Connemara ferry

MS Connemara ferry is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel which until 2023 was operated under charter by the French company BRITTANY FERRIES. The ship has a max capacity of 762 passengers and 195 cars plus 130 trucks (trailers). The vessel was launched in 2007 and is currently chartered to Bluebridge Ferries (New Zealand) to operate the Cook Strait route Wellington-Picton (sea distance ~60 mi / 100 km) with crossing time 3,5-4 hours.

The Cook Strait NZ route Wellington-Picton is currently served by two companies - Bluebridge (21 weekly crossings/4 daily) and Interislander (15 weekly crossings).

For BRITTANY FERRIES, Connemara served the English Channel/Ireland-France route Cork-Roscoff (crossing time 14 hours). Since January 2020, the ship also operated on the England-France route Portsmouth-Le Havre (crossing time 5,5 days / 8 overnights).

Due to reduced capacity (Coronavirus 2020 crisis), Connemara was taken out of service (all UK-France crossings were terminated) effectively from September 7, 2020. Since February 2021, the ferry operated the Ireland-Spain route (via France) Rosslare-Bilbao (via Cherbourg).

Cabins

As cruiseferry, Connemara has 120 cabins with a total of 424 berths. All staterooms are air-conditioned and with en-suite bathrooms. The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries. The ship additionally has 36 reclining seats (available for pre-booking only on Cork-Roscoff crossings). One stateroom is wheelchair-accessible (adapted for passengers with disabilities).

The ship's staterooms are in the following categories:

• 44x 4-bed Outside Cabin
• 8x 4-bed Outside ("pet-friendly") Cabin
• 66x 4-bed Inside (Cabin
• 5x 4-bed Inside ("pet-friendly") Cabin
• 1x Wheelchair-accessible (handicap) Cabin
• Also available are reserved lounge seats (36) and cots (10).

All cabins are furnished with 2 lower single beds (fixed), 2 upper bunk beds (wall-mounted Pullman beds), small writing table with chair, bedside reading lamps and power sockets.

All passengers must vacate their staterooms 30 min prior to homeport arrival.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

As facilities, the Connemara ship offers:

• (deck 6) Self-service/buffet restaurant (hot and cold meals)
• (deck 5) Le Cafe / Bar (sandwiches, cakes, pastries, hot/cold drinks, HDTVs)
• (deck 5) Reserved Seating Lounge (with reclining / Pullman seats)
• (deck 5) The shop sells gifts and souvenirs, alcohol (liquors, wines), tobaccos, perfumes and cosmetics, sunglasses, watches, jewelry, leather goods, clothing, electronics and gadgets, toys, confectionery.
• (deck 5) free Wi-Fi, ATM/cash machine (next to Information Desk / Reception), disabled toilets

The ship has 3 stairways (accessing all decks) and 1 escalator (connecting decks 3-4-5).

(deck 8) Sun Deck (outdoor area) doubles as Helideck (helipad) - a helicopter landing platform used in cases of emergency.

All onboard emergency instructions are displayed in staterooms, on the TV screens and at the ship's assembly stations (aka muster stations). Life jackets are issued at the assembly stations. In case of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is forbidden.

Car decks

The ferry has 4 garage decks (for cars and trucks).

Car decks 1, 2 and are accessible via stairs (forward).

Car decks 3, 4 and 5 are connected via stairs and an escalator (aft). Aft on Deck 5 are the Open Air Garage Deck (with Disabled Access), Car Ramp (down to deck 4) and stairs (from garage decks 3 and 4).

The covered passenger gangway allows access to decks 5, 6 and 7.

All car decks are not accessible during crossings.

Follows a list of car decks-related safety procedures:

• Disabled passengers or those requiring specific assistance should visit the ship's Information Desk (deck 5, open 24-hours).
• Apply handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear position. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be switched off. Lock the vehicle.
• From your vehicle take only valuables and essential hand baggage.
• Make a note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
• Access to the ship's vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is prohibited.
• Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in cabins and passenger lounges is forbidden.
• Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.

In order to avoid air pollution, don't start the engine until instructed.