Mont St Michel is one of Brittany Ferries’ two ships on Portsmouth to Caen. She’s big: up to 2,200 passengers and 800 cars, with 224 cabins, 419 reserved seats and two cinemas. Pets stay in your vehicle on this ship.
She’s named after Le Mont-Saint-Michel, the abbey on its rocky island off the Normandy coast and one of France’s best-known landmarks. Built in the Netherlands, she made her maiden voyage from Caen to Portsmouth on 20 December 2002, replacing the Duc de Normandie, and has sailed the route ever since.
Where Mont St Michel sails
Mont St Michel sails Portsmouth to Caen, landing at Ouistreham, 15 km north of Caen. She shares the route with the hybrid Guillaume de Normandie, and between them they run up to three sailings a day each way:
- a morning and an afternoon crossing, each taking around 6 hours;
- an overnight crossing, taking an average of 7 to 8 hours.
Which ship you get depends on the sailing, and times vary, so check live times and the ship for your date. If you’re travelling with a dog and want it with you, choose a Guillaume de Normandie sailing. See the Portsmouth to Caen guide for the timetable.
Check Mont St Michel sailings and fares
Where is Mont St Michel now?
This live map shows the ship’s latest position and her track over the last 24 hours, from her AIS transmitter via VesselFinder. Tap or click the map to use it, and tap the ship for her speed, course and next port. You’ll usually find her in Portsmouth or Ouistreham, or crossing the Channel between them.
Live map from VesselFinder. IMO 9238337.
Positions can be a few minutes old. For delays and cancellations, check Brittany Ferries’ sailing updates or call 0330 159 7000.
Mont St Michel cabins and reserved seats
All cabins are en-suite. On daytime sailings Brittany Ferries sells cabins at a reduced rate, so you can have a private space for a nap or with small children.
| Cabin or seat | What you get |
|---|---|
| 4-berth Commodore | Twin beds, a window, TV and DVD player, and a complimentary continental breakfast or choice of hot drinks served in your cabin |
| 4-berth outside | Bunk-style beds and a window |
| 4-berth inside | Bunk-style beds |
| 2-berth inside | Bunk-style beds |
| 2-berth inside, wheelchair-accessible | Air-conditioned, with an accessible bathroom |
| 2-berth outside, wheelchair-accessible | Air-conditioned, with an accessible bathroom |
| Reserved lounge seat | Your own seat in a lounge, a dedicated place to relax without booking a cabin; 419 on board |
| Cot in cabin | For infants up to 24 months; pre-book and it’s made up ready in your cabin |
Unlike the Guillaume de Normandie, there are no Club, pet-friendly or allergy-friendly cabins. With 419 reserved seats she’s a good choice if you want a cheaper alternative to a cabin.
Check Mont St Michel cabin prices
Mont St Michel restaurants, café and bar
Opening times change through the year, so check on board.
Les Romantiques (deck 8)
The à la carte restaurant, at the back of the ship. Its seasonal menus are built with regional producers, with a good choice of French wines; ask your waiter for a recommendation. It’s closed in winter, when the self-service restaurant stays open.
La Galerie (deck 8)
A large self-service restaurant with dishes from around the world and French favourites, including minute steaks cooked to order. There’s a salad buffet, desserts, and wine and beer.
Le Café du Festival
Sandwiches, cakes, pastries and hot and cold drinks. It opens onto the sun deck and promenade, so you can sit outside in good weather, and the children’s soft play area is here too, which makes it a good base for families.
Blue Note Bar
The only bar on board, in the centre of the ship. It serves French wines, cocktails, hot and cold drinks and snacks, with seating around the stage, sofas and quieter spots by the windows, and TV screens for big matches and news.
There are also vending machines.
Things to do on Mont St Michel
- Two cinemas (deck 7): recent films, including some for children, with comfortable seats and surround sound. Buy tickets at the information desk from 15 minutes after departure; Brittany Ferries publishes cinema listings with films and prices.
- Entertainment in the Blue Note Bar: it changes with who’s on board, from quizzes and games to sets by the ship’s singers and the occasional silent disco. Pick up the programme at the information desk or see the board at the bar.
- For children: a play area on deck 9, children’s entertainers in the school holidays, games and treasure hunts in peak season, and visits from Pierre le Bear.
- Video games room (decks 8 and 10): aimed at teenagers.
- Sun decks (decks 8, 9 and 10): plenty of outdoor space, best when coming in and out of port.
- Wi-Fi: four options to choose from.
- Baby changing on decks 8 and 9, and the information desk on deck 7.
- Baggage room (deck 7): ask at the information desk. It’s locked during the crossing and opens about 20 to 30 minutes before arrival, and you use it at your own risk.
Shopping on Mont St Michel
The boutiques on decks 7 and 8 sell wine, spirits, tobacco, perfume and cosmetics, plus toys, sweets, fashion, souvenirs, sunglasses, jewellery and more.
- Wine, spirits and tobacco are sold at French prices, so they can’t be sold in UK waters: sales stop 20 minutes before arrival in the UK, although the shops may stay open for other goods.
- You can pay in euros or pounds, by cash or card, and mix payment methods. Prices are shown in both currencies.
- Alcohol can’t be sold to anyone under 18.
Pets on Mont St Michel
On Mont St Michel, pets stay in your vehicle for the whole sailing. They aren’t allowed in cabins or any public areas, except registered assistance dogs.
