Crossing guide
What the St Malo to Portsmouth crossing is like
Saint Malo is the ship identified with this route. The daytime crossing is generally advertised at about nine hours, with certain schedules using an overnight format instead. Confirm the dated itinerary and do not assume the return will mirror the timing or onboard routine of the trip from Portsmouth.
Leaving St Malo
St Malo’s ferry port is close to the walled city, but local traffic and active port works can affect the final approach. Brittany Ferries requests that pet passengers check in at least 90 minutes early. Pets stay in the vehicle after check-in, so complete the main walk first and follow the carrier’s current directions on the day.
Before you join the lanes
- Allow more than the sat-nav drive time — port approaches and check-in cut-offs are not motorway estimates.
- Check the booking confirmation for the final vehicle and foot-passenger deadlines; pet travellers often have an earlier one.
- Photograph or download the booking before you travel, because reception in a port queue is unreliable.
- Pack one small bag with medicines, chargers, a change of clothes and dog supplies: car-deck access is normally restricted at sea.
- Save the onward address offline and check whether tolls, low-emission zones or local driving rules affect the road ahead.
The passage
The working duration is typically about 9 hours by day, with some overnight sailings. Conditions at the english Channel passage can differ sharply from either harbour, which is why this guide samples three points rather than one coastal icon — a moderate wave with a long swell period feels quite different from short, steep seas. If anyone aboard is prone to seasickness, prepare before departure and choose a cabin position with comfort in mind.
A resilient plan
Do not assume the return is another overnight: many St Malo to Portsmouth sailings are daytime journeys of around nine hours. Prepare food, dog routine and entertainment for waking hours, then allow for a later UK road departure. When a cabin alert arrives, verify whether that sailing is day or night and whether the Saint Malo pet accommodation suits the different routine.
Conditions
Weather along the route
Departure
St Malo departure
- Air / sea
- 15.7°C / 20.9°C
- Wind / gust
- 4.2 kn / 4.9 kn
- Wind direction
- SW (214°)
- Wave / period
- 0.2 m / 5.6 s
- Wave direction
- WNW (293°)
Mid
English Channel passage
- Air / sea
- 15.7°C / 18.3°C
- Wind / gust
- 4.2 kn / 8.0 kn
- Wind direction
- S (191°)
- Wave / period
- 0.4 m / 4.1 s
- Wave direction
- W (268°)
Arrival
Portsmouth arrival
- Air / sea
- 17.5°C / 20.2°C
- Wind / gust
- 5.6 kn / 11.5 kn
- Wind direction
- SW (228°)
- Wave / period
- 0.3 m / 3.0 s
- Wave direction
- SW (227°)
Provider data: Open-Meteo (licence); units and three-point presentation normalised by SailSoon.
For planning context only — not for navigation or decisions about whether a sailing will operate. Check Brittany Ferries for official sailing status.
Seven-day passage outlook
| Day | Sea state | Wave | Wind | Gust | Air |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed2 SepToday | Slight | 1.0 m | 12.6 kn | 26.4 kn | 24°C |
| Thu3 Sep | Slight | 1.0 m | 11.3 kn | 23.1 kn | 27°C |
| Fri4 Sep | Slight | 1.2 m | 14.8 kn | 33.6 kn | 25°C |
| Sat5 Sep | Slight | 0.7 m | 8.2 kn | 13.2 kn | 23°C |
| Sun6 Sep | Slight | 0.6 m | 15.4 kn | 28.4 kn | 31°C |
| Mon7 Sep | Slight | 0.7 m | 11.6 kn | 25.1 kn | 22°C |
| Tue8 Sep | Moderate | 2.1 m | 22.3 kn | 46.7 kn | 21°C |
Daily maxima for planning only — not a forecast for any particular sailing, and not a statement about whether a crossing will operate.
