What's on-board
With free onboard WiFi and movies, private cabins, a fresh-as local menu, friendly service and the only ferry offering Airpoints Dollars, there’s so many reasons why Kiwis, are crossing over!
Elevate your travel experience!
Introducing our new Pōhutukawa Lounge - where comfort meets luxury!
Experience the next level of comfort in our adults only Pōhutukawa Lounge, where you can relax in comfortable seating and a peaceful child-free environment, perfect for unwinding before the next leg of your journey. Indulge in our all-inclusive food and drink selection, featuring delicious gourmet snacks, freshly prepared meals, and a variety of beverages. Make your travel truly memorable in our Pōhutukawa Lounge.
R16 - While we love welcoming your little ones onboard, this lounge is strictly R16. Travelling with kids under 16? Take a look at our family cabin option.
All-inclusive food and beverage
Indulge in a delicious range of complimentary food and drinks showcasing the best the region has to offer. Food is served in a self-service buffet. Take your pick from our selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including local New Zealand wines, craft beer and barista-made coffee.
Refined, spacious seating
Relax and recline in comfortable seating with ample room for you to unwind during your voyage.
Enjoy the flexibility to choose your preferred space, whether it's a reclining seat, low lounge chairs with tables for casual conversations, or taller tables intended for dining. All designed for your comfort and relaxation throughout your journey.
Exclusive viewing deck
Enjoy panoramic views from the comfort of the lounge through large windows, or step out onto the viewing deck, available exclusively to Pōhutukawa Lounge passengers.
Peaceful sanctuary
For people who are after child-free bliss, our lounge is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Whether you're catching up with mates or needing to catch up on work, the Pōhutukawa Lounge is for you.
Enjoy the Pōhutukawa Lounge on select Connemara sailings for $80 per person.
Full terms and conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions.
How to book
Our private cabins with ensuite are the perfect place for you to relax, rest and freshen up before the next leg of your journey. You can pre-book your private cabin online. Just follow these simple steps:
- All cabin options available will be displayed when you select your sailings. (step 2 of the booking process)
- Choose the cabin type/s you would like to add by selecting the quantity
- If you want to add cabins to an existing book, follow this link.
Please note: Extra cabins may be available for purchase on-board. If you are unable to book a cabin prior to your departure please ask our friendly crew to double check availability once you are on-board. Dog-friendly cabins cannot be purchased on-board, these must be prebooked.
We have a range of cabin sizes available from single to five bed options as well as dedicated dog-friendly options. All cabin sizes are available on Saver Sail, Super Sail and Flexi Sail fares when you prebook to match your sailing fare type and conditions. You can prebook a cabin online or by phone when you make your booking. If you haven't prebooked but would still like a cabin you can ask our on-board team if there are any available, however these will be charged at the Flexi Sail price.
Please note: Some cabins do not have a porthole. Whenever possible, we will issue a cabin with a porthole, although this may not always be possible.
Dog-friendly cabins
We also have dedicated dog-friendly cabins available on selected sailings onboard Connemara. That’s right, your dog can travel in a cabin with you! There are 2 bed and 4 bed (twin bunks) available. These cabins are equipped and designated for you to travel with your dog. Please note: Strait Feronia does not have dog-friendly cabins available onboard. More information here.
Both our ships offer a range of private cabins
All cabins have air-conditioning, a power point, a desk with chair, wall-mounted reading lights, hanging space with coat hangers, and a wall mirror. Complimentary fresh linen, towels and body wash are also included.
All cabins have air-conditioning, a power point, a desk with chair, wall-mounted reading lights, hanging space with coat hangers, and a wall mirror. Complimentary fresh linen, towels and body wash are also included.
Night Sailings
This is a great option if you’re short of time or want to rest and freshen up before the next leg of your journey.
Wellington - Picton 2am
Final check in is by 1am, set sail at 2am and arrive in Picton at 5.45am ready for breakfast. For your own private space to get some sleep, pre-book a cabin with ensuite (shower/toilet/basin) and linen provided (bedding and towels).
Cabins: 1 bed, 2 bed, 4 bed and 5 bed options.
Picton - Wellington 2.30am
Final check in is by 1.30am, set sail at 2.30am and arrive in Wellington at 6am.
Onboard, a full cooked breakfast, as well as muesli, fruit, and yoghurts, is available from 5am and a limited range of counter food is available before then.
For your own private space to get some sleep, pre-book a cabin with ensuite (shower/toilet/basin) and linen provided (bedding and towels).
Cabins: 2 bed and 4 bed options.
Luggage
We ask that you only take one small overnight bag up to your cabin.
All large pieces of luggage must be checked in at the terminal when you check-in.
For more information on checked in luggage click here
Here’s why NZ’s, thinking fresh!
Foodies ahoy! Love barista-made L’affare coffee, freshly baked breads, tempting cakes and a shipload of delicious choices - made to order by our chefs, right on board. So regardless of whether you’re crossing the Strait at breakfast, lunch or dinner, we’ve got the menu sorted!
Artisan breads, sourced from local bakers. Lamb from Nelson, beef from Canterbury and salmon jumping right out of the Marlborough Sounds. Plus a range of muffins, cakes, gelato and sweet little treats for the kids… or the grownups!
All with a price tag, that you’ll find palatable too.
