⛴️ Portsmouth to Caen

All your key questions regarding the Portsmouth to Caen ferry route answered, helping you to decide if you should take this route for your next holiday adventure in France and beyond.

Portsmouth To Caen Ferry Route TL;DR

Here are the key facts for the Portsmouth to Caen ferry route, read on for more details including our own experiences using this route:

Sailings per day	3
Sails On	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Crossing Time	6 hours (day), 6 hours 45 minutes (night)
Night Crossing	Yes
Cabins	Yes
Dogs/Pets Allowed	Yes
Operator(s)	Brittany Ferries

How long does the Portsmouth to Caen ferry take?

The crossing time for the Portsmouth to Caen ferry is six hours for a day crossing and six hours and forty-five minutes for a night crossing.

How often does the Portsmouth to Caen Ferry Run?

The Portsmouth to Caen ferry runs three times a day, seven days a week. Two of the three are day crossings and one is a night crossing.

Departs	Arrives	Crossing Time
8am (08:00)	3pm (15:00)	6 hours
3pm (15:00)	10pm (22:00)	6 hours
11pm (23:00)	6:45am (06:45)	6 hours 45 minutes

Portsmouth to Caen sailing and crossing times

Can you take a car on the ferry from Portsmouth to Caen?

Yes, you can take a car on the ferry from Portmouth to Caen.

Can you take a roof box or trailer with your car?

Yes, you can take a roof box or trailer with your car on the Portsmouth to Caen ferry.

When taking a roof box or trailer you must add this to your vehicle details when you book and declare the full height and length of your car with the roof box or trailer.

If you don’t do this, you may not be able to board the ferry or be charged more when you check in.

Can you take a motorhome, campervan or caravan on the ferry to Portsmouth from Caen?

Yes, you can take a motorhome, campervan or caravan on the ferry.

Can you travel as a foot passenger?

Yes, you can travel as a foot passenger from Portsmouth to Caen.

Can you travel with a bicycle?

Yes, you can travel with a bicycle on the ferry from Porstmouth to Caen.

To do this, you will need to enter the terminal through the normal road ways and queue up with the cars etc. You will typically board the ferry first, before any other vehicles, and be asked to stow your bicycle safely.

When it comes to disembarking the ferry this process will typically work in reverse with you being told to wait until the majority or all of the other vehicles has disembarked the ferry.

Can you get to the portsmouth to caen ferry by public transport?

If you plan to travel by train then the nearest station is Portsmouth and Southsea, from here you will need to take a ten minute taxi journey to the ferry terminal.

If you plan to travel by coach then you can get a national express coach to the ferry terminal . The route for this coach is from Victoria coach station in London.

The ferry terminal is listed on the route by its full name – Portsmouth International Port.

If you plan to take public transport at Ouistream your options are to take a bus or taxi. If you are looking to take a train then you will need to travel to Caen first.

Which ferry operators offer the Portsmouth to Caen Route?

Brittany Ferries are the sole operator of the Portsmouth to Caen route.

View alternative routes and providers of ferries to France from England.

Can you get a cabin on the Portsmouth to Caen Ferry?

Yes, the Portsmouth to Caen ferry has a range of cabins and reserved seat options. This is normal for Brittany Ferries and you can learn more about cabin options in our Brittany Ferries Cabin Guide.

Is it worth getting a cabin?

We would always recommend you get a cabin for the Portsmouth to Caen ferry as it provides you with a nice, quiet, space to escape the crowds and also you have the added benefit of an ensuite bathroom.

If you are taking the overnight ferry then we strongly recommend you get a cabin to provide a nicer place to rest and hopefully get a few hours sleep.

Which Ferries are used for the Portsmouth to Caen Route?

The two ferries that Brittany Ferries currently uses for the Portsmouth to Caen route are:

Mont St Michel
Guillaume de Normandie

Learn more about the Brittany Ferries fleet.

Is there Priority Boarding and Disembarkation on the Portsmouth to Caen Route?

Yes, priority boarding and disembarkation options are available on the Portsmouth to Caen ferry. They are often, but not always, linked to specific cabin bookings and vehicle types.

Can you take a dog or other pet on the Portsmouth to Caen Ferry?

