Operator portrait
Brittany Ferries
The western Channel is Brittany Ferries country - cruise ferries with cabins and restaurants on every route from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth.
- Seven Channel routes plus Guernsey, all bookable here
- Prices shown live at the booking step
Table of Contents
The company of the western Channel
Brittany Ferries was founded by Breton farmers who wanted their produce on English shelves, and half a century later the company still is the western Channel: every crossing from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth into France sails under its flag, along with Guernsey's lifeline services. Since 2025 the historic island operator Condor runs as its sister brand, keeping the high-speed craft on the Poole - Guernsey - St Malo triangle.
The fleet and the product
The company's argument is the ship. The Caen workhorses Mont St Michel and Guillaume de Normandie cross in about six hours with day and overnight sailings; the hybrid-powered Saint-Malo sails the overnight Brittany route; Armorique and the flagship Pont-Aven - restaurants, pool, cabin categories up to suites - serve Roscoff; the Barfleur does the daily Poole daytime run. On the long routes the cabin is the point: board in the evening, sleep, and start in France with the drive already done. It is the "mile-saving network" - pay more for the crossing, drive hundreds of kilometres less.
Practicalities worth knowing
Vehicle check-in closes 45 to 60 minutes before departure, pets need about 90 minutes plus the paperwork - microchip, rabies vaccination, animal health certificate - and an online pet pre-check opens 96 hours before sailing. Note the current operating picture: Portsmouth - Le Havre and Poole - Cherbourg run under an operational review with schedules subject to change from autumn 2026, and Portsmouth - Cherbourg is down to two overnight sailings a week. The route pages stay current; the departures for your date are in the timetable, and every route books through the same booking step as the rest of this site.
FAQ Brittany Ferries
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Brittany Ferries.
Which routes does Brittany Ferries sail?+
All the western crossings: Portsmouth to Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre and St Malo, Poole - Cherbourg, Plymouth - Roscoff and the Guernsey services - plus, through the Condor sister brand, Poole - St Malo via Guernsey.
What are the ships like?+
Cruise ferries in the proper sense - Mont St Michel and Guillaume de Normandie on the Caen run, the hybrid-powered Saint-Malo on the overnight Brittany route, Armorique and the flagship Pont-Aven to Roscoff, the Barfleur at Poole. Cabins, restaurants and deck space are the product; the overnight sailings replace a hotel night.
How early do I need to check in?+
Arrive at least 45 to 60 minutes before departure with a vehicle, and about 90 minutes with a pet - Brittany Ferries also runs an online pet pre-check within 96 hours of sailing. The time printed in your booking confirmation is the deadline that counts.
Are all routes running normally?+
Two routes currently run under an operational review - Portsmouth - Le Havre (schedules from October 2026) and Poole - Cherbourg (from November 2026) - and Portsmouth - Cherbourg sails only up to twice a week. The route pages carry the current picture; check them before you plan around those three.
Sailing west?
Compare the Brittany Ferries routes and check the departures for your date.