Pont-Aven is Brittany Ferries’ flagship and the largest ship in its fleet, carrying up to 2,400 passengers and 650 cars. She sails to France and Spain, with 650 cabins, an indoor swimming pool, two cinemas, an à la carte restaurant and a show bar: facilities Brittany Ferries says are normally only found on cruise ships.
She’s named after Pont-Aven, the small Breton town known as the “Cité des Peintres” because it has always drawn artists: Monet and Gauguin both painted there. The ship’s furnishings use the town’s colours, and its walls are hung with paintings of its scenery, including a Gauguin.
Where Pont-Aven sails
Pont-Aven is Brittany Ferries’ flagship cruise ferry to France and Spain. To France she sails Plymouth to Roscoff, sharing the route with the Armorique. In the 2027 timetable she runs:
- the Thursday overnight from Plymouth, leaving at 20:30 and arriving in Roscoff at 08:00 French time;
- the Sunday morning sailing from Roscoff, leaving at 09:45 and arriving in Plymouth at 14:00.
Plymouth to Roscoff runs from late March to early November; there are no sailings in winter. See the Plymouth to Roscoff guide for the full timetable.
Check Pont-Aven sailings and fares
Where is Pont-Aven now?
This live map shows Pont-Aven’s latest position and her track over the last 24 hours, from the ship’s AIS transmitter via VesselFinder. Tap or click the map to use it, and tap the ship for her speed, course and next port. Pont-Aven sails between Plymouth and Roscoff, and to Spain, so depending on the day you may find her in the western Channel or the Bay of Biscay.
Live map from VesselFinder. IMO 9268708.
Positions can be a few minutes old. For delays and cancellations, check Brittany Ferries’ sailing updates or call 0330 159 7000.
Pont-Aven cabins and seats
All 650 cabins are en-suite and air-conditioned. Whether you sleep through an overnight crossing or want a private space on a daytime sailing (when cabins are sold at a reduced rate), these are the options:
| Cabin or seat | What you get |
|---|---|
| 4-berth Commodore | Twin beds, a balcony, TV with video on demand, and complimentary continental breakfast or hot drinks served in your cabin |
| 4-berth De Luxe | Complimentary continental breakfast or hot drinks served in your cabin |
| 4-berth Club | Bunk-style beds, TV and tea-making facilities |
| 4-berth outside | Twin and bunk-style beds and a window |
| 4-berth inside | Twin and bunk-style beds |
| Pet-friendly 4-berth outside | A window, and laminate flooring with space for a standard-size pet bed |
| Pet-friendly 4-berth inside | Laminate flooring with space for a standard-size pet bed |
| Wheelchair-accessible 4-berth outside | Designed for wheelchair users; limited numbers, so book early |
| 2-berth outside | Bunk-style beds |
| 2-berth inside | Bunk-style beds |
| Reserved lounge seat | One of 47 seats in a lounge on deck 9, for passengers without a cabin |
| Cot in cabin | For infants up to 24 months; pre-book and it’s made up ready |
Commodore passengers can also use the Commodore Lounge on deck 8, which has two side patios.
Pont-Aven restaurants and bars
Food is freshly prepared by French chefs, and the menus are built with regional producers. Opening times change through the year, so check on board.
Le Flora (à la carte)
Pont-Aven’s elegant à la carte restaurant is at the back of the ship, so you can watch the sea slide by, and the chefs work in an open kitchen. The seasonal menus reflect the regions the ship serves, with a choice of French wines.
La Belle Angèle (self-service)
The self-service restaurant has dishes from around the world and French favourites, including minute steaks cooked to order, a salad buffet, desserts, and wine and beer. You can eat in the restaurant or in the larger seating area of Le Café du Festival, which looks out over the front of the ship.
Le Café du Festival
Sandwiches, cakes, pastries and hot and cold drinks, with a big seating area and TV screens at the front of the ship. It’s good for families, as the children’s soft play area is close by.
Le Grand Pavois (main bar)
The main lounge bar, towards the front of the ship, has seating on two decks joined by a sweeping staircase, so it feels like a cruise ship. It serves cocktails, beer, wine, hot and cold drinks and snacks, and it’s the home of the live entertainment, with big screens for sport and news.
Le Fastnet (piano bar)
A cocktail bar next to Le Flora, with a pianist; Brittany Ferries suggests it for an aperitif before dinner or a digestif afterwards.
Pool, cinemas and things to do on Pont-Aven
- Indoor swimming pool: a pool with sea views and sun loungers. It’s usually open from May to September, depending on the route and the weather. There’s no lifeguard, so children must be supervised. Ask at the information desk for opening times.
- Two cinemas: both with surround sound, seating 90 in total. Tickets go on sale at the information desk 15 minutes after departure.
- Live entertainment in Le Grand Pavois: bands, cabaret singers, magicians, tribute acts, children’s entertainers and DJs.
- For children: a playroom, and in peak season an entertainment programme of games and treasure hunts.
- For teenagers: the games room on deck 9, with the latest video games and an air hockey table.
- La Boutique on deck 8: wine, spirits, tobacco, perfume and cosmetics, toys, fashion, souvenirs and more. Wine, spirits and tobacco are sold at French prices, so they can’t be sold in UK waters or within 20 minutes of a UK port, and alcohol can’t be sold to under-18s. You can pay in euros or sterling, by cash or card, and mix the two.
- On deck: the promenade on deck 6 goes all the way round the ship, and the top deck is a calm spot for sea views, especially coming in and out of port.
- Lounges: the reserved seat lounge on deck 9, the Commodore Lounge on deck 8, and the mezzanine lounge above the main bar, with armchairs and sofas.
- Wi-Fi with four options to choose from.
