Ferry to England
Caen - Portsmouth
Brittany Ferries' flagship route, straight from Normandy to England's south coast
- Up to 3 departures daily, all year round, as a day sailing or overnight ferry with cabin
- Around 6 hours from Ouistreham with Brittany Ferries, a little longer overnight
- Car, motorhome, motorcycle and dog on board; with a pet, arrive at the Ouistreham terminal 90 minutes beforehand
Route guide
Caen - Portsmouth ferry overview
Table of Contents
Everything about the Caen - Portsmouth route with Brittany Ferries: getting to the Ouistreham ferry port, check-in deadlines, the ships and cabins, vehicle and pet rules, arrival at Portsmouth International Port and fares.
Getting to the terminal at Ouistreham
The ferry departs from the port of Ouistreham, around 15 kilometres north of Caen at the mouth of the River Orne. Around Caen, the terminal is signposted CAR FERRY; coming from Paris and Rouen, take the A13, from Brittany the N175, and from Cherbourg the N13. If you're taking the first departure of the morning, you can leave your vehicle overnight in the check-in lanes after the previous day's last departure, though this is at your own risk and the toilets are closed at night; there's also a regular port car park. There's no currency exchange at the port - the nearest is 15 kilometres away in Caen. Foot passengers can take the Twisto bus from Caen to Ouistreham, with a stop around 500 metres from the terminal; the bus doesn't run for evening departures or night arrivals. A shuttle bus with a ramp, also suitable for wheelchairs, takes you from the terminal to the ship.
Check-in and departure
The vehicle check-in deadline is on your e-ticket and depends on the fare booked. Foot passengers must check in at least 60 minutes before departure; with a pet, you need to be at the terminal at least 90 minutes beforehand, since your animal's documents are checked. A passport is required for everyone, including children, along with the electronic travel authorisation ETA; details are in our entry requirements guide.
On board
The route is served by the Mont St Michel and the Guillaume de Normandie, one of the operator's new LNG-hybrid vessels; other ships in the fleet may be scheduled depending on the timetable. Reserved seats are enough for the day sailing; for the overnight crossing you book a cabin, and wheelchair-accessible cabins are available on all ferries. Restaurants and bars are on board, and since March 2023 payment has been in euros only. Wi-Fi is available as a paid satellite package with limited speed.
Vehicles, bikes and pets
Cars, motorhomes, car-caravan combinations and motorcycles are carried, give exact dimensions when booking. LPG and LNG vehicles are allowed if the gas system is switched off before boarding; campervans may carry up to three gas cylinders totalling no more than 47 kilograms, secured and closed during the crossing. You can't charge an electric car on board, but Ouistreham port has six charging points. Bicycles and foot passengers can be booked if the option is shown for your booking. Pets stay in the vehicle or, depending on the ship, in onboard kennels and pet cabins; during the crossing, one person per vehicle can visit the animal on the car deck for up to 15 minutes. Online bookings allow up to five animals per vehicle; foot passengers, cyclists and motorcyclists cannot bring a pet. The Ouistreham terminal has a water point and a sand area for dogs. More in our motorhome and dogs and pets guides.
Arrival in Portsmouth and onward travel
In Portsmouth, the ferry docks at Portsmouth International Port on George Byng Way. Disembarkation takes around 30 minutes on average, plus border control at the port exit. The port sits outside the Portsmouth Clean Air Zone; via the M275 you reach the M27 directly and continue on the A3 or M3 towards London. Foot passengers can walk around 20 minutes into the city centre, or 30 minutes to Portsmouth & Southsea station, where the train takes about 85 minutes to London Waterloo.
Tickets and fares
Brittany Ferries offers three fares: Early Bird, the cheapest, bookable only 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. Current prices for your date are shown in the booking window, and the price overview compares them with the other England routes.
Caen - Portsmouth
With Brittany Ferries from Ouistreham to Hampshire
The Caen - Portsmouth route is Brittany Ferries' busiest crossing: up to three departures a day, all year round, as a roughly 6-hour day sailing or an overnight ferry with a cabin. Sailings don't depart from Caen itself but from the ferry port of Ouistreham at the mouth of the River Orne, around 15 kilometres north of the city.
For travellers from outside France, this is the direct route into Hampshire, Wiltshire and south-west England: the approach runs via Normandy's motorways, and arrival at Portsmouth International Port sits right on the M275.
- Crossing
- approx. 6 hrs
- Operator
- Brittany Ferries
- Frequency
- up to 3× daily
Next departures
FAQ Caen - Portsmouth
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about the Caen - Portsmouth ferry route
How long does the ferry from Caen to Portsmouth take? +
The day sailing takes around 6 hours; the overnight ferry is a little longer, at roughly 7 to just under 8 hours, so you arrive in Portsmouth well rested in the morning.
How often does the Caen - Portsmouth ferry run? +
Brittany Ferries offers up to three departures a day, all year round, by day and by night. Times for your travel date are shown in the timetable.
How much does the ferry from Caen to Portsmouth cost? +
The price depends on the season, vehicle dimensions, number of passengers, cabin and fare; the Early Bird fare, available at least 60 days before departure, is the cheapest. The starting price for your date is shown in the booking window, and the price overview compares all England routes.
When do I need to be at the Ouistreham terminal? +
The check-in deadline for your vehicle is on your e-ticket. Foot passengers must check in at least 60 minutes before departure; with a pet, you need to be there at least 90 minutes beforehand. Everyone needs a valid passport, see our entry requirements guide.
Do I need a cabin on the overnight ferry? +
Brittany Ferries offers cabins and reserved seats on each ship. A cabin is the comfortable choice for the overnight crossing; the categories available are shown at booking.
Can I travel with a motorhome, and what about the dog? +
Motorhomes and caravans are carried; the fare depends on length and height. Ouistreham has six electric-car charging points at the port. Dogs travel in the vehicle, or in onboard kennels or pet cabins on some ships. More in our motorhome and dogs and pets guides.