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Messages - marthyrarth

#31
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
November 27, 2017, 05:23:22 PM
Swift's problems are not very clearly indicated on their website
#32
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
November 27, 2017, 11:40:35 AM
I've never seen the upstairs room used since the demise of the HSS, but I suppose it could when busy.

When I went for a daytrip last week the awful downstairs lounge was quite busy with a full bus of foot pax - lot on the £5.50 return I am guessing.

At least Stena do give this option, Irish Ferries offer nothing in terms of a day return.
#33
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
November 26, 2017, 01:10:26 PM
Appalling that Oscar Wilde will not carry foot passengers.

Foot pax facilities Holyhead are a disgrace.  You proceed through security and see a sign saying foot passengers and Annwyl arrow leading to stairs to what was the  HSS terminal - so onviously I follow the sign to be shouted at "that's not the way". 

Well why not take down the sign then??!!!!!

Then lead to a cold shed with white walls and dirty chairs.  Prison waiting rooms are nicer.  Quite simply not good enough.
#34
Discussion Board / Re: Ulysses v Stena Adventurer
November 25, 2017, 10:26:27 PM
Travelled recently on Ulysses.  Whilst still think she is overall better - specially built for route etc, it is clear hardly any money has been spent on her since she entered service, and she is dated inside now..

Decor boring, and why have such a small cafeteria boylan's place and then brioche doree small next door to each other?

Sten crew definitely better.  Lithunian crew ok, but different culture sticks out a mile on Annwyl irish ship - Irish ways are best say Irish ferries - what a joke of a comment if you employ foreign staff and register in Limassol.

THe upper lounge is now out of use to Club Class only.

The bar is big but a bit dark and boring.

Indeed the whole ship is rather dark.

Exit to outside deck is not easy.

Announcements poor.

Food limited and expensive.

Booked an EV charging point on board but not given one and no apologies given.

Unloading form ship took 40 minutes and a further 30 minutes exiting port - with no security or id check..  This mainly fault of Stena Ports.

Holyhead port is a mess - HSS parts everywhere- poorly marked out lines, long distance to berths, poor car and foot pax embarkation procedures.  Stena staff now appear to be parking near old hss berth.  No foot pax gangways.

#35
The News Board / Re: Irish Ferries Fleet movements
November 25, 2017, 10:19:12 PM
Can't see nay sight of the Swift in the timetables next few days.  For example wanted to go on her next Tuesday and she is not listed.


Also, any idea when Oscar Wilde in Holyhead over Christmas/New Year or will it be Inishmore?  Also will foot pax be carried?
#36
Discussion Board / Re: NEW IF Ship
October 06, 2017, 10:51:02 PM
New ship name is W.B. Yeats! Maybe a bit conservative, but there are far worse names!

Going to Sligo next week and will be heading for the lake Isle of Innisfree and all things Yeats!!
#37
Discussion Board / Re: Game machines
October 06, 2017, 09:06:13 PM
Good point regarding Stena Europe - but shouldn't need to have to travel many miles out of my way just to get a decent seat!

Same is true of many uk stations......
#38
Discussion Board / Re: Game machines
October 06, 2017, 12:55:43 PM
I agree with the comments - no need for gaming machines and so many of them on ferries.

Also it's disgraceful that Ulysses and other ships have little or no seating outside.  Superfast x has perhaps only one or two lifejacket locker, Adventurer has nothing.  Surely it's reasonable to have some seats outside to sit on?

I hope to travel on Stena Superfast x next week returning on Ulysses.  It'll be interesting to compare - though coffee prices on Irish sFerries seem exorbitant at  over £3.00.  Stena gives you coffee much cheaper, extra points and also free refills!!!!!
#39
Discussion Board / Re: NEW IF Ship
September 30, 2017, 01:53:11 PM
Great news - is it possible to see the Late Late show here in the uk?  Probably not on freeview or freesat?

If not, on the web?

Seen lots of suggested names, but some people seem to forget it needs a literary connection.  Anyway the name will be more exiting than Superfast x.
#40
Discussion Board / Re: Ulysses v Stena Adventurer
September 29, 2017, 11:06:13 PM
Ulysses much better - specifically designed for route and it shows.  Never misses a crossing although Adventurer is not too bad in this respect.

Layout on Adventurer poor.  Bottom deck large self service and cinemas now, but one big space with little windows down the sides.  Too open plan.

One deck up Met grill is large but food choice boring and bar open plan and boring as well.  Very much motorway services.

Often upper deck is closed off anyway except for shop and Stena Plus.

One thing better on Stena is cheaper coffee and free refills.  Also staff local.

Stena Hibernia in her time was much better than Adventurer- purpose built, proper bars, gdd stairways and a good sea boat.
#41
The News Board / Re: Brittany Ferries New Ship
June 24, 2017, 09:46:22 PM
Can't see anything revolutionary considering the Normandie entered service in the early 1990's.

Passenger accommodation doesn't look very large and outside decks are limited.

Looks like the Normandie when introduced would be far more pioneering.
#42
Discussion Board / Re: Great storm of October 1987
September 22, 2016, 08:49:56 PM
Couldn't have been the Pride of Portsmouth .  It was the Viking venturer or Viking Valiant, and since i was on the Viking Venturer crossing from Portsmouth to Le Havre that evening it must have been the Valiant!

The Viking Venturer was pitching and slamming very hard, although he was hove to most of the time, and the rolling was very worrying.  Crew members ere sitting in the seats outside reception with lifejackets which was a bit worrying!

Docked in Le Havre mid morning with tug assistance.

Some lorries overturned, duty free shops a mess but no structural damage to vessel.
#43
The News Board / Re: P&O Fleet Movements
July 22, 2016, 12:39:28 AM
Not good..... get ship shape P and O!
#44
The News Board / Re: P&O Fleet Movements
May 28, 2016, 05:25:26 PM
I agree - we are not criticising individuals here, and if we think a company is good or bad we should be able to discuss that freely.

Personally, I have been quite impressed by my experience of Stena crews on the iRISH Sea recently, but obviously crews are more stressed on busy sailings and after a long season.

My P and O experience has been Dover-Calais most recently, and I did get the impression that p and o are not the best employer.  High end shore staff are I believe rather out of touch with the hard working ships crew.  Would be good for them to work a week a year on one of their ferries to understand how hard it is and appreciate the crew more.
#45
Discussion Board / Re: stena europe
May 25, 2016, 04:21:04 PM
How are turnarounds tight on the Fishguard route?  There is approximately 2.5 hours per turnaround, which should be enough to clean all areas of the ship.

Deck crew will deal with loading the freight, so I can't see why the Barista bar is not open.  even if there was a huge mess left there, it should be possible to clean it thoroughly in far less than anhour, and cleaning can start before the ship docks anyway.

At least if parts of the ship are not open, Stena should make this clear like light nites Dover - Calais