Portsmouth to Spain ferry

When booking your Portsmouth - Spain ferry on Ferryhopper, you can take advantage of fixed discounts, available for specific passenger categories. Normally, infants and toddlers up to 3 years old travel for free, while children 4-15 years old are entitled to a 25% discount.

The Portsmouth - Spain routes are served by large cruise ferries designed for long-distance and overnight travel. Facilities vary depending on the vessel, but you can usually find:

• Air-conditioned lounges and spacious outdoor decks
• Restaurants, cafés, bars, and self-service dining areas
• Duty-free shops and kiosks selling snacks, gifts and travel essentials
• Wi-Fi packages
• Cinemas, TV lounges and video-game areas
• Children’s play areas
• Wellness facilities on selected vessels
• Cabins and reserved reclining seats
• Pet-friendly cabins, kennels and designated pet areas

The Portsmouth - Santander route is served by modern cruise ferries such as Salamanca, which are equipped for passengers spending up to 2 nights on board.

Cabins and accommodation

As the crossing from Portsmouth to Spain involves spending 1 or 2 nights at sea, the ferries offer several types of cabins and accommodation.

Depending on the vessel, you may find:

• Standard inside cabins
• Outside cabins with a sea view
• Four-berth family cabins
• Accessible cabins
• Pet-friendly cabins
• Deluxe cabins and suites
• Commodore cabins and suites with additional services

Cabins generally include beds, an ensuite bathroom, toiletries and a desk. Premium accommodation may also include a double bed, television, Wi-Fi, tea- and coffee-making facilities, complimentary breakfast, and access to an exclusive lounge.

Prices for private cabins start at around €153.

Can I book first-class accommodation?

Yes, premium accommodation is available on selected Portsmouth - Spain ferries. Brittany Ferries offers deluxe cabins and Commodore cabins or suites, which normally include more space and additional facilities.

Depending on the ship, premium accommodation may include a double bed, television, Wi-Fi, tea- and coffee-making facilities, complimentary breakfast, and access to the exclusive C-Club Lounge.

Can I book a seat?

Yes, numbered reclining seats are available on selected Portsmouth - Spain ferries. These are reserved seats in dedicated lounges and are usually a more affordable alternative to a private cabin.

However, as the Portsmouth - Bilbao and Portsmouth - Santander crossings are long and generally involve spending 2 nights at sea, booking a cabin is recommended for a more comfortable journey.

Prices start at around € 53.

Luggage

When traveling with Brittany Ferries, you can usually bring as many bags as you can carry on board by yourself, regardless of size or weight, at no extra cost.

If you are traveling with a vehicle, you can normally leave larger luggage items in your car during the crossing. Remember to take everything you will need during the crossing before leaving the car deck, as access to vehicles is normally restricted while the ferry is at sea.

Can I travel with my pet?

Pets are welcome on the Portsmouth - Spain ferries and must be included in the booking. On these long crossings, pets cannot remain inside the vehicle. Depending on the vessel and availability, they travel either:

• In a pet-friendly cabin with their owner
• In an onboard kennel

Pet-friendly cabins are located close to a designated exercise area and have suitable flooring for animals. If your pet travels in a kennel, you can visit it and use the nearby exercise area during the crossing. Spaces are limited, particularly in summer, so early booking is recommended.

Pets are not allowed in restaurants, passenger lounges, standard cabins or other public areas of the ferry. Dogs must be kept on a lead and wear a muzzle whenever they are outside their cabin or kennel and moving to or from the exercise area. Registered assistance dogs are exempt from the muzzle requirement.

What pet travel documents do I need?

Dogs, cats and ferrets traveling from the UK to Spain need valid EU pet-travel documentation. This normally includes:

• An Animal Health Certificate or valid EU Pet Passport
• A microchip fitted before the rabies vaccination
• A valid rabies vaccination

When returning to the UK, dogs must also receive tapeworm treatment from a veterinarian more than 24 hr and less than 120 hr before the scheduled arrival time. Brittany Ferries also offers an online pet-document pre-check shortly before departure.

Accessibility

The ferries traveling from Portsmouth to Spain offer facilities for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, including lifts between decks and a limited number of wheelchair-accessible cabins with adapted bathrooms.

Make sure to provide details of the assistance you need when booking and again at check-in. Brittany Ferries can arrange help with boarding and disembarkation, although procedures may vary depending on the port and vessel. Passengers requiring assistance should check in at least 60 min before departure and bring their own wheelchair or medical equipment.

Here are some useful tips for your ferry trip from Portsmouth to Spain:

• Keep in mind that Spain is 1 hour ahead of the UK. On Ferryhopper, departure and arrival times are shown in local time .
• As the crossing passes through the Bay of Biscay, the sea can occasionally be rough. If you are sensitive to motion, you may want to bring suitable seasickness medication.
• Since you will normally spend 1-2 nights at sea, it is a good idea to pack an overnight bag with toiletries, medication, chargers, and anything else you may need during the trip.
• For even more travel options, check out our detailed blog on UK - Spain ferries.

Where to take the ferry from Portsmouth to Spain

Ferries to Spain leave from Portsmouth International Port, which is roughly 2 km north of Portsmouth city centre. The port is directly connected to the M275 and is easily accessible from London, the Midlands and southern England.

At the terminal, passengers can find seating, Wi-Fi, a café, a convenience shop, toilets, baby-changing facilities, tourist information and parking.

How to get to the port of Portsmouth?

• By car: follow the M275 towards Portsmouth and continue to the end of the motorway, where the international ferry terminal is clearly signposted. From London, you can take the M3 or A3, while from the Midlands you can use the A34 and M3. Check whether the Portsmouth Clean Air Zone applies to your vehicle before travelling.
• By train: get off at Portsmouth & Southsea and rom there, you can take a 5-min taxi ride or walk to the port in approximately 20-30 min.
• By bus: First Bus services 8, X4 and X9, as well as Stagecoach service 20, stop near Portsmouth International Port.
• By coach: National Express operates services to the port from London Victoria and Heathrow Airport. Advance booking is recommended, particularly during weekends and holiday periods.
• By taxi: a taxi from Portsmouth & Southsea station normally takes around 5 min.

How early should I arrive at Portsmouth port?

We recommend arriving at Portsmouth International Port at least 60 min before departure for ferries to Spain.

If you are traveling with a pet, it is best to arrive at least 90 min before departure, as additional checks are required. We also suggest checking the exact check-in deadline shown on your e-ticket and allowing extra time during busy travel periods.

Which ports can you reach in Spain from Portsmouth?

From Portsmouth, you can travel directly to 2 ferry ports in northern Spain:

• Santander: ferries arrive at the Estación Marítima on Santander’s central waterfront. The terminal is around 500 m from the city’s railway and bus stations, making it convenient for both foot passengers and drivers. Santander is well placed for exploring Cantabria, Asturias, Castile and León, and central Spain.
• Bilbao: the ferry terminal is located in the port of Bilbao, near the town of Zierbena and outside the central urban area. Bilbao is a useful gateway to the Basque Country, northern Spain and the western Pyrenees, with motorway connections for onward travel.

Is Bilbao or Santander better for my trip?

Both routes are normally served all year round, with up to 2 sailings per week.