Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - maehara

#1
Quote from: EpicStoat on November 10, 2015, 05:55:32 PMI'm now concerned that with the typical weather in late December I'm going to be parked on the dock in Holyhead wishing I'd booked with Irish Ferries...
Having been on a Ulysses crossing in weather that was bad enough to have everything else cancelled: its "we always sail" record isn't necessarily an advantage.  3 hours with loos blocked with vomit & a Club Lounge full of passengers making heavy use of sickbags isn't much fun...
#2
The News Board / Re: P&O Fleet Movements
October 09, 2015, 10:55:48 AM
Quote from: Steven on October 02, 2015, 04:05:01 PM
Having already been handed over to her new owners, Express is now in the dry dock at Harland and Wolff.

Quote from: Steven on October 07, 2015, 08:35:33 PM
News has reached me that there seems to have been a bit of a hick up in the deal between Nordic HSC and Buquebus, with things yet to be finalised.  Suggestions that Express could be at Albert Quay for a while yet!

Makes me wonder, did the new owners find something they didn't like the look of while Express was drydocked...
#3
The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements
August 21, 2015, 03:19:58 PM
I have a vague recollection of talk of the Birkenhead twins moving to VT4 once the HSS linkspan had been removed (and presumably replaced by something more appropriate for them), to put the passenger ferries in one place.  Was I imagining that, or is that still on the cards?
#4
Quote from: Steven on June 24, 2015, 01:50:01 PM
I believe she is still able to do 29kts if required, just like her sisters ;)
Did the propeller change that the Stena Superfasts all receive not trade top speed for fuel efficiency?  ISTR it was 29kts on the old props, but somewhat lower on the new...
#5
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
January 14, 2015, 09:04:36 AM
Having been on Ulysses during a particularly rough crossing, I'd query the "you wouldn't feel anything like this" comment - we were in the Club lounge, surrounded by sickbag-wielding passengers and with several blocked toilets. Not much fun.

I know Big U is proud of its "we always sail" record, but just sometimes it doesn't seem a good thing..!
#6
Discussion Board / Re: Your favourite ferry
November 14, 2014, 11:05:19 AM
Most of what people usually list as their favourites around these parts, I haven't had the opportunity to travel on.  Working on it, though... :)

I miss Stena Navigator.  Probably in a class of 1 for that, though.

Of the current ferries, quite partial to the Liverpool twins (Stena Mersey, Stena Lagan).  Prefer the smaller ships to the large or the fastcraft.
#7
The Merrion Lounge / Re: travel on HSS explorer
August 06, 2014, 10:19:22 AM
QuoteMaybe stena will put on a few day trip specials before she retires  with her going the full 45 knots  across the Irish Sea ,that would be fantastic,
Based on the way Voyager retired with very little in the way of fanfare, I wouldn't bet on it.
#8
The Merrion Lounge / Re: travel on HSS explorer
August 01, 2014, 03:56:12 PM
Was on her early July, for what I was assuming would be one last trip before she departed.  Possibly a tad premature!  I'll admit to not being much of a fastcraft fan, but I can't deny there's a certain thrill to the HSS if they properly open the taps.  Not on our trip, sadly.  Explorer still also seems the poor relation to the late lamented Voyager in terms of how they've been fitted out.

HSS was the outbound leg, the return trip was our first on the Liverpool-Belfast route.  Definitely a fan of that one now - was a lovely crossing.
#9
Quote from: Davy Jones on April 29, 2014, 09:34:08 AM
Seems to me they've just created the one thing the HSS lacked - an open deck!
Having been blown away on the Swift's open deck on a few occasions, I'd hate to try standing on an open deck on the HSS when it was going at full tilt... :)
#10
The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements
April 09, 2014, 08:23:09 AM
Quote from: LiverpoolIrishLiam on April 09, 2014, 12:16:01 AM
As today is the date that the HSS Stena Explorer returns to service, i've just been checking the sailing updates on the Stena website and it is showing 'No sailings' for today. The date shown is 9th April. Could we read anything into this?
Last update 6:46 this morning, sailing on time, so no sudden demise for the Concorde of the seas.  Yet, anyway.  :)

Never been much of a fastcraft fan - much prefer the slow boats - but with this looking likely to be the HSS' last season, we've booked onto it for the traditional summer trip to England.  Once more, for old times' sake...
#11
The Merrion Lounge / Re: HSS bridge visit?
April 03, 2014, 11:45:28 AM
Quote from: Steven on April 03, 2014, 02:13:37 AMThis is the only non-lander on the Stena route network from what I can see.
There are some themed non-landers running on the Superfasts at the moment from Belfast - Kids' cruises, and Abba & Elvis 'revival' cruises.  Easter kids' cruise is almost a tradition for us, so glad to see they're still running!
#12
The story made NPR in the US - they call BS on the story.  You can listen here.
#13
I come down the Sydenham Bypass on the way in/out of Belfast each day - the rig seems massive from there, and that's with the airport between me and the shipyard.

Planning to cut through the harbour estate on the way home later, get a closer look. :)
#14
The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements
May 01, 2013, 07:50:17 AM
QuoteStena Line have announced a major shakeup which will see around 200 posts axed across the company's Europe-wide operations.

From the article:
Quote"The RMT are concerned that the company's new CEO of Stena has decided to change the company's mission statement in a bid to become a low cost operation.

"Changing Stena from the 'British Airways' of the sea to the 'Ryanair' of the ferry sector would be a disastrous mistake when the firm is currently renowned for the quality of its service and staff.

Not the first time I've hear of Stena possibly repositioning themselves.  Have to agree with the union rep on this occasion, too - I like Stena and their current service levels, leave them alone...   >:(
#15
The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements
March 14, 2013, 12:01:44 PM
QuoteIn other news the HSS Stena Voyager is expected to depart Belfast within the next week heading to recycling facility where it will be scrapped.
Have gotten used to seeing the Voyager across Belfast Lough on the way in to work each morning.  Will be strange to not have it there.

I was never much of a fan of the HSS, but still appreciate their 'Concorde of the seas' status.  The first scrapping of one does count as the beginning of the end, I suppose...