Norman Asturias
Operated by LD Lines
Norman Asturias
Operated by LD Lines
Operated by LD Lines on the route
The Norman Asturias features a superb range of facilities including a bar, restaurant, cabins and comfortable lounges to relax in during the crossing.
You'll find a range of onboard cabin accommodation with something to suit all budgets and requirements with a mix of 2-berth outside and 4-berth inside and outside cabins. A cot is available upon request at the reception desk. Standard style reserved seats are available if you want to travel without a cabin.
The Norman Asturias has a restaurant and a bar. The pub style bar is a great venue to start or end your trip with a range of wines, beers, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks and tea and coffee on offer. 'Le Bistro du Norman' is the self-service restaurant and caters for all tastes in a relaxed and pleasant environment. With excellent Meal Deals, le Bistro offers value for money whatever the time of day as well as a children’s menu and vegetarian options.
The Norman Asturias onboard shop 'the Wave' offers a wide range of alcohols, tobaccos, perfumes, but also books, cameras, chocolates and many other gift ideas.
There is a cabin available for passengers with reduced mobility.
Please Note: Whilst we have taken great care in making our Norman Asturias guide as accurate as possible, onboard facilities, services and entertainment may vary depending on the date and time of year that you travel, facilities mentioned may change without notification and ferry companies reserve the right to operate vessels other than those mentioned at time of booking without prior notification.
out of 5
36% of our customers recommended this ship
"Shame it's over"
A delightful crossing, but this route has now ended. Shame.
"Sorry to see it go."
Poole to Santander August 30 2014. Smooth crossing, left and arrived on time, room adequate and very friendly staff will miss the service.Terry
"St Nazaire to Gijon and Gijon to Poole"
The St Nazaire to Gijon trip was fine and everything worked well for us. Very polite and helpful staff. Breakfast time could have been earlier for us. The Gijon to Poole trip was too long for us (24hrs) and the swell in the Bay of Biscay made it a rough journey which would have been more stable and comfortable in a larger boat. Sorry, but this wasn't a pleasant experience for us but we were just unlucky with the sea conditions which spoilt the trip.
"Santander and Poole with LD Lines"
Good service all round,even though delayed to Poole due to mechanical problems. However the crew handled the inconvenience with good professional expediency. There was no WIFI available,which really is a must these days. Consequently, personally, that was a negative for me. However the overall ambience of the voyage was in no way affected. Great meals, friendly helpful crew. Clean(spotless) cabins, together with very pleasant weather both ways.....you really can't ask for better! We have sailed with LD Lines a number of times and will gladly recommend them, although this was our first sail to and from Poole. We shall not use this particular route again as getting to and from the M4, especially in darkness, was an experience felt we could do without in future!
"Calm trip"
After driving for hours, we were able to relax and enjoy a good night’s rest on board. It’s like being in a hotel.
"Gijon to Pool"
Travelled from Portugal to Spain at the end of August to catch the ferry to pool in Dorset. The check in procedure was easy and uncomplicated. The cars go up quite a steep ramp to the top deck for parking it is advisable to wait for the car in front of you to leave the ramp before you start your ascent! Life on board for the 24 hours is a little bit boring but you can watch continuous films being played on a big screen TV and go to the restaurant bistro which serves decent food at less than airport prices and a full bottle of wine with your meal costing as little as 9 euros. There is also a bar for alcoholic beverages and they also sell fresh bean to cup coffee. The cabins are quite basic and small but clean and reasonably comfortable beds. The staff are very friendly and helpful and overall it was a good experience during the travel and certainly better than driving for another 18 hours across France and into England. When I worked out the price of what it would've cost me to drive all the way with food stops and also overnight stay in an hotel and then the price of the channel tunnel crossing it roughly worked out about £50 cheaper and was certainly less stressful. I would definitely travel with them again!
"Crossing Spain - England, recommendable"
Good meals. Very relaxed atmosphere. A perfect way to relax and unwind comfortably while you enjoy your trip, and enjoy the nature (dolphins). A great way to meet and talk to other passengers, including the English and Spanish.
