To close this trip to France , I end with a novelty on TravelGuys, the ferry!
As a reminder, here is the route followed:
| # | Type | Review |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lounge | British Airways Galleries North, London Heathrow (not reviewed) |
| 2 | Flight | British Airways Club Europe, London Heathrow – Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Airbus A319 (not reviewed) |
| 3 | Hotel | Brach Paris |
| 4 | Hotel | Le Dokhan’s Paris, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel |
| 5 | Restaurant | Nomicos Paris |
| 6 | Train | TER Nomad 1st clas, Paris Saint-Lazare – Caen ((not reviewed)) |
| 7 | Cruise | Brittany Ferries Commodore Class, Ouistreham (Caen) – Portsmouth, MV Mont Saint-Michel |
Purchase and check-in
I purchased this ferry ticket about 1 month before departure , on the Brittany Ferries website.
The purchase is very simple and I will choose a Commodore cabin for this trip which will still take 8h45 between Ouistreham and Portsmouth by night.
Freed from £230, I immediately receive my reservation and my invoice .
On the day of departure, I arrive at the Gare Maritime de Ouistreham around 2h30 before departure, and complete the check -in formalities.
The counters are empty, and I am taken care of immediately. My immigration and health documents are checked , then my boarding pass is given to me in a Commodore pouch… But the check-in agent tells me that boarding will not begin more than 30 minutes before departure! It gives me a good leg up, I who thought I could enjoy my cabin before departure, I’ve drawn a blank !
My father will wait with me in the ferry terminal until the pedestrian boarding is called , we will be 3 passengers that day to board for Portsmouth.
Boarding
Boarding actually begins 30 minutes before departure with a fairly basic security check (ISO Eurostar) and border police.
We then board a bus that takes us to the boarding bridge at the Ferry .
An elevator allows you to climb to a good height. Our boarding cards are then scanned and we board.
Cabin and reception
The welcome on board is warm and foot passengers who do not have a cabin are encouraged to leave their luggage in a locked luggage room.
Having a cabin, I take the elevator that will take me to deck 9 where the Commodore cabins are located .
Commodore cabins are the highest category on the ship and are located forward on Deck 9.
Each has two portholes as large as windows , two single beds (and a third retracted in the ceiling), as well as a sofa bed, a coffee table and a desk.
A private bathroom with toilet and shower is offered, as well as a beautiful wardrobe.
It’s frankly very comfortable and a welcome service has even been placed on the coffee table: a basket of fresh fruit and a strip of macaroons .
A minibar filled with soft drinks is available free of charge to Commodre guests in their rooms.
Finally, here is the video tour:
Service and catering
The ship has two restaurants (a self-service restaurant and a table service restaurant). The table service restaurant was closed on my cruise. I will not use the other facility either.
I will nevertheless have a drink at the bar after departure while listening to some live music.
Commodore cabin passengers have breakfast included in their ticket price.
It was served to me 1 hour before arrival directly in the room.
Arrival and disembarkation
We arrive in Portsmouth slightly behind schedule . The disembarkation process for foot passengers is a bit restrictive, you have to leave the cabins 30 minutes before arrival , wait in the public areas on the main deck, before someone announces the disembarkation, which takes place by bus, bus that uses car decks to board us.
Immigration will be extremely fast with 2 officers for 3 passengers!
Conclusion
A nice experience if you have to reach England from Normandy. Not fast, but friendly!
