Ferry procedures, please

botvot

Hi all

I am a first time ferry traveler, with own car. As I am quite a nervous traveler, realising too easily what could go wrong, I'd love to know more about the whole booking in procedure. No ferry website's FAQs answers anything similar.

I am traveling with StenaLine from Belfast to Stanraer and returning from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire.

Now, I have booked tickets over the internet. Do I just drive up to a gate? Do 'bookers' get preference to 'just arrivers'? Do I need to park the car and go into a check-in office? Are there designated parking bays or do I just park where I want to? Where do you show that the car is actually yours?

In all reality, what should I be prepared for that MIGHT go wrong? I know it sounds silly, but that's just life...

Thanks all.

jjbrien

once you have booked you get an e-ticket just drive upto the checkin gate give it to them. they will give you a boarding card and tell you what lane to get into. Once you in lane they will board you by lane and then you just drive on to the hss and drive off the far side. Pretty easy.:D

botvot

Thanks jjbrien.

Stupid question: you get out of your car, right? surely, as there are restaurants and shops on the boat...

jjbrien

botvot wrote:

Thanks jjbrien.

Stupid question: you get out of your car, right? surely, as there are restaurants and shops on the boat...

yes a few but things are all over priced.

mikedragon32

It's first come first serve for check-in and boarding. Just show up at the booth with your e-ticket, present it and you'll be told where to go.

There are people all over the place to tell you where to go and will point you in the right direction when it comes time to board. Once you've parked on the boat you go up to the passenger decks until just before the boat gets into port. It's just like driving into (and out of) a busy shopping center!

If you want to board and deboard faster and have access to a lounge, you can pay extra for Stena Plus. It's almost worth it for the fact you'll be off the boat first and therefore on the road first, but if you arrive early, it's the same effect without the expense!

johnfás

botvot wrote:

Hi all

I am a first time ferry traveler, with own car. As I am quite a nervous traveler, realising too easily what could go wrong, I'd love to know more about the whole booking in procedure. No ferry website's FAQs answers anything similar.

I am traveling with StenaLine from Belfast to Stanraer and returning from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire.

Now, I have booked tickets over the internet. Do I just drive up to a gate? Do 'bookers' get preference to 'just arrivers'? Do I need to park the car and go into a check-in office? Are there designated parking bays or do I just park where I want to? Where do you show that the car is actually yours?

In all reality, what should I be prepared for that MIGHT go wrong? I know it sounds silly, but that's just life...

Thanks all.

You just follow the signs for the port and follow up to what look like toll booth porta cabins. There will be big signs above the portacabins on screens telling you where to drive to. Then you wind down your window, hand them in your booking and they direct you. You normally end up in a numbered lane and just follow it.

There are always plenty of guys in high vis jackets directing. Then eventually they start letting people onto the ferry, you just follow the car in front who will be going onto the ferry. As you enter the ferry there are more stewards who direct you and they direct you to where you park.

Then you head upstairs and relax! At the other end you just hop in your car and wait (with your engine off) until the car in front drives and you just follow them off the ferry!

Easy as pie