Portsmouth to St Malo Ferry Information Complete Guide

Brittany Ferries is the exclusive operator of the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry route. They’ve operated this service since 1976, making them the longest-established ferry company on this route. They operate two modern cruise-ferries: the Saint Malo (primary vessel) and the Armorique (operates part of year), both offering excellent onboard facilities including restaurants, bars, shops, cinemas, and over 700 cabins.

The ferry crossing from Portsmouth to St Malo takes 11-12 hours. The evening departure (20:15) is an overnight crossing, arriving in St Malo the next morning around 08:00-09:00 French time. During summer, there’s also a day sailing (09:45 departure) taking approximately 11 hours. This is actual crossing time – you should also allow 60 minutes for check-in before departure (90 with pets).

There is 1 daily sailing on the Portsmouth to St Malo route during the operating season (January 30 to November 1). The service does not operate from November 2 to January 29 (winter closure). The evening departure time is typically 20:15 but can vary between 20:15 and 21:45 depending on tidal conditions – this allows the ship to arrive at St Malo at high tide. This means 7 weekly sailings when operating. See our complete ferry timetable for exact dates and tide-adjusted departure times.

Yes, foot passengers are welcome on the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry. Portsmouth Harbour railway station is a 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal, with regular trains from London Waterloo (90 mins). Foot passenger fares start from £53. Note that this is an overnight crossing, so most foot passengers book a cabin (from £28pp sharing a 4-berth). See our complete foot passenger guide for detailed instructions.

Both Brittany Ferries ships offer extensive facilities including à la carte restaurants with waiter service, self-service buffet restaurants, multiple bars with sea views, duty-free shops, cinemas showing recent films, children’s play areas, over 700 private cabins, comfortable reclining seats, and free Wi-Fi. Accessible facilities include lifts to all passenger decks and adapted cabins. See our complete facilities guide.

Yes, pets are welcome on the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry. Dogs, cats, ferrets, and other small pets can travel. Pets travelling in vehicles can stay in your car (you can visit them during crossing). Foot passengers can use onboard kennels (£35+) or book a pet-friendly cabin. You’ll need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC), microchip, rabies vaccination, and tapeworm treatment (dogs only, 1-5 days before travel). See our complete pet travel guide for full requirements.

Cabins are strongly recommended for the overnight Portsmouth to St Malo crossing. While not mandatory, a cabin provides a private space with beds, shower, and toilet for the 11-12 hour journey. Cabin prices start from £28 per person when sharing a 4-berth cabin. Two, three, and four-berth cabins are available. Reclining seats are available as a cheaper option, but cabins offer much better rest. See our complete cabin guide for prices and booking advice.

You should arrive at Portsmouth International Port at least 90 minutes before your scheduled departure time. Check-in closes 45 minutes before departure (90 if you have pets), so arriving early is essential. During peak season (June-September) and bank holidays, arriving 2 hours early is recommended to avoid stress. Foot passengers should arrive at least 45 minutes (90 with pets) before departure. See our complete check-in guide for detailed timing advice.