The Barfleur was designed for the short crossing between Poole and Cherbourg and brought new standards to the route, the shortest crossing to France west of Dover. She is one of the smaller members of the Brittany Ferries fleet but still offers the facilities of her larger counterparts, whilst retaining an intimate feeling onboard, incorporating three dining options, shopping malls and a bar offering live entertainment. Barfleur is also the largest passenger vessel to regularly operate out of the port of Poole (and was the largest until the Bretagne operated out of the Poole in February 2007) and was also the flagship of '
Truckline Ferries'. The new freight vessel Cotentin however took the title of the largest ship to regularly serve Poole upon entering service in 2007.

ship history...
In the years following Brittany Ferries acquisition of Truckline Ferries, the passenger
figures on the route surpassed all expectations, and it was deemed that the current fleet was no longer capable of meeting the demand. The decision was taken during 1990 to
order a new vessel to operate on 'the insider's way to France' bringing a level of luxury
not previously seen on the route. The Barfleur was to be constructed at the Kvaerner
Masa-Yards in Finland and formed a joint order with the construction of the larger Normandie for Brittany Ferries Caen operations.

The Barfleur was launched on the 26th July 1991. However during her construction due to the continued growth on the route, the decision was taken to lengthen her - mid
construction adding an extra 9m to her length and subsequently delaying construction by some weeks. Following sea trials she entered service between Cherbourg and Poole on
the 4th April 1992.

She has remained on the route since her introduction, only during the winter months
straying onto other routes to cover for fleet mate refits. During the winter of 1997 she carried out a number of sailings between Poole and Santander with a reduced capacity (for passenger comfort). 1999 saw a fresh image for the Barfleur being re-painted into Brittany Ferries colours allowing the route to be marketed as a traditional BF route thanks to her cruise ferry facilities on the shorter route.

A small fire broke out in an empty crew members' cabin on an overnight crossing between Poole and Cherbourg during August 2004. A total of 22 crew members were taken to hospital upon arrival in France following smoke inhalation.

In 2005 she operated a triangular pattern between Poole, Cherbourg & Portsmouth adding conventional capacity to the new Normandie Express. On the 2nd December 2005 Barfleur made her inaugural call into Cork, having been chartered by an Irish haulage company due an industrial dispute affecting Irish Ferries services.

During February 2007 the Barfleur visited Brest for dry dock in order to replace one of her four Wartsilla-Vasa engines. During this period the Bretagne covered her route, becoming the largest vessel to enter the port following a dredging programme conducted in 2006. The Barfleur made a number of Poole/Roscoff sailings during May 2008 when the port of Cherbourg was blockaded for over two weeks by protesting French fishermen.