Ferry to Ireland / IOM?

[Vanman]

I am certain I read somewhere on here about a 'cheap' ferry service - maybe Stranraer to Larne? It was primarily a ferry for lorries and commercial vehicles but took MH as well if you didn't mind slumming it.

Can anyone point me to a link or remind me of the details?

Thanks!

 

[WillH]

The ferries run from Cairnryan to Belfast and Larne now, not Stranraer. They are Ro-pax ferries and are not cheap, neither would you be slumming it!

 

[Vanman]

The ferries run from Cairnryan to Belfast and Larne now, not Stranraer. They are Ro-pax ferries and are not cheap, neither would you be slumming it!

Thanks - I probably knew that at some point and forgot! I do believe that there is an alternative to the Stenna type offering though ...

 

[andy63]

Youer most probably refering to the sea truck service out of heysham...
Its only p&o and stena that operate out of cairnryan...
And cheap they aint.. but they are are only a 2 and a half hour crossing...
Andy..

 

[andy63]

@Puddleduck helen has used it and may come along with advice...
Andy

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[Vanman]

Youer most probably refering to the sea truck service out of heysham...
Its only p&o and stena that operate out of cairnryan...
And cheap they aint.. but they are are only a 2 and a half hour crossing...
Andy..

Thanks - that was almost certainly the one I was thinking about. Curiously though, the dates that I looked at were slightly more expensive and took x3 as long

 

[Stealaway]

I would have thought Holyhead - Dublin would have been your best bet, from Runcorn.............

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Liverpool to the IOM is by the superfast Seacat - not cheap but worth every penny

 

[Vanman]

I would have thought Holyhead - Dublin would have been your best bet, from Runcorn.............

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Liverpool to the IOM is by the superfast Seacat - not cheap but worth every penny

You might have thought so, but the cheapest on there was £296 as opposed to £233 Cairnryan to Larne.

Cost is the deciding factor for this trip, not speed

 

[glastry]

Seatruck, Heysham to Warren point, about £260 return?

 

[Vanman]

Seatruck, Heysham to Warren point, about £260 return?

Yes, but it's £233 to beat!

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[glastry]

From Runcorn £27 pounds fuel would not look at the difference in distance!!

 

[Vanman]

From Runcorn £27 pounds fuel would not look at the difference in distance!!

Fair point

 

[coroner]

Try stena birkenhead belfast or po liverpool dublin seatruck also run liverpool dublin

 

[David and Sally]

@Puddleduck helen has used it and may come along with advice...
Andy

If that is Seatruck from Heysham I'd be interested to hear how they found the trip.

It's the cheapest way across, not too far from us as compared to Holyhead or Pembroke.

 

[andy63]

If that is Seatruck from Heysham I'd be interested to hear how they found the trip.

It's the cheapest way across, not too far from us as compared to Holyhead or Pembroke.

Helen, can you respond to this as i know you have used that company .. @Puddleduck

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[Puddleduck]

Thanks for the heads up @andy63

@Vanman

@David and Sally

The ferry company is Seatruck, we used it almost two years ago and I really enjoyed the experience. At that time it cost £80 each way (cheapest fare booked several months on advance) for the motorhome and two passengers, included a cabin or cabins (the two person cabin was bunks), en-suite, meals (basic but good) tea, coffee, juice, no alcohol of course as the ferry is for truck drivers. Very clean but basic, take your own towels (although I think you can request them), bedding is provided.

There is a driver's lounge with tv and dvd. Also free wifi.

I think there were only 8 or 10 cabins as it is primarily for unaccompanied freight.

Routes were Heysham to Dublin or Belfast (Warrenpoint). If you go into Dublin, as we did, beware of the toll road on exit but there is a way round. Also the motorway round Dublin has a toll as do many of the bridges. The Dublin motorway is a booth free system so pay at the services just before or just after, we used the truck park area as we weren't sure how big the car parking spaces were. It's quiet. (They also do Liverpool to Dublin)

I would use that service again, it was interesting seeing the trailers being loaded at the docks, the company phoned us before departure to confirm sailing times. You can park before getting to and from Heysham at the P&R just off the M6 (not sure of the junction number but it is the Heysham junction). You can park overnight and there is CCTV. Frequent buses to Lancaster City Centre as well. I asked the council about overnight in the van and officially it is a grey area but just be considerate and not obvious.

Disadvantages is that it is a long crossing (like a mill pond both ways when we used it though), no pets, no children under 10 or 12 (best to check), very steep and open stairs from the vehicle deck up to the drivers' area so you need to be able bodied. It's not suitable for the disabled.

Any other questions then please ask


https://seatruck.freight2ferry.co.u...TvDeuAKLlUI51undaY4dXF2zBVT_kiR0aArJVEALw_wcB

 

[2657]

I have been looking at doing a round trip through Ireland to France in September, the cheapest crossing that I found for a 6m motorhome to Ireland was via the Caravan & Motorhome Club.

Day crossing Liverpool to Dublin, £102 without cabin, £120 or so with cabin, with P&O, I think the boats are the old North Sea boats.

Recently checked the Heysham crossing and it was £129 for the same dates.