There are points in history where one can look back and identify the dawn of a new era. Well, in February 2025 another point was marked in the fifty two year history of Brittany Ferries.
Welcome to Saint Malo, the first hybrid ferry on the English Channel equipped with engines powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), electric motors and batteries.
In short, a 'greener', cleaner ship.
Specifically built and designed for the route she serves, prior to her introduction social media was ablaze with high expectations and demanding requirements from loyal customers who had previously travelled aboard the legendary Bretagne until her retirement so, how will Saint Malo fare up?
Operating between Portsmouth in the UK and the ships' namesake port in the Brittany region of north west France, port formalities are well documented in my other blogs so, let's head straight aboard.
Travelling without a vehicle, foot passengers are transferred from both ports to the ship via a courtesy bus which will drive straight onto the vehicle deck of Deck 3 where one ascends one of the stairwells or elevators to the main passenger accommodation.
These vehicle decks are massive; exceptionally well lit with clear signage and wide parking lanes allowing passengers plenty of room to unload any belongings they'll need for the twelve hour voyage.
Overnight accommodation (cabins) is compulsory and are located on decks six through nine aboard Saint Malo.
Conveniently placed deck plans will assist you in finding it and staff are on hand to point you in the right direction.
If sailing during the day time you can also hire one of these comfortable ensuite cabins so you can freshen up after your journey to the port, store your belongings during the voyage and even watch a movie. That's right, every cabin benefits from having free video on demand!
Just pop along to the ships reception on Deck 7 where the friendly personnel can assist you alternatively guarantee a cabin by booking in advance through Brittany Ferries easy to use website.
Saint Malo offers a surprising array of cabin accommodation from accessible cabins which are specifically adapted for those who need additional room, allergy free cabins, pet friendly, Admiral & Commodore class cabins plus, accommodation for two, three, four and even six people!
For me however, being on a budget, I opted for a simple standard cabin although this cabin was far from 'standard'!
Located on Deck 6 my accommodation was only one deck below the main passenger amenities.
With its myriad of corridors I'm ashamed to admit I did get lost owing to losing my sense of direction however, for me I didn't actually mind as I stumbled upon the Brittany Ferries exhibition space depicting the five decade history of this fine Breton company.
The corridors are lengthy however, you'll soon find a short cut to enable quick access to the passenger decks above.
Always looking for a good deal, I opted for an inside (no window) cabin -
A2B via Sea® is completely unbiased and as I'm not sponsored by the ferry operator I like to save money just like everyone therefore, paying for everything myself every Euro counts! Plus, on an overnight sailing do I really need a window?
Offering single beds, up to four persons can actually be accommodated in here with unused beds conveniently being stowed away when not in use - every bed having its own bedside light.
Fully carpeted , an impressive lighting effect projected onto the floor welcomes you to your room.
As standard all cabin types have individually controlled room thermostats, multiple power outlets including UK three pin, European two pin and USB sockets, vanity table, floor to ceiling mirror, clothing hanging space and your very own private ensuite bathroom with sink, WC, shaving socket, shower, towels and shampoo / conditioner / body wash combo.
Some cabins even benefit from having a hairdryer - one of the two cabins I occupied on my mini break didn't have one.
During overnight sailings you may decide a window isn't necessary and I would agree but, with the impressive illuminated 'window' you would be forgiven for forgetting you have no real view.
So realistic, you may notice the 'glass' has condensation droplets on it!
For those of you travelling with your four legged fury friend you'll find dedicated pet friendly cabins within a specific area of Deck 7.
Other than hard flooring you'll still benefit from the same high standards found in other cabins which do not permit pets.
It should be noted pets are not permitted within the public areas of the ship, which is surprising as it is necessary to 'pass through' the ship by following the paw prints to gain access to the pet walking area on the exterior deck, which is on the opposite side of the ship - surely it would make sense to 'swap it' with the 'smoking deck' which is adjacent to the pet friendly cabins?
Passenger amenities are located on two decks with wide aisles of hard flooring linking the facilities therefore, if you have walking difficulties you will not have an issue plus, the vehicle deck elevators extend to the passenger accommodation if you are unable to use the stairs.
Time for a bite to eat
There are numerous options aboard Saint Malo to suit all budgets.
Le Jardin, a new concept for the ships' company, can be found aboard Saint Malo.
Essentially bringing the outside in, it is decorated in earthy tones of green and brown with bright white illuminated ceiling panels and framed pictures of farming and vegetables, a contemporary market garden ambience is created to reflect the cuisine which uses locally sourced vegetables from the Brittany region of France and plays homage to Brittany Ferries agricultural roots.
Giant porthole inspired windows allow a plentiful amount of natural light into the dining area on daytime crossings but even at night, it's nice to be reminded you are aboard a ferry.
