171 SAIL AWAY, SAIL AWAY, SAIL AWAY...

We have checked the ferry timetables and will be departing Bilbao at 13:00 on 20th June, arriving in Portsmouth at 17:30 the following day. It takes about 5 hours to travel from Portsmouth to Liverpool, so we will be home late Sunday night.

We will be travelling on the Galica, the blurb says it is the first of the Brittany Ferries designed especially for routes to Spain. The Galicia showcases some of the very best of Spain with décor inspired by the beautiful region of northern Spain for which she is named, alongside sumptuous comfort and modern facilities. Sounds impressive.

We have travelled to Dublin many times on Irish Ferries, so we know what to expect, but this is the first time we have travelled with Brttanay. According to their website, the ship features free and payable Wi-Fi, onboard shopping, a children's play area, free video-on-demand and a sundeck with sports equipment.

The free Wi-Fi is 90 minutes of slow internet. Still, they also offer 'Surf One Way' for €15.00, which provides unlimited Wi-Fi and is 'ideal for browsing, chat, e-mail, and social media'.

I've used this sort of solution on Irish Ferries, and it is pants... but admittedly better than nothing... just.

There are also Duty Free shops onboard, offering the usual 40% discount on UK high street prices for a range of products, including perfumes, cosmetics, skincare, sweets, souvenirs, toys, and travel essentials. There is also a superb selection of beers, wines, spirits and champagnes which are much more up our rue.

There are four restaurants on the Galicia:

• Restaurant Azul (Deck 7): The main self-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a variety of hot/cold dishes, including a buffet starter and dessert selection.

• La Taberna (Deck 8): A more casual, cosy option for sandwiches, soups, salads, and pizza.

• C-Club Loung (Deck 8): Private area with complimentary snacks, hot drinks, and light meals for passengers in Club or Commodore cabins. 

Most importantly, there is also a bar:

• Plaza Mayor (Deck 8): The main bar features a Spanish theme, offering drinks and light snacks.

The French chefs onboard aim to make all meals an exceptional experience during the sailing.

The majority of the products served on board in the restaurants are French or European. According to the website, Brittany Ferries strives to work with local producers to ensure fresh, seasonal food and to reduce our carbon footprint.

Finally, for £15, we can pay for priority disembarkation, meaning we aren't sitting on the boat for 40 minutes waiting for the trucks to trundle down the slipway and through customs. Defo worth it in my experience.

Really looking forward to the ferry ride home. I've always enjoyed our trips over to Dublin from Anglesea, but that is just a four-hour trip - a mere skip across a pond compared to the 32-hour sail across the Bay of Biscay. This should be epic.