Portsmouth to Cherbourg Ferries

The Portsmouth to Cherbourg route provides the shortest ferry crossing to France from Portsmouth. While useful for daytime crossings this benefit is lost on overnight crossings when ferries intentionally slow down, although prices are often cheaper than other ferry crossings available from Portsmouth.

Ferries from Portsmouth

Unless your destination is North-East or Eastern France then a cross channel ferry from Portsmouth is an excellent option. Portsmouth is the UKs second busiest ferry port, being more central and often more convenient than Poole or Plymouth. Although ferry crossings from Portsmouth are longer than those from Dover this is often more than compensated for by shorter driving times and distances once in France. A good selection of destinations and ferry operators help to keep ferry prices competitive and you can choose from either daytime or nighttime ferries. If choosing an overnight ferry it's recommended to book a cabin to make the most of your time aboard and get some good rest before starting your holiday in France!

Ferries to Cherbourg

Cherbourg is located on the northern point of the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy and has been a port since the Vikings first arrived in France. A good selection of ferry services operate from a large modern ferry terminal, with Condor Ferries running a service to Portsmouth, while Brittany Ferries offer crossings to both Portsmouth and Poole.

One of the main benefits of getting a ferry to Cherbourg is shorter journey times compared to ferries to Saint Malo or Le Havre, but unless you're staying on the Cherbourg peninsula you'll need to drive a little further to reach your final destination. Fear not though - the roads linking Cherbourg to the rest of France are excellent and you can quickly be on your way.

It's unfortunate that Cherbourg itself doesn't offer much in the way of tourist attractions, but if you want to explore a little before hitting the road the Cité de la Mer is a maritime museum that draws visitors from surrounding areas. In addition to ferries the port is also used by modern cruise ships, but Cherbourg also has historic ties with the RMS Titanic - it was the first stop of the ill-fated cruise liner on the voyage that ultimately led to it's sinking after a collision with an iceberg.