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Looks like the end is in sight for the former Connacht, has arrived at Aliaga Anchorage and they normally end up on the beach.

https://theferryforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=239&start=75

https://www.sealink-holyhead.net/connacht

An interesting voyage report from onboard the Princess Seaways from Amsterdam to Newcastle.


https://youtu.be/YOtL27QKc1U?si=A5Wixp8kAB0NPm8Y

Another cruise ship carrying the Sun Princess name (originally on tv series The Love Boat was the first Sun Princess gonna have to google if you don't know The Love Boat)

Not exactly a looker and similar to Icon Of The Seas looks very top heavy, the modern trend in cruise ships to have so much stuff on the top deck looks really strange in the two latest giants.


https://youtu.be/4bp_4zTeOpc?si=5jEcWbQCf4sQvHnE

Looking for something to do this St Patricks weekend, from €170 for two people, great value weekend.

https://www.stenaline.ie/special-offers/st-patricks-minicruise-to-cherbourg

From the website:

Take to the sea this St Patrick's weekend with a great value mini-cruise to France. Enjoy the luxury of Stena Vision as you sail from Rosslare to Cherbourg on Friday, spend Saturday afternoon exploring the maritime town, then head back to Ireland for the big day on Sunday. For only €85 per person (min. 2 people per booking), it's a great chance to do something different as you celebrate the luck of the Irish on board.

 

What's included in the price?
 

Return travel on board Stena Vision between Rosslare and Cherbourg
Four-berth inside cabin on both crossings
Free shuttle bus to and from the port to Cherbourg town centre
 

How much does it cost?
 

€85 per adult, based on minimum booking of two people sharing an inside four-berth cabin (€170 for two)
THEN

€75 per person for each additional adult, sharing an inside four-berth cabin (€245 for three, €320 for four).
Infants aged 0-3 are FREE.
Upgrade to an outside cabin for an additional €25 return
 

What's the itinerary?

Friday 15 March

Latest check-in Rosslare 16:45

Depart Rosslare 18:00

 

Saturday 16 March

Arrive Cherbourg 13:00

Free time in Cherbourg to sightsee, shop or relax

Latest check-in Cherbourg 17:45

Depart Cherbourg 19:00

 

Sunday 17 March - St Patrick's Day

Arrive Rosslare 12:00

 

What are the St Patrick's weekend celebrations?
 

It's up to you if you want to join in with the onboard St Patrick's weekend celebrations. There'll be live Irish music in the Sky bar and Taste restaurant. Sing along as you sip a Guinness or Irish coffee, or why not try a special Shamrockarita in the cocktail bar? In the buffet restaurant, you can find traditional favourites such as an Irish Breakfast or Fish 'n' Chips, alongside a wide range of dishes.

 

What else can I do on board?
 

You'll feel like you've struck gold when you experience Stena Vision. Relax and pamper yourself in our Pure Nordic Spa, where you can book a beauty treatment, take a dip in the Jacuzzi or have some time out in the sauna. If weather permits, the Deck Bar offers tasty drinks and endless sea views, or head indoors for a comfy seat and drink in the Sky bar or cocktail bar. Food and drink options include Taste restaurant and the Barista Coffee House, while The Shop sells a wide range of premium brand fragrances, beauty products, alcohol and confectionary. If after all that you find yourself needing a moment alone, you can retire to your own comfortable cabin with en suite bathroom any time of day or night.

 

Are children welcome?
 

Absolutely – the mini-cruise is an ideal way for children to experience a weekend at sea and set foot on French soil for a good price. On board, they can spend time in the Game Zone and Happy World play area. There's a range of Wi-Fi packages to keep everyone connected throughout the journey, plus children eat for half price in our buffet restaurant.

Very interesting cruise vlog which would be even better if you are a Game of Thrones fan, featuring stops in Italy, Croatia and Corfu aboard the Explorer of the Seas.

Day One

https://youtu.be/ygzo7eF3AGQ?si=wf6LhgAN68WvSlqQ

Day Two

https://youtu.be/UuGKT0a9Yw8?si=gqC2RFgBj5BnXuuJ

Day Three

https://youtu.be/u3Xn3Bp0VGU?si=X0YsH-jULEAP-gLQ

Day Four

https://youtu.be/WrZf-er4Gno?si=jW7x_QI5-IbjLZlT

Day Five

https://youtu.be/uFiUWBKcyOc?si=cT5qEieAs1mlAxT1

Day Six

https://youtu.be/XCvZ1P1xk9w?si=O14KixH9hyO0m49Y

Day Seven

https://youtu.be/Tj3tq3mbBRE?si=ykG7AWM9e7P38oqI


Zadar Croatia on Day 3, Corfu on Day 5 and Taormina on day 6 look amazing, but the whole series is well worth a look all stops are excellent , the food they sample would put me in the CUH very quickly, don't thing my GP would be impressed with fried pizza in Naples on the last day, would need more cholesterol tablets!

