Normandie ferry

MS Normandie ferry is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel operated by the French company BRITTANY FERRIES. The ship has a max capacity of 2123 passengers and 575 vehicles. The vessel was launched in 1992 and currently operates on the England-France ferry route Portsmouth-Caen (crossing time 6 hours).

In January 2024 (Jan 6-20), the ship was deployed on the Ireland-France route Rosslare-Cherbourg (crossing time ~17 hours), replacing the fleetmate COTENTIN. During the Irish service, NORMANDIE's passenger capacity was limited to 100 (plus the freight drivers).

NEWS: In 2025, Normandie will leave the fleet, to be replaced with an LNG-powered Guillaume de Normandie.

Cabins

As cruiseferry, Normandie has a total of 220 cabins, all of which are air-conditioned and with en-suite bathrooms. The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries. The ship additionally has 416 reclining seats. Some staterooms are wheelchair-accessible (adapted for disabled passengers).

The ship's staterooms as categories (numbers) are 4-berth Outside (139), 4-berth Inside (27), 3-berth "Commodore" (8), 2-berth Outside (1), 2-berth Inside (33), wheelchair-accessible (2). Also available are reserved lounge seats (108) and cots (14).

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

Shipboard facilities

As facilities, the Normandie ship offers:

• Le Deauville (deck 8 - 2-section restaurant with two menus - a la carte and buffet, French wines, bar)
• Riva Bella (self-service/buffet restaurant on deck 8, hot and cold meals)
• Le Kiosque (deck 9 - shop for gifts, souvenirs, toys, confectionery, newspapers, magazines)
• La Vitrine (deck 8 - shop for fashion clothing and accessories, watches, jewelry, leather goods)
• Photo Shop (deck 8 - shop for souvenir photos, photo-video equipment, electronic goods)
• Les Boutiques (decks 7, 9 - shops for perfumes, cosmetics, makeup and skincare products, confectionery, tobaccos, alcohol/spirits, wines)
• Le Pays d'Auge (patisserie/cafe bar on deck 9 - sandwiches, cakes, pastries, hot/cold drinks, HDTVs)
• 2 cinemas (both on deck 7) - tickets can be purchased from Information Desk
• Kids Playroom (on deck 9 - children's entertainment program is available during peak season)
• Video games room (deck 8)
• Baby changing rooms (decks 8, 9), complimentary Baggage Room (deck 7)
• Chance Planet (deck 9, casino/gambling lounge with slot machines)
• Reserved Seating Lounge (forward on deck 7, with reclining / Pullman seats)
• Le Derby Bar (ship's main bar lounge on deck 9 - fine French wines, cocktails, cold/hot drinks, HDTVs, live entertainment)
• free Wi-Fi, ATM / cash machine (deck 7, next to Information Desk / Reception)
• disabled toilets (decks 7, 8, 9)

The ship has 3 elevators (passenger lifts) accessing all decks.

Sun Deck is an outdoor area that 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.

BRITTANY FERRIES cruise deals

The company offers regularly scheduled ferry services between England and France (travel time on cruise ferries 3-4 hours) and between France and Spain (travel time 20-36 hours). The high-speed UK-France service allows the ships to successfully target the UK's "mini cruise" and holiday travel markets.

As on cruise vessels, all BRITTANY FERRIES ships offer passenger cabins with modern amenities, individually controlled air-conditioning and en-suite facilities. Cruise accommodations range from 2-bed "Inside Cabin" to "Commodore Suite" (with in-cabin dining / Afternoon Tea and Breakfast service). Some suites are with private balconies.

Onboard food is predominantly French cuisine and prepared by French chefs. All ships have a la carte priced restaurants, self-service cafeteria, selection of bars, live entertainment (singers, magicians, pantomimes for kids), at least one cinema, casino, arcade room, Bureau de Change, baby changing rooms, disabled toilets, Sun Deck areas, free of charge Wi-Fi.

Cruise ferries on France-Spain routes have swimming pools (open during summer months only), as well as kids' play areas with supervised activities (during holidays only). Spa treatment rooms on Spain-France cruise ferries offer facials (from ProCare), massages (by certified masseuses), modern massage chairs, pedicures and manicure services (OPI nail varnishes), treatments using skincare products by the French brand "Filorga Professional".

Ships' boutique shops sell at discount prices tobacco and alcohol (budget and premium wines and spirits), as well as luxury brand perfumes and cosmetics, designer jewelry, watches, sunglasses, souvenirs, toys.

Fun fact is that BRITTANY FERRIES serve annually around 22 tons of langoustines (Norway lobster), 15 tons of smoked salmon, 260 tons of meat, 240,000 English breakfasts, 333,000 liters of beer. By onboard sold perfumes, the company is ranked France's 3rd largest perfume retailer.

• Ferry fares are based on departure dates, routes and time (season).
• GBP 35 deposit is required to secure bookings during the peak summer season.
• Summer prices are usually higher. Same goes for the weekends and overnight crossings.
• Departures in the mornings, afternoons and overnights are offered throughout the whole year.
• Overnight France-Spain crossings are 7 in a week.
• Mix and match route deals are also available.

Follows the list of all BRITTANY FERRIES routes with crossing times and frequencies.

• Portsmouth-Caen (6 hours) - 3 daily
• Portsmouth-St Malo (11 hours / overnight) - daily
• Portsmouth-Cherbourg (3 hours) - 10 return (in the period late April - early September)
• Portsmouth-Santander Spain (24 hours / overnight) - 3 crossings weekly
• Portsmouth-Bilbao Spain (24-36 hours) - 2 crossings weekly
• Portsmouth-Le Havre (5,5 hours) - daily return crossings
• Poole-Cherbourg (4 hours 15 min) - daily return
• Plymouth-Roscoff (6 hours) 2 return
• Plymouth-Santander Spain (20 hours) - direct weekly crossings
• Cork Ireland-Roscoff (14 hours) - weekly, return crossings in the period April-November)
• Cork-Santander (26,5 hours) - 2 weekly return crossings

Car decks

Follows a list of car decks-related safety procedures:

• Disabled passengers or those requiring specific assistance should visit the ship's Information Desk (deck 7, 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.

The operator/ship charterer Brittany Ferries (fleet, 1972-founded, headquartered in Roscoff France) is a French ferry company operating on the shipping routes France-UK and France-Spain.