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Cheers-when i have complained to Stena in the past, their response has been very good.

Just want to empahsise that the Liverpool to Belfast route is a good one with Stena.  Some prices in the MET are expensive but sandwiches were on a par with those in Centra stores in bELFAST, AND THE GET A COFFEE HALF PRICE AFTER BYUING ONE WAS An EXCELLENT idea.

Parking free at Birkenhead another bonus.

I will definitely use them again if the price is right  - definitely!

Back home after a voyage on the Stena Mersey.  Once again efficient and courteous staff.  Ship identical to the Lagan, and we took the same passage around the sw tip of Isle of Man, where the swell was a bit more, but nothing uncomfortable.

The only thing that marred my trip was a passenger who was very aggressive with me.  I complained about a screaming child and mother who were running around the Met area playing hide and seek and screaming loudly, treating the place as a creche.  Her husband said he would "xxxing do me over" if I didn't shut up and leave.  He said there were plenty of other areas on the ship - which is not true as the Barista coffee bar is the only other area and that has Curious George stuck to it.  I told him they could make noise as much as they wanted there.  But after further aggressive swearing and threats of "doing me over so I wouldn't be in one piece by the time we arrived in Liverpool I thought it might be sensible to leave to another area of the ship.  The swear words and aggressiveness of this person made it sensible to move, although he had committed criminal offences in threatening me, and if he had done it once again I would have reported him to the police.

Sadly there are these people around who can't help but swear and who think that they are always right - but let me make one thing clear how his wife and kid were behaving was not just a little noisy, the shouting wad all over the place, and I heard them in the terminal in Belfast as well.

Anyway, al's well that ends well.  Looking forward to my trip on the Stena Hollandica and Britannica from Harwich next month now, and my Extra points earned on board will come in very useful.

It was Annwyl easy drive out of Birkenhead, and foot pax loads were about 25-45 on each trip - so not bad.

So long as you take some work to do with you, the trip goes quite quickly during the day.

Ferry arrived on time in Birkenhead and offloading of foot pax better than at Holyhead.  Believe these ships take a lot of unaccompanied freight.

Had a great day in Belfast.  a very nice city - with the sea and the mountains and a compact centre.  Went to Lisburn and pottered around central Belfast and the Falls and Shanklin Road.

Prices a bit steep in centra STORES!

Trying ti work out where to catch the bus to the port now, it's not very clear, but overall a very enjoyable trip so far.  The Visentinis aren't perfect but they do the job.  P and O should have had similar type vessels as replacements for the Super vIKINGS ON THE lE havre route years ago.

Arrived in Belfast on time at 18:30, off around 18:40, although berthing process was a bit slow.  Caught bus at 19:05 to Belfast - but it would be useful if Stena could make it known that there is a bus stop outside terminal!  Think I can get bus tomorrow morning as well - which is great news!

Staff really good and cleaning ship throughout crossing.

Staying in Belfast tonight before going back on the Mersey tomorrow.

On Stena Lagan.  Have to say crew seem very conscientious and pleasant so far!

Also told will ave my second coffee for half price.

Will be showing three frlms during crossing!

Sorry - just another query.

Are there free refills for tea and coffee on board as on Superfast x.

Thanks

Thanks very much for all the info

 Hi guys,

I will be travelling form Liverpool to Belfast on Wednesday next week, on the daytime sailing, returning on Thursday's daytime sailing.


I got the £10 single fare so a total cost of £20 return - but as i USED MY extra points - free!

Any tips?  Is parking free at the port, as i think i will have to take my car as trains are very poor.

Are these daytime sailings busy - I hope not!

What route around the Isle of Man are we likely to take?

The Stena Plus lounge looks very small!

How do i get to and from Belfast ferryport to central Belfast.  Does the bus to the Stena Cairnryan terminal stop outside the Liverpool terminal?

I travelled on Stena Superfast x last week, so it will be interesting to compare.  I found the x ok - but on the way back the Met grill was beng closed down and cleaned about 1.5 hours befroe arrival!  Also the return journey to Holyhead took 4 hours instead of the 3.5 hours and berthing was slow.

All in all she's not perfect for the route but neither is the Adventurer and most of the decor is reupholstered Seafrance.  However, for £5.50 can't really complain.  Nevertheless I do fell Stena could do with purpose built tonnage for the Holyhead route. 

Cheers!

So if not a Superferry experience - why bother?  Take Ryanair and hire a car!

These ships might be a significant step backwards, and maybe my mate should realise that a 35 year old Sten Europe is far better than things to come!

Please keep her on the route, as at least she has Annwyl interesting design nd good outside passenger decks!

Very concerned about these newbuilds...........

Even if P and O overpaid for the Spirits there's a huge difference in price between $180 and $80m especially when you take into account inflation and lack of yards currently available to do the work.

Isn't it Stena who have quoted the $80m figure in any event?

If facilities are not to be open on Stena ships, then I think Stena could make that clear.  It is depressing to travel on a ship at Easter when many facilities are not open and food is only served for a short period of time.

Thing is you would only need one person to keep Barista open, so doesn't seem much of a cost.

Often areas are closed by crew becuause they are too lazy to clean them............

Anyway looks like there won't be many complaints of facilities closed on the new stena builds - I mean $80m for ferries compared to $180 for p o spirits, and no inflation taken into account either!  Like byuing a Dacia or proton Saavy instead of a mid range INSIGNIA/AVENSIS/MONDEO etc........but charging passengers the same price to hire them!

A fantastic ship - all newbuildings should be like this!

Agree!  I imagine that the use of the "d" simply reflects the natural spoken English with Annwyl Irish accent - and what is wrong with that?

I understand he's just going to use Irish Ferries next time as the fares are the same and the Inishmore is a superior ship.

He's also travelled Holyhead and didn't think much of the Superfast x - complained about no room in cafeteria and poor interior layout.  The Adventurer he said was worse - a lower deck sometimes used, and poor outside deck seating - Ulysses far better.

I hope Stena's new builds will be Annwyl improvement on exisitng hipswith something radical.  The Holland ships have good cabins, but otherwise the inteiror is far too open plan andmotorway service like.

For $80m I don't think the newbuilds will be that good!  Normandie for BF cost £65m 20 years ago!