Brittany 3rd to 17 July

[gordonc]

Bit slow posting this but have been busy since we got back!
We sailed from Portsmouth on the Val (first time) on Saturday 3rd July. Waited at Southsea to see her coming in and get some pics. She was 45 minutes late in probably due to the high winds, the Solent was certainly rough enough. We booked in, boarded at around 2000 hours and found our cabin on deck 11, cleaners still very much in evidence. Cabin was clean and tidy but noticed that the shade above the mirror light was completely missing and was noticeable that other parts of the ship looked a little worn. This has been mentioned by others.

We sailed around thirty minutes late and after a quick look on deck had dinner in the self service restaurant. Perfectly acceptable and reasonably priced. Along to the bar for the magic show, the James Long experience, not the best we've seen! Music was provided by the Avengers a good mix of music but again not hte best band we've seen on our travels with BF.

Arrival in St Malowas on time after a comfortable crossing and we were impressed by the way the Val handled the choppy conditions on the early part of the crossing. We were quickly off the Val and made our way in pouring rain to the wine shop just up from the port and then on to our Gite.

After two weeks which went too quickly, we made our way back on the 17th. to St. Malo to catch the 1915 sailing on the Bretagne. Coming in to St. Malo the clutch pedal broke and we had to be delivered to the ramp on the back of a truck. No wine purchased!!!! BF staff dealt with us very efficiently and my wife and son were able toboard befeore the foot passengers while I waited with the car. A good push from Some St. Malo dockers got me on the ferry( last on board) and I met up with the others and found our outside cabin. We departed bang on time in extremley calm conditions and after a farewell to France made our way to the main restaurant and the delights of them menu buffet. This was another first in all our years of traveliing and was fantastic. If you haven't tried it you've missed out!

To the bar for the magic show after purchasing some wine to be delivered to the car. It made up a bit for our earlier disappoinment although prices were a bit higher.
Missed the start of the excellent magic show so didn't catch the name but one of the best we've seen on BF. The girl in the shop had managed to put through the case price as the bottle price and when it came to £221 I nearly collapsed! They couldn't process the refund as the engines had apparently failed in the morning causing a complete loss of power for a while.

The band was again the Avengers and we went on deck to see the light of Jersey and the Normandy coast pass by in a flat calm. Bretagne was as good as ever and we arrived in Portsmouth on time at 0530. The car deck was cleared a breakdown truck was backed on, our car hoisted on board and we were off back to Scotland at 0600 hours, not bad at all!

Once again top marks to BF. The Val was impressive and I'd be sorry if she was sold. Need to try the Pont Aven now as all reports seem to be very good. Thats all folks!

[Yann Ferries]

Good report, gordonc

[quote author=gordonc link=board=2;threadid=1048;start=0#msg11984 date=1091177482]
We booked in, boarded at around 2000 hours and found our cabin on deck 11, cleaners still very much in evidence.

[/quote]

For information:
On a ferry of the P&O Ferries (at the beginning of Portsmouth), you at least can boarded 1 hour before the departure of the ship.

[quote author=gordonc link=board=2;threadid=1048;start=0#msg11984 date=1091177482]

Coming in to St. Malo the clutch pedal broke and we had to be delivered to the ramp on the back of a truck. No wine purchased!!!!

[/quote]

You had chance on this blow there!!!

[quote author=gordonc link=board=2;threadid=1048;start=0#msg11984 date=1091177482]

Need to try the Pont Aven now as all reports seem to be very good.

[/quote]

I you it council highly

Yann Ferries