Brunel’s historic ship SS Great Britain to set sail again for the first time in 140 years

The re-named ‘SS Great Brittany’ will be the first vessel on a new Brittany Ferries route to France

Brunel’s iconic steamship, the SS Great Britain, is to join the fleet of Brittany Ferries and will set sail to France, in its maiden voyage for the ferry company, offering passengers a ‘truly historic channel crossing experience’ from June 2026.

To celebrate the launch, the ship will be officially renamed the SS Great Brittany in a naming ceremony, rechristened with a bottle of 140-year-old vintage Bordeaux red wine.

Tapping into the rapidly growing cruise and ferry market, crossings will take passengers from Bristol to its twin city Bordeaux in the South of France, with sailings taking place weekly.

Nigel Wonnacott, group head of external communications at Brittany Ferries, said:

“This is a historic moment for a historic ship, and we couldn’t be more excited for the SS Great Brittany to join our fleet. We are delighted to welcome passengers from both sides of the Channel to a ship that last sailed before the Eiffel Tower was built.

“Brittany Ferries is famous for bringing French hospitality to all of our crossings, and this will be no different on the SS Great Brittany. We’re offering an extensive range of French wines, aged cheeses and a specially curated 1852 meal including ship’s biscuits and salted pork, plus a lime to stave off scurvy.”

On board, passengers will be invited to step back in time, with period-inspired cabins, traditional dining, and the rare chance to experience maritime travel as it would have been in the 19th century, albeit with a few modern comforts discreetly added below deck.

To celebrate the launch of the crossing, tickets are available for just £26 per person for a limited time only – the price of a steerage (third class) crossing from England to Australia from the last time the ship was sailing regularly.

Blending heritage with hospitality, the experience has been designed for both history enthusiasts and travellers who feel modern travel has become “a bit too efficient.” Due to the age of the ship, and despite a range of modernisations, passengers who are not able to swim are not recommended to book passage.

Louisa Pharoah, director of people and development at the SS Great Britain Trust, said: “We’ve spent decades conserving the SS Great Britain as a snapshot of maritime history, so naturally the next step was to send her back out to sea and show the world what she’s made of.

“While historians may have mixed feelings, we see this as a bold new chapter. After all, Brunel himself was never one to play it safe. If anything, we believe he would have absolutely loved the idea of a 19th-century steamship serving Bordeaux to day-trippers in 2026.”