Brittany Ferries - advice sought

Rashers72 · 13-06-2007 08:46PM #1

Due to use BF Sat week Cork-Roscoff. First time users. Booked De Luxe cabin.
Any tips for the journey? Will be travelling with wife, 8 year old, and 3 year old. Should I book restaurant when I get on - if so, which one? What about cinema/swimming pool/play area's/shops? Also I heard the kids can do a tour up to the bridge - is it worth it?
Thanks in advance!

Davidth88 · 14-06-2007 09:44AM

never been on this , but the Indo food critic travelled on this last year

He said something to the effect ' when this ship moored in Cork it's one of the finest restaurants in Cork ! '

He came back on the Irish Ferries , and said something like

' When this ship is moored in Wexford it's one of the poorest reastaurants in the south east ! '

So enjoy !

forbairt · 14-06-2007 09:52AM

Brittany Ferries .. is very nice (only travelled once with them so far .. travelling at end of month with them as well) ... possibley book if you want to eat at a certain time ... and as you'll have the kids ... can't really remember what it was like for us ... just myself and the gf and we were happy enough wandering around for a bit ... (irish ferries ... felt like a trip to eastern europe) but there is a fairly hefty price difference between the two ... so I guess you get what you pay for ...

forbairt · 14-06-2007 10:28AM

I should have said actually. .. you'll probably just want ..

La Belle Angele

An ideal restaurant for an informal self-service meal, with a wide range of delicious meals including grill, world and traditional menus. Located on deck 7.

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=290

not very formal ... not overly pricey ... and quite nice food ...

dryle · 14-06-2007 03:41PM

we are travelling at the end of the month, does anyone recommend somewhere to eat in cork prior to boarding or do we just eat on the boat.

Rashers72 · 14-06-2007 09:10PM

Thanks for that link, via the UK website.
Amazing, when you go to the Irish site, it gives you none of this information, which is exactly what I was looking for.
Still interested in the cinema set-up (e.g. cost, films (especially for kids)), entertainment, bridge tour, any advantage to arriving early for the ferry?, plus any other tips...

cork*girl · 16-06-2007 05:05PM

I have travelled soooo many times on brittany ferries!!

the bridge tour is ment to be really good. my brothers went on it. is it the one where you go up to the captain or something??
The cinema is really small and most of the films that are shown there are kind of old films...but its really handy..it passes a lot of time cant remember what it cost though.
when you get on 1st, its really handy if you can get a seat up in the main lounge because the cabins are so boring. so arriving early would be nessessary if you want to get a good seat.
if i think of anything else il post it !!

SouthernBelle · 20-06-2007 04:39PM

My kids did the 'bridge tour' last year - I can't remember the cost, sorry. They loved it though and came back with a polaroid of each of them 'steering' the ship, wearing the captain's hat.

Rashers72 · 20-06-2007 07:43PM

I have a De Luxe cabin booked, so hopefully that will cover off some of the entertainment. Did not cost much more then the normal cabin but required an early booking!

ArthurDent · 21-06-2007 12:08AM

We bring our DVD player on board for kids - 6 and 8 - they are usually wrecked by 9ish and we try to get them asleep asap after that - you dock in Roscoff at 7 so you need them to be up and moving v early.

Food in all restaurants great

Enjoy your trip

ArthurDent · 21-06-2007 12:10AM

Meant to say swimming pool tiny and I've yet to see anyone swimming - occasionaly I've seen kid paddle but never swim

babaduck · 26-06-2007 03:15PM

If you're in a deluxe cabin, there is a DVD player & a TV so you can play some DVD's or CD's to pass the time. You also have access to a private lounge which is basically a big room with lots of seats, no bar but great views if you fancy some quiet time

The Pont Aven is a fantastic ferry and the quality/price of food and drink is excellent (you'd never go with Irish Ferries again after it). Even the gift shop is well stocked & beautifully laid out.

We're heading back to France with them on 1st September & can't wait!

Rashers72 · 07-07-2007 10:00PM

Thanks all for your advice. Weather was cloudy in France but ferry crossing was fantastic. The De Luxe cabin is worth the extra cost. It has it's own reception, where they take your breakfast order, book restaurants, etc.
Room was very nice, great views, all contents of minibar are complimentary. Also 2 small boxes of samples from French cosmetics maker, plus free chocs+other samples. Main restaurants very nice+worth the money. Cinema was EUR8.50 for adults (I think) - Mr Bean+Fantastic 4 on, so a few months old. The trip 2 the Bridge for kids was good - I think that was EUR8.50, and include a BF napsack+some arts+crafts stuff they made.
Shop was very well stocked+had a huge range of products.
It would take a lot for me to go back to Irish Ferries. The staff on BF were fantastic. Every single one of them were perfectly dressed, even when serving breakfast to our room @4.30am

I gather the supplement for this cabin via some operators will double next year, but even the normal cabins look nice.

Brittany Ferries - advice sought

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