Availability
Recently seen cabins
Historical cabin sighting
29 September 2026 · 20:30
Commodore Suite · 3 berth Commodore cabin
Ship shown when seen: Saint Malo
Observed fare: £264
Observed by SailSoon on 27 August 2026 at 22:05 UTC.
Historical sighting—availability and price may have changed.
Check current availability with the operatorHistorical cabin sighting
5 January 2027 · 20:30
Commodore Suite · 3 berth Commodore cabin
Ship shown when seen: Saint Malo
Observed fare: £221
Observed by SailSoon on 27 August 2026 at 22:05 UTC.
Historical sighting—availability and price may have changed.
Check current availability with the operatorHistorical cabin sighting
15 March 2027 · 10:45
Standard (no pets)
Ship shown when seen: Armorique
Observed fare: £176
Observed by SailSoon on 27 August 2026 at 22:05 UTC.
Historical sighting—availability and price may have changed.
Check current availability with the operatorHistorical cabin sighting
15 March 2027 · 10:45
Pet-friendly cabin · Pet-friendly 2 berth inside cabin
Ship shown when seen: Armorique
Observed fare: £176
Observed by SailSoon on 27 August 2026 at 22:05 UTC.
Historical sighting—availability and price may have changed.
Check current availability with the operatorHistorical cabin sighting
3 October 2026 · 10:45
Commodore Suite · 2 berth Commodore cabin
Ship shown when seen: Saint Malo
Observed fare: £142
Observed by SailSoon on 27 August 2026 at 16:05 UTC.
Historical sighting—availability and price may have changed.
Check current availability with the operatorHistorical cabin sighting
6 October 2026 · 20:30
Commodore Suite · 3 berth Commodore cabin
Ship shown when seen: Saint Malo
Observed fare: £250
Observed by SailSoon on 27 August 2026 at 16:05 UTC.
Historical sighting—availability and price may have changed.
Check current availability with the operatorRecent sighting reserved for alerts
Members receive the useful details before a delayed historical example can appear here.
Create an account for member-first alertsRecent sighting reserved for alerts
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Create an account for member-first alertsSeasonal context
Typical conditions through the year
1991–2020 averages — not a forecast. Long-term conditions provide planning context; a particular crossing can be very different.
Departure St Malo departure
| Month | Air °C | Wind mean / p90 kn | Prevailing wind | Wave mean / p90 m | Period s | Prevailing wave |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.7 | 15.0 / 23.0 | SSW (209°) | 0.6 / 1.0 | 4.9 | WNW (289°) |
| February | 7.4 | 14.0 / 22.5 | SW (227°) | 0.6 / 1.0 | 5.0 | WNW (300°) |
| March | 8.4 | 12.9 / 20.6 | WNW (290°) | 0.5 / 0.9 | 4.7 | NW (314°) |
| April | 10.0 | 11.9 / 19.2 | NNW (346°) | 0.4 / 0.8 | 4.3 | NW (321°) |
| May | 12.4 | 11.3 / 17.7 | N (350°) | 0.4 / 0.7 | 3.9 | NNW (331°) |
