Brittany Ferries' new luxury cruise ferry, the £100m Pont-Aven, entered service on the Plymouth to Santander route on March 24, 2004.

The new ship provides an improved crossing time of just 18 hours, virtually half that of any other direct ferry service from the UK to Spain.

The largest in Brittany Ferries' fleet, the 165 million euro, 41,000-ton vessel can carry 2,400 passengers and 650 cars.

Crossing schedules allow travellers to enjoy dinner on board as they sail from British shores and wake up to a leisurely breakfast as she slides effortlessly into Spain.

On Friday (March 26) the ship also enters service on the Plymouth-Roscoff route, giving an improved journey time of just four hours for speedy entry to the gateway of Brittany. Later on the same day, the Pont-Aven sets off to Cork from Roscoff, with a crossing time of just 11 hours.

This stylish new vessel is the first northern European car ferry with facilities that would usually only be found on cruise ships. She boasts an open deck pool with retractable glass roof, with surrounding leisure facilities that offer the perfect relaxation zone that, come rain or shine, will ensure you begin your holiday as soon you step on board.

Other on board features include a range of scrumptious dining opportunities in elegant a la carte restaurants, bistros and tea rooms, a central atrium with panoramic lifts, stylish shopping malls, cocktail and cabaret bars, two cinemas and a special leisure area for younger clientele too.

Pont-Aven's superbly appointed cabin accommodation sets new levels of comfort and style. All 650 cabins match any good hotel and are air-conditioned with en-suite facilities. Four classes of cabin are available: Standard, Club Class, De Luxe and Commodore.

All, apart from standard cabins, have a flat screen TV and comfortable seating. The luxurious Commodore cabins feature wide patio doors that lead directly onto you own private balcony. The Pont-Aven dŽcor reflects the artistic influences made famous by the distinguished French school of painters bearing the same name.

An adventure on Pont-Aven is perfect for

• Checking out the romantic Paradors and Casas in northern Spain
• Exploring large regions of the south of France too - Biarritz, for example, is over 500 miles closer to Santander than it is to Calais!
• Discovering the unspoiled beauty of 'Green Spain' with a scenic drive through the stunning Picos de Europa, a luscious gateway to the coastal delights of Spain and its undiscovered heartland
• Cruising to Santander, then driving up through France before taking the ferry back from Brittany/Normandy Ð tour Biarritz, Bordeaux's vineyards, the Loire Valley and the delights of Normandy and Brittany. A perfect multi-centre holiday with a touch of class
• Taking the strain off the drive to your second home

For on-line reservations CLICK HERE