Remember this is a 'Ferry' not a Cruise ship as such...
If you board this boat expecting to be on the QMII then you will be very dissapointed...but then it is (as I say) a Ferry and an excellent one too.
I have travelled on this Ship about 7 times with my car over the years, its far bigger than the Brittany one that goes to Santander..and much more to do on board.
I reccomend paying the extra to get a Club Double with windows, for this you get a telly, a very comfy double bed,and two very big windows, plus complimentary Champagne and Chocolates.
Its better to book this cabin on the outward journey to Bilbao as you get two nights in it, on the way back you may as well book a standard cabin as its only one night...but book
early as the Club cabins on the outward bound journey get booked up v quickly.
The first time I travelled this route I did nothing but complain...about the food the blocked toilet noisey mini cruise passengers etc....but over the years its has been improved so much its a real pleasure to be aboard.
The Food is very good and you get a great choice from Self Service, Carvery, Brasserie and a nice Al a Carte (though the Al a Carte needs to change their menu because its getting boring he he.) theres even a Pastry/Coffee shop.
I ate in the Coffee shop at breakfast, Carvery for lunch and Brasserie in the evening..(Al a carte a couple of times though v expensive and not quite up to the standard you expect for the money)
If you need to burn all those calories off then the Health Spa ( on the bottom deck)is a great place to chill.
Theres a little cafe, a fairly good swimming pool (well good for a ferry compaired to the equivelent on the Brittany one) A gym..(well not quite but it does have a running machine and a rowing machine) seperate male/female changing areas with Saunas in each...and a Jacuzzi near the Pool.
Theres a Cinema..but I have never fancied watching a film on a boat, and a open air cafe bar at the stern.
Evenings Come to Life...with Entertainment in the Galax Lounge. The Live Cabaret is what you would expect at your local Butlins, as is the Disco and they seem to have had the same record collection for 7 years.
The Galax lounge is really tacky and your feet stick to the carpet when walking about...If you want to avoid loads of Boozing Mini Cruisers there is a bar called 'The Posh Bar (ironically) where you will find Posh people...well not quite...mostly people who want to relax to some light piano music as they prob have a 600 mile drive across Spain the next day.
The staff on board are excellent and deserve respect as they work very hard, are not paid enough for their work and are always keen to help you out wether you have paid £800 like most car drivers tend to or £60 for a Mini Cruise.
The worse thing about this boat is 'The Mini cruisers' these are people that get on board expecting a proper cruise for £60 and then que up at the Reception desk complaining about everything..What the hell do they expect for £60..thats a little more than one night at a travel lodge and what they get for it is excellent, considering i have to pay almost £800 (in peak season) for the same.
Some of these people get very very pissed, and some are noisy puking football kit wearing hooligans with no respect for people who are using the boat as a ferry (which is what it is) and have to drive hundreds of miles..
Some of The Mini Cruisers are a good laugh though and I have made a few friends not only with fellow car drivers but had some great nights on board with some of the Mini Cruisers (and got v drunk myself oooopps) which I regretted whilst battling through the Bilbao Rush Hour the following Morning with a real nasty headache he he.
The Boat isn't perfect, its expensive for taking a car to Spain but it has a personality and is a great place to meet other travellers too..its also been knicknamed as a Love Boat..as there does to appear to be a lot of flirting in The Galax Lounge and in the Coffee bar..and I myself have managed to Score a couple of times on board..but that isn't anything unusual for me he he.
One of the things I like about my trips to Spain is when the holidays over..theres always The Pride Of Bilbao on the way home and its like the Holiday has just started again!
P.S. If you are not good at sea...I reccomend you have a big meal before you set sail, never go on an empty stomach and Buy homeopathic Sea sick tablets and take a couple two hours before you leave...dont drink too much if you are prone to seasickness as the experience can be awful if you do he he.
Aww Thanks, didn't realise so many people on here...well I'm off on The Pride Of Bilbao again on the 4th of June and I have heard that its had a refit since the last trip so I will update it...
Kind Regards...
Si
adamsputnik 13.05.2005 23:23
sounds like a fun ride, though picking up on a very sounds a bit dodgy!
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Record Rent a Car is present in the main spanish airports and has a very wide fleet. We offer: exceptional discounts, free additional drivers,
unlimited mileage... subscribe to our Club Record and take advantage of special offers.
Advantages: A real value for money holiday of a lifetime in which you will be completely pampered Disadvantages: Perfectly calm crossings cannot be guaranteed
Marchant 21.11.2001 (18.03.2002)
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Review of P & O
Advantages: Relaxing travel, good price, If you want a cruising taster a good option Disadvantages: Expensive onboard food, innacurate cabin, transfer bus confusion.
likka75 22.08.2008 (22.08.2008)
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Review of P&O Ferries
May 13th, 2005
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