Meals are served from a counter by friendly personnel.
Whether you are looking for a snack, salad or something more substantial you'll be bound to find it in Le Jardin.
On my mini break I sampled an evening meal and breakfast, both of which were excellent.
Hot meals were well presented although better signage identifying the dishes would've been appreciated to keep the queue of hungry passengers all asking the same question to a minimum.
The cooked breakfast offering the next morning was very good. It should be noted fried eggs were not available.
Despite having a separate dining area off to one side which can be utilised during capacity crossings this facility can get very busy therefore top tip, check the opening times and get to Le Jardin early.
La Littoral is the main dining room aboard Saint Malo and offers a more formal dining experience than Le Jardin however, all are welcome!
Open periodically for breakfast, lunch and dinner depending on the sailing times, one can take advantage of a set two or three course meal.
Sampling breakfast I was permitted unlimited coffee & juices, bread, pastries & cereals from island counters then, when I was ready, go to the highly impressive servery resembling black and white marble where I was served a cooked breakfast from the spotlessly clean brushed stainless steel hot plates.
Again, it should be noted no fried eggs were available.
A large fully carpeted dining room decorated in neutral colours with splashes of teal and blue creates a luxurious ambience with nautical undertones; oversized porthole and elongated shaped windows fill La Littoral with copious amounts of natural light.
In my humble opinion La Littoral is probably the best kept secret aboard Saint Malo as on my voyages it was vastly under utilised compared to La Jardin and offers exceptional value for money.
More promotion is definitely needed so hopefully A2B via Sea® blog will help with that.
Fancy splashing out? You are on holiday after all!
Treat yourself to the C.Club Lounge up on Deck 8.
Occupying a prime position offering elevated views over the bow, on my voyage this facility was again open for breakfast and dinner; I sampled the later.
Accessed at a surcharge, upon entry I was greeted by friendly personnel who escorted me to a table and presented me with a welcome drink, appetiser and wine list where additional drinks are payable locally.
Dominating the full width of Deck 8, configurations of dual, cluster and banqueting style tables are available with polished cutlery and glassware adorning the tops with seating upholstery decorated in unoffensive calming shades.
For the additional cost of 55 Euro I could help myself to a range of salads, meats and cheeses from a vast counter plus the most juicy king prawns I have ever tasted - absolutely divine!
For desert there were numerous bite sized cakes to choose from....
.... or like me, sample all of them - for the benefit of this blog, of course!
Breakfast is provided buffet style with cereals, fruit, pastries, meats & cheeses being in abundance plus a full cooked option being available.
The main difference to La Littoral is the cooked breakfast in here is a true self service option rather than being plated for you.
Dining within C.Club is a true experience which I would recommend however top tip, take note of both the opening and closing times especially during night time voyages as, to ensure you get your monies worth, you are really going to want to spend as much time in here as possible.
Better still, if sailing during the summer months when Saint Malo sails during the day why not upgrade to C.Club where you can spend the entire journey in here and take advantage of all the luxury and benefits it has to offer.
C.Club should not be confused with Les 8 Trésors which is a dedicated lounge for those passengers occupying a Commodore Class category cabin.
Hidden away from public view located amongst the cabins of Deck 8, one can enjoy breakfast in here or on the adjacent exterior veranda where you can watch the ships wake disappearing into the horizon.
As a foot note, if like me you are an early riser and enjoy watching the sun rise, if the dining areas are closed vending machines are available within the ships' reception where you can purchase a [surprisingly good] hot beverage 24/7, just don't forget your credit or debit card for purchases.
Providing a social setting 'Breizh Ma Bro', translated 'Brittany, my country', is the venue to head too for a pre or post dinner drink.
You can spend many happy hours in here watching the evening entertainment provided by a dedicated crew who will engage passengers with music, quiz games and magic acts whilst sipping a reasonably priced beverage.
Considerably more impressive than I had envisioned, a giant glazed roof turns into a work of art during a Brittany sunset as the sun goes down then, once dark, reflects the décor of the bar some two decks below.
A separate gaming arcade & children's playroom provides added entertainment.
The seating would not look out of place within a trendy urban nightclub with highly comfortable individual tub chairs and sofas for two decorated in jet black fabric on localised carpeting which contrasts beautifully with the flame red window lined bench style seating which encompasses the facility.
Chalk white bulkheads with night blue coloured wall panels create ideal blank canvases for the art which adorns the walls and celebrates the ships' namesake city.
On a personal note I would encourage the ships company to introduce smoked glass doors both fore and aft to make Breizh Ma Bro a facility in its own right rather than essentially a 'pass through' - wide aisles of hard flooring means the lounge is segmented and some of the ambience is lost as passengers meander through which can distract those who are trying to watch the entertainment.
