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?
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.
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.
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’ll find more tips for ferry crossings with kids in this article.
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.
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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.
Planning your own Portsmouth to Cherbourg crossing
Our crossing was a late-evening sailing in summer. This winter (2026/27) the route does not run daily from Portsmouth: Brittany Ferries sails up to twice a week, on Sunday night and with a daytime crossing on Tuesday, plus extra evening sailings via Guernsey with the Islander. For the exact days, see Cherbourg crossing times and sailing days on our sister site Portsmouth Ferries, or compare all routes in our Portsmouth to France guide.
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