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Discussion Board / Re: How will Ferry Operators stimulate business in 2021 post COVID-19?

« on: August 09, 2020, 11:34:52 am »

I think I would now feel quite safe travelling by ferry, with plenty of opportunity for fresh air on deck. I'd quite like to take my bike and do a day / overnight trip to Wales.  All foot passenger special offers seem to have been withdrawn on IF / Stena as far as I can see.

Meanwhile I could jump on a plane for 9.99ew if I wanted to.

Is the subsidy the ferry companies have been given allowing them to cherry pick their business too much?

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Discussion Board / Re: IF Ferries disappeared from Booking Platform this Saturday

« on: August 31, 2019, 06:18:34 pm »

Looks like that's it for the year from the Swift. Next few days have been cancelled and she's no longer on the booking platform.  Hopefully her technical problems can be sorted out - it's not looking like it was a great investment right now.

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Discussion Board / Re: IF Ferries disappeared from Booking Platform this Saturday

« on: August 11, 2019, 03:15:57 pm »

Was on the swift this morning to Holyhead - first time aboard the new one. First impressions were good, nicer interior than old one. However. disappointed when we were told that it was operating on reduced power. Finally disembarked at 10.30.  Apparently a problem with one of the engines. Going to be a long shift for the staff.

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Discussion Board / Re: IF Ferries disappeared from Booking Platform this Saturday

« on: August 06, 2019, 11:56:51 pm »

Hopefully it's that, as I already have a booking.

Thought it kept the sailing there but just said it was full.

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Discussion Board / IF Swift disappeared from Booking Platform

« on: August 06, 2019, 11:30:13 pm »

Anyone know why the Ulysses (8am / 2pm) and Swift (all sailings) have disappeared from the IF Booking platform this Saturday (10th August)?

Seems to be in both directions.

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The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements

« on: July 31, 2018, 11:30:09 pm »

Swift Cancellation generates a Euro 40 voucher on the account booked. its a nice touch considering the cancellations are weather related.

My recollection was that the refund I received when it was cancelled equated to the difference between the additional cost of the Swift compared to the cruise ferry at the time of booking that we were transferred to.  I recall being quite impressed that they had recorded the information, but perhaps it was just chance.

In some instances Swift can be substantially more (presumably because she is nearly full) so it would be unfair to only give a credit of €40.

I suspect last Friday's cancellation of the Swift might have been more closely related to giving the crews a rest than weather related.  I also suspect there are absolutely no delighted IFG shareholders, and they will will be looking for some answers at the next shareholders meeting.  Bookings must have been a well down while Ulysses was away and deeply discounted fares (30% off and free child places) are now trying to recover some of the lost business and fill up capacity.

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The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements

« on: July 02, 2018, 12:13:35 am »

Must be the first time the Swift (or "a Swift") has run thrice daily for well over 10 years.

What are the loadings like on the extra sailing?

For those passengers transferred to Stena, what payments from IF would be expected to apply - ie will it be at a discount or surcharge to the passenger fares received?

Given what has happened over the summer, IF might be better served by starting to do to their customers what Ryanair have long done with regards to shareholders - under-promise and over-deliver.

Were there changes at board level in the last 12 months or so which mean that there has been less oversight than before which could have lead to the issues experienced by passengers?

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Discussion Board / Re: Stena Line not answering feedback

« on: June 25, 2018, 11:38:30 pm »

I used to fill these forms in too after a journey, but never got any replies.  Sometimes they'd offer a few  €/£ off your next sailing as an incentive to respond, so at least you'd know they'd received it because you'd get that back.

The best you can hope for is that they do at least log your response and they make changes when several people suggest the same improvements.

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The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements

« on: May 02, 2018, 09:20:15 pm »

A rare sight Stena Carrier is alongside at the site of the old Carlisle pier this morning. Reports that she is there for survey work to be carried out.

Yes, saw her this evening on the way home.  Not the prettiest ship - a far cry from the Explorer which was probably the last Stena boat to enter Dun Laoghaire Harbour nearly 4 years ago at this stage.

Does this represent a thawing of the relationship between Stena and Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company?

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The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements

« on: January 07, 2018, 02:08:32 am »

Irish Ferries regrets to advise that due to adverse weather conditions on the Irish Sea, the 20:55hrs Ulysses sailing is cancelled.

https://www.irishferries.com/ie-en/sailing-updates/dublin-holyhead/

Don't see that very often

Not often, but not the first time this year.

No more claims of it "never having lost a sailing due to weather" anymore.

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Discussion Board / Re: Ulysses v Stena Adventurer

« on: November 28, 2017, 10:02:05 pm »

 We travelled by boat this summer to the UK for the first time since the HSS left these shores in 2014.  Travelled to Pembroke from Rosslare and back via the Ulyses.  More impressed with the Innishmore than the Ulyses.

Trouble with going on the largest car ferry in the world is that it took a blinkin' age to unload - found ourselves on some highish deck exiting through a kind of doorway which cars had to leave in single file.  And there were others stuck higher than us whose ramps could only be lowered once we'd gone.  And this was on a Monday.

Once got a birth on the Adventurer travelling overnight, and was quite impressed with the level of comfort.  Free cinemas for the youngsters too.  So if I had to choose, I'd go with the Adventurer.  However, don't really bother too much anymore with ferry travel since they stopped sailing to Holyhead out of my local harbour. 

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Discussion Board / Re: Irish Ferries Clever Marketing

« on: May 19, 2017, 07:01:53 am »

Aplogies, you're right.  Thought the friend for free just wasn't working as you have to click to get the code and no email about it either.

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Discussion Board / Re: Irish Ferries Clever Marketing

« on: May 18, 2017, 12:20:44 am »

I'm amazed.  It's now six days later and Stena have not as yet copied the IF promotion.

I cannot remember another time when one copy did not copy the other's discount within a couple of working days.

Are Stena getting sufficient traction without the need for discounting, or have they their own imminent campaign up their sleeve or is it just that their IT team is on holiday?

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Discussion Board / Irish Ferries Clever Marketing

« on: May 12, 2017, 09:40:55 pm »

Ferry companies must be feeling the effects of Brexit.  Seems like there has been a near permanent sale on the Irish Sea, with the discounts only increasing as we head towards the peak summer season.

But Irish Ferries seem to have got one over Stena.

On Tuesday 9 May at midnight IF switch off their 25% off all sailings to Britain as do Stena.  On Friday 12 May (presumably at the end of the working day) IF switch it back on again.  Stena have not as yet reinstated the offer (as at 9.30pm, 12/5), and if it matches their slowness of about 3 weeks ago when a very similar event occurred, it will be Monday before they do - leaving a whole weekend where IF are 25% cheaper.

Repeat this a few times through the year and you can see it would seriously add to the bottom line and market share.

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The News Board / Re: Dun Laoghaire Not out of the game yet?

« on: January 09, 2017, 12:29:55 am »

Seven Ferry Operators Express Interest to Run Seasonal Dun Laoghaire Service!
Jehan Ashmore on Afloat.ie
http://afloat.ie/port-news/ferry-news/item/28010-seven-ferry-operators-express-interest-to-run-seasonal-dun-laoghaire-service

2 years on and they've narrowed down to 4 potential operators according to Saturday's Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/report-raises-issues-about-d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-harbour-ownership-1.2928235

Even I gave up hoping for a revival 12 months ago!