Guillaume de Normandie ferry

MS Guillaume de Normandie is a Ro-Ro passenger ferry owned by STENA LINE and operated under charter by the French company BRITTANY FERRIES. The ship has a maximum capacity of 1,310 passengers and cargo capacity for 470 cars or 120 trailers (alternatively, 52 cars plus 63 trucks). The vessel will be launched in 2024 and is scheduled for delivery/inauguration in May 2025.

Guillaume de Normandie is intended for the UK–France routes Portsmouth–Caen/Ouistreham (crossing time ~6 hours) and Portsmouth–St Malo (crossing time ~11 hours).

Of the same design and deployed on the same routes is the sistership Saint-Malo (2024).

Note: For construction milestones and details on E-FLEXER technology/machinery, see the ship's Wiki section.

Cabins

As a cruiseferry, Guillaume de Normandie has a total of 386 passenger cabins (including 54 Luxury, 5 Family, 27 Pet-friendly, and Truck Driver cabins), all air-conditioned and with en-suite bathrooms, LCD TV (free on-demand movies), hairdryer, and writing/dining table. The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries. The ship additionally offers reclining seats. A total of 8 staterooms are wheelchair-accessible (adapted for passengers with disabilities).

Passenger stateroom categories include 2-Berth Commodore Suite, 2-Berth Commodore Club, 4-Berth Outside “Club Plus,” 4-Berth Outside “Club,” 4-Berth Inside, and 2-Berth Inside, as well as Wheelchair-Accessible (Premium Plus Outside and Inside) and Pet-Friendly (doubles and quads, both with linoleum flooring). All 4-bed staterooms have either twin beds (lower fixed single beds) or bunk beds (lower and upper Murphy beds folding from the wall).

Unlike passenger staterooms, freight driver cabins (aft on Deck 8) lack en-suite bathrooms and have shared bathing and toilet facilities.

MS Guillaume de Normandie’s largest staterooms are the Commodore Suites. These luxury accommodations feature a queen-size bed (160×200 cm; premium mattress; high-quality cotton linens), comfortable seating (two armchairs and a round coffee table), a writing/dining table (with tea- and coffee-making facilities), and a complimentary mini-bar (small refrigerator stocked with bottled water, soft drinks, and light snacks).

Commodore Suite and Commodore Club passengers also receive complimentary access to the C-Club Premium Lounge (forward on Deck 8).

Reserved lounge seats and baby cots (for infants under 2 years; available on request) are also offered.

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

Of the 10 decks, 3 have passenger cabins.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Facilities aboard Guillaume de Normandie include:

• A La Carte Restaurant (120 seats; locally sourced meals prepared by French chefs).
• (Deck 7) Azul Restaurant (self-service main dining room/buffet with hot and cold meals). The ticket price includes one 3-course dinner and one continental breakfast. Restaurant Azul is open for Breakfast (continental, waiter-served), Lunch (buffet), and Dinner (3-course meals).
• Taberna de Tapas / Café Bar (light meals, sandwiches, tapas, cakes, pastries, hot/cold drinks, HDTVs). The café serves tapas (from patatas/papas bravas to regional Spanish favorites) and various hot dishes. Taberna de Tapas offers waiter-served continental or Spanish breakfast and, during summer only, the inclusive 3-course dinner from Azul Restaurant.
• Plaza Mayor – a large bar lounge serving food (snacks and light bites) and beverages (including Spanish wines and beers) throughout the day, plus Afternoon Tea (coffee and pastries/cakes). The venue features abundant natural light from its skylight (glass-roof cover) and a large HDTV streaming live sports and music.
• (Deck 8) Commodore C-Club Premium Lounge – a limited-capacity bar lounge with large, round windows (270-degree views), HDTVs, comfortable seating (sofas, armchairs, round tables), and two exclusive restrooms. Access is complimentary for Commodore-class passengers and available for a fee for other cabin categories (payable onboard at Reception or online when booking). Access includes complimentary beverages (hot and cold) and light food (snacks, hot and cold dishes) throughout the day.
• Two cinemas (tickets available at the Information Desk).
• (Deck 7) Kids’ Playroom – an indoor playground (enclosed section of Azul Restaurant) with complimentary children’s entertainment (digital and interactive games, arts and crafts, physical activities) led by dedicated youth supervisors. Two additional kids’ play areas are located midship on Decks 8 and 10.
• Games Planet (teen lounge with video games, air hockey, foosball).
• Chance Planet (casino/gambling lounge with slot machines).
• Reading Lounge.
• Two Reserved Seating Lounges (with reclining/Pullman seats).
• Le Bar (fine French wines, cocktails, hot/cold drinks, HDTVs).
• Les Boutiques (two duty-free shops) selling gifts, souvenirs, spirits, wines (large wine cellar), tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, leather goods, toys, books, confectionery, refreshments, clothing, cameras, sunglasses, and jewelry. Special shopping promotions are held on each voyage.
• Free Wi-Fi; ATM/cash machine (next to the Information Desk/Reception); disabled toilets; baby changing rooms; complimentary baggage room.

Two elevators (forward and aft) serve all cabin decks as well as the car decks.

