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Taking Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Caen, France

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Two green and white ferries are docked at a waterside terminal, with a small motorboat passing in front. High-rise buildings, trees, and a clock tower are visible in the background.
Karlynn Johnston

Published on: 5/19/26

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As mentioned in our previous post, Mike and I decided to try traveling via ferry from Portsmouth to Caen as opposed to riding a train from Southampton directly to Paris. To do this, we took a ride via Bolt (an Uber alternative) from Southampton Port to Portsmouth Ferry Terminal (just under 40 minutes) and then took the Brittany Ferry from there across to Caen. This trip is about 6 hours in length.

A French flag waves at the stern of a ferry moving across greenish-blue water, leaving a white wake behind. Dark clouds loom over the distant shoreline under a moody sky.

One of the cool things about taking the ferry is that you can actually rent cabins as well (for a fairly low price of around $80 euros) that include beds, your own private washroom and shower and a desk to work at.

A small, tidy cruise ship cabin with two unmade single beds, a window with an ocean view, luggage, bags, and clothes on the beds, a TV on the wall, and a desk with electronics and other personal items.

Is it small? Yes, but considering I do not travel light (that’s four suitcases, two for shipping things back in….), it’ll do just fine.

Not to mention, these cabins have black out blinds so you can catch a nap while crossing to France (a bonus I had no problem taking advantage of). I’d only slept 4 hours the night before we departed the cruise ship because who can sleep when they depart the next morning? Not this girl.

A person with red hair is sleeping on a bed, covered with a white blanket. They are resting their head on a pillow, with one hand near their face. The room has light-colored walls and bedding.

Following my power nap, we did a bit more exploring of the ship including enjoying dinner (which wasn’t half bad considering we were eating it on a ferry). The option we chose was the appetizer buffer and our choice of entree. Total cost per person was $29 euros. The left was my first plate from the buffet and the right was my Bavette steak entree with mashed potatoes and a side salad.

A white plate with tortilla chips, a scoop of hummus, a couscous salad with vegetables, and a whole cooked shrimp on top. The plate is set on a light-colored tablecloth.
A plated meal with a piece of grilled steak in brown sauce, mashed potatoes with greens on top, a roasted shallot, and a small green salad with dressing, served on a white plate.

The ship we took is called the Guillaume de Normandie and was 10 levels total if I remember correctly, the sundeck being the 10th.

Here’s my gallery of shots from our departure and time on the ferry:

View from a bridge overlooking a calm, greenish body of water with small boats. The sky is partly cloudy, with dark storm clouds gathering on the horizon. A town is visible in the distance.
Sailboats anchored on calm water near a shoreline with buildings and trees, under a cloudy sky with dark, looming storm clouds in the distance.
A marina filled with docked sailboats and yachts, with a long wooden pier extending over calm water. In the background are modern buildings and trees under a cloudy sky.
A green and white ferry and an orange and black pilot boat travel on a river near a marina full of sailboats, with buildings and trees visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
Two tall apartment buildings with red and blue accents stand on either side of a marina with small boats. Trees and a church tower appear in the background under a cloudy sky.
A coastal cityscape features old brick buildings on a narrow, rocky peninsula surrounded by greenish water under a dramatic cloudy sky, with a few red buoys and a small boat on the right.
People sit and relax in a brightly lit ferry lounge with colorful chairs and tables. A bottle of water, a Pringles can, and a small object are on the table in the foreground. Large windows and a glass ceiling let in sunlight.
Two life-sized horse sculptures, an adult and a foal, stand on a green patterned floor under a modern staircase in a glass-walled display area inside a building.
A bearded man wearing sunglasses, a backwards cap, and a white Canada jacket sits on a cruise ship deck using a red smartphone. Empty chairs and a blue waterslide are visible in the background.
Two green and white ferries are docked at a waterside terminal, with a small motorboat passing in front. High-rise buildings, trees, and a clock tower are visible in the background.

And of course, I had to capture an epic sunset photo.

A small fishing boat floats on calm water under a vibrant orange sunset, with the sun low on the horizon and clouds tinged with warm colors above the open sea.

Next up: exploring Caen… and I’ll be heading straight for the French butter and a baguette….

— Karlynn

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a cocktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

Learn more about me

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