What is the Liverpool to Belfast ferry like?

Posted by fsuk@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 15 comments

Thinking of taking my car on the ferry from Liverpool to Belfast for a holiday, the rest of my family will fly and I will meet them there (we this is the better option than hiring a car or all travelling on the ferry). Anyone got any experience of this ferry or advice? My only ferry experience is school trips across to France.

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15 Comments

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AcceptableCustomer89@reddit

If you're from down south, I'd consider the holyhead to Dublin ferry. Much quicker and more frequent ferry ride, plus the car journey either side would make the end to end much quicker. If you're from up north, yeah do Liverpool to Belfast. It's decent

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Jin-shei@reddit

We've done it a few times. Cabin or the vip lounge (which pays for itself in terms of drinks and snacks).

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coachwayguy@reddit

I would say go on the ferry for the lot of you overnight with a cabin. It's really easy and quite a decent modern ferry Liverpool - Belfast and you will get a good night's sleep. If you cheap out on a cabin if you're on your own then yeah but in the morning you could tell who had been sleeping on chairs etc they all looked rough as.

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RangerToby@reddit

It would be our usual preference route - overnight usually and go straight to the cabin and sleep. The times we have taken this route in the day we usually snooze, read and catch the films that are on. There is plenty of space to spread out. We live in NI and have family in GB so use the ferry atleast once a year on this route.

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fsuk@reddit (OP)

Would you say a cabin is essential or are there seats comfortable enough to nap in for 6 hours?

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FrankyFistalot@reddit

I have done the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry a few times and after the first trip I always booked a cabin, you can’t beat a good sleep vs trying to sleep on chairs with things going on around you constantly.Plus I found lying down eased my seasickness on one particular trip.

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RangerToby@reddit

Not essential no, but after years of doing the night trips on shit seats and still having an onwards journey of 6-8hrs the other end we get a cabin and wake up refreshed with a shower. It's more like 7-8hrs in cabin

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ChampionshipOk5046@reddit

I prefer a cabin overnight but have slept on camping air mattress, sleeping bag,earplugs, was OK too. It's really nice and clean. Daytime is great as you don't have to sleep.

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skifans@reddit

Definitely my preferred option for heading to Ireland. By the time you add a suitcase onto a flight it's often a good price. The overnight one is pretty time efficient (though it arrives earlier than I'd like) and it's nice and comfortable onboard. Maybe I've always been lucky but I've never had a rough sailing in maybe half a dozen trips over several years. Definitely does feel like I'm on holiday as soon as I get onboard. I've only ever traveled as a foot passenger so can't comment on the vehicle process, but honestly personally I'd have everyone go on the ferry assuming you live vaguely around Liverpool. Just not really sure it's worth the faff of splitting up and cabins are priced for the cabin. So the more of you there are to share those costs the cheaper it is per person.

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Cold_Philosophy@reddit

I’ve made this crossing three times (well, six). It’s been a daytime off-peak crossing each time. It was very quiet, clean and comfortable. We booked a cabin and the premium lounge (free tea, coffee, cans, wine and nibbles). I’d do it again.

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Thin_Negotiation_705@reddit

It was really good

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AlGunner@reddit

Floaty

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MinimumRepulsive1419@reddit

Brilliant - make sure you book one of the double bed suite cabins - they’re lovely!

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Flaky-Delivery-8460@reddit

Yes it was good. We went as foot passengers last year. Mostly freight and the rest of the ferry was quiet. We didn't book seats and just napped on the couches. A few people had rooms and some had the vip longue but only about 30 people I saw on the ferry. It's a long trip so stock up on a book or movies. There are some films shown in small movie theatres on board. Food was okay but expensive. Bring your own I reckon. I would do it again, we parked at the port in Liverpool and that was also very decent value. We got the bus from the ferry to Central Belfast but if you have your car you can or course drive in.

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