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Messages - marthyrarth

#16
I decided to travel from Holyhead to Dublin on the Oscar Wilde last Monday.

There was one other foot passenger.

Facilities at Holyhead are poor.

I had received a text from IF saying that my return journey form Dublin that evening on the Ulysses would be cancelled because of weather.   Also the afternoon Dublin - Holyhead Oscar Wilde was due to be cancelled because of the weather.  However, Stena were sailing to schedule, and I asked if I could transfer my ticket to the Adventurer'r 20:40 sailing that evening but was told by IF staff that they couldn't do anything I would have to as in Ireland! Excellent service and customer care!

The bus to the Wilde had a broken seat, and the facilities at Holyhead seemed full and congested with little room for expansion and the Terminal 3 building closed.

However, boarded OW.  She is a very nice ship.  Not all facillties were open but I couldn't complain as Left Bank and Cafe Lafayette were open.  Prices were a little steep though.  Ship was very clean and arrived more or less on tme in Dublin, but it did take 30 m before getting off.

OW probably a better ship than Yates!

Received a ext fro IF saying I could go back on the Adventurer.   Still don't understand why OW crossings and Ulysses crossings were cancelled with Stena operating to time and wether at that time only about 4-6.

Travelled to Dublin and back for Adventurer.  Wind increasing to around a force 8.


Facilities were all open on Adventurer except for bottom MET which had seating and counter roped off.  Did rough weather route towards Llyn Peninsula, then back up to Holyhead, southerly wind.  Slight vessel movement and crashing from time to time, but nothing too uncomfortable, arriving n Holyhead around 1 hour 30 minute late, but did depart 20 minutes early, so not too
bad.

Adventurer was ok and n good condition, although general arrangement with two main cafeterias a bit odd.

All in all a fantastic trip but will say one thing, ferries such as the ow are great in terms of design and facilities, and much less bland than Stena.  Hope e flexers are a bit more interesting than Adventurer.

However, IF can improve customer handling skills - despite having asked about 5 times nobody form IF explained why Ulysses was cancelled.  I think it is because of power problems making her less easy to manage in heavy seas.

Anyway let's see what the Yates is like.  Decor looks a bit cheap in my opinion. Honfleur also looks a bit disappointing - more like a freighter /Armorique.

Trying to find out when Yates will be doing some Holyhead trips but IF are a bit coy on this.
#17
Discussion Board / Re: OscarWilde Mincruise
November 24, 2018, 12:31:13 PM
Thanks for the info.

I got a quote for 219 euro for a 2 berth window cabin which is jut a bit expensive for two nights on a ferry and less than three hours in Cherbourg.

I can ago on BF return for 70 euro and have a full day in Rennes, and a crossing on the Pont Aven.

I would also have to pay 38 euro for a return Holyhead to Dublin fare, so not likely to go .  Why can't IF market better.  the ship is empty so surely a more reasonable offer to entice people would make sense.
#18
Discussion Board / OscarWilde Mincruise
November 17, 2018, 03:28:00 PM
Hw do you book the minicruise to France - not clear from IF website.

Also can you use Tesco Vouchers - semmss to suggest you cannot but I think you can.

What if you are one person travelling - I do not want to pay for 2 - surely I can have a discount.

As travelling from Holyhead - Holyhead - Dublin route for a cheaper fare?

Will a bus take me from Cherbourg terminal to Hypermarket near middle of town?

Thanks for any help.

#19
The News Board / Re: W.B.YEATS DELIVERY IS DELAYED
November 15, 2018, 01:17:20 PM
Also been thinking of doing a mini cruise from Dublin to Cherbourg on OW, and then maybe WBY next year.

Can find fares for about £120 for basic cabin but above car deck which is two nights on board and some little time in Cherbourg.

Cabins look a little dated to me, and I wonder if all facilities will be open on ship as it must be fairly quiet.  Also I will have to go Holyhead to Dublin first which is An extra cost and not all Holyhead sailings accept footies - but not sure why.

Maybe IF cold offer Dublin Cherbourg mini cruise with a connection from Holyhead for say £10 return.  after all they would get the money spent on board.
#20
The News Board / Re: HSC Dublin Swift
April 24, 2018, 08:46:10 PM
They could still let us know...............  they do have a press and pr communication department?

Could still have some interior pictures too...
#21
The News Board / Re: HSC Dublin Swift
April 24, 2018, 05:24:13 PM
Surely it's not beyond Irish Ferries marketing team to let people know when the new craft is starting.  She can't be much of an improvement or surely we would have heard a bit more by now.