| June | 15.0 | 10.7 / 16.6 | NNW (327°) | 0.4 / 0.6 | 3.7 | NW (321°) |
| July | 16.9 | 10.7 / 16.8 | NW (312°) | 0.4 / 0.6 | 3.7 | NW (312°) |
| August | 17.6 | 10.6 / 17.2 | NW (312°) | 0.4 / 0.6 | 3.8 | NW (313°) |
| September | 16.6 | 11.8 / 18.9 | NW (320°) | 0.4 / 0.8 | 4.1 | NW (319°) |
| October | 14.2 | 13.5 / 21.3 | SSW (200°) | 0.5 / 0.9 | 4.3 | WNW (298°) |
| November | 11.1 | 14.6 / 22.3 | SW (217°) | 0.6 / 1.0 | 4.6 | WNW (288°) |
| December | 8.6 | 15.1 / 23.2 | SSW (210°) | 0.6 / 1.0 | 4.7 | WNW (292°) |
Mid-route English Channel passage
| Month | Air °C | Wind mean / p90 kn | Prevailing wind | Wave mean / p90 m | Period s | Prevailing wave |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.6 | 15.3 / 23.8 | SW (229°) | 0.9 / 1.5 | 6.3 | W (272°) |
| February | 7.2 | 14.4 / 23.0 | WSW (245°) | 0.8 / 1.5 | 6.3 | W (279°) |
| March | 8.2 | 13.2 / 21.5 | W (267°) | 0.7 / 1.3 | 5.9 | WNW (288°) |
| April | 9.7 | 11.6 / 19.4 | NW (311°) | 0.6 / 1.1 | 5.4 | WNW (294°) |
| May | 12.0 | 11.2 / 18.4 | NNW (333°) | 0.6 / 1.0 | 4.8 | WNW (301°) |
| June | 14.5 | 10.5 / 17.0 | WNW (287°) | 0.5 / 0.9 | 4.6 | WNW (290°) |
| July | 16.5 | 10.3 / 16.9 | W (274°) | 0.5 / 0.9 | 4.5 | WNW (283°) |
| August | 17.1 | 10.3 / 17.1 | W (277°) | 0.5 / 0.9 | 4.5 | WNW (284°) |
| September | 16.0 | 11.8 / 19.2 | W (279°) | 0.6 / 1.1 | 4.9 | WNW (291°) |
| October | 13.7 | 13.6 / 21.5 | SW (224°) | 0.7 / 1.3 | 5.3 | W (274°) |
| November | 10.8 | 14.4 / 22.5 | WSW (242°) | 0.8 / 1.4 | 5.7 | W (271°) |
| December | 8.6 | 15.2 / 23.6 | WSW (237°) | 0.9 / 1.5 | 6.0 | W (274°) |
Arrival Portsmouth arrival
| Month | Air °C | Wind mean / p90 kn | Prevailing wind | Wave mean / p90 m | Period s | Prevailing wave |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.7 | 13.3 / 21.5 | WSW (250°) | 1.5 / 2.7 | 5.8 | SW (235°) |
| February | 6.3 | 12.5 / 20.4 | W (261°) | 1.4 / 2.5 | 5.7 | WSW (244°) |
| March | 7.5 | 11.6 / 19.1 | W (269°) | 1.1 / 2.2 | 5.5 | WSW (243°) |
| April | 9.3 | 10.3 / 16.9 | WSW (256°) | 0.9 / 1.7 | 5.2 | WSW (240°) |
| May | 12.2 | 10.1 / 16.6 | W (275°) | 0.8 / 1.6 | 4.8 | WSW (241°) |
| June | 14.9 | 9.7 / 15.9 | WSW (245°) | 0.8 / 1.4 | 4.7 | WSW (243°) |
| July | 17.0 | 9.6 / 15.6 | WSW (248°) | 0.8 / 1.4 | 4.5 | WSW (245°) |
| August | 17.3 | 9.7 / 15.7 | WSW (256°) | 0.8 / 1.4 | 4.5 | WSW (248°) |
| September | 15.6 | 10.5 / 17.1 | W (268°) | 0.9 / 1.7 | 4.7 | WSW (249°) |
| October | 12.9 | 12.1 / 19.4 | WSW (248°) | 1.3 / 2.3 | 5.2 | SW (232°) |
| November | 9.8 | 12.4 / 20.0 | W (261°) | 1.4 / 2.5 | 5.3 | WSW (241°) |
| December | 7.4 | 13.2 / 21.0 | W (261°) | 1.5 / 2.7 | 5.7 | WSW (239°) |
Sea-surface temperature is omitted because the ERA5 reanalysis behind this baseline does not carry it historically. Current sea temperature is shown in the conditions panel above.
