Short and sweet Ferry trip to Ireland?

[Vanman]

Hi - I'm planning my first MH trip to Ireland but Mrs Vanman was not born with sea-legs. All our trips abroad so far have been via the Channel Tunnel. As there isn't one, or a bridge (unless you know otherwise!) to Ireland, I'm looking for advice on which ferry route is best for land-lubbers and if possible what is the best time of year to cross? I don't particularly mind how far I have to drive to the terminal, or where in Ireland we get to - but if the type of boat is important that would be good to know too.

Thanks!

 

[PaulyP]

I’m planning to go over about mid September from carynryan (Stranraer) Scotland to Belfast, it’s a two hour crossing, never done that route before but I want a short crossing with the dogs.

 

[bladerunner]

Avoid the sea cat (aka sick cat or vomit comet).
I’ve good sea legs, but the combination of pitch and yaw, chips, burger and diesel and the odd infants puke tested me.

 

[Brains]

As the 'Boris Bridge' never got built (a totally mad idea in the first place as the water is over 600m deep)
And as the UK has left the EU, so the discussed Dublin/Holyhead rail bridge/tunnel will never get the finance.

It means the only option is a ferry,
(or she flys and you drive)

Shortest (and cheapest) option is Cairnryan (Stranraer) in Scotland to Larne (or Belfast) in Northern Ireland

2nd best (for you) would be Hollyhead/Dublin

Or you drop her off at Liverpool airport, catch the ferry also from Liverpool and pick her up in Dublin.

 

[David and Sally]

Take in the D&G coast on the way to Stranraer.

The Irish Sea can be bumpy at any time of the year so a crossing just over two hours is the shortest.

Enjoy Ireland.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[CaptainPaul]

Go with Stena Cairnryan to Belfast there's only an hour or so of open water.
Lough Ryan depart & Belfast Lough approach are both sheltered plus the Stena ships are very quick to put down their stabilisers compared to some companies (due to fuel economy) i use these ferries dozens of times a year and it's never much worse than force 6 or 8 which is nothing to ships of their size & tonnage
Enjoy your trip

 

[PaulC70]

Definitely Scotland -> Northern Ireland. Shortest crossing. I tend to try and stick to early morning crossings as sea seems calmer generally. Notwithstanding any particular storms of course.

 

[Riverbankannie]

She should take a Stugeron whilst in the dockside before boarding and that will definitely help.

 

[Brains]

She should take a Stugeron whilst in the dockside before boarding and that will definitely help.

I think that may be a hard pill to swallow in some Scottish ports!

 

[Vanman]

Thanks for all the replies. Can I just check, looking at the bookable dates for next year it seems to be about £400 Return for 2 adults and 6m Van from Cairnryan to Belfast in May. Does that sound about right?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[CaptainPaul]

Thanks for all the replies. Can I just check, looking at the bookable dates for next year it seems to be about £400 Return for 2 adults and 6m Van from Cairnryan to Belfast in May. Does that sound about right?

Sounds about right
Prices are usually around £180 - £220 one way
So your not far away at £400, they never reduce the fares as they always sell due to GB - Northern Ireland freight

 

[ontheroadagain]

Does that sound about right?

Yes. Unfortunately it is expensive to cross the Irish Sea. If you have a dog, Stena Line have an excellent pet lounge on the Cairnryan to Belfast route.

 

[Jon Stewart]

I’m planning to go over about mid September from carynryan (Stranraer) Scotland to Belfast, it’s a two hour crossing, never done that route before but I want a short crossing with the dogs.

All the boats have stabilisers, so there is never much rock and roll in my experience.

A good chunk of that route is either in Lough Ryan or in Belfast Lough, so less of it is actually out in the open water.

 

[Puddleduck]

Such a pity SeaTruk no longer taking motorhomes. It was an 11 hour crossing but huge freight ships that laughed at the waves! Plus you got an en-suite cabin and all food and drink included in the fare.

 

[LostInSpace]

All the boats have stabilisers, so there is never much rock and roll in my experience.

Also, if you are not tied to particular dates, you could wait near the port for a calm forcast.

