Compagnie Corsaire

Who they are

The Compagnie Corsaire is the historic passenger shipping company of Saint-Malo and Dinard, on the Emerald Coast of Brittany. It has operated since 1904 and has its base at the gare maritime de la Bourse in Saint-Malo, with staff ashore and on board. Its boats have covered saloons, an open upper deck for seeing the scenery and toilets on board.

What they do and where

Its best-known service is the Bus de mer, the launch that crosses the Rance estuary between Saint-Malo and Dinard in about ten minutes, with frequent sailings, up to every twenty minutes, in season. It also runs crossings to Saint-Cast-Le-Guildo, to the Chausey islands and to the island of Cézembre, opposite Saint-Malo, and commentated cruises: the Corsair's bay, the trip up the Rance to Dinan, Cap Fréhel and Fort la Latte, the bay of Cancale and the Pointe du Grouin, and even the offshore wind farm in the bay of Saint-Brieuc. There are sea-fishing trips, private boats for groups and special services on notable dates, such as the Dinard fireworks or Saint-Malo's summer sound-and-light show. The departure ports are Saint-Malo, Dinard, Dinan, Saint-Cast and Chausey.

The offer changes with the season: in summer there are more destinations and sailings, and out of season the Bus de mer runs in specific periods, such as 7 to 15 November 2026. The times and prices for each period are published in leaflets on its website.

Bookings and tickets

Booking is not compulsory, but a reservation guarantees your place, and in summer and holidays it is wise to do it several days ahead. You book online, at the sales points, by phone or by post; only payment confirms the booking. Online tickets are shown on a mobile or printed; return tickets from Dinan are collected on the quay at least 20 minutes beforehand. Once made, the booking is not refundable; changing it costs €5 per booking. There are gift vouchers and group rates from 20 people.

Children, dogs, bikes and accessibility

Dogs travel with a €3 supplement, on a lead or in a basket, without taking a seat; they are not admitted on Cézembre or on the return bus from Dinan. Bicycles board with a passenger-with-bike ticket, with limited places per trip. Manual wheelchairs are accepted depending on their weight and the sea state; electric ones are not. Chausey and Cézembre are not suitable for wheelchairs, because of the landings and the sand and rock paths. In bad weather the crew may refuse boarding to pregnant women, small children or elderly people.

Tips and languages

You must be on the quay 20 minutes before departure. In summer the Saint-Malo car park fills up by mid-morning: the company recommends the Paul Féval park-and-ride, with a shuttle to the Porte Saint-Vincent, about ten minutes' walk from the quay. In Dinard it recommends the Raphaël Veil car parks or the one on the market square, about 20 minutes' walk away. The website is in French and English. They answer on 02 23 18 24 60.