New ferry route Ireland to Spain?

[Peregrinopaul]

I’ve just become aware of a new ferry route from Rosslare to Bilbao that takes bikes. This opens up tempting possibilities for me. I have left my Camino bike with my son in Cork: ( I am in Australia). The previous ferry to Santander would not allow bikes, and is now defunct anyway. 2022 here I come.

 

[roving_rufus]

And they also accept foot passengers!

 

[Peregrinopaul]

And they also accept foot passengers!

You guys have always had it easy!

 

[Kathar1na]

hopefully, we can resume in 2022, I have lost faith in the system with the vaccination slowdown. Plus the Camino will take on a more expensive outlook.

The Rosslare-Bilbao ferry, operated by Brittany Ferries, runs regardless of whether there is a vaccination slowdown or not; they are sailing twice a week right now although they state that they can only accept bookings for foot passengers for travel from 23 March 2021.

When I saw the question mark in the thread title I thought it refers to plans for a ferry between Cork in Ireland and Vigo in Galicia/Spain, see an earlier thread from September 2019 here. The project was shelved due to Covid-19 but they are still planning to establish the route eventually. This would be a great trip for pilgrims returning to Ireland because Vigo is so close to Santiago and can be reached more easily than Bilbao on the north coast.

 

[roving_rufus]

There is major growth in ferries from Ireland to France and Spain as the use of the landbridge routes via Great Britain after Brexit has become fraught with difficulties and delays and extra paperwork. Some routes are exclusively freight but others like the new Brittany Ferries routes from Rosslare are open to passengers, though using their economie ferries they are probably primarily aimed at freight. Rosslare is fairly well set up for foot passengers (and cyclists) - very nice Supervalu supermarket close to the port to stock up on supplies for the crossings

 

[Lindor]

Oh wow! This is really good news. It is a 2 hour drive for me to Rosslare, then onto the ferry as a foot passenger and bus/train to St Jean Pied de Port:

Rome2rio

Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes

www.rome2rio.com

Looks very do-able. It would be a 3 hour drive for me to get to Dublin for a flight to Biarritz, but planes are boring.
I believe the journey there will be part of the whole experience, so travelling there by car>ferry>bus>train would really add to the adventure.

Still crossing fingers for an Autumn camino, but have already postponed twice, so I suppose I'll get there when I get there. Thinking about the camino is what gets me through the long days at work and lockdown in general.

I'm so glad I have my future camino to look forward too, if I didn't, I think I would have cracked by now.

 

[Paladina]

I’ve just become aware of a new ferry route from Rosslare to Bilbao that takes bikes. This opens up tempting possibilities for me. I have left my Camino bike with my son in Cork: ( I am in Australia). The previous ferry to Santander would not allow bikes, and is now defunct anyway. 2022 here I come.

The Irish government is actively discouraging all inessential foreign travel, so any of you contemplating using the service this year might find themselves prevented by emergency legislation

 

[Kathar1na]

The Irish government is actively discouraging all inessential foreign travel, so any of you contemplating using the service this year might find themselves prevented by emergency legislation

Brittany Ferries seem to have a pretty good FAQ in this respect, and for both ends, Ireland and Spain resp. France - https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/information/coronavirus/faqs.

 

[chinacat]

Wow!
A silver lining to having to cancel 2020’s plans!
Ferry Fishguard to Rosslare and onto the Rosslare to Bilbao one.
2022 perhaps?

 

[catheriam]

This option, literally, "popped into my head" several weeks ago so I thank you, St James! A battered US passport shows many a foreign port of call but none for Ireland, more's the pity (forgive the fake virtual Irish accent! . An overnight ferry Rosslare-Santander as I am currently landlocked in Missouri and mad keen for even the briefest sea voyage.

The thrice-worn St Louis-Madrid route was getting a bit tattered so St Louis - Dublin should make a nice change of pace.

And a fantasy voyage entirely until the relevant nations feel it safe to wave their checkered flags.

 

[geraldkelly]

This is excellent news! I checked the price as a foot passenger for next week and it was about €63. So at last there is a relatively affordable way of going from Ireland to Spain which doesn't involve flying.

It's 26 hours so there'll be plenty of time to enjoy the on board facilities.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

This is good news. Hoping it can be maintained throughout the next couple of years.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Looks very do-able. It would be a 3 hour drive for me to get to Dublin for a flight to Biarritz, but planes are boring.
I believe the journey there will be part of the whole experience, so travelling there by car>ferry>bus>train would really add to the adventure.

You could even walk to Rosslare, then from Bilbao walk either along the Norte, or the Olvidado, or even one of the various routes from there down to the Francès (mountainous, DIY and tarmacky, leading generally towards Santo Domingo de la Calzada).

