Planning a trip from the UK to France? The Portsmouth – Cherbourg ferry is a great choice, a comfortable crossing and an overnight one. You sleep while you sail, so the hours pass quickly and it feels like free travel time. By morning, you arrive in Normandy, with Paris, Brittany and even the south of France within easy reach. On the return, it’s your gateway back to London, southern England and Wales.
Why Cherbourg and not Caen to Portsmouth?
For our journey back, we took the ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg. Our initial plan was Portsmouth to Caen, as it’s a convenient night ferry closer to home in the Netherlands. But with the car issues delaying us and the Caen crossing already full, Cherbourg became the best alternative. On the way to the UK, we had travelled on the Saint-Malo to Portsmouth route. Caen would have been more practical but Cherbourg is easier to book last-minute, and the additional hour drive was manageable.
One thing we were very glad about was that we’d initially booked a flexible ticket at Brittany Ferries. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but it turned out to be a lifesaver. We rebooked several times while the car was being repaired, which meant we could still travel without losing the trip and only had to pay a small fee to change the ferry.
On this crossing we were on the Santona; normally used for Brittany Ferries’ routes to Spain, but on this occasion sailing to France.
Route: from Portsmouth to Cherbourg (Normandy)
Crossing time: 8 hours (night crossing)
Price: £408 for a family of four, a car and a cabin in peak season.
Ideal for: travellers from London or southern England who are heading to Normandy, Brittany, Paris, or further south.
Booked via: Brittany Ferries ↗
Time in Portsmouth before departure
Our ferry to Cherbourg wasn’t scheduled to leave until 23:00, so after checking out of our Airbnb accommodation in Bursledon (tip) we had a few hours to spend in Portsmouth. We found a great spot at The Still & West in Old Portsmouth, right by the Wightlink terminal – perfect for ferry spotting.
From here, you can watch both Brittany Ferries and Wightlink vessels sailing in and out of the harbour. With four different daily sailings from Portsmouth to France alone, there’s no shortage of activity on the water, as you can see in the gallery below.
As a destination from Portsmouth we can also recommend Saint-Malo, where we began our own journey to the UK. It’s a beautiful walled city, rich in history, once known as the pirate city and well worth a visit.
Check-in and boarding
We arrived at check-in in good time, hoping we might be able to board early for a drink or bite to eat. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case on this route. We passed through passport control fairly quickly once check-in opened, but didn’t board the ship until close to 23:00.
Car deck on the Santona
Once on board, we drove onto a spacious vehicle deck, with plenty of room for cars, motorhomes and caravans. Remember: take everything you need with you when you leave your car, as you won’t be able to return to the vehicle deck during the crossing.
Remember your boarding pass; you’ll need it not only for your cabin but also for restaurants and duty-free shops.
As the ship departs Portsmouth it’s worth heading up to the sundeck. The views of Gunwharf Quays and the illuminated Spinnaker Tower are a nice send-off, before sailing through the Solent and across the Channel to Cherbourg.
Roaming at sea can be costly as your phone switches between French, UK, and satellite networks. Turning data off or buying a small WiFi bundle if needed is best. Streaming isn’t realistic without an expensive package, so download films in advance for the kids. This is handy on a long daytime sailing trip and less critical on a night crossing.
On board the ferry
This was a night sailing, so we didn’t use the facilities as much as on our Saint-Malo crossing. Still, we’d highly recommend booking a night ferry: it feels like free travel time. Instead of paying for a hotel, you sleep on the ship and are already in France by morning. After a quick shower, coffee or breakfast, you’re ready to continue your journey.
The facilities on board were much the same as those on the Saint-Malo ferry: clean, comfortable, with friendly staff and plenty of entertainment. There was a bar (Plaza Mayor), a sundeck, a kids’ play area, a dog kennel, two restaurants (Azul and a tapas restaurant), a premium lounge, an exhibition area, and even a small cinema.
Our cabin
We booked a cabin for this crossing, which was well worth it. We had a four-berth outside cabin with fold-down beds. It was simple but spacious enough, clean, and the bathroom was a decent size, exactly what you need for a good night’s sleep before continuing your journey.
The children (4 and 2 years old) quickly fell asleep on board, and the beds came with a rail to prevent them from rolling out.
You can also opt for a recliner seat instead of a cabin but with kids that isn't the best option probably.
As we boarded late, we didn’t experience much of the on-board entertainment this time – we went more or less straight to bed. Still, the restaurants and bars filled up quickly, and there was live entertainment at the bar.
Arrival in Cherbourg
We were due to dock at 08:00, and the crew made wake-up announcements slightly earlier – a gentle nudge to get breakfast before arrival. Disembarkation itself was straightforward, but getting through customs was less so. We ended up in a long queue for more than an hour before entering France – unfortunately, one of the realities of post-Brexit travel.
Cherbourg itself is very much a transit port. It’s efficient, but not a place to linger – once through the checks, you’re straight on your way to the rest of Normandy or beyond.
In short: Portsmouth to Cherbourg with Brittany Ferries
In short, the Portsmouth–Cherbourg ferry is a comfortable and practical way to cross the Channel. As it’s an overnight sailing, the hours pass while you sleep, and you wake up ready to continue your journey in Normandy, Paris or further south, or in our case, north to the Netherlands.
Boarding times can be tighter than on some other routes, so don’t expect to get on board too early. A cabin is well worth booking for a good night’s rest, and the flexible ticket option proved invaluable when our plans changed. With good facilities on board and a straightforward arrival in France – customs queues aside – this crossing of Brittany Ferries is one we’d happily recommend.
Things to remember when taking the ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg
- You’ll need a passport for both directions.
- Switch off data roaming to avoid unexpected costs
- Download entertainment before you sail.
- Take what you need out of the car. You can’t return during the crossing.
- Switch off your car alarm to avoid a flat battery.
- Keep your boarding pass – it’s your cabin key, is needed in restaurants, and is duty-free.
JW, one of the co-founders of FerryGoGo, has a passion for food, drink, and travel. He loves exploring data and the history of the many destinations featured on FerryGoGo, and he's always curious about the population of each place.
