Brittany Ferries · Rosslare to Bilbao
The Santoña
The last of the three E-Flexer ships to join the Spanish routes, in service since March 2023. LNG-powered like her sister the Salamanca, and in 2026 she works the only direct sailing between Ireland and Spain.
Santoña specifications
The third of Brittany Ferries’ E-Flexer ships and the ninth E-Flexer built overall, delivered by Stena RoRo at the end of 2022. Her first commercial crossing to Santander sailed on 3 March 2023.
| Detail | Santoña |
|---|---|
| Entered service | 2023 |
| Class | Stena E-Flexer |
| Length | 214.5 metres |
| Passengers | 1,015 |
| Cabins | 341 |
| Reserved lounge seats | 43 |
| Propulsion | LNG dual-fuel |
| IMO number | 9886847 |
LNG makes for a quieter crossing than the Galicia
Running on liquefied natural gas instead of marine diesel cuts nitrogen oxide emissions by around 85 per cent and carbon dioxide by roughly 20 per cent. For passengers the noticeable difference is less engine noise and vibration, which counts across a long Biscay crossing.
Where the Santoña sails
In 2026 she works Rosslare to Bilbao, two return sailings a week from late March to early November and one a week over the winter. Departures leave Rosslare on Wednesday at 09:00 and Friday at 23:59.
She was built for the Portsmouth to Santander run and has also covered Portsmouth to Cherbourg, so the ports you may board her at include:
- Rosslare Europort
- Bilbao, at Zierbena, about 21 km from the city
- Portsmouth
- Cherbourg
She moved to Rosslare to Bilbao this year
From 2023 until 2026 the Santoña worked Portsmouth to Santander. Full detail on the swap, and which ship covers which route now, is on the ships page.
On board
Eating and drinking
- Restaurant Azul, the main restaurant
- Taberna de Tapas
- Plaza Mayor, shops, eateries and seating
- C-Club Lounge, private for Commodore-class passengers
- Duty-free shopping
Space and entertainment
- Onboard cinema
- Free video on demand in cabins and on your phone
- Family activities and children’s entertainment
- Sun deck with sports equipment and seating
- Open deck for whale and dolphin watching
Interiors and artwork are themed on Santoña itself and the Spanish regions the ship serves. There is no pool on the E-Flexer ships; the Pont-Aven is the only ship to Spain that has one.
Cabins and accommodation
Every sailing on this route runs overnight, so booking a cabin or a reserved lounge seat is compulsory.
Seats and standard cabins
- Reserved lounge seats
- 4-berth inside cabin
- 4-berth cabin with window and TV
Upgraded and specialist
- 2-berth Commodore Suite
- 2-berth Club cabin with TV and video on demand
- Pet-friendly 4-berth inside and outside cabins
- Wheelchair-accessible 2-berth inside and outside cabins
With 341 cabins between 1,015 passengers, the accessible and pet-friendly rooms are a small share of the total and go first.
Travelling with pets
You cannot leave your dog in the car on this ship
Pets travel in a pet-friendly cabin or an onboard kennel. Leaving an animal in your vehicle is not permitted. Dogs must be muzzled whenever they are outside their cabin or kennel, including in the port, around the ship and in the pet exercise area.
This route carries a high share of Spanish-originating passengers, so pet cabins are in demand in both directions. Check EU pet documentation requirements well before you travel.
Where is the Santoña right now?
Live position and the last 24 hours of track from AIS.
Inside the ship
Two walkthroughs covering the cabins and public areas.
Sail on the Santoña
Rosslare to Bilbao, the only direct crossing between Ireland and Spain.
Book your tickets →