When we were offered the chance to work with eurocamp and visit one of their French holiday locations, we started to think about the practicalities of travelling there with a toddler in tow. Travel from Dover to Calais was included, but a huge journey either side of the channel plus a ferry crossing wasn’t very appealing. Anyone who belongs to an over active small person will know travelling is better when it is short and sweet.
Brittany Ferries offered to help get us there, which was awesome. Their ferries sail from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth, Portsmouth being less than an hour from us. We were staying in Dol-de-Bretagne, and so had the option of sailing to Caen (1hour 40 mins away) or St Malo (45 mins) from our destination. The folks at Brittany Ferries were great at helping us to figure out which crossings would work best for our family.
Once everything was arranged all we had to do was wait for holiday time!
We sailed at 8.15am, which meant a 5am wake up call at home. I think it was the first time in history we have had to wake Baby up.
We zipped down the motorway and within a few minutes at the ferry port we had boarded and were off!
Bye bye England!
Having only been on a ferry to the Isle of Wight before, I wasn’t prepared for what the Brittany Ferry had to offer. A two screen cinema, children’s play room (with soft play), entertainment, restaurants, bars, cafes and lots of lovely shops.
The crossing was 5 and 3/4 hrs (Portsmouth to Caen), a long time with a toddler. The cabin, which was allocated to every booking, was fabulous. Ours had 4 beds, a small work station area and even an en suite bathroom equipped with loo, wash basin and shower. It was so lovely to have a space where Baby could be contained and we could all relax a little.
The small, but perfectly formed, en suite.
After dropping off our bags we set off to explore. Baby was transfixed by the gorgeous horse sculptures in the main lobby area and kept trying to climb over the barrier saying, ‘Baby ride the pony’…
Trying to get Baby to nap was a little futile, but at least we had a space to try, which was wonderful.
There were a couple of options for lunch, a restaurant and a cafe. We had sampled the restaurant’s buffet style breakfast, so we decided to try out the cafe. Mr Hubby had this yummy bruschetta…
and I opted for this pizza, which might have been the nicest pizza I have ever had, seriously tasty! They were both reasonably priced too.
The soft play area was really great and Baby enjoyed letting off a bit of steam in there. It was much larger on the way across to France; on the way back home there was still a soft play area, but it was much smaller.
For our return journey we sailed from St Malo, which was a 9 hour journey, leaving the port at 10.30am and finally disembarking the ferry at 7.40pm.
Bye France!
One tired Baby ready for the off.
We had a great time onboard both the ferries and would like to thanks Brittany Ferries for working with us on this trip.
Disclosure: We were given complimentary travel, in return for an honest review.
Comments 19
I think ferries with young kids/babies are brilliant – there’s so much more on board now, like the soft play, and at the very least you can move around easily. That pizza looks nice too! We used to holiday in France when I was young and it always started with a ferry journey, often overnight to St Malo as that gave us enough time to sleep, so they always get me in the holiday mood!
I just don’t think I could do the Ferry. The euro tunnel with the car is so much better for us. However the Ferry does look lovely, just can’t cope with the sea sickness. x
I only ever think of Dover to Calais when thinking of ferries to France so this is a great alternative! x
Wow there looks so much on board, I’ve only been Dover to Calais before. Although my toddler gets travel sick so not sure I could cope with 5 hours, we haven’t braved anywhere abroad yet.
I am seriously considering the ferry to France next year, my smallest baby will be 3. For us we’d be leaving from Rosslare and it’s an 18 hour trip, so a long time. The Brittany Ferry looks very comfortable and the food looks really very good. The horses in the lobby are a strange addition to a ferry lol.
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Wow 18 hours is a long time for a crossing. x
I’ve always enjoyed travelling by ferry, and I’ve always wanted to go for one of the longer, overnight routes. This looks like it was fun!
I used to go to france on holiday as a tween / teen and loved the ferry crossing, although I can remember the ferries being rammed and busy and rushing to get seats. Having a suite would be great.
I had no idea they catered so well for their passengers. Having the soft play on board is a pretty genius idea 🙂
Ferries have certainly improved since I last travelled on one to St Malo. Looks like there was so much to do, and yum the food looks good.
Wow, the boat is so well equipt! Wonderful that you get a room so you can have your own private space. That’d be a huge help with a toddler & baby could have some chill out time with her bottle. My kids would love that play area! What a lovely way to travel x
I’ve never been on any ferry as we fly everywhere but I can imagine that it’s great fun for the little ones to go a ship. The cabins look so cosy!
I love Brittany Ferries and always use them when coming back to England. For anyone staying with us at the gite we have a code to give 20% off crossing with them.
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That’s great x
Just booked on to The Normandie for my autumn trip to the UK 🙂
I have never ‘done’ a ferry crossing with the children – we have cruised though. I would love to go to France with them. Kaz x
We We travel by ferry about 4 or 5 times a year, between England and Ireland, honestly it’s the easiest way to travel , it’s a 12 hour trip from our home to my in laws when we travel by ferry but the ferry part breaks it up nicely!
You had a cabin?? That is mega posh! x
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Yes huni, it was non stop luxury 🙂 x