MV Armorique

The cruise ferry that came in from the Channel

The Armorique is not new — she was built at STX Europe in Helsinki in 2009 as Brittany Ferries' cross-Channel flagship, with the company even claiming she was the only ferry to have visited every port the operator served. After fifteen years on the English Channel, she was redeployed to Cherbourg-Rosslare from November 2025, joining the Cotentin and the E-Flexers on the route Brittany Ferries took over fully when Stena Line withdrew at the end of September 2025.

At 168 metres and 29,468 gross tons, she is smaller than the Galicia or her sisters but considerably larger than the Cotentin. The Armorique fills a useful gap in the rotation: a properly fitted-out cruise ferry that turns the 16-20 h overnight into a slower, quieter passage.

Two cinemas and a reading lounge — unique on this route

The Armorique is the only ship on the Cherbourg-Rosslare service with dedicated cinema screens. Two cinemas show films through the evening and again in the morning before arrival — a real difference on a 17-18 hour crossing, especially with children on board. Tickets are sold separately at a small fee; check the on-board programme on embarkation.

The reading lounge is the quieter pole on the same ship. Armchairs, large windows, sea views and a no-screens convention — the kind of space that is the first to fill on a winter Atlantic crossing.

Dining: Le Flora and Le Café du Voyage

The Armorique carries two main eateries: Le Flora, a self-service restaurant with hot dishes, salads and an evening service that stays open after departure, and Le Café du Voyage, a lighter café-bar with sandwiches, pastries and coffees through the day. The main bar runs until late evening. See the on-board dining page for the full breakdown.

Cabins on a 17-hour overnight

For an overnight crossing, a cabin is not a luxury — it is the difference between arriving in Rosslare rested or wrecked. The Armorique offers inside, outside and Commodore cabins, all en-suite with shower, WC, hairdryer and flat-screen TV. Pet-friendly cabins are available on selected decks and must be booked in advance; see the pet travel page.

Wheelchair-accessible cabins are available on the Armorique — unlike on the Cotentin, where they are not. For passengers needing assisted boarding, contact Brittany Ferries reservations at least 48 hours before sailing.

On-board facilities at a glance

• Two cinemas — film programme on board
• Reading lounge with armchairs and sea views
• Le Flora self-service restaurant (hot meals, salads)
• Le Café du Voyage (sandwiches, pastries, coffee)
• Main bar — open into late evening
• Duty-free boutique (spirits, perfume, gifts)
• Children's play area
• Pet-friendly cabins and outdoor pet exercise deck — book in advance
• Wheelchair-accessible cabins and public areas

A bigger, quieter ship — and what it changes

The Armorique runs on conventional diesel propulsion and cruises at a service speed of 25 knots — fast for a ferry of her tonnage, which helps the route schedule absorb tide and weather without slipping. Beam is 26.8 m and draft sits at about 6.4 m, comfortably handling Cherbourg's Quai de Normandie and Rosslare Europort under most conditions. Compared to the Cotentin, the Armorique is more passenger-focused: wider lounges, more food outlets, and the cinemas that no other ship on this route carries.

Freight: still a working ferry

The Armorique is built RoPax. She carries 470 cars and 65 freight vehicles, with the freight deck accessed through stern doors. Hauliers using the Cherbourg-Rosslare route can book accompanied or unaccompanied trailers via Brittany Ferries Freight; see the freight booking page for B2B contacts and lane-metre availability.

Insider tip — when to pick the Armorique

If you are travelling with children or you want the cinema experience, look for the autumn and winter rotation — that is when the Armorique tends to take more of the Cherbourg-Rosslare sailings while the E-Flexers cover Spain. From March through October the rotation tilts towards the larger Galicia / Salamanca / Santoña, with the Armorique covering occasional weeks. Book the actual vessel through DirectFerries, where the ship assigned to each crossing is shown before payment.