Taking the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead

Brendan Burgess

Brendan Burgess

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I am going on my own to the Lake District for a few days. I have not taken a ferry before so can I sense check my plans?

1) The place I am going to is not easily accessible by public transport and I will be doing a bit of walking, so I need a car.
2) I considered flying to Manchester and hiring a car but have provisionally decided to drive my own car on the ferry instead

The only advantage of flying is that it's about 90 minutes closer to where I am going.

The advantages of taking my own car on the ferry
1) I am not restricted by luggage. I can bring walking boots and liquids and changes of clothes. I don't really need to think much about packing. If I fly, I have to check in a bag if I want to bring more stuff or limit myself.
2) It works out cheaper overall - when I factor in the cost of getting to the airport, flights and car hire.
3) I don't have to worry about the car hire company ripping me off because of a dent in the car
4) The ferry seems to allow free cancellations with some fares.
5) I would be more comfortable and confident in my own car than in a hire car. I have hired cars in the past but not often.

Am I missing anything?

Assuming I take the ferry...

1) The Irish Ferries Swift seems to be the fastest. Any reason for taking the Stena Line instead. I will check if the times are a bit more convenient.

2) What is the difference between the different fares? Stena Line on one fare allowed free cancellation.
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3) How long do I have to be in the port before the boat sails?
4) If I miss the ferry do they allow you to take the next one? Or is that something to do with the Flexi and Flexi +? I should have no problem in Dublin because I live beside the Port. But I would worry a bit about the UK when you hear about 3 hour journeys taking 6 hours.

5) I see no point in paying extra for the lounge for a short journey?

6) Anything else to look out for?
 
Brendan Burgess said:
Am I missing anything?
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Getting from the ferry from Belfast to Cainryan makes for an infinitely easier onward drive between the ferryport and the Lake District. But then you're in Dublin so might prefer Dublin to Holyhead regardless.

Brendan Burgess said:
1) The Irish Ferries Swift seems to be the fastest. Any reason for taking the Stena Line instead. I will check if the times are a bit more convenient.
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I have a slight preference for Stena but there's not much difference between them.
Brendan Burgess said:
3) How long do I have to be in the port before the boat sails?
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Minimum 45 minutes.
Brendan Burgess said:
4) If I miss the ferry do they allow you to take the next one?
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Yes. You will have to pay something if you're not on flexible fare.
Brendan Burgess said:
5) I see no point in paying extra for the lounge for a short journey
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Neither, ever, do I.
 
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I paid for the lounge last time as I needed somewhere quiet to work and the ferry was swamped with bus loads of school kids. I just bought a ticket on board, it also meant I had decent wifi. Handy for work

I’d take the fastest/best times. The high speed catamaran was brilliant, dunno if that’s still running, it wasn’t when I went over recently but I saw it in Holyhead and someone told me that it’s seasonal.

Worth checking which vessels are at the different times, as some of them are pretty basic. But in general just pick the best times.
 
Brendan Burgess said:
I am going on my own to the Lake District for a few days. I have not taken a ferry before so can I sense check my plans?
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If you decide on Dublin - Hollyhead and it's for 5 days or less and you don’t need flexibility, the Short Break option with Irish Ferries is worth considering. I went on the Swift last year, the short break option worked out a lot cheaper than their other fares.
I had not been on a boat with a car for years, it was a great way to travel, a comfortable stress free journey, no problems there or back.
 
I have done this as a foot passenger, my only advice is the food is not great and VERY overpriced, boil the ham and bring some sandwiches, ten times nicer.
 
Have done the ferry with our car a few times to visit family and play some live shows. Our preference is ferry + rail or ferry + car which is far less stressful than airports and flying.

The Hygge lounge (I think that's the Stena brand) with comfortable reclining chairs is very welcome and worth paying for particularly if you get the early ferry as it'll let you sleep which will be beneficial when you've got a long drive ahead.

The 'club class' lounge, if that's what you're thinking of, is not worth it - it's a nonsense.

The food choices onboard are limited and not great value; bring some nice sandwiches and snacks.
 
Sometimes the fast ferry gets cancelled "because of weather - high winds/seas" and you get reallocated to the ordinary ferry which takes an hour or so longer

I suspect that sometimes they cancel it not because of the weather but because there are not enough passengers and it's cheaper to put them on the normal ferry
 
As @jpd has mentioned on the Swift cancellations. I think the Swift has only ran twice of four occasions I've booked it.

I do think that the high winds excuse is an operational excuse on less busy days to reduce the number of crossings. If you're going on a weekend I suspect it'll run fine. That said it is a rougher journey than you get on the Joyce or the Ulysses.
 
I know this isn't a suitable option for OP, but just to highlight that if you have the time the sail&rail option is brilliant and so relaxing. You could go Dublin to Windermere for about €55 one-way, could even bring your bike & off you go
 
The fast ferry may test your sea legs unless the sea is very calm. Many years since I was on the fast ferry but I don't think you can access any outside deck. I prefer the bigger slower boats.
 
It may pay you to fill your boot with some items that are cheaper to buy in the UK, then Ireland, so again, having the car will be useful.

You'll also be entitled to Duty Free, but no idea what facilities are available on the boats, these days.
 
I think that the ferry option would be a much better one than Manchester Airport one. I have rented out of Manchester and it's not a place I'd rent again.
However, if I was considering flying/renting, I'd do Leeds Bradford. Lovely small airport and on the road in no time!
 
Hello,

I actually flew to Manchester, recently - Aer Lingus put me on one of those horrible little propeller planes, so even if you do decide to fly, avoid ALs "regional" flights.
 
Thanks guys - decisions made.
I am going to the south of the Lake District so the Cairnryan option didn't work out.
As it's only for 5 days I got the Irish Ferries Short Break option and used the money saved to use the lounge. A fair bit cheaper than the fly and hire option.

I wanted a mid morning ferry from Dublin, but there was none, so I booked the 7.30am fast ferry out. I will have most of the day to see the sights on the way there.
 
michaelm said:
The fast ferry may test your sea legs unless the sea is very calm. Many years since I was on the fast ferry but I don't think you can access any outside deck. I prefer the bigger slower boats.
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I used to get the ferry a fair bit work wise and would always get the slower ferry. An extra hour but a lot more pleasant and big difference between relaxing/getting a bit of work done as opposed to feeling sick for the journey.
 
Holyhead (and Holy Island which it is on) are an absolute kip, like really depressing places.

Anglesey Island, basically between Wales and Holy Island, is lovely - an extension of Howth in ways. Well worth getting back to the Holyhead area a few hours or a half day before your ferry back and exploring.

Conwy is also lovely. If you're in any way a road nerd the drive is great - the A55 through the Pen Y Clip tunnels is lovely. Sorely underrated is north Wales.
 
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