A look inside: Stena Line’s Irish Sea Refit cover ship, Stena Nordica

By: Scott Mackey
Date:
Last updated:
STENA NORDICA leaving Dublin Port, heading to sea to rude out Storm Dudley, Wednesday 16th February 2022. Copyright David Faerder.
STENA NORDICA leaving Dublin Port, heading to sea to rude out Storm Dudley, Wednesday 16th February 2022. Copyright David Faerder.

Note: The following images were taken prior to STENA NORDICA’s enlargement and refurbishment in 2023 and are no longer representative of the vessel.

Stena Nordica Fast Facts

Current Name: Stena NordicaPrevious Names: European Ambassador
Shipyard: Mitsubishi Japan, IMO Number: 9215505
Current Operator: Stena LineCurrent Route: Gdynia - Karlskrona
Length Overall: 170mBeam: 26m
Passenger Capacity: 430Vehicle Capacity: 375
Tonnage: 24,206Sister-ships: N/A

Introduction

The refit programme for Stena Line‘s Irish Sea fleet began last week with the arrival of STENA NORDICA to provide cover. The vessel is no stranger to the Irish Sea, having been built as P&O Ferries‘ EUROPEAN AMBASSADOR for service between Dublin and Cherbourg and Dublin and Mosytn in 2000. She was sold to Stena Line in 2004 and moved to the Baltic Sea. Increasing the passenger focus on the central corridor link with Dublin Port, she became the regular second ship on the Holyhead route between 2008 and 2015. She has also provided refit cover on virtually all Stena Line’s Irish Sea routes.

David Faerder travelled on the vessel from Holyhead to Dublin on the morning of Wednesday 16 February. The vessel’s afternoon sailing from Dublin was subsequently cancelled due to Storm Dudley and she left the port that afternoon to head to sea to ride out the storm. David has kindly provided us with some up-to-date photos of the interior of the ship.

Deck Plan

STENA NORDICA deck plan.  Image: Steven Tarbox.
STENA NORDICA deck 4 plan. All public facilities on the ship are housed on this deck. Image: Steven Tarbox.

Metropolitan Bar, Deck 4 forward

Metropolitan Grill, Deck 4

STENA NORDICA recently won two awards in the entire Stena Line fleet for the Onboard Sales and Services department. Her friendly and professional crew are very proud of the vessel.

Stena Plus Lounge, Deck 4 midships

Stena Shopping, Deck 4 midships

Guest Services area, Deck 4 midships

The Lounge, Deck 4 aft

The Lounge is in an area once occupied by cabins towards the aft end of deck 4. A number of cabins still remain further aft but sofas and areas of grouped seating in The Lounge were replaced by rows of recliners after the ship moved from the Irish Sea in 2015.

Cabin areas, Deck 4 aft and Deck 5

A small number of cabins occupy the furthest aft part of the main passenger deck and also much of deck 5 where they are split between crew and passengers.

Outside deck areas, Deck 4 and Deck 6

STENA NORDICA, like her near-sisters operating for P&O on the Larne to Cairnryan route, has extensive outdoor deck space on both the port and starboard sides of her main passenger deck 4 as well as a sun deck to the aft of deck 6.

With thanks to David Faerder for the use of his photos.


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