I presume this short term job contract is for the delivery of the new ALA'SUINU E-Flexer for Marine Atlantic, would be interesting journey from Weihai to Canada and all the interesting areas bringing a new vessel online as such.

https://www.shippax.com/en/news/marine-atlantics-new-e-flexer-to-be-named-alasuinu.aspx

https://jobs.nmms.co.uk/job/3e-%E2%80%93-ropax-(lng-powered)-2-month-delivery-contract-804.aspx


Northern Marine Manning Services Ltd are looking to recruit RoPax experienced 3E to join a new LNG powered RoPax.

This is a new build vessel, joining vessel at yard in China followed by delivery voyage to Canada. Successful candidates will need to be available for travel to China to commence training and vessel familiarisation in January with vessel operations also commencing January 2024.

Essential Certification:

CRISIS MAN. HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

CROWD MANAGEMENT

MEDICAL FIRST AID

PASSENGER SAFETY TRAINING

PASSENGER/CARGO SAFE.HULL INT

STCW ADVANCED MN FIRE FIGHTING

STCW ELEMENTARY FIRST AID

STCW FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE FIGHTING

STCW PERSONAL SAFETY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTIIES

STCW PERSONAL SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES

STCW PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOAT

STCW SEAFARERS WITH DESGINATED SECURITY DUTIES

STCW SECURITY AWARENESS

Advance IGF COP

STCW III/1         

If you are interested in this role please click the apply button and send us your CV.  Please note the recruitment team will then review your CV and contact you if your experience is suitable for this vacancy or any future vacancies we may have.

Onboard video from Steve Marsh from the Aura Seaways


https://youtu.be/2GwKE-JFImQ?si=r-KttS1Z7bqBd2KY

This is a very interesting look at the new Celebrity Cruises Ascent on its pre maiden voyage cruises (arrived earlier than expected from the shipyard so they squeezed in a few preview cruises apparently).

A very interesting combination of outdoor and indoor spaces available on the ship and the videos from this orlando based couple are very easy to watch, well filmed and edited.

https://youtu.be/2VX-K9X4erE

https://youtu.be/RnfdMKUNDs8


Details on the cruises available

https://www.celebritycruises.com/ie/cruise-ships/celebrity-ascent

Ferry blogger Steve Marsh has posted a vlog with a difference, he has visited Wales with his partner and spent some time in the Cardigan area visiting Fishguard harbour (not Goodwick) and several other lovely areas.

If you have not been to Wales recently, after watching this you will have no excuse but to take a few days and cross over the Irish Sea, like myself he got to experience some of the stunning September weather.

https://youtu.be/7nJxiHZzLXs?si=sXZArvwAs40wDF2e

Not seen for quite awhile, there is a discount available for early bookers thinking of France next year on the Horizon and Vision.


https://www.stenaline.ie/special-offers/france-early-booking-offer



If you want too know what a trip from Rosslare to Cherbourg is like check out this vlog

https://youtu.be/p7vXJ1jjVSA?si=Qu_ZDTCUqgeMuLgM


The Nordic Spa looks amazing and would be a great place to chill out for a few minutes.

Had the pleasure of a round trip on the Nordica in early September, our first trip on the new and improved version of the Nordica (after many on the Europe) and got to say we were very impressed. Very lucky our sailing from Rosslare was on September 8th which was a very warm day and possibly the finest weather we have ever seen on the Irish Sea, barely a wave to be seen.
 
(as it was very busy took very few images inside so link below to the NI Ferry Site review)

It was a busy crossing and plenty of people in the queue in Rosslare, driving on was perfect and we had Premium tickets so got early boarding, first mega plus point since the revamp was the lift from the car deck 2 straight up to the new deck 6 (where the Plus lounge is) one of our party would not be able for the stairs going up. The new deck 6 additions were great and the Plus lounge is lovely very well finished with comfortable seats and plenty of natural light through the windows. First thing was ordering the full breakfast which was lovely and hot, £12.50 each and very nice and the staff were excellent providing a great service, we were finished by 8 am so plenty of time to spend out on deck.
Out on deck for departure (was about 22 degrees)  and the usual space on the Nordica (a pity they cannot open the helipad as outside deckspace, slightly delayed departure (minutes) as the Optima Seaways was incoming, when we left a dolphin was in the water around the end of the breakwater and it was just lovely setting on departure.

