Brittany Ferries · Plymouth to Santander
The Pont-Aven
The Brittany Ferries flagship and the fastest ship in the fleet. She is the only vessel on the Spanish routes with an indoor pool, and the reason Plymouth to Santander takes 20 hours 30 minutes when the Portsmouth crossings take 33 or more.
Pont-Aven specifications
Built at the Meyer Werft yard in Papenburg, Germany and in service since March 2004. She is the oldest ship on the Spanish routes by nearly twenty years, and still the quickest.
| Detail | Pont-Aven |
|---|---|
| Entered service | 2004 |
| Builder | Meyer Werft, Papenburg |
| Length | 186 metres |
| Decks | 10 |
| Cruising speed | 22 knots, up to 28 |
| Passengers | Around 2,400 |
| Cars | 650 |
| Cabins | 650 |
| IMO number | 9268708 |
Her speed is why the Plymouth route is so much shorter
The three newer E-Flexer ships cruise slower. That single difference is what turns a 33-hour Portsmouth crossing into a 20-hour-30-minute one from Plymouth, and it is the main practical reason to choose that route if a second night at sea does not appeal.
Where the Pont-Aven sails
She is the only ship working Plymouth to Santander, which runs twice a week from late March to early November. Outside the Spanish season she covers other Brittany Ferries routes, so across the year you may board her at:
Check in at least 45 minutes before departure, or 90 minutes if you are travelling with a pet.
On board
The pool is what she is known for, and it is the only one on any ship sailing to Spain. Beyond that:
Facilities
- Indoor pool and leisure area
- Two cinemas
- La Boutique duty-free shop
- Spa treatment rooms
- Children’s playroom and organised entertainment
- Separate teenage room
- Open sun deck
Lounges and dining
- Le Flora, the buffet restaurant
- Commodore lounge for Commodore-class passengers
- Mezzanine lounge
- Reserved seating lounge
- Bars with evening entertainment
Her styling and dining lean French rather than Spanish, which is the deliberate difference from the Galicia, Salamanca and Santoña. For a first-hand account of the crossing, see our Plymouth to Santander trip report.
Cabins and accommodation
Every sailing to Spain is overnight, so accommodation is compulsory rather than optional. The Pont-Aven offers the widest choice of any ship on the Spanish routes:
Seats and standard cabins
- Reserved lounge seats
- 2-berth inside cabin
- 2-berth outside cabin
- 4-berth inside cabin
- 4-berth outside cabin
Upgraded and specialist
- 4-berth Club cabin
- 4-berth De Luxe cabin
- 4-berth Commodore cabin
- Wheelchair-accessible 4-berth outside cabin
- Pet-friendly 4-berth inside and outside cabins
Accessible and pet-friendly cabins go first
There are only a handful of each on any sailing, and they sell out well before the standard cabins do. If you need either, book as soon as the schedule opens rather than waiting for a deal.
Travelling with pets
The rules depend on where the Pont-Aven is taking you, which catches people out when they have sailed her to France before.
| Destination | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|
| To Spain | Pet-friendly cabin or onboard kennel | Pet-friendly cabin only |
| To France | Pet-friendly cabin or left in your car | Pet-friendly cabin only |
Check the vaccination and documentation requirements for taking an animal into the EU well before you travel, and book the cabin early. There is an open-deck walking area on board.
Where is the Pont-Aven right now?
Live position and the last 24 hours of track, straight from AIS. Useful the day before you sail, or if you are waiting on an arrival.
Inside the ship
Two walkthrough videos covering the cabins, the public areas and what the crossing actually looks like.
Sail on the Pont-Aven
Plymouth to Santander, twice weekly from late March to early November.
Book your tickets →