{"id":38729,"date":"2020-10-28T10:16:52","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T10:16:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourtour.co.uk\/home\/?p=38729"},"modified":"2020-10-28T11:35:27","modified_gmt":"2020-10-28T11:35:27","slug":"ferry-to-spain-portsmouth-to-santander-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourtour.co.uk\/home\/ferry-to-spain-portsmouth-to-santander-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Ferry to Spain, Portsmouth to Santander and Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I know, I know! When we took the ferry to Spain (Portsmouth to Santander) at the start of 2020 we had such a bad crossing<\/a> I said ‘never again’. But, in my defence, that was before the world was turned upside down by Covid-19. Sitting at home and looking through all the options, getting the stomach churner felt like the safest way to reach Spain. Let’s face it, I wouldn’t be leaving our cabin or interacting with anyone. So, in a rash moment of bravery or foolishness we booked it before I had chance to change my mind. After a few relaxing days on Hayling Island,<\/a> we made the half hour trip to the ferry port. Armed with seasickness tablets, wrist bands, a packet of ginger biscuits and a cabin in the middle of the ship I felt sick with nerves, but I knew I could do this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"seasickness<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Brittany Ferries had provided us with a list of things to do in order to keep everyone safe on the ferry. One of these was to wear a mask (not a scarf or bandana) at all times when in public areas on the ferry, at the port and at check in. We donned our masks as we reached the front of the queue, only to remove them a couple of minutes later so the lady could check our faces matched our passports, having a bit of a laugh with the immigration lady and lightening the mood. I wonder if maybe we should tippex a mask onto a our passport photos to make life easier? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were given more safety instructions, and offered a copy of the Passenger Locator Form that you need to fill in to enter Spain, so don’t worry if you haven’t had chance to print one out before you arrive. We were very pleased to see that we weren’t the only motorhomes and campers making the crossing, there were around 15 on board. Each vehicle was given a coloured sticker which identified which area your cabin was on the boat, so when we boarded we were able to go to our cabin without bumping into anyone else. As soon as we got into the cabin I pulled out the hand sanitiser and anti-bacterial wipes, the cabin was spotlessly clean, but for my own peace of mind everything got a thorough wipe over, including all light switches, door handles and heating controller. We were asked to remain in our cabins as much as possible, so when I did venture outside to see Portsmouth as we left, the ship was eerily quiet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Portsmouth
The Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales were there to see us off.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"In
Can you tell from my face that I am not looking forward to this?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The crossing this time was much smoother. I avoided reading and anything else that might make me feel queasy, opting to put on my PJ’s at 6pm (which isn’t normal behaviour and felt like a treat) and climbed into bed where I listened to an audio book I had downloaded onto my phone to help pass the hours. I slept surprisingly well, but in the early morning things did start to get choppy. I felt on the edge of sea sickness, not actually feeling sick but still not feeling right. Luckily it only lasted for a few hours by which point it was daylight and I could look out and watch the horizon again. Jay went for a wander around the boat a few times, finding it almost devoid of people except on the deck with the restaurants where there were a few people, one of whom was embarrassed he’d forgotten to put his mask on and had been reminded by the crew he needed one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we entered the port area in Santander we were asked to leave our cabins and wait to be called to the car decks. Announcements again reminded everyone they should be wearing masks and keeping a safe distance apart – which in Spain is 1.5 metres and 2m in the UK, but the ship was on British time, in a Spanish port and is a French boat. To avoid any confusion we found an empty area of the deck and waited there. There were a group of British fellas further down the deck who didn’t want to obey the mask rule, one was even wearing on the back of his head. I think they might be in for a bit of a financial shock if they do that in Spain as on the spot fines are issued by the police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"In<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Pilot
The pilot boarding our ship to dock us at Santander – these guys have massive kahunas!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before we had docked the first passengers were called to their cars, and almost as slowly as the ship nudged sideways into the dock the decks emptied. We finally drove off a little over an hour later as we’d been squeezed into an area where lorries were having to reverse to get out. As we waited staff came round to collect our Passenger Locator Forms and take our temperature. The thermometer was pointed at our foreheads and beeped, the chap nodded and we were allowed to go – we’d made it! Would I get the ferry to Spain again? Yes, after this experience I think I would as it not only was a better crossing, but we felt safe on board too with extra the measures in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n