Brittany Ferries sails Portsmouth to Guernsey, on the ships and under the brand most people still know as Condor. It is a different kind of crossing to the France and Spain routes on this site: a smaller island at the other end, and no long drive once you are off the ship. The ferry from Portsmouth to Guernsey takes about nine and a half to eleven hours: it sails overnight every evening and arrives in St Peter Port at 06:00. Coming back, the direct day sailing takes nine and a half hours.
Research-based guideLast checked October 2026
New since 1 November 2026: daily, with a stop in Cherbourg. The ship now sails out every night. Coming home it goes straight back to Portsmouth only on Mondays and Tuesdays; from Wednesday to Sunday it calls at Cherbourg first, and then you need a passport, because the ship arrives in Portsmouth from France. How the way back works.
Researched, not sailed. We have not sailed this route ourselves. Our own experience so far is on the Brittany Ferries France routes, Cherbourg and Saint-Malo. What is below is based on route research and current operator information.
Who actually runs this now
Brittany Ferries took majority ownership of Condor in 2024 and now runs the Channel Islands operation. The ships still carry the Condor names, and a lot of booking traffic still goes through the Condor website, so you will see both names attached to the same sailing. It is one company behind the scenes; our Condor Ferries page covers what happened to the brand.
Worth knowing because Jersey went the other way. Jersey’s sea link is now run by DFDS, a different company entirely, so the two Channel Islands routes out of Portsmouth are no longer one operator’s network. See Portsmouth to Jersey.
Departures
Condor Islander has run freight and passengers to and from Portsmouth every day since 1 November 2026; before that it was up to six days a week, with no Sunday sailing. It is a conventional ferry, not one of the high speed catamarans used on the shorter Channel Islands hops.
Out of Portsmouth it is the same shape every night. In the winter 2026/27 timetable the Islander leaves at 19:15 on Mondays and Tuesdays and 20:30 the rest of the week, arriving in St Peter Port at 06:00, so between nine and a half and ten and three quarter hours. It is longer than people expect for a Channel Islands hop: see the Channel Islands guide for how it compares with Jersey. Check current days and times with the operator before booking.
Guernsey to Portsmouth: the way back
The return is where this route has changed most. Since 1 November 2026 the Islander has run a triangle, Portsmouth to Guernsey, on to Cherbourg, then back to Portsmouth, so which day you come home decides the journey:
- Monday and Tuesday: direct. Leaves Guernsey at 07:00 and arrives in Portsmouth at 16:30, a day crossing of nine and a half hours.
- Wednesday to Sunday: via Cherbourg. Leaves Guernsey at 06:30, reaches Cherbourg at 11:00, leaves again at 13:00 and arrives in Portsmouth at 17:45. That is a longer day, and you need a valid passport, because the ship arrives in Portsmouth from France.
If you have a choice of return date, Monday or Tuesday is the easy one. When you book, check which of the two your sailing is. More on the change in our news post Portsmouth to Guernsey now sails every day, and the wider picture in our rundown of the 2026 changes.
Winter 2026/27 sailing times
| Direction | Days | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth to Guernsey | Monday, Tuesday | 19:15 | 06:00 next day |
| Portsmouth to Guernsey | Wednesday to Sunday | 20:30 | 06:00 next day |
| Guernsey to Portsmouth, direct | Monday, Tuesday | 07:00 | 16:30 |
| Guernsey to Portsmouth, via Cherbourg | Wednesday to Sunday | 06:30, Cherbourg 11:00 to 13:00 | 17:45, passport needed |
The regular pattern from 1 November 2026 to 21 March 2027, in local time. A few dates differ, so check yours when you book. Every route on one page: Portsmouth ferry times, winter 2026/27.
Ship and stay
Passenger lounges, an onboard duty free shop, food and drink options, and outside deck space. Vehicles travel on the car deck as usual. At eight to ten hours it is long enough that a reclining seat or a cabin is worth considering, particularly on the overnight leg.
Departure from Portsmouth
Same terminal as the Brittany Ferries France and Spain routes, and the same one DFDS uses for Jersey: Portsmouth International Port. See our Portsmouth port guide for check in, parking and getting there, though check in specifics differ by operator, so confirm yours directly.
Arrival in Guernsey
You arrive at St Peter Port, which is the island’s main town. Guernsey is small and easy to get around without much onward driving, and the harbour puts you in the middle of things straight off the ship.
Where you actually land. St Peter Port harbour is in the middle of the town, not on the edge of it, so you step off into the place itself. That suits foot passengers particularly well, and it is one of the reasons a Channel Islands crossing feels different from a France one, where landing is usually the start of a drive.
Guernsey is small, roughly eight miles by five, with a bus network that covers it properly. A car is a convenience here rather than a requirement, and plenty of people cross on foot deliberately. Note there is a local speed limit of 35 mph across the island, so driving is slower than the distances suggest.
Costs and booking
Fares depend on season, vehicle and how far ahead you book, the usual factors. Check current prices with the operator for your dates. We do not sell tickets.
Alternatives
If Jersey is where you are actually headed, there is now a direct Portsmouth to Jersey sailing with DFDS, so you no longer need to route through Guernsey. If you want a longer stay somewhere with more to do once you have arrived, the Brittany Ferries routes to Normandy or Brittany are a different kind of trip entirely. See all routes from Portsmouth on the Portsmouth ferries overview.
Common questions
Who runs the Portsmouth to Guernsey ferry?
Brittany Ferries, under the Condor name. Brittany Ferries took majority ownership of Condor in 2024, so you will see both names attached to the same sailing. More on how that came about on our Condor Ferries page.
How long is the ferry from Portsmouth to Guernsey?
About nine and a half to eleven hours. It is an overnight crossing, leaving Portsmouth at 19:15 on Mondays and Tuesdays and 20:30 the rest of the week, and arriving in St Peter Port at 06:00.
How long is the ferry from Guernsey to Portsmouth?
Nine and a half hours on the direct day sailing, Mondays and Tuesdays, 07:00 to 16:30. From Wednesday to Sunday the ship goes via Cherbourg, leaving at 06:30 and arriving in Portsmouth at 17:45, and you need a passport. Details under the way back.
How often does it sail?
Every day since 1 November 2026, partly as direct sailings and partly as a triangle via Cherbourg.
What changed on 1 November 2026?
The Islander moved to a triangular route: Portsmouth to Guernsey, on to Cherbourg, then back to Portsmouth, and the route went daily. When you book, check which leg your sailing covers. The full picture is on our 2026 route changes page.
Can I sail from Guernsey to Cherbourg?
Yes, since 1 November 2026. The Islander’s new triangle adds a Guernsey to Cherbourg passenger leg of about three and a half hours, before the ship returns to Portsmouth. See Portsmouth to Cherbourg for the France side.
Can I get to Jersey on this ferry?
Not directly, and you no longer need to. There is a separate direct Portsmouth to Jersey service run by DFDS, booked separately.
Operator, ship and frequency checked against Condor’s timetable in November 2026. If something here has gone out of date, tell us on the contact page.
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