A complete Guide to Cabins and Seats on Brittany Ferries
Planning a Brittany Ferries crossing? We’ve sailed with them countless times and been in nearly every cabin type they offer. From budget no window options to spacious suites with treats included, we’ve got the insider scoop on what to expect.
Before you book your next channel crossing with Brittany Ferries, read our comprehensive guide to find the perfect cabin for your needs.
Also, if you don’t like the look or the costs of the cabin there are a couple of other options and we’ve included them here to give you the complete picture of what’s available on board Brittany Ferries.
Purpose of this guide
The Brittany Ferries website already provides a good summary of the cabins available on board each of their ferry’s. Therefore, this guide needs to be something more…and it is.
While we do cover similar information to the summary on their website we take it further by answering more details about the cabins, their accessibility, there features, price and more.
We also look to answer the question of which cabin is right for your trip and even provide a handy cabin select tool at the end of this guide in case you are still undecided.
Reasons to get a cabin on Brittany Ferries
Before we dive into the different types of cabins on Brittany Ferries it is worth considering the reasons for getting a cabin in the first place. Look through the list and see how much they relate to you and your family.
Here are some good reasons for getting a cabin:
- You want a quiet space away from the crowds (this is the main reason we like to get a cabin)
- You want an easy place to get some sleep
- You suffer from sea sickness and just want to lie down
- You want a private bathroom and toilet
- You want somewhere to store your gear safely
- You want to bring you own food onboard but not want to carry it around the ferry
- You are sailing overnight and want to have a bed to sleep in (rather than a reclining chair)
Summary of Cabin options
The current range of cabins with Brittany Ferries on a cross channel crossing are as follows:
- Commodore Cabin
- Standard Outside Cabin
- Standard Internal Cabin
- Reclining Reserved Seat
Cabins are available as:
- 4 Berth (4 Beds)
- 3 Berth (3 Beds)
- 2 Berth (2 Beds)
They are available on all cross channel ferries operated by Brittany Ferries.
The Commodore Cabin on Brittany Ferries
The Commodore Cabin is always our first choice for Brittany Ferries whenever we can get it.
Why, well…
It is about double the size of an average cabin, has a bigger bathroom, a television, tea and coffee facilities, and also includes a few inclusive treats in the drinks fridge.
Plus, on morning and overnight crossings you also get a delicious breakfast of fresh coffee, hot chocolate, croissants, pain aux chocolate and bread.
Additionally, if you happen to be travelling on the Pont Aven then you also get a balcony with your Commodore Cabin.
As you would expect the commodore cabin does cost more than a standard cabin (approximately double the price) but it is a really great way to start of your holiday and find some, generous, space on your ferry crossing.
If you are like us then finding a nice of space on a busy ferry is very welcome. But also a space that is big enough to have a little bit of space from each other which can be hard in the other cabins.
Therefore, if you value space and escaping the crowds while enjoying a few little luxuries than the Commodore Cabin is for you.
Typically the luxuries we have enjoyed in the cabin have included macaroons, tea, coffee, soft drinks, orange juice and Perrier water. Plus, a delicious breakfast.
Standard Cabin on Brittany Ferries
The standard cabins on Brittany Ferries are small, rectangular rooms, that contain a very small desk, coat hooks and combinations of 2 or 4 beds. The layout of the cabin will typically have beds on either side of the room with a small space in between. If you have a 4 bed cabin then the beds are bunk style beds with a pull down bed on each side.
What this means is that for a feeling of extra space you can push the top beds away. However, if there are more than two of you in the room you will likely need those beds to either sit on, store bags, or both. We always need all the beds down.
One corner of the cabin will also be a small, wet room style bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower. This also has towels provided.
Standard cabins can be either inside or outside. The difference between an inside and outside standard cabin is that an outside cabin includes a window.
Note, while it is great to have a window this may have deck in front of it used by the crew or other passengers so you may not have the level of privacy you would hope for and end up closing the curtains for most of your journey.
Whenever we have stayed in a standard cabin it has always provided a great place to to chill out from the crowds, get a few hours sleep and freshen up in the private bathroom.
It might be better to get two cabins rather than one
It may be useful to get two cabins for your trip to provide you with more space. Especially as the 4-berth and 2-berth cabins can have a similar amount of floor space.
Book a Standard Cabin (or two)
Reclining Seat
If you don’t feel you need a cabin or the budget won’t quite stretch far enough then you may want to consider getting reserved reclining seats.
These are exactly as they sound. A reserved, large seat that reclines. Similar to an air plane, but with more legroom and space.
The advantage of a reclining seat is that you will be able to get some rest in some comfort and have the reassurance that you have a seat on board.
This is especially useful during the high season in the summer when the ferry’s are very busy.
I can confirm that the reclining seats had plenty of room for my 6’3” frame and plenty of leg room. Overall, it provided me with a comfortable seat for a couple of hours.
However, I will stress that I haven’t ever had to sleep in one yet as we have always managed to get a cabin.
