What to Expect
Bay of Biscay
Included - cost of the voyage and accommodation, lectures, guided walk in Spain and the services of two professional naturalist guides.
Not Included - travel to or from Portsmouth ferry terminal or meals of any description during the holiday. There are several restaurants and cafes onboard Pride of Bilbao where food can be bought at a reasonable price. The price also excludes travel insurance, optional excursions operated by P&O ferries and anything else of a purely personal nature.
Accommodation - we will be travelling on board one of Britain's largest and most luxurious cruise-ferries, Pride of Bilbao. This magnificent 177metre long, extremely stable ship really is the best way to observe the marine life of the Bay of Biscay. Accommodation onboard Pride of Bilbao in either inside twin or outside twin cabins. All cabins include two beds, en suite shower and WC, air conditioning, radio, table and chair.
Meeting Point - we start and finish at Portsmouth Ferry Terminal. Details of meeting place and time, and how to get there will be provided in our extensive pre-departure information, which will be sent to you when you book. Departure and return times are the same for all sailing dates - we meet at Portsmouth at 1800 hrs for the 2115 hrs departure. We return at 1715 hrs. Please note that a full 10-year valid British passport is currently required for entry in to Spain.
Special equipment & Photographic
Opportunities - you do not need any specialist equipment
for this holiday! Binoculars will give you brilliant views of the animals
you are watching and if you don't already own them, the good news is you
don't have to spend a fortune these days for a good pair! Please contact
our office for advice on buying a pair if you do not already own them
Our guides will carry telescopes which will be available for group use
but if you have your own telescope and tripod, please bring it. The deck
is very stable and use of a telescope adds a new dimension to sea-watching
from a boat! This holiday also offers excellent photographic and digi-scoping
opportunities - a film or digital point-and-shoot may well get you some
great results. If you own an SLR then we recommend bringing a variety
of focal length lenses ranging from 28mm to 400mm.
Weather - the weather in the Bay of Biscay and English Channel relates closely to that of southern England and western France. Winter generally sees a series of wet and windy fronts pushing north-east across the Atlantic creating choppy to stormy conditions for long periods. However, as spring approaches, the weather improves and by mid-summer sunny days and calm seas predominate. In July, August and September these conditions can last for weeks, creating flat calm seas perfect for whale watching. From mid October the weather starts to become more unpredictable, worsening gradually as autumn turns to winter.
Pre-departure Information - a comprehensive pre-departure pack will be sent with your booking confirmation.
Recording - checklists will be provided with your pre-departure information. Feel free to make complimentary use of our telescopes and onboard natural history library. A suggested reading list will be included with your pre-departure information.
Travel to Portsmouth - is easy! Portsmouth Ferry Terminal is the most convenient south coast ferry port for the majority of people in the UK. The M275 brings the national motorway network right into the port itself. Long-term parking is available at the port. For rail travellers there are frequent train services from London Waterloo, London Victoria (passing through Chichester, Brighton, Gatwick), and Cardiff (passing through Salisbury and Bristol). For further information visit www.nationalrail.co.uk National Express and other coach services run to and from the ferry port terminal and link it via London Victoria coach terminal to all major towns throughout the UK. For further information visit www.gobycoach.com