Cotentin ferry

MS Cotentin ferry (fka Stena Baltica) is a Ro-Pax passenger vessel currently operated under charter by the France-based company BRITTANY FERRIES. The ship has a max capacity of 176 passengers and 100 cars. The vessel was launched in 2007 and currently operates on the England UK-France ferry route Portsmouth-Le Havre (crossing time 5,5 hours). Since January 2023, the cruise ship also offers crossings between France and Ireland (Le Havre-Rosslare Europort).

For STENA LINE (in the period 2013-2020) Stena Baltica ship (IMO 9364978) served the Sweden-Poland ferry route Karlskrona-Gdynia (crossing time 10 hours). In 2021, after a major drydock lengthening, the Stena Mersey ship (IMO 9329851) was renamed to "Stena Baltica".

Cabins

As cruiseferry, Cotentin has 120 cabins with a total of 216 berths. All staterooms are air-conditioned and with shared bathrooms. All passenger cabins (inside and outside) are located on decks 8 and 9 and have a max capacity of 2 passengers. The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries. The ship is not suitable for passengers with reduced mobility as it has no wheelchair-accessible staterooms (adapted for disabled passengers).

MS Cotentin stateroom categories include:

• Economy Class 2-berth / Twin Inside (2 bunk beds / lower + upper, no window)
• Economy Class 2-berth / Twin Outside (2 bunk beds / lower + upper, Picture window)
• Comfort Class 2-berth / Twin Inside (1 lower bed, 1 bunk bed, no window)
• Comfort Class 2-berth / Twin Outside (2 bunk beds / lower + upper, Picture window).

All cabins are equipped with luxury DUX beds and mattresses, Hansgrohe bathroom faucets and showerheads, phones, LCD TVs (satellite reception), desk (mirrored vanity table with chair), open wardrobe.

For reserved seating, passengers can upgrade to Reserved Seating Lounge (fka Stena Plus Lounge). Reserved seat deals are inclusive of airline-type seats (fully reclining leather armchairs), complimentary hot and cold beverages (coffee, specialty teas, soft drinks, wine by the glass), snacks, newspapers, magazines.

All passengers must vacate their staterooms 30 min prior to homeport arrival.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

As facilities, the Cotentin ship offers:

• (deck 7) Buffet Restaurant (self-service buffet, hot and cold meals, kids menus)
• (deck 7) Bar Lounge (patisserie/specialty coffee bar selling sandwiches, cakes, pastries, fruit salads, yogurt, ice cream, hot/cold drinks)
• (deck 7) Shopping Center (gifts, souvenirs, spirits, wines, tobaccos, brand perfumes and cosmetics, skincare products, leather goods, toys, confectionery, fashion clothing and accessories, gadgets and electronics, designer watches, sunglasses and jewelry, convenience goods and travel essentials). Onboard retail shopping promotions are often held and provide up to 50% discounted pricing on top-brand merchandise.
• Truckers Lounge (truck drivers' only bar lounge and restaurant)
• free Wi-Fi service, ATM/cash machine (next to Information Desk / Reception).
• The ship also has a fitness (gym room), but it is a crew-only facility (not available for passenger use).
• All bars and lounges are fitted with large HDTVs and comfortable seating.

Forward on its top deck (Heli Deck), there is a helipad - a helicopter landing area used in cases of emergency.

All onboard emergency instructions are displayed in staterooms, on the TV screens and at the ship's assembly stations (aka muster stations). Life jackets are issued at the assembly stations. In case of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is forbidden.

BRITTANY FERRIES cruise deals

The company offers regularly scheduled ferry services between England and France (travel time on cruise ferries 3-4 hours) and between France and Spain (travel time 20-36 hours). The high-speed UK-France service allows the ships to successfully target the UK's "mini cruise" and holiday travel markets.

As on cruise vessels, all BRITTANY FERRIES ships offer passenger cabins with modern amenities, individually controlled air-conditioning and en-suite facilities. Cruise accommodations range from 2-bed "Inside Cabin" to "Commodore Suite" (with in-cabin dining / Afternoon Tea and Breakfast service). Some suites are with private balconies.

Onboard food is predominantly French cuisine and prepared by French chefs. All ships have a la carte priced restaurants, self-service cafeteria, selection of bars, live entertainment (singers, magicians, pantomimes for kids), at least one cinema, casino, arcade room, Bureau de Change, baby changing rooms, disabled toilets, Sun Deck areas, free of charge Wi-Fi.

