Ferry operator
Brittany Ferries
The western Channel operator in profile - routes, fleet, check-in, pets and fares
- Sailing the western Channel since 1973, owned by Brittany's farming cooperatives, headquartered in Roscoff
- Seven routes to England from Cherbourg, Caen, Le Havre, Saint-Malo and Roscoff, plus the Channel Islands with Condor Ferries
- Early Bird, Standard and Flexi fares; with a pet, arrive at the terminal 90 minutes before departure
About Brittany Ferries
Table of Contents
About Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries is the operator of the western Channel. It was founded in 1973 by Breton farmer Alexis Gourvennec, who was looking for an export route for the region's vegetables; the first crossing set sail on 2 January 1973 aboard the converted cargo ship Kerisnel from Roscoff to Plymouth, loaded with cauliflowers. To this day, the company, headquartered in Roscoff, remains largely owned by north-west France's farming cooperatives. According to its own figures, the operator carries more than 2.5 million passengers a year, four out of five of them from the UK. Since April 2025, Brittany Ferries has been the sole owner of Condor Ferries, the Channel Islands operator; both companies share the same chief executive.
Fleet
On the England routes, the Mont St Michel and the Guillaume de Normandie sail between Ouistreham and Portsmouth, the Saint-Malo, the Commodore Clipper and the Armorique operate from Saint-Malo and Le Havre, the Armorique and flagship Pont-Aven sail from Roscoff, and the Barfleur runs between Cherbourg and Poole. The Salamanca joined the fleet in March 2022 as its first LNG-powered ship, followed by the Santoña in 2023; both, along with the Galicia, sail the Spain routes and call at Cherbourg en route. The Saint-Malo and the Guillaume de Normandie are the newest LNG-hybrid vessels, replacing the older ships Bretagne and Normandie. Condor Ferries contributes the fast catamaran Condor Voyager. On 30 June 2026, the operator announced it would sell the Barfleur (built 1992) and the Cotentin (built 2007).
Routes to England
Brittany Ferries operates seven routes from France to England: Caen - Portsmouth, the flagship route with up to three departures a day, Cherbourg - Portsmouth, Cherbourg - Poole with the Barfleur, the overnight Le Havre - Portsmouth, Saint-Malo - Portsmouth, the longest Channel crossing, Roscoff - Plymouth, the operator's original route, and, under the Condor Ferries brand, the fast catamaran Saint-Malo - Poole via Guernsey. There are also routes to Ireland and Spain. Following the 30 June 2026 announcement, Le Havre - Portsmouth will end in October and Cherbourg - Poole in November 2026; as a replacement, Cherbourg - Portsmouth will run daily, and from 1 November 2026 the Islander will sail a triangular route between Portsmouth, Guernsey and Cherbourg.
Check-in, vehicles and pets
Brittany Ferries prints the vehicle check-in deadline on your e-ticket; it depends on the fare booked. Foot passengers must have checked in at least 60 minutes before departure, and if you're travelling with a pet you need to be at the terminal at least 90 minutes beforehand; your vehicle then gets a sticker that stays on until arrival. All ferries carry cars, motorhomes, car-caravan combinations and motorcycles, including LPG and LNG vehicles with the gas system switched off; campervans may carry up to three gas cylinders totalling no more than 47 kilograms. Charging electric cars is not possible on board. Pets travel in the vehicle, or in onboard kennels or pet cabins on some ships; up to five animals per vehicle can be booked online, and during the crossing one person per vehicle can visit the animal for up to 15 minutes. Foot passengers, cyclists and motorcyclists cannot bring a pet. More in our motorhome and dogs and pets guides.
Tickets and fares
Brittany Ferries offers three fares: Early Bird, the cheapest, only available at least 60 days before departure and suited to fixed travel plans; Standard, which allows rebooking and cancellation under certain conditions; and Flexi, with free changes up to four hours before the outbound crossing. If you miss your departure, contact the operator within 24 hours and pay an administration fee plus the fare difference to rebook. Since March 2023, all onboard payments have been in euros only. Prices for each route are shown in the booking window, and the price overview compares all England routes.
FAQ Brittany Ferries
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about Brittany Ferries
Which routes does Brittany Ferries sail to England? +
Seven routes from Normandy and Brittany to England's south coast: Caen - Portsmouth, Cherbourg - Portsmouth, Cherbourg - Poole, Le Havre - Portsmouth, Saint-Malo - Portsmouth, Saint-Malo - Poole and Roscoff - Plymouth, plus routes to Ireland and Spain. According to the operator, the Poole route from Cherbourg and the Portsmouth route from Le Havre will end in autumn 2026.
Which ships does Brittany Ferries operate? +
On the England routes: the Mont St Michel, the Guillaume de Normandie, the Saint-Malo, the Armorique, the Pont-Aven, the Barfleur and the Commodore Clipper, plus the LNG-powered Galicia, Salamanca and Santoña on the Spain routes, which call at Cherbourg, and the fast catamaran Condor Voyager.
When do I need to be at the port with Brittany Ferries? +
The vehicle check-in deadline is printed on your e-ticket and depends on the fare booked. Foot passengers must check in at least 60 minutes before departure; travelling with a pet, arrive at least 90 minutes beforehand. Times for each route are shown in the timetable.
Can I bring my car or motorhome? +
Yes, all ferries carry cars, motorhomes, car-caravan combinations and motorcycles; LPG vehicles are allowed if the gas system is switched off before boarding. What applies to campervans is covered in our motorhome guide.
Does Brittany Ferries carry pets? +
Yes, on all routes. Animals stay in the vehicle; some ships have onboard kennels and pet cabins. Foot passengers, cyclists and motorcyclists cannot bring a pet. Entry rules are explained in our dogs and pets guide.
What fares are available? +
Early Bird is the cheapest fare, bookable at least 60 days before departure; Standard allows rebooking and cancellation under certain conditions; and Flexi allows free changes up to four hours before the outbound crossing. Prices for each route are shown in the booking window, and a comparison is available in the price overview.