Forward reservations are up by 20 per cent. In total, 125,000 more passengers have booked to travel with Brittany Ferries, compared with the same period last year.

Meanwhile the company’s next ship Santoña – powered by cleaner liquefied natural gas – is en-route to Europe, ready to enter service in March. She will sail from Portsmouth to Santander in Spain and to Cherbourg in France.

“It’s early days, but we are delighted with how things are looking this year,” said Paul Acheson, director sales and marketing Brittany Ferries. “Our first sailing took place on 2 January 1973. Fifty years on we have emerged from the Covid era with more people choosing the pace, space and convenience of travelling by sea. More than ever, we are ready to welcome passengers on board to enjoy a vacation in the most beautiful parts of France and Spain.”

Brittany Ferries serves five destinations in northern France (Le Havre, Caen, Cherbourg, St Malo and Roscoff) and two in Spain (Bilbao and Santander). Services depart Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth.