Ally

You have to hand it to the French when it comes to promoting their own culture — they are in a cl*** of their own.

Brittany Ferries is the latest exponent, not surprisingly, perhaps, for a ferry line that prefers to provide something different to its customers.

In its aim to create a unique ambience for each ship, the company has over the past 25 years commissioned original works from approximately 50 contemporary artists, some well known, others less so.

Today, it owns some 1,300 original works, most of which can be seen on each of its six p***engerships.

There are 200 original works alone on board its flagship Pont Aven and the company is now offering audio guides with a commentary to help p***engers discover the background to each piece.

P***engers can make this cultural journey with £1 ($2) for the hire on board of an MP3 player and by listening to the descriptions, in English or French, of each painting, sculpture or photograph and an account of each one’s significance in the creation of the ship’s ‘personality’.

Keen iPodders can download the audio guide from the company’s website and load it onto their own MP3 player.