Cut the driving to Spain or southern France
No need for the long drive south through France - with the Bilbao ferries you arrive in Bilbao in northern Spain after and overnight cruise from Portsmouth. The new Brittany Ferries service is substantially quicker than the old P&O Ferries service with a sailing time of around 24 hours. The overnight cruise crossing means you can pack as much as you can fit in your car, with no need to worry about luggage allowances. The ferry to Spain itself becomes part of your holiday, giving you time to relax and enjoy all of the facilities on board.
Portsmouth to Bilbao route summary
| Number of sailings |
2 return sailings per week |
| Departures to Bilbao (sailing duration) |
Sunday (32hrs*) and Friday (24hrs)
|
| Departures from Bilbao (sailing duration) |
Tuesday (24hrs) and Saturday (24hrs)
|
| Ships on this route |
mv Cap Finistère |
*The Sunday departure departs at 23:15 and is a two night crossing. The ship stops in Roscoff on Monday morning for 1h 30min to allow for a change of crew and to load supplies (passengers may not disembark). The ship arrives in Bilbao on Tuesday morning.
The Brittany Ferries service from Portsmouth has a multitude of facilities to keep you entertained and relaxed, including restaurants, live entertainment, casinos, saunas, a gym, beauty salon. And of course you get to sleep comfortably in a well appointed cabin, complete with en suite. If you need to stay in Portsmouth before your departure, check out these cheap hotels in Portsmouth.
Disembarking the ferry from Portsmouth on arrival in Bilbao is quick and easy, and you are ready to begin your onward journey, whether it's the sunny Costas, the heart of Spain or Portugal, the Pyrenees, or southern France. You will have saved a long drive through France and feel refreshed and relaxed.
The Cap Finistere departure times are designed to be ultra-convenient, and with excellent motorway connections in Bilbao, the Portsmouth ferry to Bilbao is hard to beat as a way to get to the continent.