Portsmouth to Santander: My Epic, 2 Night, 30+ hour Voyage on Brittany Ferries MV Galicia!

The best thing about Brittany is that they register their ships in France and have properly employed crews. A lot of other ferry lines sub this out to flags of other countries whilst Brittany sticks to it roots. Well done and yes I understand the ships hull is made in China but having travelled on the Salamanca many of the other fittings, important ones, were also European.

Brilliant .I’m a married man of six kids . This looks like the perfect procrastination type trip to make alone and get some calm , quiet and respite .

I have been sober now for nearly 7 years, but of course, i have bad days. Any time i am feeling down or lonely i put one of your videos on, even if its just on in the background. It always makes me feel like i have a friend. So, if you ever think of giving up or doubt what youre doing, please remember that you, in a very real way, save peoples lives. Keep up the vlogs!!!

I've done this trip before with my late husband and 3 young kids. We all enjoyed the crossing. My kids saw dolphins and a low flying military plane. The sea was a bit rough in places though.

i loved the picured window in the room. psycologiacally its less clautrophobic a cabin without a window. i say brilliant brittany ferries for this touch

Keep these ferry videos coming, yours are by far the most entertaining and educational! :)

This has been on my bucket list for a while so great to see you do a video on the sailing. I think it’s partially just for the length of the sailing and also how close the port is to Downtown Santander when you arrive. Glad the Bay of Biscay was behaving itself. Maybe something I will do in the next 3 years after my U.S. cross country trip this month. So many places to see and not enough time to do everything !

TV in cabin?

We travelled to Santander from Plymouth a few years ago , also with Brittany Ferries . Thank goodness we had a cabin , as about 20 minutes out of port it was really rough for the entire 22 hours ! We just stayed in the cabin, hanging on to the side of the beds so as not to fall out ! However sailing home was lovely, like a mini cruise ! Cantabria and Galicia are so beautiful though !

I just discovered your channel Mark and I really enjoyed it, I had a terrible experience of sea sickness when I was younger and have never been on a boat since but your video makes me want to give it another go, cheers mate.

I use this route from Portsmouth to Spain. I travel on the Salamanca from Portsmouth to Bilbao. And I came back on the Galicia. And I very much favour this crossing. Because I remember when I travel on the Cap Finistare and the Point Aven from Portsmouth to Spain. When I arrived in Santander, I had to spend a night in Santander before I headed down to Portugal the next day. So this route I find it very ideal.

I have done the trip from Portsmouth to Santander, its not something i would do again, £1500 return with a dog friendly cabin and the car, nice clean ship friendly staff, Internet was extra, i think it should be free, for some reason an hour before you arrive in Santander you have to take your pet to the car then leave them in the car with the windows open because it was so warm ,you then return to the cabin and have to wait for the ship to dock then back to the car where your dog is now panting. If you are not in a rush the ship is ok, it would be great if the ship docked in the morning especially if you have a long drive down through Spain , i have drove from Calais to southern Spain quicker than the ship,the ship is not for everyone especially if you only have a 2 or 3 week holiday, crossing the water is a big chunk out of the holiday, my experience on the ship was in 2018 things may have changed, enjoy your trip to Spain whichever way you travel.

What a fantastic voyage and a great video! Funny because I'm just editing a ferry trip just now as well :) Oh and I totally fell for your fake window at the start. Bravo mate!

I've been on that ferry a few times. If you're a young man and too cheapskate for a cabin, hence trying to get some sleep in the lounge, don't be surprised if a friendly gentleman appears from from nowhere and tells you that he has a cabin to himself and welcome to join him. It's never happened to me though. Dunno whether to be relieved or offended!

You made this look interesting and fun and nearly tempted me to take the same trip. Unfortunately at one time I had to do a lot of ferry travelling and now hate the very thought. I even struggle with cruises. But it's so good to see someone actually enjoying the experience and promoting it too!

A really enjoyable video, Mark, with some stunning scenic shots👏. The cabin looked very spacious and I had to do a double take as that picture was very realistic! £30 very good value for the entry to the food lounge. After a bit of a stressful day, your video was just what we needed, thank you😊

Loved this - brought back happy memories as a kid on The Quiberon between Plymouth & Santander. Quite surprised that this was a two night crossing, as Plymouth to Santander was an easier 24 hours 35+ years ago!

You were so lucky with the weather. The bay of Biscay was much rougher when I went in August a few years ago, luckily mostly overnight so I could sleep through it- I’m not a bad traveller but eating and drinking gets physically tricky when everything is rocking and rolling.

Please,just be aware that a berth in a cabin is just that. You may as I did,twenty years ago settle into 'your' cabin as a solo.traveller and then a six foot Swedish blond enters your room with her own key. A berth is a berth and not a cabin per se... (It was actually a six foot ginger Scotsman,but he was a good ginger)! Be aware....

I've done it a couple of times. My honest opinion: it's not worth it. You are stuck inside a boat that is not very large and the offers and comfort are very limited and it takes a very long time to actually reach the destination. You are better off doing Folkestone to Calais and then drive down, that can be achieved in 12 hours or less - or 20 if you decide to cut in half and stay at a hotel for some rest. On top of all of this, it's really expensive too. That's my experience anyway.