Passenger ferry services, some of which have been on an even deeper hiatus than airlines, are making their way back as European travel restrictions start to ease, with old routes reviving and some new ones coming on line.
One new one may be headed from the UK, either from Plymouth or Portsmouth to Portugal’s northern Porto region before the end of this month. Demand for the route, to be operated by Brittany ferries, is expected to be brisk because Portugal is the only major European sand-and-sea area on the UK’s Green List.
The service may get an added boost because the demand may push air tickets higher than normal, and there may, in any case, not be enough seats available. The ferry service will not take foot passengers at first, only vehicles and their occupants. Because Spain is not on the Green List, a direct route to Portugal is needed for UK travelers to Portugal.
In Ireland, meanwhile, ferry service between the mainland and a number of island areas is re-opening, including by Ireland’s newest and largest domestic ferry, which is expanding service between Galway and the Aran Islands. Also in the works to restart are Dublin Bay ferries and cruises.
