Maiden voyage on SALAMANCA

 

SALAMANCA was the second new E-Flexer class ferry introduced by Brittany Ferries on their UK to Spain routes. My first sea-voyage on the ship was back in June of 2022, when these photos were taken, she was just three months old. Photos Vitor Francisco

First trip Rosslare to Bilbao with Brittany Ferries on board SANTONA.

 

Last year I have sailed for the first time from Rosslare to Bilbao. The ship was the new E-Flexer class, SANTONA, a ship introduced in March of 2023. Together with the SALAMANCA and GALICIA, the three ships constitute the so-called "Spanish Triplets". The sea-voyage was beautiful with very warm sunshine, calm seas and so many dolphins and whales spotted on the Bay of Biscay. When we arrived, the GALICIA was ready to start loading for her trip back to Portsmouth. For the record and for the first time my car battery was flat, too much music played the night before admiring the sunset at Rosslare. Unseasonable weather for the time of the year, but wonderful and we all made the most of it. Photos Vitor Francisco 18.9.2024.

My last sailing on NORMANDIE

 

The sale of NORMANDIE, seen here and BRETAGNE was for Brittany Ferries and for the world of the ferries the end of an era, truly was. Both ships were withdrawn from the fleet in the space of just six months, first the BRETAGNE in November of 2024 and the NORMANDIE just last week, on the 18th of April 2025. During my life as a passenger ship admirer, I am used to lose ships that are special, very close to my heart, the list is endless. But, let's just concentrate on these two, they were paramount helping me for decades on my business travels to mainland Europe, I have been on board both of them more than 230 times. BRETAGNE and NORMANDIE are well known in the shipping world, they were catalysts of the development of the so called "cruise-ferry" ships, they were beautiful with fascinating interiors and a joy to be on board. Both were reliable and much loved by crews and passengers. It will take a long time for many people to digest the fact that they are no longer daily visitors to Portsmouth, Saint-Malo or Ouistreham, but like everything in life, people will not forget them, but also like everything in life, move forward is the only way. I am truly thankful to the ships and their crews for making me feel so special in many occasions. Now, it's time to welcome the successors, SAINT-MALO and GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE, two very different ships but also with lots of appeal, they are also more comfortable and spacious, their interiors still adorn the beauty of the regions of Bretagne and Normandie and specially on the case of the SAINT-MALO, she inherited the soul of the unforgettable BRETAGNE. So, thank you BRETAGNE and NORMANDIE for the countless memories and here's to the beginning of new memories with SAINT-MALO and GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE. Photos here included, NORMANDIE arriving Ouistreham back in 2016 and on the bridge of the ship on my very last trip, arriving Portsmouth on the 26th March 2025.

At sea on the Bay of Biscay on board PONT-AVEN

 

It's really great be back on this blog after several years dormant. For 30 years I have been a frequent passenger on ferries. Few experiences match being on board the PONT-AVEN, Brittany Ferries flagship. The ship is so powerful, she has huge amounts of open deck spaces, a beutiful full wrap-around promenade deck, it's simply priceless for a genuine passenger ship admirer this experience at sea. Photos Vitor Francisco

BRETAGNE's 30th Anniversary

 

Remembering a special trip on board my favourite cruise-ferry, the BRETAGNE. The date was the 16th of July 2019, the day she embarked on her maiden voyage thirty years earlier. This was the day, I had confirmation from my editor that my book about the ship would be printed in December of 2019 on time for Christmas. Many, many special memories on board BRETAGNE. The ship was recently sold to BALEARIA to operate in the MED, so good luck BRETAGNE now named ROSALIND FRANKLIN. Photos Vitor Francisco 16.7.2019.

 

SAINT-MALO is seen here departing her namesake. Photos Vitor Francisco 13.4.2025

The new SAINT-MALO, BRETAGNE's replacement on the Portsmouth to Saint-Malo route

 

SAINT-MALO was the first of two new hybrid ferries ordered by Brittany Ferries to Stena, the second being the GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE. Part a massive fleet investment, both new ships were conceived to reduce fleet emissions, they are commonly referred to as "Greener ships", more environmentally-friendly. Based on the E-Flexer platform, E-Flexers are passenger and vehicle RoPax ferries designed to be economic, efficient and flexible. These passenger ships have a unique hull shape, the bow reduces resistance around the thruster openings and the stern was designed to reduce wave making. They are extremely good seakeeping, very comfortable negotiating high seas. SAINT-MALO compared to the previous ships on this class has an extra passenger deck, she is more passenger orientated offering a total of 387 cabins. SAINT-MALO and her near sister, the GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE are shorter in length by 20 meters, making them more attractive then the previous ships of the class. Back in January of this year, I was part of a group of 500 invited passengers to first experience the brand new ship. SAINT-MALO is the ship replacing the much loved BRETAGNE on the Brittany Ferries route, Portsmouth to Saint-Malo. SAINT-MALO is a ship born a legend, she has inherited the famous "Bretagne Soul". Brittany Ferries was tireless to customise the new ship to their well known standards, not an easy task on chartered tonnage. The moment passengers step on board can fully appreciate the effort to bring back the Company's DNA. More than 300 artworks were introduced on board BRETAGNE, the work of Scottish artist Alexander Goudie, many of these art works are now on display on board the SAINT-MALO. Two more trips followed recently on the ship, she is a worthy successor to the BRETAGNE and soon will become another passenger and firm favourite. Images above, my first views of the SAINT-MALO at Portsmouth, 25th January 2025. Vitor Francisco V

 

17.4.2025 at Ouistreham, NORMANDIE arriving from Portsmouth, soon after these photos were taken, the ship would start her very last sailing from Ouistreham back to Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries passengers. NORMANDIE was built by Kvaemer Masa-Yards in Finland and completed in 1992. the ship embarked on her maiden voyage on the 18th of May of that year. NORMANDIE has had a remarkable career with Brittany Ferries that spanned for one month short of 33 years. Throughout her career, she was cherished by millions of people, she soon became a favourite amongst passengers and crews. I remember when she was introduced she was seen as a huge ship at just over 27.000 GT. To me she was a friend, countless times I boarded the NORMANDIE from or to the UK on my business trips to Continental Europe. So many times my mood changed just to know she would be waiting for me as a means of transport. My favourite way of transport to be at sea, my greatest passion in life, passenger ships and the sea. NORMANDIE has been recently sold to "La Meridionale" and she is due to start commercial service between Marseille and Morocco in less than two months. Strongly built, with good maintenance, MASSALIA, as she will be known from now on, will still have many years in service. So, Merci my dear friend and until we meet again.

Here we see the NORMANDIE departing Ouistreham to Portsmouth, her last departure from France and the route she served with such hard work and loyalty. Photos Vitor Francisco 17.4.2025.

SAINT-MALO at her namesake

The brand new SAINT-MALO seen docking at her namesake, Saint-Malo. The new ship entered service back on the 12th of February 2025 to replace the legendary BRETAGNE.

The Bell of the BRETAGNE

 I have decided to re-activate this blog after no activity since 2017, quite incredible to think that. All these years, I have continued to be a frequent passenger on board Brittany Ferries ships. Just experienced the brand new GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE on her maiden voyage yesterday from Ouistreham to Portsmouth. The ship that replaced the Legendary NORMANDIE. Six months earlier another iconic ship, the BRETAGNE also replaced by the SAINT-MALO, near sister of the GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE.