The Duc de Normandie is the last of Brittany Ferries 'classic' ferries, sailing between Plymouth and Roscoff. She originally operated and opened the Portsmouth to Caen service in 1986 where she remained until the arrival of the Mont St Michel in 2002. The Duc de Normandie remains a very pleasant ship to sail on retaining the homely atmosphere which as been lost to some of the newer cruise ferries and still remains a favourite with travellers.

ship history...
The Duc de Normandie started life as the Prinses Beatrix with Sealink Ferries sailing between Harwich and Hook of Holland. She was named on the 14th January 1978 by HRH Prinses Beatrix before departing on her maiden voyage. She was purchased by Brittany Ferries on the 1st October 1985 to operate on their new route between Portsmouth and Caen. She was handed over to Brittany Ferries and re-named Duc de Normandie on the 1st May 1986 prior to a major re-fit to bring the French flavour to her interior. She commenced service on the line on the 5th June 1986 becoming the company flagship and the largest ferry ever to operate out of the port of Portsmouth and the English Channel.

The route expanded rapidly and the Duc de Normandie remained on the route until 2002 when the Mont St Michel arrived. The arrival of the Normandie in 1992, the first purpose built vessel for the route, saw the Duc de Normandie embark on a £10million refurbishment programme in France. The Duc de Normandie now operates between Plymouth and Roscoff alongside the new flagship Pont-Aven.

The Duc de Normandie has now been laid up in Caen and is pending possible sale
following being replaced by the Bretagne on the Plymouth - Roscoff route.
Click here to read her service review on our new feature page.