Brittany Ferries Offers Full Summer Service from UK and Ireland to France and Spain

By: Gary Andrews
Date:
Last updated:
BRETAGNE. Image: Brittany Ferries.
BRETAGNE. Image: Brittany Ferries.

In news that will be welcomed by many thousands of holidaymakers, Brittany Ferries has confirmed plans for a full Summer 2022 schedule.

After two years of sometimes much reduced sailings due to the Covid crisis, all routes and ships will again be active.  The short Poole – Cherbourg route makes a return, as does the popular classic cruiseferry, BRETAGNE.

Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries said

“We are delighted to confirm our ships and schedules for the summer season, which will bring renewed optimism and reassurance to staff, customers and port partners.

“The return of favourites like Bretagne at the end of March, coincide with the arrival of our first LNG-powered vessel Salamanca. She is a symbol of our commitment to our customers, our routes and to a more sustainable future. Three sister ships will join her in the years ahead, as fleet renewal gains pace.”

Brittany Ferries Press Release 8 March 2022. https://brittanyferriesnewsroom.com/brittany-ferries-says-oui-to-a-return-to-service-for-ships-and-routes/
SALAMANCA on her first arrival at Bilbao. Image: Brittany Ferries/Bilbao Port.
SALAMANCA on her first arrival at Bilbao. Image: Brittany Ferries/Bilbao Port.

A full route overview is as follows;

Portsmouth – Bilbao

Brittany Ferries’ first LNG powered vessel, SALAMANCA enters service on the Portsmouth – Bilbao route on 27 March. Two weekly sailings are being offered in each direction between England and Spain.  Check out our guide to the ship here.

Portsmouth – Santander

The previous newest ship in the fleet, GALICIA, will continue to operate two weekly roundtrips on the Portsmouth – Santander service.   The E-flexer has now been in service for just over a year and settled reliably into her role sailing to Spain.  Check out our guide to the ship here.

Portsmouth – St Malo

This route sees a return to service after nearly 18 months for the grande dame of the Brittany Ferries’ fleet, BRETAGNE.  The cruiseferry is perhaps the most popular ship with Club Voyage (loyalty scheme) members. BRETAGNE will serve Portsmouth – St Malo again from 26 March 2022.  Many will be looking forward to a delicious meal in her à la carte restaurant.

Portsmouth – Cherbourg

As well as serving the Spanish routes, the E-flexer ferries GALICIA and SALAMANCA will each operate a weekly return sailing on the Portsmouth – Cherbourg route.  Additionally, the short route to Normandy will also have some additional peak period sailings operated by the fast ferry CONDOR LIBERATION.

NORMANDIE. Image: Brittany Ferries.
NORMANDIE. Image: Brittany Ferries.

Portsmouth – Caen (Ouistreham)

Although, the Portsmouth – Caen route has continued throughout the pandemic, for many periods the focus has been on freight. Frequently only the MONT ST. MICHEL has been sailing in passenger mode.  Now once more, Normandy’s busiest ferry route will again see the NORMANDIE and MONT ST.MICHEL offer three sailings in each direction most days.

COTENTIN will also be sailing from Portsmouth to Le Havre but in a freight-only mode.

Poole – Cherbourg

BARFLEUR hasn’t sailed at all during the Covid crisis.  This left the ship idle at a quayside in the Caen area for almost two years.

However, after a period serving freight on Portsmouth – Caen during the NORMANDIE’s overhaul at Gdansk, she returns to her home route on 4 April.  Originally due to return to Poole a week earlier, BARFLEUR has been delayed by the NORMANDIE’s over-running refit.

BARFLEUR. Image: Brittany Ferries.
BARFLEUR. Image: Brittany Ferries.

The popular vessel will connect Cherbourg with Poole, two of the most striking destinations in the Brittany Ferries portfolio. Passengers and freight drivers will once more take-in magnificent Napoleonic sea-defences on the approach to France and the natural beauty of Poole Harbour and Old Harry Rocks when arriving back into the UK.

There will also be an additional fast connection on some peak dates when CONDOR LIBERATION links Cherbourg and Poole.

Plymouth – Roscoff

After a winter service hiatus, Britain’s Ocean City will welcome PONT-AVEN and ARMORIQUE back to Millbay, Plymouth.   Up to seven sailings a week are being offered to and from Roscoff, Brittany.  Both ships return to service at the end of March.

PONT-AVEN at Cork - Image: Brittany Ferries
PONT-AVEN at Cork – Image: Brittany Ferries

Plymouth – Santander

In 2022, PONT-AVEN will operate two roundtrips weekly from Plymouth to Santander. This is sure to be a move that will be welcomed by holiday-makers in south-west England planning a Spanish break. In recent years only one sailing per week has been offered.  This service improvement is enabled by the increased UK – Spain capacity offered by the Portsmouth pair of the SALAMANCA and GALICIA.

PONT-AVEN’s first 2022 sailing from Plymouth to Santander is 26 March.

Cork – Roscoff

From the end of March, ARMORIQUE and PONT-AVEN will each offer one return sailing per week from Roscoff to Cork.  This represents a service increase on pre-Covid times when PONT-AVEN operated the route alone.

Rosslare – Cherbourg

CONNEMARA operates a weekly roundtrip from Rosslare to Cherbourg.  She departs Ireland on Monday evenings and returns from France on Tuesday afternoons.

COTENTIN also provides a weekly freight only “Brexit bypass” service between Le Havre and Rosslare.

Rosslare – Bilbao

Growing in popularity, the CONNEMARA’s twice-weekly service from Ireland to Spain continues.  Sailings are on Wednesdays and Fridays from Ireland and Thursdays and Sundays from Spain.

CONNEMARA at Santander. Image: Brittany Ferries.
CONNEMARA at Santander. Image: Brittany Ferries.

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