Yes, dog and pet cabins and options are available on the Portsmouth to Caen ferry.

Does the Portsmouth to Caen ferry arrive in Caen?

No, the Portsmouth to Caen ferry arrives in the town of Ouistream. Ouistream is is about 18km from the centre of Caen.

Ouistream is a small, quiet, town with a lovely stretch of beach and more importantly good road links to explore Normandy or begin your European road trip.

Here is a picture of the route:

map showing the ferry route across the sea from Portsmouth Harbour to Ouistream — Portsmouth to Caen Ferry Route

Can I do a day trip to Caen or Normandy with this ferry route?

Given the sailing and crossing times for this ferry route the best you would get is an afternoon in Normandy (getting the 8am ferry out and the 11pm ferry for the return).

The Portsmouth to Caen route is best for weekends or longer trips.

What is there to do on the ferry from Portsmouth to Caen?

The following entertainment options are available on the Portsmouth to Caen ferry:

Indoor play area for young children
Cinema
Bar
Live entertainment including shows aimed at kids

In addition to this we find this route very relaxing with plenty of space and opportunities to sit on deck, read, shop and sleep.

How much luggage can you take on the Portsmouth to Caen Ferry?

Typically, Brittany Ferries do not put any luggage restrictions on your trip other than it must be contained within your vehicle and any extra carries you have declared when booking, for example a roof box or trailer.

Do you need a passport to travel from Portsmouth to Caen?

Yes, you need a valid passport for every traveller for the Portsmouth to Caen route. You may also need a European visiting visa and/or be required to complete additional security checks when you arrive in Ouistream.

Where is the best place to buy tickets for Portsmouth to Caen?

The best place to buy your ferry tickets for this route is the Brittany Ferries UK website. The booking system is very easy to use and you will be walked through the various route options.

Additionally, the latest deals from Brittany Ferries will be automatically applied to your booking.

Is the Portsmouth to Caen ferry the best choice for Normandy?

There are four ferries to Normandy from Portsmouth. They are:

Portsmouth-Caen
Portsmouth-St Malo
Portsmouth-Cherbourg
Portsmouth-Le Harve

Each one is best suited for visiting and exploring different parts of Normandy

The Portsmouth to Caen ferry is best place for central Normandy, the D-Day beaches and the Bayeux region. However, Normandy is very easy to drive around and you can reach a number of other areas easily from the Portsmouth to Caen ferry.

The Portsmouth to Caen ferry is also very well suited if you are heading further south into France or traveling to Belgium or Germany as it connects you with good road links.

We used the Portsmouth to Caen ferry to start a family road trip to Italy (via Germany and Switzerland), and recently for a rare mum and dad only road trip to Bergerac for a wedding.

Is the Porstmouth to Caen Ferry suitable for an Austic family or austistic children.

While every neurodivergent family is different and has different needs, the Portsmouth to Caen ferry in our opinion and experience is a good choice for an Austistic family or Autistic children as it provides;

A good range of affordable cabins to provide a quiet and private space.
A range of entertainement options to help keep people busy.
A good range of food options but also the ability to take your own food onboard.
The ability to lots of luggage and easily take useful items onboard, from your car, like a favourite pillow, stimming toy or noise cancelling headphones.
Plenty of space to move around if required.
The option to take a support animal with you onboard.

Is the Portsmouth to Caen Ferry worth it?

We have used the Portsmouth to Caen ferry numerous times for trips to France and beyond and it is currently our favourite way to cross the channel with kids.

On every journey we have found the boarding and disembarking processes easy, supportive and well executed helping to reduce trip and transition stress.

While some of the ships and cabins are in need of an update we have found them clean and comfortable and sold at a reasonbly price.

We have the found the food onboard to be good and provide us with enough choices to keep our fussy eaters happy.

We have found the space onboard useful to enable us to stretch our legs.

Overall, we believe that the Porstmouth to Caen ferry route with Brittany Ferries is definitely worth it.

More Ferry Travel Support

We do hope you found this FAQ guide to the Portsmouth to Caen Ferry Route helpful. If you are looking for more information, tips and tools to help with ferry travel then please take a look at our main Ferry Guide area that will link you to more useful content and our latest ferry travel tools.

Happy Travels,

Carl – AKA Travelbetter Dad.

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