New HIGH SPEED FERRY service with BRITTANY FERRIES

BRITTANY FERRIES has announced today the beginning of a new HIGH SPEED FERRY Service from Portsmouth to Le Havre, the new operation will link the UK Port with Normandie starting 17.5.2013 and will run throughout the summer until September, BF will use the NORMANDIE EXPRESS, the crossing will take approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes, the last HIGH SPEED service on this route was secured by LD LINES with their fast craft NORMAN ARROW which was withdrawn from service in 2011. Photos included, NORMANDIE EXPRESS sailing from Portsmouth in June 2011 and NORMAN ARROW departing Le Havre also in June of 2011, the NORMAN SPIRIT can be seen in one of the photos, at the time the only Cruise Ferry operating on the route, this ship has been replaced by the NORMAN VOYAGER and is today operating on the Dover/Calais route still operated by LD LINES.

BRITTANY FERRIES is 40 years old this year

                                 NORMANDIE arriving Portsmouth 27.3.2012

                                 PONT-AVEN entering Portsmouth 7.1.2012

                                CAP FINISTERE, off Santander 27.11.2010

           MONT-ST-MICHEL and BRETAGNE, Portsmouth 24.6.2011 and 18.4.2012

2013 will be a special year for BRITTANY FERRIES, this great Cruise Ferry Operator celebrates 40 years of service, BF has been part of my life for the past two decades, I have travelled over 200 times on their ships, very fond memories of the VAL DE LOIRE, DUC DE NORMANDIE and QUIBERON, in March of 2004 I was on the PONT-AVEN's maiden voyage and since then I have travelled on the ship 21 times, developed strong links with BRETAGNE built in 1989 the first real Cruise Ferry of this prestigious company, still today one of my favourite passenger Cruise Ferries. This year I have several crossings planned with BF and can't wait for them to happen, it is always a special occasion for me when I step on board these marvellous ships, a big thank you to BF for being part of my life, for all the wonderful moments spent on board even during force 10 storms on the famous Bay of Biscay and of course for the excellent food served on board. FERRY PUBLICATIONS is organizing a celebration cruise this May, for all the details please click here also for other posts and photos of BF ships why not pay a visit to my Blog dedicated to this French Company now founded 40 years ago here. Included photos of part of the fleet, today BF has in service, PONT-AVEN, CAP FINISTERE, COTENTIN, MONT-ST-MICHEL, BARFLEUR, NORMANDIE, ARMORIQUE and BRETAGNE

Ship Spotting at Southampton and SAILAWAY CRUISE

ALSCF has been to Southampton last thursday for the SAILAWAY CRUISE with BLUE FUNNEL. Six Cruise Ships were in Port, five of them due to sail in the evening, AZURA, BLACK WATCH, QUEEN MARY 2, ROTTERDAM and QUEEN VICTORIA, the sixth one, SAGA RUBY delayed due to engine failure. For other "posts" of the Cruise Ships in Southampton on this day, please visit my CRUISE SHIPS AND LINERS by clicking here. Photos 10.1.2013

HIGHLIGHT OF 2012

My trip on Cruise Ferry "IKARUS PALACE" was my highlight of last year, it was my very first trip on the ship, a beautiful Ferry operated by GRIMALDI LINES on the Livorno/Barcelona/Tangier service. Photo by Andrew Cooke copyright. Please visit September 2012 archive of this blog for all about this Cruise Ferry