Most people picture a ferry as a quick means to an end — a way to get the car across the water and be done with it. The crossing to northern Spain is a different animal entirely. Take a ferry to Spain from the UK and you are looking at up to two nights at sea on a proper cruise-ferry, complete with en-suite cabins, restaurants, a bar or two and even a cinema. By the time you roll off the ramp in Santander or Bilbao, the holiday has already been going for a day and a half. It is less a transfer and more a mini cruise with your luggage in the boot and your car waiting on the deck below.
Why the Spain Crossing Feels More Like a Cruise
The reason the Spanish routes feel so different comes down to distance and design. These are long crossings, far longer than the Channel dash to France, so the ships that run them are built for comfort rather than speed. You settle into a cabin, unpack a few things, and the sea does the rest. There are proper restaurants with French chefs, sun decks to stretch out on, films to watch and space for children to roam, so nobody spends the trip counting the hours. Just as importantly, you skip the long, tiring drive down through France and arrive rested and ready to explore. For a lot of travellers, weighing up a cruise ferry to Spain against flying and then hiring a car is exactly what tips the balance.
The Sailings at a Glance
Before you book an overnight ferry to Spain, here is how the three crossings compare at a glance.
| Sailing | Crossing time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth to Santander | About 32–34 hours (two nights) | Central and southern Spain, Madrid |
| Plymouth to Santander | About 21 hours (the quickest) | The West Country and a shorter crossing |
| Portsmouth to Bilbao | About 32–33 hours (two nights) | The Basque Country and eastern Spain |
The Routes and Ships in Detail
Here is how the crossings and the ships behind them stack up when you are planning a UK to Spain ferry trip.
Portsmouth to Santander
The workhorse of the Spanish routes, Portsmouth to Santander runs regularly through the year and lands you on Spain’s north coast in Cantabria. The ferry terminal sits right in the centre of Santander, moments from the train station, which makes onward travel to Madrid and beyond genuinely easy. With two nights on board, it is the most cruise-like of the crossings and a firm favourite for reaching central and southern Spain without a marathon drive.
Plymouth to Santander
If time at sea is your priority, Plymouth to Santander is the quickest way to reach Spain by ferry, at around 21 hours. It is the natural choice if you live in the West Country, sparing you the long drive east to Portsmouth before you have even started. You still get the full cruise-ferry experience of cabins, dining and sea views, simply packed into a single night and a day rather than spread across two nights.
Portsmouth to Bilbao
For the Basque Country and eastern Spain, Portsmouth to Bilbao is the crossing to book. Bilbao makes a brilliant entry point, with its famous Guggenheim, its buzzing pintxos bars and fast road links towards San Sebastián, Madrid and even Barcelona. The sailing runs up to twice a week and, like the Santander routes, gives you two restful nights at sea before you drive off to begin your Spanish adventure.
Salamanca
One of the newer ships on the Spanish routes, Salamanca is a modern, cleaner-running cruise-ferry designed with these long crossings in mind. On board you will find comfortable en-suite cabins, a choice of places to eat and drink, and generous public spaces to unwind in as the coastline slips by. If your sailing is operated by Salamanca, expect a fresh, contemporary feel that makes the two nights pass in no time at all.
Pont-Aven
The long-serving flagship of the fleet, Pont-Aven is the grande dame of the Spanish crossings and a favourite among regulars. She carries a swimming pool, several restaurants, a cinema and premium Commodore Class cabins for those who fancy travelling in style. Sailing to Santander aboard Pont-Aven feels every bit like a short cruise, which is precisely why so many travellers plan their whole trip around her.
Final Thoughts
The crossing to Spain is proof that getting there really can be part of the holiday. Whether you sail overnight from Portsmouth or take the quicker hop from Plymouth, you swap a long motorway slog through France for a restful stretch at sea and a fresh start on the far side. When you are ready to plan it, take a look at the sailings to northern Spain and choose the crossing that suits your route. Craving a laid-back escape? You’ll find one waiting on VougeStyle.