IMPORTANT
UPDATE: at the end of December 2009 Brittany Ferries announced it will
be withdrawing the Barfleur from the Poole to Cherbourg ferry route. The vessel
will be taken off at the beginning of February and the crossing will be served
by Brittany Ferries' newest ship, the Armorique, but only until the 8th
March 2010.
From March 8th 2010 the conventional ferry will no longer operate
the Poole Cherbourg crossing, although the summer service operated by
the Normandie Express Fast Ferry will continue.
The Poole to Cherbourg ferry crossing is operated by Brittany Ferries using a Fast Ferry during the
period mid May to end September. The fast ferry completes the journey in just 2 and a quarter hours. The fast ferry leaves Poole at 7.15 in the
morning, leaving Cherbourg for the return journey at 11.15 French time.
The fast ferry Normandie Vitesse offers the fastest crossing available on the
Western
Channel. As the journey is so fast, the emphasis is on making you
comfortable in your seats. There are enough seats for every passenger, even when
the vessel is carrying its maximum load of 718 people. The seats come in three
classes, standard, de-luxe and commodore. Outside access is limited but in good
weather there is a sun deck. Amongst the amenities on the vessel is a
café, a self-service restaurant and a bar, plus a shop selling quality goods at
great prices.
Poole is centrally situated in Southern England, just to the west of the very
popular resort of Bournemouth. The A35 main route from Exeter leads directly to
Poole, or it can be accessed via the M3/A35 if you're coming from London. Poole
is a small harbour-side town at the head of the lagoon-like Poole Harbour.
Cherbourg is on the northern tip of the Carentan Peninsula in Normandy. The town
is mostly uninspiring, although the old town near the port is worth a visit and
has a number of bars and restaurants, as well as several hotels. This area of
Normandy has some excellent long stretches of sandy beach to enjoy. These
beaches are also much visited by those with an interest in the second world war,
as many of them were used as landing beaches by Allied troops. From Cherbourg
the N13 takes you to Caen in about 1 and a half hours, where you join the French
motorway network. Or you can head due south deeper into the lovely Norman
countryside, or beyond towards Mont St Michel, Brittany and the rest of Western
France.
Channel. As the journey is so fast, the emphasis is on making you
comfortable in your seats. There are enough seats for every passenger, even when
the vessel is carrying its maximum load of 718 people. The seats come in three
classes, standard, de-luxe and commodore. Outside access is limited but in good
weather there is a sun deck. Amongst the amenities on the vessel is a
café, a self-service restaurant and a bar, plus a shop selling quality goods at
great prices.
