Accessible Ferry Travel: Comparing Europe and New Zealand Ferries

Over Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026, we had the opportunity to reconnect with family in Brittany, France. For us, travel is never just about getting from A to B. It’s about how accessible, inclusive, and dignified that journey is for everyone.

This time, Finlay didn’t travel with us. A long-haul flight simply wouldn’t have been an enjoyable experience for him. But as always, everything I see and experience is filtered through that lens. Could we do this as a family? Would this work for Finlay?

And this trip gave me one of the clearest comparisons I’ve ever seen.

Crossing Continents: England to France

To reach Brittany, one of the most practical routes is by ferry. We travelled from Portsmouth to Saint-Malo with Brittany Ferries, an overnight crossing of around 11 hours.

Brittany sits out on the western edge of France, so ferry travel is often the easiest and most direct option, particularly in winter when other routes are limited. Taking the ferry also means you can bring your vehicle, something we rely on heavily at home.

A New Generation of Ferries

The ferry we travelled on was a new, hybrid-powered vessel, and it showed.

From the moment we boarded, it felt like accessibility had been considered from the ground up. Not retrofitted. Not “good enough.” Designed.

I found myself observing everything, not just as a traveller, but as a mum and an advocate.

I happened to park behind a large high-top van and watched closely as the passenger exited. It gave me a real-world view of how the space worked, the clearance, the flow, and the ease of movement. These are the moments that matter, because they tell you whether a space will actually work in practice.

What I saw was reassuring:

• Wide, spacious vehicle decks
• Clear wayfinding and signage
• Large lifts with easy access
• Plenty of room to manoeuvre, even for larger vehicles with hoists
• Seating everywhere, so there’s no pressure to rush or compete for space

The stairways featured thoughtful designs, including tactile indicators and dual handrails, and I’m curious about the opinion of people with low vision on the tactile indicators used on patterned carpeting.

It felt calm. Clean. Inclusive.

Travelling with a Dog. Done Right 🐾

A quick but important note: this ferry has completely reimagined travelling with pets.

Instead of being left in cages down in the hull (something we’re all too familiar with back home), dogs can stay with their owners in designated cabins. There are even outdoor relief areas onboard.

It’s a small shift, but a huge improvement in wellbeing, for both animals and their humans.

Accessibility: When It’s Done Well

The boarding process felt familiar, similar to what we experience in Aotearoa. You are issued a mobility pass and directed into the correct lane for priority boarding.

Ground staff ensured:

• Vehicles needing extra space were positioned appropriately
• Access to lifts was close and easy
• Boarding felt coordinated and considered

The only difference is:

Once onboard, everything just… worked seamlessly, starting from the larger lift access. It wasn’t a mass of passengers all making a beeline to the lift. They took the stairs.

We explored the ferry, enjoyed a buffet meal (and an equally impressive buffet breakfast). Took a look at the Exhibition Gallery read the history, enjoyed reading about Brittany and admiring the artwork along all the walls.

I even asked at reception if I could see inside an accessible cabin.

Accessible Cabin

I was so excited to see one of their accessible cabins, located on Level 8 with no long corridors to negotiate. Once again, it was that seamless flow, moving easily from one space to another without barriers, something that makes all the difference when you’re travelling with mobility needs.

It was stunning.

• Wide entry and easy manoeuvrability
• Hinged door access, but not heavy
• A bathroom that actually works as an accessible space
• Bed, lighting, and controls all within reach
• And a huge circular window framing the sea
• However, limited clearance under the bed for a hoist, and it didn’t appear easy to raise, a key consideration for those needing full transfer support

It had the “wow” factor, but more importantly, it felt functional and dignified.

When you start to notice gaps like the lack of hoist clearance in the cabin, alongside the absence of a fully equipped Changing Places space, it does suggest that not everyone representing mobility needs was at the table during the design phase.

And Then There’s Home…

It’s impossible not to compare this with our journeys on the Interislander between Wellington and Picton.

Those ferries are ageing, and accessibility reflects that.

One of the most significant gaps?

The lack of a Changing Places bathroom.

For families like ours, this isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s essential.

Every time we travel with Finlay, we are faced with the same reality, there is no suitable space to support his toileting needs. That has meant lifting him on and off the floor during crossings. Managing as best we can. Doing what families do, but in a way that compromises dignity.

On our last crossing, the crew were so horrified by the situation that they gave us free food.

Kind? Yes.
But it also highlights just how unacceptable the situation is.

Why Changing Places Matters

A Changing Places bathroom isn’t just a larger accessible toilet.

It includes:

• A height-adjustable adult-sized changing table
• A ceiling hoist
• Space for carers to assist safely
• A layout that supports dignity and proper care

Without it, many people are effectively excluded from travelling comfortably, or at all.

A Call for Better Ferries in Aotearoa

With new ferries on the horizon for New Zealand, this is the moment to get it right.

What I saw travelling between Portsmouth and Saint-Malo shows what’s possible when accessibility is embedded from the beginning:

• Thoughtful design
• Practical functionality
• Dignity for all passengers

This isn’t about luxury, it’s about baseline inclusion.

Arriving in Saint-Malo

Saint-Malo is a stunning arrival point, a walled medieval city on the Emerald Coast, rich in history, with sandy beaches and incredible food.

It’s a destination in its own right, and a perfect gateway into Brittany and beyond.

Final Thoughts

Even without travelling with Finlay, this journey reinforced something important.

You don’t need to be travelling with someone to see whether a space works for them.

You just need to know what to look for.

And once you’ve seen what’s possible, truly possible, it becomes impossible to accept less.

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Now we just need to make sure Aotearoa’s next generation of ferries reflects that.