Cruise ferries on France-Spain routes have swimming pools (open during summer months only), as well as kids, play areas with supervised activities (during holidays only). Spa treatment rooms on Spain-France cruise ferries offer facials (from ProCare), massages (by certified masseuses), modern massage chairs, pedicures and manicure services (OPI nail varnishes), treatments using skincare products by the French brand "Filorga Professional".

Ships' boutique shops sell at discount prices tobacco and alcohol (budget and premium wines and spirits), as well as luxury brand perfumes and cosmetics, designer jewelry, watches, sunglasses, souvenirs, toys.

Fun fact is that BRITTANY FERRIES serve annually around 22 tons of langoustines (Norway lobster), 15 tons of smoked salmon, 260 tons of meat, 240,000 English breakfasts, 333,000 liters of beer. By onboard sold perfumes, the company is ranked France's 3rd largest perfume retailer.

• Ferry fares are based on departure dates, routes and time (season).
• GBP 35 deposit is required to secure bookings during the peak summer season.
• Summer prices are usually higher. Same goes for the weekends and overnight crossings.
• Departures in the mornings, afternoons and overnights are offered throughout the whole year.
• Overnight France-Spain crossings are 7 in a week.
• Mix and match route deals are also available.

Follows the list of all BRITTANY FERRIES routes with crossing times and frequencies.

• Portsmouth-Caen (6 hours) - 3 daily
• Portsmouth-St Malo (11 hours / overnight) - daily
• Portsmouth-Cherbourg (3 hours) - 10 return (in the period late April - early September)
• Portsmouth-Santander Spain (24 hours / overnight) - 3 crossings weekly
• Portsmouth-Bilbao Spain (24-36 hours) - 2 crossings weekly
• Portsmouth-Le Havre (5,5 hours) - daily return crossings
• Poole-Cherbourg (4 hours 15 min) - daily return
• Plymouth-Roscoff (6 hours) 2 return
• Plymouth-Santander Spain (20 hours) - direct weekly crossings
• Cork Ireland-Roscoff (14 hours) - weekly, return crossings in the period April-November)
• Cork-Santander (26,5 hours) - 2 weekly return crossings

Pets on the ship

Pets (dogs, cats, and ferrets) can be ferried on the Cotentin cruise ship. Pets are not allowed in passenger cabins unless the stateroom is "pet-friendly" (usually 2-bed dog's cabin). The ship has a dog toilet. At all times during the voyage, dogs must be leashed and muzzled, and never left alone.

Guide dogs travel for free and are allowed on all passenger decks and in the owners' cabin (but must wear a harness or jacket). The animals must have valid EU pet passports with standard information about their identity, vaccinations (other treatments). Pets also must have approved microchip (or tattoo) and rabies vaccination by an authorized veterinarian. Passengers with pets must arrive at the port at least 1 hour prior to departure.

Passengers with pets must arrive at the port at least 2 hours prior departure. For all other routes, this time is 1 - 1,5 hours. All animals are subject to the UK Pet Travel scheme rules and must be at least 15 weeks old. EU pet passport and microchips are required. Car passengers can ferry up to 5 animals (per vehicle). These cars receive a coloured hanger (placed on the windscreen rear-view mirror until customs are cleared in each port). Pets in vehicles must remain inside at all times. Foot passengers are allowed up to 5 pets, but the pre-booking of an onboard kennel is required. Children travelling with an animal must be 16 years old. When travelling with 6 or more animals, they must be at least 6 months old.

The ship Cotentin has onboard kennels, including 7x big (100x97x94 cm), 2x medium-sized (100x64x108 cm) and 16x small (100x65x50 cm). All cabins provide TV monitoring of the kennels. Visits of the pet during the voyage are recommended.

Car decks

Car decks can be loaded on 2 levels with vehicle access from both bow and stern. Follows a list of car decks-related safety procedures:

• Apply handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear position. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be switched off. Lock the vehicle.
• From your vehicle take only valuables and essential hand baggage.
• Make a note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
• Access to the ship's vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is prohibited.
• Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in cabins and passenger lounges is forbidden.
• Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.
• In order to avoid air pollution, don't start the engine until instructed.

The operator/ship charterer Brittany Ferries (fleet, 1972-founded, headquartered in Roscoff France) is a French ferry company operating on the shipping routes France-UK and France-Spain.