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 Nordica | Previous Names: European Ambassador |
| Shipyard: Mitsubishi Japan, | IMO Number: 9215505 |
| Current Operator: Stena Line | Current Route: Gdynia - Karlskrona |
| Length Overall: 170m | Beam: 26m |
| Passenger Capacity: 430 | Vehicle Capacity: 375 |
| Tonnage: 24,206 | Sister-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
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.