Back inside then a wander around , down to deck 5 where the famous Stena Blue carpet was present and down to deck 4 which is total different, going to the back you have the Social and to the front the Duty Free shop is a decent size and the passenger areas as you walk towards the bow, and Taste food outlet could be described as Inspired by E-Flexer and are very nice and comfortable, a massive upgrade on the Nordica's previous fit and finish.
Deck 6 also got its own toilet facilities, and these are very nice, strangely no urinals in the gents, but they were nice and clean, did not check the ones on deck 4 but imagine they have also been upgraded as they were previously very poor.

The sailing to Fishguard was very nice and as we passed the Strumble head lighthouse in towards Fishguard there were more dolphins spotted and something much larger possibly a whale, (benefit of having windows to the sea in the lounge) and on arrival there was a slight delay due to security issues in the port, so instead of the crammed stairwell and lift area in the centre, we went up to the front stairwell and down to the car deck, again bright and spacious.

The return crossing was a carbon copy of the first, some great bargins in the Duty Free shop in Fishguard leave space in the boot ! great service again in the Plus lounge thankfully the bacon bloomer is still available (cant beat a bacon sandwich) and again plenty of people on board, only noticeable thing was we seemed to take a bit longer to get going from Fishguard when we cleared the breakwater and took a long time to dock in Rosslare, not sure if there was a reason.

Only a couple of negatives and they are so small, no bottled water in Stena Plus, only a filter tap, bizarre as would have thought bottled water is cheaper then soft drinks like San Pellegrino, and the fumes from the funnel on departure are quite strong when no wind, (possibly need to extend the exhaust pipes to direct the fumes back – but they are the same as they have always been)

Luckily enough will be back on board again in a couple of weeks and looking forward to the breakfast already, was a bit apprehensive with the change from the Europe but have to say the Nordica is an upgrade on the route, lovely and comfortable and so modern in its 2.0 version.

For Interior images, please check out the link from the NI Ferry site which has some fantastic interior images
https://www.niferry.co.uk/special-feature-stenas-modern-new-rosslare-to-fishguard-ferry-stena-nordica/

Below are Nordica and Oscar Wilde alongside in Rosslare / Optima Seaways coming in / Leaving Rosslare with Optima and Oscar in port / Car deck 2 looking forward on arrival in Fishguard.

One to watch or Sky+

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mqfj

Dun Laoghaire to Rosslare
Great Coastal Railway Journeys

Series 2 Episode 15 of 20

Michael Portillo begins the final leg of his railway journey, beginning in the harbour town of Dun Laoghaire.

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Great article by Scott Mackey on the history of Roll on Roll off services from Fishguard from the excellent NIFERRY, some fantastic images from the Brian Cleare collection including a very rare image of the Stena Nordica and Stena Normandica together in Fishguard in 1980 (two of the Rickmers built quartet)

https://www.niferry.co.uk/photo-feature-50-years-of-roll-on-roll-off-at-fishguard/?fbclid=IwAR0ITU9MQnaciKIpRu5XfSZItS54MUO4S4BhCPeE_hFMhbqZszLY13b9Pjc

Heavy lift vessel Happy Dynamic is currently off the West Cork coast due into Cork harbour this evening with two new (used) purchases for the Irish Navy.

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Should be an impressive sight.

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/03/14/ireland-takes-formal-possession-of-naval-service-vessels-from-new-zealand/

In todays Examiner

https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/travel/arid-41137882.html

Better than nothing but not the most detailed guide to ferry travel on the Irish Sea, missed a couple of routes and operators.

Had a work trip this week and snapped these images with my phone at around 37,000 feet, can you guess the two ports and the ferry.


First Port

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Ferry (near the centre of the image)

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Second Port

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Nice video on two crossings both DFDS on Delft Seaways and back on the Seven Sisters

https://youtu.be/_8_J07f_drM

Stena Line are recruiting for positions on board their Irish Sea vessels, details here

https://www.stenaline.com/career/job-openings/1833/onboard-sales-and-services-assistant/

Interesting video report from a crossing on the King Seaways from Newcastle to Amsterdam.


https://youtu.be/_K9a9_zLsIQ

King Seaways is the former Val De Loire of Brittany Ferries a regular in Ringaskiddy.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_King_Seaways

Thought I would share these interesting photos of Royal Caribbeans next  "world's biggest cruise ship" Icon of the Seas.


https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/02/14/icon-of-the-seas-drone-photos-construction

Just one question ? How does it stay upright, looks massively top heavy even compared to other cruise ships.