"Cruising the Bay of Biscay"
As always a journey that is almost a cruise, good service and unforgettable experience
"Survey"
I think it's wrong that in a ship that travel between Spain and England the messages are not translated into Spanish and almost nobody speaks spanish. We ask for a pillow, since we realized in the evening that was missing in one of the berths, a person from staff who was supplying sheets answered: "Now?". We told him, he could do it as soon as he can, we told him our number cabin but he did not bring us the pillow never. One of us had to sleep with towels rolled up as a pillow. Otherwise the cabin well, punctuality good, and proper ship facilities.
"Extremely satisfied with LD Lines"
We travelled by boat to Portugal, from Saint Nazaire in south East Brittany to Gyon in northern Spain. For the first time, we did not go by plane but decides to take our car with us to Portugal. The entire journey by car to Portugal was relaxed. This was because of this boat trip. We divided the trip and drove for a few hours then took the boat and rested for some time, a very pleasant way to travel, especially when you can spend the night on board. We arrived totally relaxed and well-rested. The stay on board was very pleasant. Hight recommendable!
"LD Lines"
I enjoy ferries, but sadly what was advertised was not exactly what was available. As a child travelling to Ireland the ships would have a cinema, duty-free shop and lots of other facilities. On LD Lines to Gijon, the DVD room was a TV and DVD player in the corner of the lounge bar. The child area was a three-foot wide section of the bar with pens, paper and some sponge lego-shaped mats underneath a small table. The food was OVER priced - bring your own. Bar staff were often worked 24 hours whilst others seemed to be standing around whilst bins etc. needed to be emptied on the decks. The cleanliness was superb (obviously down to the army of cleaners who board the boat when it docks). The room was sufficient - simple, but clean and comfortable (bit like a budget hotel). For 25 hours, activities were very quickly exhausted - sit on deck, sit in the lounge bar (reading), eat, walk on deck, read some more,,,,,, etc. I love travelling by sea, but my fellow travelers were bored very quickly and vowed, "Never again!"
"travel by ferry an alternative"
The cabins on this ferry are larger than others we have traveled before. Normal cleaning, overall good service, and well treated.
"Pleasant and quick trip"
This ferry with the car was reasonably priced and quick. The staff were extremely polite and helpful to my husband whio is disabled. We were travelling from Portugal so it is very convenient. I shall pass the information round in Porttugal because I know many of my friends will be keen to know about it. It I not well advertised in Portiugal and if it was many people would use it. It is a much smaller ship that the other ships which ferry in the area and therefore does not have so many facilities but quite adequate for 24 hr trip.
"Very good service"
Very pleased with our trip from Poole to Santander. Cabins clean and comfy, food reasonable and well priced and all crew/staff extremely pleasant and helpful. GREAT
"All correct"
very nice travel, very kind crew , i recommend it
"travel from gijon to saint nazaire"
Excellent travel and good customer service.we have to tell that the crew was very polite and willing to help.We had a problem and they helped us.thank you
"Trip to Spain"
We enjoyed our crossing to Gijon. The accommodation on board is great and the crew is very friendly and helpful. In short, it’s worth repeating.
"Poole - Santander 26/7/2014"
Very efficient booking through Direct Ferries. On the day the ship was loaded quickly and left on time.Cabin was very clean and pleased to have en-suite.Very glad we booked a cabin with window/daylight! Facilities on board ship very, very basic and given the length of the journey it seems wierd to make everyone eat (one school dinner hall style restaurant)at the same time.It was open for two hours for dinner, two hours for breakfast and two hours for lunch!Only other option is a small coffee bar which was constantly mobbed.Food acceptable but uninspiring.Shop on board ship is of no use at all-usually shut and the size of a garden shed with stock to match.We had sunny calm weather for the 26 hour journey but sadly seating on deck was at a premium and most people were obliged to sit on the floor so it looked like a refugee ship.Sighting of dolphins(lots) and a solitary whale were real high spots and the opportunity to sit(on the floor)in sunshine gazing at the wide blue yonder gave a very relaxed start to holiday. Not sure I would feel the same if the weather had prevented us from being outdoors! On balance it was worth the price saving over Brittany Ferries and we would use it again if someone could promise good weather!!! Next time I will arrange my own catering in advance and not rely on the ship's facilities.
"Enjoyable!"
A great wat to travel from Spain to the UK. Good beds, adequate facilities on board including a shop, restaurant and a bar. You arrive relaxed and well rested. Better than driving on crowded freeways and in traffic jams!