Holyhead on Anglesey if halfway to Dublin and there are nice campsites to park up whilst sellecting your weather.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Vanman]

Also, if you are not tied to particular dates, you could wait near the port for a calm forcast.

Holyhead on Anglesey if halfway to Dublin and there are nice campsites to park up whilst sellecting your weather.

It looks as though, with a Flexi booking, you can amend your travel date up to a couple of days before. Wouldn't have to leave home until there was fair weather forecast.

 

[CaptainPaul]

I live on the Wild Atlantic Way and the month of May is never usually rough for crossings
Now January and February can be a different story round these parts....

 

[Winger]

captain Paul. Totally agree. I’ve crossed too many times to remember and only had one dodgy crossing. Nothing to worry about. Your not right settled till your disembarking again

 

[lorger]

You can also do Cairnryan to Larne, worth checking to depending on where you’re heading once docked.

 

[Jon Stewart]

It looks as though, with a Flexi booking, you can amend your travel date up to a couple of days before. Wouldn't have to leave home until there was fair weather forecast.

Usually with a Flexi, you just rock up and pay the difference. Must check that is still the case, as we are changing our sailing due to the storm.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jon Stewart]

They have a facility to amend your booking, but never used it!

 

[TerryL]

Cairnryan-Belfast every time, the shortest crossing time and, as said, less than half in open water. Bren doesn't like ferries at all but is quite happy with this one, we leave the dog in the van as he's better off there, for us and for him as he's a bit anti-social with other dogs.
You can use Tesco vouchers with Stena, but it's a bit complicated (read as a rip-off!) and in the end we haven't saved much, so won't bother in future.

 

[PaulyP]

All the boats have stabilisers, so there is never much rock and roll in my experience.

A good chunk of that route is either in Lough Ryan or in Belfast Lough, so less of it is actually out in the open water.

I worked offshore for 28 years, a lot of that time spent in the Irish Sea, I know how rough it can get at times!

 

[PaulyP]

You can also do Cairnryan to Larne, worth checking to depending on where you’re heading once docked.

I got the impression that using that route you can miss out driving through Belfast !

 

[Nico]

Another vote for Cairnryan into Belfast. We went over in February this year. Interestingly they don’t charge for trailers or caravans which certainly isn’t the case for other routes to Ireland or Europe

My wife isn’t too good on rough crossings but takes a seasick tablet an hour or so beforehand and has been fine even on the 28 hour Portsmouth to Santander sailing

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jon Stewart]

You can also do Cairnryan to Larne, worth checking to depending on where you’re heading once docked.

That's P&O.

Horrible service. Make sure and bring your coats as the passenger accommodations are usually freezing.

Better fish and chips on Stena as well!

 

[TerryL]

Stena Belfast decants straight onto the motorway network and, though very busy, it's pretty easy to get anywhere in Ireland. We usually head north for a start, overnight at Carrickfergus Castle if late afternoon/evening where there's a free service point and good overnighting next to the Travel Lodge.

 

[PaulC70]

It looks as though, with a Flexi booking, you can amend your travel date up to a couple of days before. Wouldn't have to leave home until there was fair weather forecast.

Possibly, never used the flexi to be honest. While the scotland / NI crossings wont generally do discounts, they are cheaper on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursdays each way.

That's P&O.

Horrible service. Make sure and bring your coats as the passenger accommodations are usually freezing.

Better fish and chips on Stena as well!

Must have been a bad one as when we went early this year it was a great crossing, no problems at all.

 

[Jon Stewart]

Possibly, never used the flexi to be honest. While the scotland / NI crossings wont generally do discounts, they are cheaper on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursdays each way.

Yes, and sometimes time dependent as well.

Must have been a bad one as when we went early this year it was a great crossing, no problems at all.

Don't go in the winter is all I can say.

The way we were treated, I'm not using them again.

On outward journey, got frozen, so coming back tried to bring a blanket from the car.

No, not allowed, it's a fire risk.

Loads of other people with blankets, duvets etc in bags, which were taken out once in the passenger area. Nothing said to them.

It's a real shame what the Peninsular and Oriental Line has become given it's history.