Also, if sailings are cancelled an explanation would be useful.  Explaining to say sailings cancelled to transfer to new craft a bit better than saying nothing and making people wonder if its due to weather.

#22
The News Board / Re: HSC Dublin Swift
April 24, 2018, 02:00:47 PM
When is the Dublin Swift starting?

Also, any pictures of the interior?   Is there no upper lounge?
#23
The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements
March 24, 2018, 12:53:25 AM
Travelling with BF CORK-santander - if the price is right i.e. much cheaper than normal ferry I would travel.

iF THE SHIP WAS QUIGE EMPTY NOT TOO BAD IF HAD WORK TO DO ONBOARD.

However, I do find these vissentinis a bit boring, although belfast ships are not bad to be fair.
#24
The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements
March 23, 2018, 07:20:54 PM
Went on the Stena Horizon 08:55 Hlyhead return 15:10 from Dublin - St Patrick's day £4 return!!!!

Ship was slow boarding - reversing freight so slow foot pax boarding.
V similar to Lagan and Mersey but more dated and basic.

Would improve significantly if they put more carpets here and there.

Shop very very small.

Captain Italian.

Slight roll force 6-7 from South.

Took 40 minutes to unload footies which is unacceptable and we were off before most cars etc.

on way back ship had approx 200 pax but felt very busy only a few seats vacant and large gatherings to go to cars.

Did not buy any food as rather expensive and not a great choice.  Had coffee but no free refills or second half price like on other Stena ships.

Crew I believe were mix of Irish and uk and not bad overall.

Cinema out of action - no apology over tannoy, and it would be good if stena could have explained this was a refit cover ship whilst Superfast x having attention.  On my ticket it said SUPERFAST X.

Unloading in Holyhead very slow.  Slow approach to berth and 50 minutes from time of docking to boarding bus and exiting terminal.  Not acceptable.  Facilities at Holyhead are  bad - no room, spare parts and bits dumped everywhere

V old buses TO SHIP.  No foot pax gangway.  TerMinal needs painting. Station dirty.  No train information on board.  Wifi useless, even with small pax loads

Have complained before re Holyhead port but Stena seem to think they're quite good!  Well, I was in Durress earlier last year and the terminal there is fantastic in comparison to Holyhead!

Stena Horizon ok as a short term relief vessel if this was explained to pax.  Not sure if I would enjoy Cherbourg Rosslare on her - definitely not if full, and there are too many visentinis around.

Lots of footies, some a bit rough, making waiting in the terminal a bit unpleasant.

Also when you come through security in Holyhead footprints on floor and sign points to stairs  - Stena foot pas lounge and to the left, Irish ferries foot pax lounge, when the Irish ferries lounge deals for both companies.  Why hasn't someone changed the signage then - for god's sakes, years have gone by since the HSS seating lounge is not in use!

#25
The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements
December 18, 2017, 09:00:49 PM
What vessel will cover - will it be hte Horizon?
#26
The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements
December 18, 2017, 05:47:18 PM
Any news re refits of STENA
#27
The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements
December 18, 2017, 02:59:01 PM
Maybe they could build new ships for Harwich?
#28
The News Board / Re: Stena Line fleet movements
December 17, 2017, 10:45:08 PM
Isn't the Nautica a bit restricted pax capacity wise for Summer - only 6oo pax following conversion, though I suppose they could convert upper car deck to accomm as it once was.

Any news re Stena refits 2018?
#29
Discussion Board / Re: Ulysses v Stena Adventurer
November 30, 2017, 04:58:19 PM
Good, it would make sense to fill in the inner harbour and use the salt island berth.  No doubt Stena will seek EU/Welsh Government funding before it pays for anything itself.

Would also make sense for one terminal in Dublin for Irish and Stena
#30
Discussion Board / Re: Ulysses v Stena Adventurer
November 29, 2017, 11:48:49 AM
I cannot agree more regarding the comments on Holyhead Port.  I complained to Stena Line following a recent trip, but they thought the lanes and signposting for the terminal was good enough and didn't seem interested.

I have to disagree, the lanes merge into each other in a very unclear way, HSS parts are everywhere - saw the water jets but also parts of the berth are elsewhere.

No id or customs check on exiting, but took over 30 minutes from leaving ship to exiting because of congestion.   This after 40 minutes on ship itself.

Facilities for foot passengers abysmal.

Considering this is the second biggest ro ro port in the uk after Dover, it is totally unacceptable.

The place has evolved without clear design.  It needs a long term plan and separation of incoming and outgoing traffic. 

Get it ship shape Stena and don't trick yourself into thinking Holyhead's anything but an embarrassment.