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yup thats the video

glad to hear they put lights down when i was there they had the live music and full lights on really killed the mood

.Interestingly, the customs man in Dublin told us the port rumour is that WBY will be moving back to Rosslare to free up space for cargo in Dublin post Brexit?    that is very intersting indeed,
would love to see a bit more character put into her


I see WB Yeats is out of service for a week in October

I assume she will go for a drydock survey as part of her build guarantee
i dont think they will drydock her she isnt long in the water that long, maybe a quick underwater survey and a check of the systems but not a drydock.

Yes i have to say i completey agree with that review 100% especially the staff
was live music still there?and at night time were the full lights still on in the bar.

i think she fails in comparssion to the OW big time regarding passenger areas and i cant understand how they didnt take what worked for them on the french run onto the WB the small things,they have being running a ship on the french since 1973 so they have the experience and knowledge

on a sperate note i seen a video on youtube taken of the GNV Allergra(EX Oscar wilde) in july of this year and bar her funnel and hull colours being changed ,nothing else has, everything is in the same name and guise as when she was with Irish Ferries ,the bars and restaurants are the exact same even the pictures of oscar wilde and his quotes are still up.
i would have thought at the very least GNV would put their branding and give her their idenity.

Oscar Wilde is still Irish Ferries until the last installment is paid.

WB Yeats was Built to replace Epsilon and provide freight and passenger capacity on both Dublin - Cherbourg and Dublin Holyhead.

It was never intended to operate it out of rosslare unless due to drydock cover or weather.

Its too big for Rosslare - Rosscolf which also has a summer market.

yes but Irish Ferries are finished with Roscoff now and if they take the OW back she will have to be fitted with scrubbers i would imagine and the when the newbuild eventually arrives there will not be space on dublin-holyhead run with ulysses and new build on the run
so the WB will be on the french run permantly
dont get me wrong would love to see OW bk but it wont be.
and why would GNV give her up if they are paying in installments cant seem all of a sudden stop paying installments

"A wise owl told me that Rosslare would be back possibly next summer perhaps with an old friend"

was this wise owl possibly reffering to the oscar wilde?
as much as i love to see her bk on french run i think that will never happen im afraid. they have invested in their new ship for the french run and i cant see that much traffic to run two ships

i recently seen a video of her in her GNV colours and they have kept the names of bars restraunt and steakhouse from her IF days.

receivced phonecall off Irish Ferries today enquiring feedback for WB yeats, i expressed my feedback has disappointing with lack of character,general layout and high prices also the bright lighting in the bar while trying to relax and enjoying the music killed the mood.although i did find the cabins very comfortable but i found the oscar wilde more of a cruiseferry and more enjoyable experience altogether
i asked what were the other feedback they had got were like and she said very similar to what i said and the impression they got was people loved the oscar wilde and sailing out of rosslare

well hopefully they put a bit more love into the WB give it a bit more character

will WB then service the French run year round when newbuilds starts on dub run?
and WB cover dry docks also
could we see her on rosslare-prmbroke covering inishmore

I was very impressed with your model well done,i hope that isnt your last model to make

Thanks Alfie.
No not atall.. Looking for inspiration for my next one.. Maybe WB Yeats, we'll see!!
[/quote]

yes or maybe the Oscar Wilde

Hello All,

I've been a member on here a while and enjoy reading the discussions. What I've noticed is that there's very little discussion of Seatruck Ferries.

Though predominantly a freight service and not carrying foot passengers, they do offer a limited availability for Car / Motorhome drivers at very reasonable prices. I've travelled with them a few times and cannot speak highly enough of them.

As an enthusiast its a great experience travelling by Seatruck. They have friendly laid back crews who don't mind you 'mooching' around the ferry taking photos etc. On a crossing in 2017 I even got a guided tour of the Bridge and Engine room (one email to Heysham head office a week before and they arranged it for me!!). Give them a go!

Anyway after a recent voyage on Seatruck Progress I was so inspired a spent 6 months building a Model of her. Thought you'd like to see it (attached).