Special dietary requirements
We can cater for many customers with individual requirements such as religious, ethnic or dietary needs. Please advise the cafe staff of your requirements.
Gluten Free dishes and products
It's important to note that we also offer other gluten-free items on a daily basis. You can find our gluten free menu items in our food menu above with the 'GF' symbol listed next to the menu item. If you still experience difficulty with our current menu – simply talk to a member of our friendly crew about your requirements. Our chefs can create something special for you.
**Please note that our gluten-free fried items are prepared using the same cooking equipment as a number of non-gluten free products.
Food allergies
For your peace of mind and assistance, we carry an up-to-date food allergy manual behind each service counter on board our ships. This manual details every food item we sell and/or make on board with all ingredients listed clearly for our staff. If one of our customers is nut intolerant or allergic for example, the pesto in a scone may have traces of pinenut and this can be checked on the ingredients listed in the manual. Again if you're unsure or struggling to find something suitable on our current menu selection, please talk to a member of our friendly crew as our Chefs are only too happy to assist you.
Food hygiene and safety
The Wellington City Council's Environmental Health Officers annually inspect all premises that prepare, package and store food for sale. We are delighted to announce that Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry has been awarded the an excellent food hygiene grading for all of our food service outlets. Our grade is based on the Council's 4-category risk rating. The categories are: conduct and practices, structure of the premises, cleaning and sanitising and staff training.
Halal certification
Each of our current suppliers of beef, lamb and chicken holds a Halal Certificate issued by The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand Inc. (FIANZ), our national Muslim organisation. The Federation's Halal Committee (comprising the Religious Advisory Board, Meat Scientists, Food Technologists and the Secretariat) ensure that meat plants of New Zealand, operating under the supervision of the Federation, always maintain a high degree of Halal integrity. Halal Accreditation Certificates (for the premises) are issued to such meat plants by the Federation only after a thorough and rigorous Halal auditing process which includes a regime of ongoing supervision and inspection. You can learn more about the issuing of Halal Certificates to meat plants on the FIANZ website.
Free WiFi
Enjoy WiFi on us!
Free WiFi is available inside our terminals and onboard our ships.
How do I surf Cook Strait for free?
- Select ‘BluebridgeWiFi’ from your available wireless network list or on your wireless network control panel.
- Open your web browser and connect to a website.
- Our Free WiFi Terms & Conditions screen will appear. Hit the big blue button and then you’re all set! If you have any questions, just ask our friendly staff.
Free Movies
We play a range of popular films during our Strait Feronia sailings, in dedicated free-to-access movie lounges. Connemara currently does not have a dedicated movie theatre. The kid's room will feature two screens that will show family-friendly movies.
Check out the popular titles 'now screening' onboard each of our Cook Strait ferries. This selection is updated regularly so be sure to check back before your sailing to find out what's on!
Movies showing in December:
Strait Feronia
Wellington – Picton
Main Theatre |
Family Room |
The Nightmare Before Christmas |
Migration |
Picton – Wellington
Main Theatre |
Family Room |
Avatar: Way of Water |
Coco The Muppet Christmas Carol |
Connemara
Wellington – Picton
Family Room |
Mr Popper’s Penguins |
Picton – Wellington
Family Room |
Polar Express |
Travelling with kids on Bluebridge
Going on the ferry is an exciting experience for the whole family. Our ships are kid-friendly with safe outdoor areas to spot dolphins, take selfies, have a picnic or tik tok on the top deck. When they’re done exploring (or feeding the seagulls) and some quiet time is the name of the game, their free activity pack, WiFi and movies will keep them entertained.
Both ships have plenty of comfortable seating options and a dedicated kid's room with free movies. If you prefer your own space, you can even pre-book one of our private family cabins with ensuite.
Free activities
When you check in, each child will be given a free activity pack. Each pack includes some colouring pencils and an envelope that doubles as an activity book. Full of Wellington, Picton and marine-themed activities, this should keep the kids entertained for most of the journey!
Free family-friendly movies on Feronia
Relax with a recent release G or PG rated movie in our kids’ area. No tickets required – so if the kids have a change of mind five minutes after the opening credits – no drama.
Onboard kids entertainment
We've got the kids entertained during the school holidays!
Join us on board during the school holidays for a fantastic lineup of entertainment. Entertainers include Rainbow Circus for epic face painting and dress-up characters and Fingal Pollock the Puppeteer for enchanting puppet shows.
Kid-friendly space and facilities
Inside play areas
Both of our Bluebridge ferries have dedicated kid's rooms with some toys and games. Both kid rooms include a TV screen playing family-friendly movies.
Change stations
Family change areas are centrally located near the lounges on board and inside our Wellington and Picton passenger terminals.
Private family cabins
We understand that when travelling with little ones it's nice to have your own space. Why not book a family sized four bed cabin available on board all ships from $65 each way. On the Strait Feronia we also have a five bed cabin available from $80 each way. Portacot available on request. We recommend you pre-book your family cabin as we have a limited number of them available.
Kid's meals
We have a range of kid’s meals and snacks available on board. A choice of 3 different combos all perfectly sized for kids and great value at only $12 each. They can choose from southern style chicken strips, crumbed fish bites or pancake mini stack. See full menu here.
Our baristas are happy to whip up a fluffy as well as a coffee/tea for you. If you need hot water for baby bottles, our crew will be happy to help