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Messages - A83

#1
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
January 29, 2024, 07:16:15 AM
Ulysses on the way back to Dublin. off the coast of Aberdeen right now, due home tomorrow afternoon.
#2
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
December 04, 2023, 08:24:59 AM
WBY left her hibernation in Belfast and returning to Dublin.
#3
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
December 02, 2023, 08:25:54 AM
WB Yeats still in Belfast, off the Cherbourg duty roster for the weekend. I wonder is the refit nearly completed but are they waiting for a part?
#4
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
October 31, 2023, 08:25:18 AM
Puts one in mind of Nelson's statement at Trafalgar;

'I see no ships'
#5
Discussion Board / Re: Stena Nordica Voyage Report
September 25, 2023, 08:44:38 AM
Lovely to read such a detailed report. Gives a great sense of what a voyage on the Nordica is like.
#6
The News Board / Met Eireann sea crossing forecasts
August 12, 2023, 09:08:41 AM
Met Eireann [The Irish weather forecasting service] has for a long time offered a 48 hour forecast for sea crossings for the Irish Sea and the passage from Rosslare to Cherbourg.

This week they have added a forecast for the Rosslare to Spain route something that will be of interest to those travelling on the twice weekly Brittany Ferries run.

https://www.met.ie/forecasts/marine-inland-lakes/sea-crossings
#7
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
April 07, 2023, 05:53:08 PM
Great to see IF investing in what looks like a very good ship. Can't help but wonder though with Nordica going head to head with Oscar Wilde [2] will there be over capacity on the southern corridor outside of the main holiday seasons?
#8
The News Board / Re: P&O Fleet Movements
April 04, 2023, 06:10:22 PM
I rarely browse the RMT website but by chance I came across this item relating to the new P and O Pioneer which I think is of interest.

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/lifeboat-falls-off-low-wage-pando-ferry/
#9
The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements
April 04, 2023, 08:19:50 AM
Am I right in thinking that the Stena Europe used to depart from Rosslare /Fishguard around these times a few years ago?
#10
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
April 01, 2023, 09:46:58 AM
Interestingly France Meteo forecast 'un mer croisee' off the coast of Ushant for Thursday/Friday. This is a cross sea where the waves generated by one depression cross at an angle with those generated by another. There are some suggestions that this can be a dangerous maritime situation as, if the waves are high, it is not possible to run directly into them [or with them] as they are coming at the ship from all angles. Perhaps this would have been a concern for the Salamanca and Port Aven.

Meanwhile WBY left Cherbourg late last evening, I wonder did it wait to pick up the passengers and freight that was destined for the Stena Horizon.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_sea

#11
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
March 31, 2023, 09:08:28 AM
WB Yeats sailed out into the teeth of storm Mathis which is currently [9am Irish time]  blowing at 100km/h up the English Channel. Met Eireann forecast high seas off land End last night. Horizon and Salamanca stayed in port yet WBY is currently north west of Guernsey sailing at 20 knots. A creditable performance, however I wonder what conditions on board were like when she rounded Lands End.
#12
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
January 26, 2023, 11:21:35 AM
So Blue Star is leaving in Q2 and needs to be replaced. Can it be that the  Isle of Inishmore may be returning to Rosslare / Pembroke it seems like a somewhat backward step?

Also surely Epsilon will require q little TLC if she is stay on service for the year.

#13
Discussion Board / Re: Cherbourg and beyond
December 13, 2022, 05:26:10 PM
Never stayed in Granville, often wondered if it was worth dropping into. I seem to recall Barneville Carteret was worth a look. We have often stayed in the Mercure in Cherbourg which we found to be a really good hotel, which has periodically offered free breakfast to those of us over a certain age. Furthermore there are some good restaurants on the west side of the harbour on the Quai Caligny.
#14
Discussion Board / Re: Beat the Airlines
December 06, 2022, 07:33:25 AM
You make very reasonable points, indeed when I looked at the Eurostar prices they were pretty high, although I am told that bargains can be found if you watch the offers.

All in all the issue seems to centre around time, if as you note one works M-F 9-5 then it is challenging to travel abroad for a short stay without flying but if one can be flexible then a whole other world opens up. An interesting discussion, indeed one to which the Man in Seat 61 could perhaps contribute.
#15
Discussion Board / Re: Beat the Airlines
December 05, 2022, 08:42:29 PM
An intriguing idea. I cannot really shorten the time away but using the Eurostar would increase the length of the stay in Amsterdam, particularly if one travelled back on a Monday when services are more frequent than on a Sunday when the connections to the Holyhead 20.30 departure are too tight.

So.....
same ferry Thursday.

Arrive Holyhead at 11.50 am.
Depart Holyhead 12.53pm.
Arrive Saint Pancras 17.20
Leave St Pancras at 18.04 and arrive in Amsterdam at 23.14 Thursday night.


Going back as follows:
Leave Amsterdam Monday morning.
0747.
Arrive St Pancras 10.47
Cross London by tube and take the 11.33 to Holyhead and arrive at 16.19.
Plenty of time for the 20.30 ship to Dublin but in summer one could also catch the Swift at  17.15 [I think that's the departure time, cannot find the timetable on the web] and be back in Dublin for 8pm ish.
That makes a pretty stress free 13 hour trip overland from Amsterdam to Dublin.

Just to pick up your last but one point, the days of the night train from Holyhead to London are gone, the earliest departure is the 04.48, no use at all.