Cotentin ferry
Former name: Stena Baltica
Cotentin ferry current position
The current location of Cotentin ferry is in North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 50.64056 N / -5.97155 W) cruising at speed of 15.6 kn (29 km/h | 18 mph) en route to IE ROS. The AIS position was last reported 5 minutes ago.
Current PositionSpecifications of Cotentin ferry
Year of build | 2007 / Age: 18 |
Flag state | France |
Builder | Aker Finnyards Helsinki Shipyard (Finland) |
Class | cruiseferry (Ro-Pax ship) |
Ferry route / homeports | English Channel (Portsmouth-Le Havre/Paris) |
Engines (power) | MAK-Caterpillar (24 MW / 32185 hp) |
Speed | 23 kn / 43 km/h / 26 mph |
Length (LOA) | 167 m / 548 ft |
Beam (width) | 27 m / 89 ft |
Gross Tonnage | 33500 gt |
Passengers | 176 |
Crew | 50 |
Cars | 100 |
Beds | 216 |
Decks | 9 |
Cabins | 120 |
Decks with cabins | 2 |
Last Refurbishment | 2024 |
Sister-ships | GNV Atlas, GNV Cristal, Princess Seaways, King Seaways, Peter Pan, Nils Holgersson |
Former names | Stena Baltica |
Owner | Somanor SAS |
Operator | BRITTANY FERRIES |
Cotentin ferry Review
Review of Cotentin ferry
MS Cotentin (formerly Stena Baltica) is a Ro-Pax passenger ferry currently operated under charter by the France-based company BRITTANY FERRIES. The ship has a maximum capacity of 176 passengers and 100 cars. Launched in 2007, the vessel currently operates on the England–France ferry route Portsmouth–Le Havre (crossing time ~5.5 hours).
Since January 2023, the ferry has also operated crossings between France and Ireland on the Le Havre/Cherbourg–Rosslare Europort route.
While serving STENA LINE (2013–2020), the ship (IMO 9364978) operated the Sweden–Poland ferry route Karlskrona–Gdynia (crossing time ~10 hours). In 2021, after a major drydock lengthening, the ship previously named Stena Mersey (IMO 9329851) was renamed "Stena Baltica."
Cabins
As a cruise ferry, MS Cotentin features 120 cabins with a total of 216 berths. All staterooms are air-conditioned and have shared bathrooms. Located on decks 8 and 9, cabins accommodate up to 2 passengers. Bed linens, towels, and toiletries are provided. The ship is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility, as there are no wheelchair-accessible staterooms.
Cabin categories include:
- Economy Class Twin Inside (2 bunk beds, no window)
- Economy Class Twin Outside (2 bunk beds, picture window)
- Comfort Class Twin Inside (1 lower bed + 1 bunk bed, no window)
- Comfort Class Twin Outside (2 bunk beds, picture window)
All cabins are equipped with DUX luxury beds and mattresses, Hansgrohe bathroom fixtures, telephones, LCD TVs (satellite), a desk with mirror and chair, and an open wardrobe.
For added comfort, passengers can upgrade to the Reserved Seating Lounge (formerly Stena Plus Lounge), which includes airline-style fully reclining leather armchairs, complimentary hot and cold beverages, snacks, newspapers, and magazines.
All passengers must vacate their cabins 30 minutes before arrival.
Shipboard dining and entertainment options
MS Cotentin offers the following onboard facilities:
- (Deck 7) Buffet Restaurant – self-service with hot/cold meals and kids’ menus
- (Deck 7) Bar Lounge – patisserie and specialty coffee bar with snacks, sandwiches, pastries, yogurt, fruit, juices, and ice cream
- (Deck 7) Shopping Center – a boutique with gifts, souvenirs, spirits, wines, tobacco, branded perfumes/cosmetics, skincare, fashion, toys, electronics, and travel essentials. Discounts of up to 50% on premium merchandise are frequently offered.
- Truckers Lounge – a lounge and restaurant for truck drivers only
- Free Wi-Fi and ATM (next to the Information Desk)
- A fitness room (crew-only, not available to passengers)
- All lounges are equipped with large HDTVs and comfortable seating
The forward Heli Deck features a helipad for emergency use.
Emergency instructions are displayed in all cabins, on TV screens, and at muster stations. Life jackets are provided at the muster stations. Elevators must not be used during emergencies.
BRITTANY FERRIES cruise deals
Brittany Ferries offers scheduled ferry services between England and France (3–4 hour crossings) and France and Spain (20–36 hour crossings). High-speed UK–France services cater to mini-cruise and holiday markets.
All cruise ferries feature modern cabins with air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms. Accommodation ranges from 2-bed Inside Cabins to Commodore Suites, some with balconies and in-cabin dining options. Onboard cuisine is French and prepared by French chefs. Dining options include à la carte restaurants, self-service buffets, and various bars. Entertainment includes live music, magicians, kids' shows, cinemas, casinos, arcades, baby rooms, disabled toilets, sundecks, and free Wi-Fi.
On France–Spain routes, ships are equipped with summer-use swimming pools, kids' play areas, and spas offering facials, massages, manicures/pedicures, and treatments using Filorga Professional skincare products.
Shops onboard offer discounted prices on tobacco, alcohol, perfumes, cosmetics, and luxury goods. Brittany Ferries is France's third-largest perfume retailer. Annually, the company serves 22 tons of langoustines, 15 tons of smoked salmon, 260 tons of meat, 240,000 English breakfasts, and 333,000 liters of beer.