Hope you like it

Seatrucker (Peter)

I was very impressed with your model well done,i hope that isnt your last model to make

Came back on the WBY from Cherbourg to Dublin on Friday night, our  third trip on the ship. This was the first trip in rough[ish] weather. There was a gale blowing up the channel so most people ate early and retired to their cabins. Sea state was 3 metres + going down to Lands End and quite choppy going around the tip of England. The ship handled the sea pretty well, there was an occasional sigh from the bow as it headed into a high wave and a comforting roll but everything was very manageable, I think the ship is designed well from that point of view.

Regarding the on board facilites it is all rather open plan which you either like or don't like. Personally I preferred the Oscar Wilde's separate bars and eateries.

In terms of what we liked: the twin level loading worked well, a lot of motor vans and cars were loaded in an hour flat.The ship is easy to navigate and does not get so crowded  especially during the race for the car decks when embarkation is announced. The Wild Swans eatery is quiet and more intimate than the cafe and the Boylan's Brasserie. The cabins are well appointed and designed and fine for two-I cannot comment on having four in such a confined space.

What we didn't like was the bar- basically an L shaped corridor, the aforementioned open plan design of deck 10 and the grey decor with the carpets that have been commented upon by others.

The ship arrived on time despite the weather and embarcation was straightforward. One further point occurred to me; back in 2007 I recall the Normandy running late on account of the adverse wind and tides in the English channel, the WBY seems to have much more powerful engines so that it can compensate for such things.

All in all a very acceptable if quite expensive  trip.

good post i would agree with all of it
i really think IF have dropped the ball with internal design of the ship which is a great shame.i have travelled with Irish Ferries all my life but next year i will try the pont avan to roscoff which is a real cruise ferry and a slightly cheaper opition

what happens when IF new build arrives and links up with the ulysses. does the WB stay on the french route for the full year?

i recently travelled across on the WB Yeats, as i wouldnt class her as a cruise ferry defo ro pax but i did find her comfortable and i had no issue with cabins found them very comfortable and spacious, the only issues i had was the lack of cruise ferry feel and the general layout of boylans Brasserie she is def design more for the short crossing being more open than overnight crossing and the bar was smaller,they did have live music which was good but the full lights were left on in the bar which kinda killed the relaxing mood.i found the food excellent in boylans and only had breakfast as a treat in the Lady Gregory as its very expensive.
there was a issue with bad vibrations a couple of times and it seemed to be when she was slowing down and one bad vibration about 2 in the morning which woke us up.the staff did not seem to enjoy working there as a smile or personality was a rare commodity. i know she is new and has no character yet even like the simple things charts showing the ships journey up would be nice. The WB Yeats is a fine big ship but i dont think she is a patch on the oscar wilde and its a shame that irish ferries didnt learn or take ideas from her,i love the promade on deck 7 on the OW that ran between the two bars fore and aft and beside the piano bar and restaurant and steakhouse and the bar on top of deck 10.i feel this is what the WB yeats lacks,she does not follow in the feel of previous ferries on the run paddy killian normandy and the oscar wilde

Assuming the shipyard does not go bust Keel Laying could as early as  Friday 1st November 2019.

As Hull 777 is strategically important to Irish Ferries, I see there being a deal done to keep it at FSG.

Given the learning experience on WB Yeats a 12 month lead time should be achievable , if FSG has the cash to pay suppliers on time.

Hull 777 is more RO-Ro with less cabins , the remaining interior should be similar to WB Yeats. This should lesson the fittout time.

There are rumours circulating in Pembroke that as soon as Hull 777 is delivered an order will be placed to replace Isle of Inishmore.

What would be the rationale for replacing the Innishmore? She is hardly sailing full at present. Why would IF saddle themselves with the, unncessary, costs of paying off a new ship?  The Innishmore has plenty of years left in her yet. 

Matt

are IF very quieton the pembroke run

When I was on her the Lady Gregory had max 8 people, looked depressing for the staff. Boylans seemed to be constantly busy, but was coping easily. Food in there seemed fine, and pricing was fair. I found the ship decent, always be a few niggles, seat fabrics and carpets already quite stained and dirty looking.

Had an internal 4 berth cabin, was very nice if quite narrow compared to Stena on return. Sound-proofing in cabin was poor.

Will be in the Deluxe cabins and lounge and next trip this week, will be interesting to compare.

Overall nice new ship, quiet and fairly well laid out.

Do you think she is an improvement on the OW?

There is demand for seasonal operation out of Rosslare

Lets wait and see how the court case is settled.

#BRINGBACKOSCAR