- Baggage room on deck 6: ask at the information desk. It’s locked during the crossing and opens 20 to 30 minutes before arrival.
Brittany Ferries notes that facilities, services and entertainment can vary by route, date and time of year. Spa treatments are part of its Spanish sailings.
Pets on Pont-Aven
Where your pet stays depends on where you’re going:
- To France (Plymouth to Roscoff): in a pet-friendly cabin with you, or in your vehicle.
- To Spain: in a pet-friendly cabin, or for dogs, in a kennel. Cats must stay in a pet-friendly cabin on all sailings to Spain. Small kennels suit breeds such as Toy Poodles, King Charles Spaniels, Terriers and Jack Russells; large kennels suit German Shepherds, Labradors, Dalmatians, Boxers, Pointers and Setters.
On board:
- Your dog must be muzzled at all times in the port and on board whenever it’s outside your vehicle or its cabin or kennel, including in the exercise area. Brittany Ferries fines passengers who don’t muzzle their dog or who take a pet into a cabin that isn’t pet-friendly.
- After you park, crew will explain how to take your pet and your luggage to your cabin or the kennels using lift E, before the ship leaves port. There are some steps up to the kennels.
- Pets in cabins use the exercise area on deck 6; pets in kennels use the one on deck 9.
- An hour before arrival you’ll be asked to return to your cabin or the kennels, and crew will take you and your pet to your car, where your pet stays until arrival. You can’t stay in the car with it.
- Pets staying in your vehicle must remain there for the whole sailing, and can’t go into cabins, the exercise area or other public areas, except registered assistance dogs.
- In bad weather pets must stay in their pet-friendly cabin, and the exercise area closes.
- From 96 hours before departure you can check your pet’s documents with Brittany Ferries’ free online pet travel pre-check.
Accessibility on Pont-Aven
Pont-Aven has wheelchair-accessible 4-berth outside cabins, designed for wheelchair users. There aren’t many, so book early. Brittany Ferries publishes a separate Pont-Aven accessibility guide with deck plans. If you need special assistance, check in at least 60 minutes before departure.
Pont-Aven history and specification
Brittany Ferries signed a letter of intent with the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, on 22 February 2002. Pont-Aven’s keel was laid on 9 April 2003, and she was floated out on 13 September 2003. On sea trials in the North Sea in February 2004 she reached more than 28 knots, and she was handed over to Brittany Ferries on 27 February 2004.
She first arrived in Plymouth on 11 March 2004, passing the Val de Loire as it left on one of its last voyages to Santander. She made her maiden voyage to Santander on 24 March, with her first Roscoff crossing celebrated with a reception on 27 March and her first Cork crossing on 2 April. She was named in Roscoff on 26 April 2004.
| In service | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Shipyard | Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany |
| Gross tonnage | 41,700 |
| Length | 184.6 m |
| Beam | 30.9 m |
| Maximum draught | 6.8 m |
| Service speed | 27 knots |
| Engine power | 50,400 kW |
| Crew | 183 |
| Passengers | 2,400 |
| Cars | 650 |
| Cabins | 650 |
| Reserved lounge seats | 47 |
| IMO number | 9268708 |
Pont-Aven deck plans and ship guide
Brittany Ferries publishes a downloadable Pont-Aven ship guide with deck plans. In short: the promenade, the baggage room and the cabin exercise area are on deck 6; La Boutique and the Commodore Lounge are on deck 8; and the reserved seat lounge, the teenagers’ games room and the kennel exercise area are on deck 9.
Other ships on Brittany Ferries’ routes to France: Armorique and Saint-Malo. See the whole Brittany Ferries fleet.
Pont-Aven Ferry Guide FAQs
Is Pont-Aven Brittany Ferries' biggest ship?
Yes. Brittany Ferries describes Pont-Aven as its flagship and the largest ship in its fleet, carrying up to 2,400 passengers and 650 cars.
Where is Pont-Aven now?
You can see Pont-Aven's live position, and her track over the last 24 hours, on the map on this page, which uses VesselFinder's AIS data. Her IMO number is 9268708. For delays and cancellations, check Brittany Ferries' sailing updates.
Which routes does Pont-Aven sail?
Pont-Aven sails to France and Spain. To France she sails Plymouth to Roscoff, where in 2027 she runs the Thursday overnight sailing from Plymouth and the Sunday morning sailing from Roscoff.
Does Pont-Aven have a swimming pool?
Yes. Pont-Aven has an indoor pool with sea views and sun loungers. It is usually open from May to September, depending on the route and the weather. There is no lifeguard, so children must be supervised.
How many cabins does Pont-Aven have?
650, all en-suite and air-conditioned, from 4-berth Commodore cabins with a balcony to 2-berth inside cabins. There are also 47 reserved lounge seats.
What restaurants are on Pont-Aven?
Le Flora, the à la carte restaurant at the back of the ship; La Belle Angèle, the self-service restaurant; and Le Café du Festival for snacks. The bars are Le Grand Pavois and the Le Fastnet piano bar.
Does Pont-Aven have cinemas?
Yes, two cinemas with surround sound and 90 seats in total. Tickets go on sale at the information desk 15 minutes after departure.
Can I take my dog on Pont-Aven?
Yes. On sailings to France your pet stays in a pet-friendly cabin or in your vehicle. On sailings to Spain pets stay in a pet-friendly cabin or, for dogs, in a kennel. Dogs must be muzzled whenever they are outside your vehicle or their accommodation.
Does Pont-Aven have Wi-Fi?
Yes. Brittany Ferries offers an enhanced Wi-Fi service on Pont-Aven with four options. Ask at the information desk on board.
Where can I see Pont-Aven's deck plans?
Brittany Ferries publishes a downloadable Pont-Aven ship guide with deck plans, and a separate accessibility guide, on its website.