These are every ship sailing to France from England and the Channel Islands, from the 230.5 m P&O Pioneer and Liberté on Dover to Calais to Brittany Ferries’ cruise ferries to Normandy and Brittany. The ship can make a real difference to your crossing: whether you get a cabin, a cinema, a pool, or somewhere your dog can stay with you.
Every ship at a glance
| Ship | Company | Route to France | In service | Passengers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pont-Aven | Brittany Ferries | Plymouth to Roscoff | 2004 | 2,400 | 184.6 m |
| Armorique | Brittany Ferries | Plymouth to Roscoff; some winter sailings to Caen, Cherbourg and St Malo | 2009 | 1,500 | 168.3 m |
| Saint-Malo | Brittany Ferries | Portsmouth to St Malo | 2025 | 1,290 | 194 m |
| Guillaume de Normandie | Brittany Ferries | Portsmouth to Caen | 2025 | 1,300 | 194.7 m |
| Mont St Michel | Brittany Ferries | Portsmouth to Caen | 2002 | 2,200 | 174 m |
| Barfleur | Brittany Ferries | Rosslare to Cherbourg from 12 October 2026 (Poole to Cherbourg until October 2026) | 1992 | 900 | 157.65 m |
| Voyager | Brittany Ferries | Guernsey to St Malo (and Poole to Guernsey) | 2000 (built) | 850 | 97.22 m |
| Islander | Brittany Ferries | Guernsey to St Malo; Guernsey to Cherbourg from November 2026 | 2005 (built) | 400 | Not published |
| P&O Pioneer | P&O Ferries | Dover to Calais | 2023 | 1,350 | 230.5 m |
| P&O Liberté | P&O Ferries | Dover to Calais | 2024 | 1,350 | 230.5 m |
| Spirit of France | P&O Ferries | Dover to Calais | 2012 | 1,750 | 213 m |
| Côte d’Opale | DFDS | Dover to Calais | 2021 | 1,000 | 214 m |
| Côte des Dunes | DFDS | Dover to Calais | 2001 | 1,500 | 186 m |
| Côte des Flandres | DFDS | Dover to Calais | 2004 | 1,500 | 186 m |
| Dover Seaways | DFDS | Dover to Dunkirk (also Calais) | 2005 | 1,000 | 186 m |
| Delft Seaways | DFDS | Dover to Dunkirk (also Calais) | 2005 | 1,000 | 186 m |
| Dunkerque Seaways | DFDS | Dover to Dunkirk (also Calais) | 2005 | 1,000 | 186 m |
| Seven Sisters | DFDS | Newhaven to Dieppe | 2005–2006 | Not published | Not published |
| Côte d’Albâtre | DFDS | Newhaven to Dieppe | 2005–2006 | Not published | Not published |
| Isle of Inishmore | Irish Ferries | Dover to Calais | 1997 | Not published | Not published |
| Oscar Wilde | Irish Ferries | Dover to Calais | On the route since 2024 | 2,000 | 213 m |
“In service” is the year the ship started sailing for the company. The Spirit of France has sailed Dover to Calais since February 2012, and the Oscar Wilde sailed for P&O as the Spirit of Britain before Irish Ferries renamed her in 2024. “Not published” means the ferry company doesn’t give that figure.
From the Channel Islands, Brittany Ferries’ Voyager and Islander sail Guernsey to St Malo (and, from November 2026, the Islander to Cherbourg), and DFDS’s Tarifa Jet sails Jersey to St Malo.