Comfortable sculpted seating extends into the eves of the facility creating cosy alcoves where one can also watch live streamed television shows on wall mounted screens.
This continues seamlessly into the port side corridor where an additional lounge with muted TV's in free standing units provide an oasis of calm to curl up and read a book or watch the passing vistas.
A voyage aboard Saint Malo celebrates all that her namesake waterfront city has to offer.
As such, a dedicated interactive tourist information office has been provided within a comfortable corner of the ships reception on Deck 7.
Backed by an imposing aerial image of the medieval old quarter with its ramparts and myriad of narrow streets hiding an array of restaurants, bars and gift shops, one can surf the pre loaded web pages & plan your time ashore - I'm sure seating will be provided in due course.
A separate breakout zone with high backed seating and individual power sockets will enable you to surf the web on your own device.
Don't forget, all passengers are permitted 60 minutes free internet access with additional minutes available at a nominal charge.
For me, when I think of Brittany my mind wonders and brings images of its coastline to my minds-eye.
La Plage, the first regional themed facility aboard any Brittany Ferries vessel, is located at the stern of Deck 7
Complete with its own (seasonal) beach bar, the low level beach inspired furniture is decorated in vibrant shades of red and orange to resemble the beautiful sunrise and sunsets which can be viewed from its rugged coastline together with nautical shades of blue with its nod to the waters of the Atlantic.
To permit views of the passing vistas and essentially allow the outside in, a wall of glass spans the entire facility with access to an exterior boardwalk complete with cloud shaped seating so you can get some fresh sea air.
During the winter season with its alternate night time sailings this facility is understandably underutilised however, during the summer months with its daily northbound daytime voyages from Saint Malo I'm sure La Plage will be better patronised.
Perhaps the ships company would consider subdividing La Plage and construct a separate lounge within this large space with airline style reclining seats to enable those passengers who are travelling on a budget to sleep here at a nominal charge during overnight sailings - [some] revenue gained from seat sales is surely better than zero revenue gained from a closed beach bar and void, though attractive, space.
Positioned within the ships' main reception of Deck 7 you'll find a very well stocked shopping centre offering the expected array of alcoholic and tobacco products together with travel accessories, confectionary, cosmetics and reading material.
Directional lighting illuminates low level shelving units flanked by floor to ceiling cabinets which are jam-packed with a very good range of products alas, not my personal favourite of Honey Jack Daniels.
However, take time to savour the regional souvenirs which I adored all of which make excellent gifts for friends and family.
Top tip, if travelling northbound to Portsmouth on the ships' evening sailing from St. Malo ensure you pop into the shop before retiring to bed as on my voyage it was closed the next morning prior to arrival in the UK.
The great thing about travelling by ferry is breathing in the fresh sea air and enjoying the beautiful passing vistas.
Saint Malo offers a plentiful amount of exterior deck space, primarily located on the highest most deck, where you can truly immerse yourself in the scenery.
A vast space and well worth the hike up to Deck 10 from the passenger spaces of Decks 7 and 8, you'll find two separate children's play parks with climbing equipment and localised soft deck coverings.
Decorative wall art in vibrant colours covers the centralised funnel casing and with its dual canopy's protecting the ratan deck furniture surrounding the skylight of the Breizh Ma Bro Bar, you could be forgiven you're on an ocean cruise.
If you look hard enough you'll find European two pin power sockets adjacent to the ratan benches enabling you to charge your personal devices whilst you relax on deck.
All that's missing is a seasonal 'beach bar' which would prove very welcoming for those passengers relaxing up here during a summertime sailing.
Bench style seating can be found on the port and starboard sides where there is more space for the larger furniture.
This vast deck would be an ideal venue for early morning yoga sessions or perhaps shuffleboard games, similar to that provided on Brittany Ferries ships operating from Portsmouth to Spain and would compliment the ships exterior gym and
Wellness / treatment room on Deck 7.
A2B via Sea® travelled aboard Saint Malo only six days after she had entered service therefore, undoubtedly there will be 'tweaks' to her facilities following customer feedback as she settles into her role.
At this time however, Brittany Ferries should be congratulated for creating an extremely good product within the confines of a template ship; a design which can now be found throughout northern Europe.
Saint Malo provides excellent sleeping accommodation for her passengers with the benefit of having free movies on demand providing added entertainment.
Solo travellers, couples, families and groups are well catered for both in the cabins and the seating configurations in the dining rooms plus, onboard entertainment is appropriate for all age ranges.
Saint Malo berths very close to the city centres of both Portsmouth and her namesake port enabling a quick and easy journey prior to and following your voyage.
Why travel from A2B any other way?!
Like what you've read?
Why not curl up and virtually come aboard and checkout Saint Malo before booking a memorable journey for yourself.
Here's my vlog
Pictures of my adventures ashore can be found on my Instagram: