Belfast to Cairnryan (Loch Ryan Port)
Stena kicks-off Irish Sea refit programme
Stena Hibernia first of 9 Stena Line vessels to visit Harland and Wolff. Stena Line kicked off their 2017 Irish Sea refit programme today (Wednesday), with Stena Hibernia making the short journey across the River Lagan to Harland and Wolff’s ‘Belfast Dry Dock’. Stena Europe will be next to go for refit on Jan 4th, covered by Stena Nordica which is returning to the Irish Sea as the refit cover vessel this year. This follows spells on the English Channel and Mediterranean with DFDS and GNV respectively, following her displacement on the Dublin to Holyhead route by Stena Superfast X. Stena Nordica is of course a part-sister ship to P&O’s European Causeway and European Highlander, having been built for P&O as European Ambassador. £7m contract It is expected that the Stena Line Irish Sea refit programme for 2017 will run until early next May. As reported previously, Harland and Wolff ... Read more
PR (Stena): Reel in the years with an old school cruise.
STENA LINE is encouraging people to roll back the years on their Old School Cruise which launches on Tuesday 15 November 2016. This non-landing cruise is tailored for those aged 55 and over and is the perfect way for the young at heart to spend an exciting day enjoying a game of Bingo, delicious lunch and then an afternoon of toe-tapping fun at the Tea Dance, all for only £15 per person. Heather Gawley, Marketing Manager at Stena Line explains why this is a cruise not to be missed: “We created this cruise especially for those who want to spend a fun day out with friends reminiscing about the good old days over a tasty lunch, having a dance to some of their favourite tunes and aiming for a full house at Bingo. “This great value cruise means you can spend a memorable day with friends or family without breaking the bank. Tickets for the cruise would also ... Read more
PR: STENA LINE SESSIONS ARE THE ‘NEXT BIG THING’
This summer, popular singers from Northern Ireland will kick off the first ever Stena Line Sessions, a series of unique musical events that will showcase the best signing talent in the country, whilst you sail across the Irish Sea onboard Stena Line. Marty McGrady, who is known as one of ‘Belfast’s Best Buskers’, Matty Rea, Sammy Stevenson, Heather White, and many more, are set to be amongst the first to perform at the Stena Line Sessions which will take place on the Belfast to Liverpool and Belfast to Cairnryan routes. Stephen Bryden, Route Onboard Services Manager Irish Sea North, explained why everyone should keep an ‘ear’ out for the new Stena Line Sessions. “These events are the first of their kind for Stena Line and will add even further to our customer’s enjoyment whilst onboard as well as providing a platform for talented musicians. People can kick back and relax in very comfortable surroundings ... Read more
PR: Stena Superfast VIII keeps Irish Sea refits on schedule.
Stena Superfast VIII keeps Irish Sea refits on schedule. This week it’s the turn of Stena Superfast VIII to visit dry dock at Harland & Wolff in Belfast and so far the programme is well on schedule which should see the vessel return to her duties on Monday 15th Feb, Superfast V11 will then head to Dry Dock for a short visit and Superfast X will continue to run on the Belfast – Cairnryan route. During the refit all the relevant statutory surveys will be carried out commensurate with the vessel’s 15 years of service. The dry dock time is also being utilised to complete maintenance and checks on all areas that remain underwater during normal service such as rudders, stabilisers, bow and stern thrusters. A full paint system will be applied to both the underwater area as well as the upper outer accommodation areas before which all areas will be ... Read more
Could you save 20% off your next ferry crossing?
P&O and Stena January offers Both P&O and Stena Line are currently offering up to 20% off ferry crossings.  P&O’s offer is only available on the Larne to Cairnryan route, and you need to use a promotional code on the offer page at http://www.poferries.com/en/troon-larne/offers/try-sailing-from-cairnryan?promotion=EBO20.  They have just extended their offer to bookings made up until the 29th of February, and it is for crossings made up until the 15th of December 2016.  Terms and Conditions can also be found at the above link. Stena Line are also currently offering 20% off the price of a crossing as part of their January sale (theres also up to 20% off items purchased onboard), however both the Cairnryan and Liverpool routes are included in this promotion.  Again you need to use a discount code, and bookings must be made by the 27th of January for travel up until 16th December.  The code (and terms and ... Read more
The ‘other’ Stena Superfast: Stena Superfast X, coming soon to Belfast (for a while).