"Journey to Santander"
Room clean beds comfortable in general happy with service and accommodation.
"(Almost) everything perfect"
Everything perfect except for a hygiene problem in the en-suite bathroom of the private cabin: The WC was not clean, however, upon reporting to staff, the situation was immediately resolved.
"Normal rating"
Overall the trip was good, nothing out of the ordinary and I did not have any issue which I may complain, but it can always be improve and more when it comes to value for money. In my opinion, I think the ticket cost is high for the quality of service they offer, I mean facilities, quality catering,
"Great - again"
The ship is great, the staff are lovely especially Maria Pereira, what a refined lady she is, an asset to her employer. Crossing was good, which helps.
"Travel experience LD Lines Poole to Gijon ferry"
The trip was easy to book through directferries.co.uk and was almost half the price of some the rival companies running ferries to Santander. The trip was excellent. Staff of lD lines were very friendly and helpful. The cabins were extremely clean and air conditioned. The Norman Asturias is not a large ferry but contains all the required comforts. A good bar, an area for viewing films, a bistro, a small children's play area and a small shop. Bistro food was fine and not too expensive. My only criticism would be that the credit card machine did not work on the journey back. All in all though a very comfotable and enjoyable trip, great atmosphere on the ship (not as crowded as larger boats)and comes highly recommended, especially at the price.
"Ferry to Spain"
Excellent ferry cheaper than their rivals only grip I have was the return timing getting into Poole at midnight.
"an amazing journey from Dijon to Poole"
We arrived early and boarding the vessel went smoothly as did disembarking. Lovely to have the cars up on deck and be able to return to them if we wanted. The passage was smooth and the ferry so stable even in the Bay of Biscay! Our favourite was the sundeck where we enjoyed cold drinks. The crew were friendly, professional and helpful. The ferry was small (saw why when we entered Poole harbour!)and simple - no fuss restaurants, shops etc but cabin was clean and very comfortable. The self service restaurant was very good and food costs extremely reasonable. In all it was a perfect way to end the holiday rather than drive from the Pyrenees to Calais! I would recommend the experience to anyone! thank you LD Lines!
"Poole to Santander :-)"
Hi everyone A great trip by LD lines, good service on board, pleasant staff ;-)comfortable sleeping accommodation and a nice steady smooth trip overall so yeah get yourself booked on any LD Lines sailings for a satisfactory cheap but well worth it crossing. Cheers Alan Spain
"Spanish holiday"
Great start to our trip to Northern Spain. Easy check in at Poole and although the facilities on board are very basic everything you need is on hand. Brilliant value for money would definitely use again and recommend to others.
"Gijon to Poole on the Norman Asturias"
Traveled in July 2014. Loading at Gijon was pretty chaotic and made the ferry one and a half hours late in departing. Our passports and documents were checked 3 times at Gijon. Once at the reception booth, once by the Spanish Civil Guard and a third time by an LD employee. Once aboard the ferry it was very clean. Cabins were comfortable and staff were polite and obliging. The food in the restaurant was of excellent quality and very reasonably priced. Cheap even! The beer was good. If I had to look for a criticism or minor niggle it would be that the on board shop is very small and not well stocked with reading material. All in all a very pleasant journey and experience.
"A very pleasant journey"
Both crossings were pleasant, but the quality of the restaurant is really average.
"ST NAZAIRE - GIJON "
The first time for us to travel between St Nazaire and Gijon a very nice experience. I recommend this ship.
"Travel from Santandar to Poole"
Good crossing and good service.
"Travelling by ship from Saint Nazaire to Gijon"
Our first experience, but a hit. I look forward to travelling again but unfortunately the crossings are limited. Why would we still want to drive for many kilometres by car and caravan when we can opt for this secure relaxing crossing? I recommend this to everyone. The journey on the ship offers all the necessary comforts and you arrive at the destination before you know it. Yes, do it!
"Start of holiday"
What can I say, fantastic helpful staff, well organised entry and exit, reasonable ish priced tasty food, drink expensive, great crossing, shoals of dolphins made it special. We loved the whole experience and it got our holiday off to a great start. If things are not right I will complain !!!!! No complaints this time Thanks Dave
"Everything fine."