- Fares vary by route, date, and season
- A GBP 35 deposit is required for summer bookings
- Prices are higher in summer and on weekends/overnight crossings
- Morning, afternoon, and overnight departures run year-round
- Seven overnight France–Spain crossings are offered weekly
- Mix-and-match route deals are available
Below is a list of BRITTANY FERRIES routes with estimated crossing times and service frequencies:
- Portsmouth–Caen (6 hours) – 3 daily
- Portsmouth–St Malo (11 hours, overnight) – daily
- Portsmouth–Cherbourg (3 hours) – 10 return trips (late April–early September)
- Portsmouth–Santander (24 hours, overnight) – 3 weekly
- Portsmouth–Bilbao (24–36 hours) – 2 weekly
- Portsmouth–Le Havre (5.5 hours) – daily return
- Poole–Cherbourg (4h 15m) – daily return
- Plymouth–Roscoff (6 hours) – 2 return
- Plymouth–Santander (20 hours) – weekly
- Cork–Roscoff (14 hours) – weekly (April–November)
- Cork–Santander (26.5 hours) – 2 weekly
Pets on the ship
Pets (dogs, cats, and ferrets) are allowed on MS Cotentin. They are only permitted in designated pet-friendly cabins (usually 2-bed dog cabins). A dog toilet is available onboard. Dogs must be leashed, muzzled, and never left unattended during the voyage.
Guide dogs travel free, are allowed in cabins and on all decks, and must wear a harness or jacket. All pets require an EU pet passport with ID details and vaccination records. Pets must be microchipped or tattooed and have a valid rabies vaccine administered by an authorized vet. Passengers with pets must arrive at the port at least 1 hour before departure; for some routes, 2 hours are required.
All animals are subject to the UK Pet Travel Scheme and must be at least 15 weeks old. Car passengers may ferry up to 5 pets per vehicle, marked with a colored hanger on the rear-view mirror until customs clearance. Pets must stay in the vehicle at all times. Foot passengers may travel with up to 5 pets but must pre-book a kennel. Children traveling with pets must be at least 16 years old. For groups of 6 or more animals, each pet must be at least 6 months old.
MS Cotentin features 25 onboard kennels: 7 large (100x97x94 cm), 2 medium (100x64x108 cm), and 16 small (100x65x50 cm). All cabins offer TV monitoring of the kennel area. Pet visits are encouraged during the voyage.
Car decks
The ship’s car decks span two levels and allow vehicle access from both the bow and stern.
Car deck safety procedures include:
- Apply the handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear. Turn off the ignition, alarms, electrical devices, and headlights. Shut off gas cylinders (if any). Lock the vehicle.
- Take only valuables and essential hand baggage with you.
- Note your vehicle’s location and deck number/stairway before leaving.
- Access to vehicle decks is prohibited during the voyage.
- Smoking is not permitted on vehicle decks, in cabins, or in passenger lounges.
- Wait for the official announcement before returning to your vehicle.
- To reduce emissions, do not start your engine until instructed.
The operator/charterer Brittany Ferries (fleet, founded in 1972, headquartered in Roscoff, France) is a French ferry company providing services between France–UK and France–Spain.
Cotentin ferry ship related cruise news
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Cotentin ferry Wiki
The vessel was ordered on August 2, 2005, for BRITTANY FERRIES, launched on April 13, 2007, as "MS Cotentin," and christened on November 26, 2007. Between 2007 and 2013, while chartered by STENA LINE, the ship operated under the name Cotentin—named after the Cotentin Peninsula in France, where the largest port is Cherbourg.
The ferry's inaugural crossing took place on November 26, 2007, on the France–England route Cherbourg–Poole, a service that continued until 2013. Sisterships from the same Peter Pan class include GNV Atlas, GNV Cristal, Princess Seaways, King Seaways, Nils Holgersson, and Peter Pan.
The ship is powered by two MAK-Caterpillar marine diesel engines with a combined output of 24 MW. Propulsion is provided by two shafts fitted with controllable pitch propellers.
STENA LINE chartered the vessel (renamed Stena Baltica) from 2013 to 2020. The shipowner is Somanor SAS, a company founded in 2000 specializing in shipbuilding and repairs of ocean vessels and river barges. The vessel (IMO number 9364978) is currently France-flagged (MMSI 228263800), although her flag state was temporarily changed to the UK (MMSI 235102029) in 2020.
From January to March 2021, Cotentin operated on the England–France route Poole–Cherbourg.
Cotentin resumed service on the Portsmouth–Le Havre route on December 20, 2022, with an expanded schedule including the France–Ireland route (Le Havre–Rosslare Europort). The schedule includes one roundtrip crossing to each destination. On Sundays and Thursdays, the ferry sails from Le Havre to Portsmouth (departure 17:30 / arrival 22:00) and from Portsmouth to Le Havre (departure 23:30 / arrival 08:30). On Fridays, the vessel operates from Le Havre to Rosslare, Ireland (departure 19:00 / arrival 14:30), and on Saturdays from Rosslare to Le Havre (departure 17:45 / arrival 15:00).
In January 2024, Cotentin's Rosslare–Cherbourg service was temporarily assigned to fleetmate NORMANDIE due to a major technical issue discovered during Cotentin’s drydock at Damen Shiprepair Brest (from December 19, 2023, to January 20, 2024). The repairs involved dismounting and servicing 12 cylinder heads on one of the vessel’s main engines. Cotentin resumed operations on January 21, 2024.