Stena Superfast X to operate to Cairnryan next month. Next month will see the maiden arrival in Belfast of the latest permanent addition to the Stena Line Irish Sea fleet, Stena Superfast X.  Stena Superfast X was of course built as a sister ship to our own Stena Superfast VII and VIII, although she has had a very different career.  Normally Stena Superfast X would operate between Dublin and Holyhead, however she will operate from Belfast for around 2 weeks whilst covering the dry-docking periods of Stena Superfast VII and VIII at Harland and Wolff.  The Belfast yard has of course secured a £4m contact to refit the bulk of Stena Line’s Irish Sea fleet this year. Stena Superfast X will offer a different passenger experience to the regular vessels however, as she has been laid out differently internally, reflecting the different nature of her regular crossing.  Of particular note is the retention ... Read more
Sailing update: Storm Desmond delays and cancellations, 5/12/15
Sailing updates due to adverse weather on services from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Below is a snapshot of how things stand at present (13:40 Saturday 5th December 2015). As always if you plan to travel, please contact your chosen operator directly for the latest sailing information. NI – UK sailing updates Belfast – Cairnryan (Loch Ryan Port) Stena Superfast VII continues to sail as normal, however Stena Superfast VIII is off-service today for planned essential maintenance. Belfast – Liverpool (Birkenhead) This mornings 10:30 sailing were cancelled as previously notified, however at present tonights 22:30 sailings from both Belfast and Liverpool look to be going ahead. Belfast – Heysham (freight) Stena Hibernia crossed to Liverpool last night, and is still there.  Stena Precision looks not to have sailed last night, and is alongside in Belfast.  Stena Performer also looks to be operating Belfast – Liverpool. No cancellations or delays notified as of ... Read more
Sailing update: Storm Desmond sailing delays and cancellations.
Ferries cancelled or delayed due to adverse weather on services from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Early Saturday morning update (3am): in addition to the delays and cancellations below, Stena Superfast X’s 02:30 departure from Dublin and 08:55 from Holyhead, and Stena Europe’s 09:00 from Rosslare have been cancelled due to weather conditions. Irish Ferries 01:15 from Dublin to Holyhead has been delayed, having left Dublin just a few minutes ago, whilst all sailings from Rosslare to Pembroke on Saturday are either cancelled or in doubt.  Ulysses scheduled departure from Holyhead at 02:40 has been missed, and she is still on the berth at the Welsh port.  P&O’s Norbay looks to be running behind schedule between Liverpool and Dublin. Below is a snapshot of how things stand at present (19:20 Friday 4th December 2015). As always if you plan to travel, please contact your chosen operator directly for the latest sailing ... Read more
Stena Line refit update 2016.
Refit cover to provided by Baltic Sea vessel. NIFS understand Stena Flavia (ex Watling Street) has been nominated as the refit cover vessel for the Irish Sea January to March 2016. It is believed she will cover for Stena Horizon (ex Celtic Horizon) at Rosslare before covering for Stena Superfast X (formerly Dieppe Seaways, SeaFrance Moliere, Jean Nicoli, etc) and Stena Adventurer at Holyhead. Stena Superfast X will provide refit relief for her north channel sisters, Stena Superfast VII and VIII, giving Belfast to Cairnryan (Loch Ryan Port) passengers the opportunity to sample a very different Superfast vessel to those regularly on the run. Stena Flavia is of course a part-sister to Stena Lagan, Stena Mersey, Stena Horizon, and Irish Ferries Epsilon. It is understood that Stena Flavia will be covered on her Travemunde to Ventspils route by Gothenburg – Fredrikshavn regular Stena Gothica (ex Ask, Seafreight Freeway, etc), with that service continuing to operate with ... Read more