Ferry crossing to Bilbao?

Question

anybody been on the ferry to bilboa?we are thinking of travelling to spain in August and back up through France for our holiday,but the thought of two days on a ferry in the Bay of Biscay with three kids under 8 is putting us off.Suspiciously they have very few pictures of the cabins on the web site.I think we would want at least one club class and one other cheapie cabin.Anybody had any experience of this crossing --good or bad.

Answer 1

Oh yes, did it february one year, omg never again, had a cabin, it was very very rough, lots people were very sick with it, and im not exagerating. August should be better though, ive just done italy med cruise in Nov, and that was choppy. Personally with 3 kids id do a different route

Answer 2

Done both the Bilbao Portsmouth route and the Santander Plymouth route many times.  If you are considering just a one way cruise and drive the other way through France, dont take ferry down but drive down through France and take ferry up.  The Santander Plymouth ferry is the faster and more comfortable ferry compared to Pride of Bilbao but if you go down, you dont get much chance to see whales and dolphins in Biscay because you cross the area at night and arrive Santander early in the morning.  Coming back you get the best chance to see whales and dolphins before night falls and there are dolphin watch teams on both ferries all the time.  Coming up in August 07 we saw 12 fin whales and a school of dolphins all in the space of 2 to 3 hours until darkness fell.  Cabins aboard either ferry are very similar but the shorter crossing time makes the Santander Plymouth route with Brittany Ferries much more enjoyable.  With kids under 8 you will need adjoining cabins so forget one club class and one cheapy, it wont work out.  Crossing can be rough but in August the chances are good for a smooth passage.

Answer 3

The better way of doing it is with Brittany Ferries from Plymouth to Santander. It´s a shorter crossing (18hours) and it´s a bigger boat (Pont-Aven). I did the crossing 2 years ago in September and it was great. If I was you I´d book an outside cabin so you have a porthole or window to look out of.  I loved the crossing with Brittany Ferries.

Answer 4

Yes, we've done the Portsmouth Bilbao crossong several times.

In August it should be relatively calm in the bay of Biscay.We found the cabins OK when we travelled.

Suggest you have a sat nav for the stretch out of Bilbao heading South or wherever you're heading....it's early in the morning when the boat arrives, if it's a week day the traffic is manic....it useful to get it right first time as trying to turn around or do three point turns...is stressful there!

Answer 5

No problem! Its a good time of year to cross the bay !

Try and get a window cabin.The Ship is fine,plenty of entertainment,caberat in the evening and good for the children.You will enjoy it!!!

Answer 6

Yes I have done it and thoroughly enjoyed it even though the weather was miserable - it was winter. Plenty of stuff for the kids and there is a small pool and cinemas. It really is quite a short crossing when you realise that there is only really one full day on board each way with 3 nights sleeping. The cabins are fine. Clean standard two or four berth with private bathroom. There are several restaurants, the carvery and self serve I would recomend to families as the kids can choose their own. Go for it!

Answer 7

Did it once as a foot passenger. Little known fact about the crossing and one they don't advertise for obvious reasons, is that the Bay of Biscay is home to lots of dolphins and whales. On the Pride of Bilbao on which we travelled, there was a dedicated team of whale recorders who were sponsored by the line. The cabins were OK without being cruise standard and I think your upgrade idea is valid (incidentally, have you seen the trips advertised on ebay? often at good rates) We found two downsides, the first being the embarkation procedure which was shambolic, the second was the high levels of smokers and booze parties aboard but we may have been unlucky.