Which ferry are P&O using on the Portsmouth-Cherbourg route?

[Kaz]

Are P&O still using the two old 'Pride' vessels on the Portsmouth Cherbourg crossing? Which vessels are they using now that they have the competition of BF on the route? Pride of Hampshire could not compete with any BF vessel in a million years!!

[stena voyager]

P&O are now using the former Irish Ferries vessel the Ilse if Innisfree. They have renamed her the Pride of Cherbourg. The also operate the Cherbourg Express on this service.

[Kaz]

Thanks for that...do you know what happened to the old vessels? Pride of Hampshire and erm erm what was the other one called??

[Phil K]

Both of them went to El Salam. Pride of Hamphire is now running out of Sete on charter to Comnav on a 36hr crossing i believe. The other one was called Pride of Cherbourg, i'm not sure if she is still partnering her sister or not..

[Normandie]

oh well, and if you want to see what these ships are looking like now, you can visit this link here. They do have also some other ex. P&O ships in their fleet, so it seems they are satisfied with what they get.
http://www.elsalammaritime.com/

[memorykarl]

the other twin is a al salam vessel as well, both were re fitted and are still in use

here is a pic of the new portsmouth - cherbourg vessel that P&O are using



(taken from www.portsmouth-ferries.com )

[Kaz]

Thanks for clearing that one up. Is this Pride of Cherbourg a brand new vessel? Good photo but I dont think its the prettiest ferry I've ever seen. Not sure if it is an improvement looks wise on its predecessors. Sure the interior is a vast improvement tho! Couldnt have been any older or tireder than the others, BF blows P&O away as far as the competition on this route goes...

[Normandie]

Yes, I find it very sad, to admit that BF´s standards are raising especially by using specially for BF built ships while P&O are falling behind. I would have liked to see rather two standard-equal companies with a bit different marketing e.g. BF giving ships a French touch and P&O doing good marketing with English style.

[memorykarl]

this ship was an ex irish ferries ship, purpose built as a ropax ferry for the irish routes she was used for some years before being replaced by the ulysses. once laid up she was brought by P&O for the portsmouth - cherbourg route and the old vessels were sold. and she is ONLY 9 years old

technical details

Shipyard: Van der Giessen De Noord, Netherlands
Yard Number: 963
Launch: 27 January 1995
Delivery to Owner: 13 May 1995
Length: 181,6 m
Length in Waterline: 132,60 m
Width in car deck: 23,4 m
Lane Metres: 1,780 m
Gross tonnage: 22,365 BRZ / GT
Speed: 21.0 knots
Load capacity: 600 cars
Passengers: 1660 persons.
Cabins: 132 berths, with wc and/or sink
Crew: 90 persons
Owners: Irish Continental Group PLC
Flag: Portsmouth
Former Name: Isle of Innisfree
Engines: 4x Sulzer-Alpha diesel 8 cylinder

she is certainly a nice ship inside an example is below

o'reillys bar


the shop




i hope this gives you an insight into the ferry

and thanks to POFE for images and info

[Kaz]

Niiicceee!! Thanks, got a voucher to do a P&O trip for a fiver, thats why my interest in the Portsmouth route as its the nearest for me. Its certainly a million times better than the two older vessels... off puttng to say the least.... i've always sailed BF since.... not that id turn down a trip on ANY ferry!!