- Before you leave the car: Brittany Ferries strongly recommends leaving a window open for ventilation, and some water. The car decks can feel warm when you park, but the temperature is regulated and checked once the ship is at sea.
- Visits: on daytime sailings you can check on your pet with a badge from the information desk, where you leave your passport or driving licence. Visits are for one person per vehicle, for up to 15 minutes, with a crew member, and your pet must stay in the vehicle. Ask at the desk for visit times. Visits depend on the weather and the captain can cancel them.
- No visits on overnight sailings.
- Muzzles: dogs must be muzzled whenever they’re outside your vehicle.
- Pre-check: from 96 hours before departure you can check your pet’s documents online with Brittany Ferries’ free pet travel pre-check.
- Paperwork: your dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and an animal health certificate. Coming back to Great Britain, it needs tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 hours and 5 days before arrival.
If you’d rather keep your dog with you, the Guillaume de Normandie on the same route has pet-friendly cabins and kennels.
Accessibility on Mont St Michel
- Lifts reach every passenger deck.
- Cabins: there are 3 wheelchair-accessible cabins, inside and outside, with an alarm, a telephone and a wheelchair-accessible bathroom with shower. Brittany Ferries describes the beds differently on different pages (twin beds or bunk-style berths), so check when you book if it matters.
- Public areas: all are wheelchair-accessible except the cinemas. Accessible toilets are on decks 7, 8, 9 and 10. Bring your own wheelchair if you need one on board.
- Check in 60 minutes before departure. With a vehicle, the marshal puts a sticker on your windscreen so the crew can try to park you near a lift.
- On foot: port staff can usually go with you on and off the ship. When you arrive, go to the information desk and the crew will arrange for you to be collected.
Mont St Michel history and specification
Brittany Ferries ordered her from the Van der Giessen shipyard in the Netherlands in June 2001, to replace the Duc de Normandie and sail alongside the Normandie on Portsmouth to Caen. Her keel was laid on 7 June 2001, she was launched on 16 March 2002 and delivered on 11 December 2002. Her maiden voyage left Caen for Portsmouth at 16:15 on 20 December 2002. Today she shares the route with the Normandie’s replacement, the Guillaume de Normandie.
| Launched | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Shipyard | Van der Giessen de Noord, Netherlands |
| Length | 174 m |
| Beam | 28.5 m |
| Maximum draught | 6.2 m |
| Gross tonnage | 34,000 |
| Power | 21,600 kW |
| Service speed | 22 knots |
| Passengers | 2,200 |
| Cars | 800, with over 2 km of vehicle space |
| Cabins | 224, with 774 berths |
| Reserved lounge seats | 419 |
| Crew | 135 |
| IMO number | 9238337 |
On busier sailings a small number of vehicles may be parked in an open area on deck.
Mont St Michel deck plans
Brittany Ferries publishes a Mont St Michel ship guide with deck plans (PDF) and an accessibility guide (PDF). The ship guide dates from 2019, so some details may have changed. In short: the information desk, cinemas, a boutique and the baggage room are on deck 7; Les Romantiques, La Galerie, a boutique and a sun deck are on deck 8; the play area and a sun deck are on deck 9; and there’s more sun deck on deck 10.
Other ships on Brittany Ferries’ routes to France: Guillaume de Normandie, Saint-Malo, Pont-Aven and Armorique. See the whole Brittany Ferries fleet.
Book a crossing on Mont St Michel
Mont St Michel Ferry Guide FAQs
Which route does the Mont St Michel sail?
Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham), alongside the Guillaume de Normandie. The route has up to three sailings a day each way: morning, afternoon and overnight. Daytime crossings take around 6 hours and overnight crossings 7 to 8 hours.
Where is the Mont St Michel now?
You can see her 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 9238337. For delays and cancellations, check Brittany Ferries' sailing updates.
Can I take my dog on the Mont St Michel?
Yes, but your pet stays in your vehicle for the whole sailing. Pets aren't allowed in cabins or public areas, except registered assistance dogs. On daytime sailings one person per vehicle can visit for up to 15 minutes, with a badge from the information desk. There are no visits on overnight sailings. If you'd rather your dog was with you, the Guillaume de Normandie on the same route has pet-friendly cabins and kennels.
Does the Mont St Michel have a cinema?
Yes, two, both on deck 7, with surround sound and recent films, including some for children. Tickets go on sale at the information desk 15 minutes after departure. The cinemas aren't wheelchair-accessible.
What restaurants are on the Mont St Michel?
Les Romantiques, the à la carte restaurant at the back of the ship on deck 8 (closed in winter), and La Galerie, the self-service restaurant on deck 8. There's also Le Café du Festival for snacks and the Blue Note Bar, the only bar on board.
What is a Commodore cabin on the Mont St Michel?
The top cabin on board: a 4-berth cabin with twin beds, a window and a TV with DVD player, with a complimentary continental breakfast or a choice of hot drinks served in your cabin.
How many passengers does the Mont St Michel carry?
Up to 2,200 passengers and 800 cars. She has 224 cabins with 774 berths, and 419 reserved lounge seats.
When was the Mont St Michel built?
She was built by Van der Giessen de Noord in the Netherlands, launched on 16 March 2002 and delivered to Brittany Ferries on 11 December 2002. Her maiden voyage was from Caen to Portsmouth on 20 December 2002.