Visiting France via Ferry

Ferries from Poole or Portsmouth on the south coast of England, or Rosslare in Ireland provide good connections to Normandy, and it’s both quick and simple to book directly on-line with the ferry companies (Brittany Ferries or Stena Line and Irish Ferries). Day trips and special offers are available throughout the year and there is a wide choice of facilities and accommodation on board to make your journey comfortable and enjoyable. From March to October there are several fast craft services available, making a day trip from the south of England a realistic option; with 24 hour return fares as low as £45 for a car and 2 people the savings in France are quickly recouped. Traveling from the Irish Republic needs more time, but return crossings for a car and 2 people on the luxurious Oscar Wilde can be as low as €200 including a cabin both ways.

Ferry Operators from the South of England

Brittany Ferries operate a modern fleet of both classic cruise ferries and fastcraft from either Portsmouth or Poole to Cherbourg or Ouistreham. If you cross the channel regularly as I do you can’t fail to be impressed by the quality of service on offer backed, up by attentive and willing on-board staff. The Normandie Express can occasionally be a bit lumpy, but the level of concern shown if you are feeling unwell or have a young family to cope with is quite honestly exceptional. The company is also making a big push on pricing for 2018, so expect to find even better value for money.

Ferry Operators from Ireland

At Normandie Wine we are in partnership with Irish Ferries and can offer special discounts at certain times of the year on the Irish Ferries service from Rosslare direct to Cherbourg. The route is served by the magnificent MV Oscar Wilde which is every bit as good as the company’s own publicity suggests and boasts levels of comfort and space that you might find on certain cruise liners. Cabins are a huge improvement on the previous vessel the MV Normandy.

Another option is to travel by ferry to France from Rosslare to Cherbourg on Stena Line and get away the easy way to Europe! With the cheapest fares and a choice of 3 ferry crossings a week on the Stena Horizon, pick the time that suits you to travel to France. You can book a cabin so you and your family arrive relaxed and refreshed for your visit to Cherbourg and beyond.