Provider data: Open-Meteo (licence), using ERA5 weather and ERA5-Ocean marine reanalysis; monthly means, p90 values and prevailing directions calculated by SailSoon for 1991–2020.
Vessels
Ships commonly used on this route
Primary route profile
Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo is Brittany Ferries’ first hybrid-LNG ferry and was introduced for the Portsmouth–St Malo route. Its design combines battery power with LNG propulsion and gives the passenger spaces a Breton identity. The accommodation range is unusually broad, including standard, Club, Commodore, accessible, allergy-friendly and six-berth options. This makes the precise cabin selected especially important when comparing a sighting with a booking. Saint-Malo is the vessel commonly linked with this route, but substitutions remain possible. Confirm the ship, cabin and onboard arrangements in the operator’s dated travel documents rather than treating a route profile as a guarantee.
Pet context: Official listings include pet-friendly inside, outside, accessible and Commodore cabins plus an exercise area; reserve the pet space on the actual departure.
Official sources and review date
Facts reviewed 2026-08-11.
Ships and schedules can change; check your booking for the operating vessel.
Landfall
Arriving in Portsmouth
Portsmouth puts drivers straight onto the M275. Keep passports and any pet documentation accessible until every border check is complete, and avoid a tightly timed onward appointment, because disembarkation and border queues vary by sailing. Brittany Ferries identifies Alexandra Park as one nearby option for a dog walk, traffic permitting. A later Portsmouth arrival can make a long same-day UK drive tiring. Keep a flexible fallback stop in mind, especially if the sea is lively or disembarkation takes longer than expected.
Sources for route facts
- Brittany Ferries: St Malo to Portsmouth (reviewed 2026-08-11)
- Brittany Ferries: St Malo port guide (reviewed 2026-08-11)
- Brittany Ferries: Portsmouth port guide (reviewed 2026-08-11)
- Brittany Ferries: travelling with pets (reviewed 2026-08-11)
- GOV.UK: tapeworm treatment for dogs entering Great Britain (reviewed 2026-08-11)
Dogs aboard
Planning this ferry with a dog
Usually a nine-hour daytime run, which means a waking dog rather than a sleeping one, plus Great Britain’s return requirements timed against the Portsmouth arrival.
- Documents
- Check the accepted travel document, microchip and rabies evidence for Great Britain entry against current GOV.UK guidance.
- Tapeworm window
- Unless an exemption applies, a vet must administer and record tapeworm treatment no less than 24 and no more than 120 hours before expected arrival in Great Britain. Calculate from the Portsmouth arrival time and recalculate after any timetable change.
- At St Malo
- Pet check-in is at least 90 minutes early, and pets stay in the vehicle afterwards, so finish the main walk first.
- On board
- Often a nine-hour daytime crossing, so plan enrichment and carefully timed food rather than the sleep pattern used outbound.
- Muzzle
- Brittany Ferries requires a muzzle whenever the dog is outside the car, kennel or pet-friendly cabin. Practise with it before travel.
Border and carrier rules change. Confirm every item against the official sources listed above and your vet before you travel.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from St Malo to Portsmouth?
The useful planning figure is typically about 9 hours by day, with some overnight sailings. Check the dated Brittany Ferries timetable because individual crossings can differ.
Which ship operates from St Malo to Portsmouth?
Saint-Malo (Portsmouth ↔ St Malo) are associated with this corridor. Operational substitutions happen, so the ship shown on the booking is the one to use for cabin and pet-facility details.
Can I take a dog from St Malo to Portsmouth?
Pet travel is offered on relevant sailings, but the available arrangement varies by ship. Select a confirmed pet-friendly cabin, kennel or other offered option and follow current carrier and border rules.
What weather should I check for the St Malo to Portsmouth crossing?
Compare departure, mid-route and arrival conditions, especially wind, gusts, wave height and swell period. Forecasts are guidance only; the operator makes operational decisions.
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