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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Brian Stone" data-source="post: 1707308" data-attributes="member: 3983">Once the PoB leaves service the only practical option for an out and back trip will be the Cap Finisterre with Brittany Ferries (the Pont Aven sails from either Portsmouth or Plymouth and returns to the alternate port). This sails on set days twice a week.There are several disadvantages compared with the PoB sailings:The ship is faster giving you less time at sea and passing any activity more quickly;The schedule means that the northern Bay will be passed at night in both directions. This will reduce the variety of habitat covered but see below.The ship is in port at Santander for only 3 hours leaving little time to explore on land.One possible advantage is that it will cover the central and southern parts of the Bay twice. Depending on how much daylight is available and how much of it you are prepared to use, it could increase your time in some of the more interesting deep water and shelf break areas. The PoB does a lot of this in the night and very early morning on the outward journey.It remains to be seen what viewing conditions will be like from the Cap Finisterre. This was the Superfast V running on a route between Ancona, Igoumenitsa and Patras so I expect someone here has been on it before.</blockquote>