Which ship has what
| If you want | Ships |
|---|---|
| A swimming pool | Pont-Aven only (indoor, usually May to September) |
| A cinema | Pont-Aven, Armorique, Mont St Michel |
| Free video on demand | Saint-Malo, Guillaume de Normandie |
| Your dog with you on a short crossing | P&O’s Pet Lounge (Dover to Calais); Irish Ferries’ Pet Den (Isle of Inishmore, Oscar Wilde) |
| A pet-friendly cabin | Saint-Malo, Guillaume de Normandie, Pont-Aven, Armorique, Islander; DFDS’s Seven Sisters and Côte d’Albâtre |
| Kennels | Saint-Malo, Guillaume de Normandie (Brittany Ferries); Seven Sisters and Côte d’Albâtre (DFDS) |
| Pets in your vehicle only | Mont St Michel, Barfleur; all DFDS ships from Dover |
| Hybrid, lower-emission ships | Saint-Malo, Guillaume de Normandie (LNG-electric); P&O Pioneer and Liberté |
| An all-inclusive lounge on Dover to Calais | P&O’s Club Lounge (£29) and Irish Ferries’ Club Class (£29) |
| The most reserved seats | Mont St Michel (419), Armorique (336) |
| A suite | The Admiral suite on the Saint-Malo, the largest cabin in Brittany Ferries’ fleet |
| The fastest ship | Voyager, a catamaran that can reach 42 knots (Brittany Ferries’ fastest) |
| A recliner seat included in the fare | DFDS’s Seven Sisters and Côte d’Albâtre (Newhaven to Dieppe) |
Facilities change, and some depend on the season, so check the full ship guide and confirm when you book.
Brittany Ferries ships
Brittany Ferries runs cruise ferries with en-suite cabins, restaurants and shops on its longer crossings from Portsmouth and Plymouth to Normandy and Brittany.
See the Brittany Ferries fleet compared and the Brittany Ferries guide.
P&O Ferries ships
P&O sails Dover to Calais with three ships, and is the only company on the route that takes foot passengers.
- P&O Pioneer and P&O Liberté: 230.5 m double-ended hybrid sisters with a Food Market, The Kitchen, P&O’s biggest duty-free shop and a soundproofed Club Lounge.
- Spirit of France: 213 m, with three vehicle decks, a Club Lounge, coffee shop, bars and games rooms.
See the P&O Ferries guide.
DFDS ships
DFDS sails from Dover to Calais and Dunkirk, and from Newhaven to Dieppe, with eight ships.
- Côte d’Opale: 214 m, which DFDS calls the longest ferry on the Channel, with a 1,100 m² duty-free shop.
- Côte des Dunes and Côte des Flandres: 1,500 passengers each and the fastest DFDS Channel ships, at 25 knots.
- Dover, Delft and Dunkerque Seaways: the Dunkirk ships, also listed on Calais.
- Seven Sisters and Côte d’Albâtre: the Newhaven to Dieppe pair, with recliner seats, cabins and kennels.
See the DFDS fleet guide and the DFDS guide.
Irish Ferries ships
Irish Ferries sails Dover to Calais with two ships, both with Club Class and a Pet Den.
- Isle of Inishmore: on the route since it opened in June 2021, with Boylan’s Brasserie and a Cyber Zone.
- Oscar Wilde: the former P&O Spirit of Britain, with a Food Market and the Adventure Island soft play area.
See the Isle of Inishmore and Oscar Wilde guide and the Irish Ferries guide.
Ferries to France: Every Ship Compared FAQs
What is the biggest ferry to France?
By length, P&O's Pioneer and Liberté, at 230.5 m, were the world's largest double-ended ferries when they entered service. By passengers, Brittany Ferries' Pont-Aven carries the most, up to 2,400, and she's the only ferry to France with a swimming pool.
Which ferries to France have a swimming pool?
Only Brittany Ferries' Pont-Aven, which has an indoor pool, usually open from May to September. She sails Plymouth to Roscoff.
Which ferries to France have cinemas?
Brittany Ferries' Pont-Aven, Armorique and Mont St Michel. The newer hybrid ships, Saint-Malo and Guillaume de Normandie, have free video on demand instead.
Which ferry to France lets my dog stay with me?
On the short crossings, P&O's Pet Lounge and Irish Ferries' Pet Den, both on Dover to Calais. On the longer Brittany Ferries crossings, the Saint-Malo, Guillaume de Normandie, Pont-Aven and Armorique have pet-friendly cabins, and the Saint-Malo and Guillaume de Normandie also have kennels. DFDS's Newhaven to Dieppe ships have pet-friendly cabins and kennels too.
Which are the newest ferries to France?
Brittany Ferries' hybrid Saint-Malo and Guillaume de Normandie, both from 2025, then P&O's Pioneer (2023) and Liberté (2024), and DFDS's Côte d'Opale (2021).
Can I choose which ship I sail on?
On routes with more than one ship, the ship depends on the sailing. Check the sailing details when you book.