Sun Deck (Deck 10) is a large outdoor area that doubles as a helideck (helicopter landing platform for emergencies). The sundeck features canopy-shaded seating (round tables with garden armchairs), sunbathing areas (deckchairs and loungers), an outdoor gym (sports equipment), and an outdoor playground for kids.

In the ship’s Lobby Hall (near Reception) are several information kiosks (Internet-connected PC terminals) with complimentary touch-screen access for all passengers.

MS Guillaume de Normandie is BRITTANY FERRIES’ fourth liner (after Galicia, Salamanca, and Saint-Malo) to offer shipwide VOD (video on demand: movies, radio, TV programming). The service is available via passengers’ mobile devices (using complimentary Wi-Fi) or via the smart HDTVs in staterooms.

The cruiseferry features a collection of ~1,000 artworks, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and photographs.

All onboard emergency instructions are displayed in staterooms, on TV screens, and at assembly (muster) stations. Life jackets are issued at the muster stations. In an emergency, elevators/passenger lifts must not be used.

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 (20–36 hours). The high-speed UK–France service targets 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. Accommodations range from 2-bed Inside Cabins to Commodore Suites (with in-cabin dining/Afternoon Tea and Breakfast service). Some suites have private balconies.

Onboard cuisine is predominantly French and prepared by French chefs. All ships have à la carte restaurants, self-service cafeterias, a selection of bars, live entertainment (singers, magicians, children’s pantomimes), at least one cinema, casino, arcade room, Bureau de Change, baby changing rooms, disabled toilets, sun deck areas, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

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

The ships’ boutiques sell tobacco and alcohol (budget and premium wines and spirits) at discounted prices, along with luxury perfumes and cosmetics, designer jewelry, watches, sunglasses, and souvenirs and toys.

Fun fact: BRITTANY FERRIES annually serves around 22 tons of langoustines (Norway lobster), 15 tons of smoked salmon, 260 tons of meat, 240,000 English breakfasts, and 333,000 liters of beer. By onboard perfume sales, the company ranks as France’s 3rd-largest perfume retailer.

• Fares vary by departure date, route, and time of travel (season).
• A GBP 35 deposit is required to secure bookings during peak summer.
• Summer prices are usually higher; the same applies to weekends and overnight crossings.
• Morning, afternoon, and overnight departures are offered year-round.
• There are seven overnight France–Spain crossings per week.
• “Mix and match” route deals are also available.

Below is 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 returns (late April–early September).
• Portsmouth–Santander, Spain (24 hours/overnight) – 3 weekly crossings.
• Portsmouth–Bilbao, Spain (24–36 hours) – 2 weekly crossings.
• Portsmouth–Le Havre (5.5 hours) – daily returns.
• Poole–Cherbourg (4 hours 15 min) – daily returns.
• Plymouth–Roscoff (6 hours) – 2 returns.
• Plymouth–Santander, Spain (20 hours) – direct weekly crossings.
• Cork, Ireland–Roscoff (14 hours) – weekly (April–November) returns.
• Cork–Santander (26.5 hours) – 2 weekly returns.

Pets on the ship

BRITTANY FERRIES is a DEFRA (UK and EU)–approved pet carrier under the ET140 Pet Travel Scheme. Pets may travel either in a pet-friendly passenger cabin or in a kennel (dogs). Pets are not allowed to stay in vehicles.

Dogs must be muzzled and leashed when outside vehicles or staterooms, including in the pet-exercise area (Deck 7). It is recommended that dogs be exercised and toileted prior to boarding.

At onboard check-in, each dog’s microchip is scanned and its passport checked. A sticker is placed on the car’s windscreen to ensure appropriate parking; do not remove it during the voyage. Pets are allowed only in designated staterooms (pet-friendly) and in the ship’s pet-exercise zone (Deck 7), and not in other public areas. Registered assistance dogs are the only exception.

Vehicles carrying pets are greeted on the car deck by dedicated crew. Pets remain temporarily in vehicles while owners exit the garage for check-in. Shortly before departure, pet owners are called to Reception and escorted with their pets between the car deck and their cabin. One hour before arrival, a PA announcement asks pet owners to return to their cabins; crew then escorts them to their vehicles, where the animals remain until arrival. Pet owners are not permitted to remain in their vehicles. After arrival, a PA announcement invites pet owners to return to their vehicles.

For safety reasons, during bad weather, pets must remain in cabins and access to exercise areas is suspended.

The cruiseferry provides 12 kennels (small and large). Kennels must be pre-booked. Small kennels are recommended for breeds such as Toy Poodle, King Charles Spaniel, Terrier, and Jack Russell. Large kennels suit breeds such as German Shepherd, Labrador, Dalmatian, Boxer, Pointer, and Setter.

Car decks

Car deck–related safety procedures:

• Disabled passengers or those requiring assistance should visit the 24-hour Information Desk.
• Apply the handbrake and place the vehicle in Park or 1st gear. Switch off ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, and headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be switched off. Lock the vehicle.
• Take only valuables and essential hand baggage from your vehicle.
• Note your vehicle’s location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
• Access to vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is prohibited.
• Smoking on vehicle decks, in cabins, and in passenger lounges is forbidden.
• Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.

To avoid air pollution, do not start the engine until instructed.

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