Portsmouth to Caen Ferry

[Bobtherallyfan]

We haven’t used the ferries since Brexit so I’m wondering what the whole process is like these days. There seem to be lots of horror stories about long delays getting on and off the ferry. Anyone here done the trip recently?

[Truckosaurus]

The only difference is the French take slightly longer with the passport check as they need to count up how many days you've been in the Schengen zone (and physically stamp the passports in and out).

So there might be a queue to get off the boat at the French end.

[ettore]

It’s fine, only slightly longer getting off the boat - no real issue at all. That particular crossing is one of the better/more pleasant ways of crossing the channel:

[Squadrone Rosso]

Disembarking is slower for sure. And we’ve always been pulled by security French side on the way back when in our Alfa Spider.

[Gnits]

Can't say I have noticed much/any difference.
Used it a couple of weeks ago in both directions. Also Poole <-> Cherbourg
Nowhere near as bad as some airport queues.

[Nyloc20]

We’ve used that crossing many times over the past twenty years. No major problems although last year was rather slow disembarking at Caen for some reason.
We should be on this ferry from Portsmouth tomorrow morning to watch the Rally Legends event at Loheac at the weekend but had to pull out due to a foot injury. Fortunately we had a flexible ticket so pushed it into August.

[Cyder]

I did the overnight crossing a couple of weeks ago, it was very leisurely and no trouble at all getting off the ferry/through passports in the morning maybe 20-30 mins from getting in the car to driving out the port, albeit the ferry wasn't massively busy.

[Kev_Mk3]

Getting back into the uk was horrific when I used it took over an hour but I put it down to it being busy with people coming back from Le Mans. I'd still use it again regardless though.

[Bobtherallyfan]

Thanks for the input everyone

[DeejRC]

It’s not really changed much with Brexit.
Mum unloaded yesterday at Caen. They are swapping a few Caen and St Malo boats around atm though as they are refreshing the ferries.

[Rob 131 Sport]

I haven’t noticed much of an increase in demarcation times. Going to the West of France I always preferred going to St. Malo with the longer crossing.

[Earthdweller]

It seems to me it takes longer to get back into the U.K. than into France or Spain

The queues at Portsmouth are worse imo

[omniflow]

Not sure if it's offered on the Caen crossing, but BF do offer priority disembarkation on most routes. The best £15 I've ever spent. You need to book the right class of cabin to be eligible though.

As above, I much prefer going to St. Malo overnight. The Caen crossing is too long for a day crossing and too short for a night crossing. St. Malo is pretty much perfect.

[fourstardan]

Done the cherbourg route from poole recently with Brittany and the only lengthy bit was at our passport control...

Not sure how busy Pompey gets though.

[Earthdweller]

fourstardan said:

Done the cherbourg route from poole recently with Brittany and the only lengthy bit was at our passport control...

Not sure how busy Pompey gets though.

Hit Portsmouth last summer from Santander, there were a couple of ferries disgorging and it took about 2 hours to finally get through fortunately we had a hotel booked about 1hr up the M3 for the night

[Puggit]

Portsmouth-Caen expert here. The passport queues in France are much longer. Can take up to 80 mins now in if you're loaded at the back upstairs.

Top tip, take a roof rack and get loaded downstairs...

Portsmouth has always been hit/miss. Sometimes the Le Havre ferry slips in first and really causes a big delay.

[Bobtherallyfan]

Thanks for the input everyone