 

[JabbaPapa]

The Irish government is actively discouraging all inessential foreign travel, so any of you contemplating using the service this year might find themselves prevented by emergency legislation

But the EU is currently not permitting restrictions on border crossings between two Member States (except sanitary requirements i.e. negative tests in ports and airports) -- so the most pertinent question at the moment, after of course one's own prudence and judgment, is in the regional and/or municipal lockdowns and other restrictions within Spain itself.

Plus of course the current inability to travel from Ireland to the Continent via the UK.

I still think things will loosen up after the end of the current respiratory diseases season, but then there's the questions of how bad the 2021/2022 season will be ; and if the treatments currently being trialled might relieve much of the pressure on the hospitals.

 

[JabbaPapa]

The Irish government is actively discouraging all inessential foreign travel, so any of you contemplating using the service this year might find themselves prevented by emergency legislation

Oh well -- contrary to my earlier statement, the Irish will now start sticking €100 fines on land border crossers from the North, and the Police will turn them around. Their crackdown on international travel is going beyond strict EU requirements.

 

[Rozenn]

I’ve just become aware of a new ferry route from Rosslare to Bilbao that takes bikes. This opens up tempting possibilities for me. I have left my Camino bike with my son in Cork: ( I am in Australia). The previous ferry to Santander would not allow bikes, and is now defunct anyway. 2022 here I come.

Yes uk and Ireland are much better served to Spain by Brittany Ferries than from Roscoff France which is the headquarters of the company !
No direct ferry to Spain for us here in Brittany , Always a stopover to UK and Ireland first ! And the direct Line to north of Spain which is Roscoff Bilbao dosent take foot passengers!
A Line from Saint Nazaire ( Nantes) to Gijon in Asturias( magnificent área by the way!)existed during a few years ago too!
But to compensate, we have a direct flight Brest Porto twice a week in 1 h40mns!
Buen Camino!

 

[IngridF]

Yes uk and Ireland are much better served to Spain by Brittany Ferries than from Roscoff France which is the headquarters of the company !
No direct ferry to Spain for us here in Brittany , Always a stopover to UK and Ireland first ! And the direct Line to north of Spain which is Roscoff Bilbao dosent take foot passengers!
A Line from Saint Nazaire ( Nantes) to Gijon in Asturias( magnificent área by the way!)existed during a few years ago too!
But to compensate, we have a direct flight Brest Porto twice a week in 1 h40mns!
Buen Camino!

Hi Rozenn, miss you on zoom!

 

[Rozenn]

Hi Rozenn, miss you on zoom!

Hi Rozenn, miss you on zoom!

Will be on zoom next Tuesday!!!

 

[Majellacamino]

And they also accept foot passengers!

They don’t any more I have just contacted them

 

[Majellacamino]

And they also accept foot passengers!

Not any more I just contacted them feb 22

 

[catheriam]

Oh wow! This is really good news. It is a 2 hour drive for me to Rosslare, then onto the ferry as a foot passenger and bus/train to St Jean Pied de Port:

Rome2rio

Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes

www.rome2rio.com

Looks very do-able. It would be a 3 hour drive for me to get to Dublin for a flight to Biarritz, but planes are boring.
I believe the journey there will be part of the whole experience, so travelling there by car>ferry>bus>train would really add to the adventure.

Still crossing fingers for an Autumn camino, but have already postponed twice, so I suppose I'll get there when I get there. Thinking about the camino is what gets me through the long days at work and lockdown in general.

I'm so glad I have my future camino to look forward too, if I didn't, I think I would have cracked by now.

Precisely and concur! "Carmino dreaming" (my 4th) has kept me sane ... well, sane-ish. Hip replacement in May, Camino in mid-September. St Louis - Dublin (ferry) - Santander - Pamplona as another CF likely best option with the new hip, which I intend to call "James". Happy to stand you a pint in the city of black water if all goes as planned (very Universe tempting, that....)

 

[roving_rufus]

Not any more I just contacted them feb 22

Apparently they initially planned to accept foot passengers but with covid and also that Bilbao is not really set up to receive them, it's unclear if or when they will. But there is definitely a growing pressure to address with questions from TDs and letters to Irish Times amongst others. Seems ridiculous in more environmental conscious times to not be set up for foot passengers

 

[catheriam]

Not any more I just contacted them feb 22

pain has reopened its borders and Brittany Ferries are now taking bookings to Spain, but currently only for motorists. Until further notice they are unable to take foot passengers. Book at www.brittany-ferries.co.uk.

 

[Mycroft]

pain has reopened its borders and Brittany Ferries are now taking bookings to Spain, but currently only for motorists. Until further notice they are unable to take foot passengers. Book at www.brittany-ferries.co.uk.

We need to coordinate with people who have cars and space for one or two foot-passenger-pilgrims!