How much do the cabins cost?
Prices for cabins vary throughout the year but the following provides a good guide:
| Cabin Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Commodore Cabin | £100-£150 |
| Standard 4-Berth Cabin | £50-£90 |
| Standard 2-Berth Cabin | £30-£70 |
| Reclining Seat | £15-£30 |
Do they have 5 berth cabins on Brittany Ferries?
Right now, the largest cabin available with Brittany Ferries is a 4 berth cabin. This means it is designed for four people to sleep in it.
However, during day crossings you can book a 4 berth cabin even if you have 5 or more people in your party, but it will be a bit of a squeeze.
However, more cabin options are coming in 2025
While right now, Brittany Ferries only go up to 4 berth cabins. In 2025 they are launching some new ships to the fleet and these include newly designed 6 berth cabins.
We can’t wait to see what these are like, especially as the members of our family of five continue to grow everyday.
Are all Cabins on Brittany Ferries En-Suite?
Yes, all cabins on Brittany Ferries are en-suite and include towels and bed linen.
Do the Cabins have Air Conditioning?
All the cabins on Brittany Ferries have air conditioning. Note, this can make them quite cold so it is worth taking an extra layer onboard such as a cardigan or hooded top.
What type of sockets do the Cabins have?
All the cabins on Brittany Ferries have power sockets which are useful to charge devices etc. However, all the sockets on board are currently French (standard European) sockets so make sure to pack your adaptors.
If you do forget to pack power adaptors don’t worry. Brittany Ferries have been upgrading their cabin sockets to now include ones with USB ports which is very handy and will allow you to charge your key devices such as your phone or tablet.
Just make sure you don’t forget the charging cable.
Cabin Occupancy
If you are travelling through the day then Brittany Ferries will allow you to book a cabin regardless of having more or less people in your party e.g. you can book a cabin for 3 or 4 when you are a family of five and we have done this many times since becoming a family of five.
If you are travelling overnight then each traveller in your party must have a bed or seat.
On our recent overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistream), to start our European road trip, we ended up booking the Commodore Cabin for three and an internal cabin for two.
Dog Friendly Cabins
While Brexit has made it a lot harder to take our four legged friend to Europe, it is still possible and Brittany Ferries offer a range of cabins that are classified as Dog Friendly.
Do they have wheel chair accessible cabins?
Brittany Ferries do have a range of accessible cabins but these vary per ship and can be limited so it is worth booking early if you want one.
If you do have mobility issues or a wheel chair you may find it very challenging with a regular cabin as they have narrow doors and the bathrooms have a steep step to access them.
Take a look at the Brittany Ferries Disabled Passengers Guide for more information.
On Overnight Crossings You Must Have a Place to Sleep
If you are travelling overnight on Brittany Ferries then you must book either a cabin or reclining seat for the journey.
Since you must have a place to sit or sleep on an overnight crossing the cabins do sell out fast at peak season across the school holidays. As a result you may find your options limited when you complete your booking.
However, life throws us all curve balls from time to time and as a result cabins do become free as people cancel or change their plans. And, Brittany Ferries make it very easy to take advantage of this and here’s how.
Once your booking is complete, you can then manage your booking through the Brittany Ferries website.
This includes being able to upgrade your journey with extras and change your cabin.
So, if you don’t get the cabin option you want straight away then keep checking back and look for an opportunity to upgrade. If you check regularly, I would say at least once everyday, then it is highly likely you will get a chance to change and grab a better cabin.
This upgrade option recently worked for us
For various reasons we ended up booking our recent Brittany Ferries trip quite close to our travel date and we were only able to book reclining seats at the time of booking.
However, as our holiday approached I checked back on the website two or three times a day (yes – that often) and was able to grab an upgrade to a Commodore Cabin and Inside Cabin.
Checking only took a maximum of five minutes each time and when the options were available it only took another five minutes to complete the booking.
Brittany Ferries have got this part of the post-booking process working really well so do try it out if you don’t initially get the cabin you wanted.
Is the cabin secure and safe?
Yes, the cabin is very safe with a sturdy door and electronic lock.
In fact, conveniently, you get your key as you check in with your car before you board the ferry so no queuing once on board.
However, you may not get instant access to your cabin as the turnaround time is remarkably short for a ferry so it may still be being cleaned and restocked when you first get on board.
Cabin Selector App
If you are still unsure which type of cabin will be best for you and your family then use this simple cabin selector app we’ve created.
Just answer the questions honestly and the app will take these answers and determine the best cabin for your family.
Brittany Ferries Cabin Selector
Conclusion
In conclusion, we would strongly recommend that you get a cabin for your ferry crossing as it will provide some much welcome space, your own bathroom and a comfortable place to stay should you feel a bit seasick on the ferry.
Overall, a cabin ferry on Brittany Ferries will help you travel better.
Related Posts
Here are some related links:
- Find out what the food is like on Brittany Ferries
- Check out the Travelbetter guide to France for guides, apps and tips to make your next French holiday great.
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