouth now, I used them a few weeks back and got a pleasant surprise on the price back from France, assuming they still travel in February that is.

 

[Deleted member 4850]

Have done the Portsmouth to Bilbao route in January and the ferry is great - very comfortable, even had a swimming pool - but the weather can be very rough in the Bay of Biscay at that time of year, so take your seabands with you!

 

[Baggins]

Looks like a good deal.

Looks like a good deal.

Based in the West Country I use Brittany Ferries and pay through the nose (compared with SE channel hops) and I have to pay just over £600 for a Transit base van Plymouth/Santander (outward Sept.) and Santander/Portsmouth (Return Nov. - last crossing). Perhaps I'll just do the outward and return ...................later.

Interesting that there appears to be no saving buying a return although I found earlier this year that it would have been a lot dearer buying the return half in Santander. I saved over 100E by buying ticket on-line from Brittany Ferries UK site and just giving booking number at terminal 15 minutes later!

I agree Pont Aven is a very very nice extremely comfortable boat.

Clearly the ferry companies take account of fuel costs of motoring down as Plymouth/Roscoff is £200 less but swings-roundabouts and all that.

BW

The same trip as a 'mini-cruise' foot passenger is often to be had for just £60.

 

[Dezi]

Hi Jackie, We are also meandering down to Portugal in March, but will go Portsmouth - Le Havre on LD lines ( if still the cheap one). Driving through France/ Spain at any time is wonderful and gives you chance to stock up on provisions for Portugal,we look apon it as part of the holiday. Being retired time is not the main consideration with us,if it is with you and you wish to spent the maximum amount of time in situ, then your idea is best. You pays your money & etc etc

Dezi

 

[jann]

The last time we sailed on it we paid aprox £550, this was 5 years ago, so the price sounds good.

I thought that the food was dear, but pehaps that has altered, make sure You take a kettle with You for use in the cabin(with an adapter)