Ferry from Ireland to UK?

Lojak

Myself and 8 friends are going to France in a mini bus and im wondering what route people would take to the UK and back, everywhere seems fairly pricey in comparison with the UK -France leg. What is the cheapest option? And also what is quickest?

DEFTLEFTHAND

You could take a more direct route and travel from Rosslare to Cherbourg. Celtic Link are a new budget ferry operator and you'll probably find the best fare with them.

the scrote

the UK-France leg would be alot cheaper because its only 21 miles across.it depends where in ireland your living,do you have to go through the uk or would you consider going direct from rosslare?its expensive but would work out the same as paying for petrol driving through england.

Lojak

Im in cavan so would have to travel too far to rosslare and also dont really fancy 17 hours on a boat, im not the best traveller:) I will have a look at celtic thanks.

schemingbohemia

Lojak wrote: »

Im in cavan so would have to travel too far to rosslare and also dont really fancy 17 hours on a boat, im not the best traveller:) I will have a look at celtic thanks.

If you think Rosslare is too far to travel to I think you should re-think your holiday plans.

munchkin_utd

Lojak wrote: »

Im in cavan so would have to travel too far to rosslare and also dont really fancy 17 hours on a boat, im not the best traveller:) I will have a look at celtic thanks.

if you really really want to go to france then the direct boat from Rosslare is by far the handiest option.

I did it at christmas in reasonably choppy conditons and it wasnt a problem.
You get on the boat, have a few beers (the Guinness on Celtic link is spot on), have a feed, head to bed, get breakfast and suddenly youre in france.
It passes remarkably quickly when youre asleep.

As it was off season I paid only 89Euro for me and the car. Cabin was 50euro extra and was more than worth it and even together it was less than the IRL-Wales ferry that I got after christmas. My only advice would be not to scab on the cabin especially if youre driving.

And if you think its far to rosslare. Dont underestimate how long it takes to get through Wales and England to France and if its raining or whatever its a balls of a journey. As I experienced after christmas on the way back to the continent.

Dai John

A lot depends on your destination in France. As a truck driver for years I can tell you without fear of contradiction that the most expensive ferry for the distance has to be the Irish sea to UK.It was cheaper to cross from Ancona, Italy to Patras, Greece (30 hours plus) than the 3 and a half to UK.Driving from Holyhead to Dover will take 7 hours and the ferry with Pand O varies with the time of day ,it can be as little as 30 quid for a car and Dover Dunkerque (Norfolk Line is even cheaper) .Celtic Link is good value, but get a cabin.
You need to consider your route in France to avoid road tolls, can be expensive. I can travel from Cherbourg to Alicante and pay only 8 euros, but I could spend 130 euros if I lost my marbles.

CelticRambler

Another vote for the "if you think Cavan to Rosslare is too long ..."

I live in (central) France and have done the trip to Dublin in various ways. If you're driving to anywhere south of Paris (check the map) go via Rosslare. The stress and cost of petrol getting through N.Wales, the Midlands, around London and over (or under) the Channel outweighs any advantage over the direct route unless you're going to Calais/Lille/Metz/Strasbourg.

226€ all-in for me plus another adult at Christmas with Irish Ferries. Reserved seats (free) on the late evening crossing to Dublin, cabin on the afternoon crossing back to France. Reserved seats are desperate - bring a sleeping bag and lie on the floor.

keithclancy

I'd rather do the extra 7 hours drive through France than drive through the UK.

Even then I'd go via Liverpool (done it) than take the rubbish roads in Wales.

Rosslare is definitely the best, have a few drinks, eat some food, sleep and wake up in France.

650Ginge

munchkin_utd wrote: »

if you really really want to go to france then the direct boat from Rosslare is by far the handiest option.

I did it at christmas in reasonably choppy conditons and it wasnt a problem.
You get on the boat, have a few beers (the Guinness on Celtic link is spot on), have a feed, head to bed, get breakfast and suddenly youre in france.
It passes remarkably quickly when youre asleep.

As it was off season I paid only 89Euro for me and the car. Cabin was 50euro extra and was more than worth it and even together it was less than the IRL-Wales ferry that I got after christmas. My only advice would be not to scab on the cabin especially if youre driving.

And if you think its far to rosslare. Dont underestimate how long it takes to get through Wales and England to France and if its raining or whatever its a balls of a journey. As I experienced after christmas on the way back to the continent.

I totally disagree, the over night ferry is usually not the best option it depends where you are going in France.

If you have to get of a boat in Rosslare and drive to Cavan at the end of a holiday. I always find that annoying.

Tesco vouchers can be converted to ferry vouchers at 4 times there value. Thats what we do.

650Ginge

Dai John wrote: »

A lot depends on your destination in France. As a truck driver for years I can tell you without fear of contradiction that the most expensive ferry for the distance has to be the Irish sea to UK.It was cheaper to cross from Ancona, Italy to Patras, Greece (30 hours plus) than the 3 and a half to UK.Driving from Holyhead to Dover will take 7 hours and the ferry with Pand O varies with the time of day ,it can be as little as 30 quid for a car and Dover Dunkerque (Norfolk Line is even cheaper) .Celtic Link is good value, but get a cabin.
You need to consider your route in France to avoid road tolls, can be expensive. I can travel from Cherbourg to Alicante and pay only 8 euros, but I could spend 130 euros if I lost my marbles.

Please share that route with our please. I got stung for tolls last year. I gave up on French regional roads, they have gone crazy for roundabouts.

650Ginge

keithclancy wrote: »

I'd rather do the extra 7 hours drive through France than drive through the UK.

Even then I'd go via Liverpool (done it) than take the rubbish roads in Wales.

Rosslare is definitely the best, have a few drinks, eat some food, sleep and wake up in France.

You can drink if you're in your hotel in France on the first night if you go through the UK. Still get up the next morning not having felt sick most of the night on a rocking boat.

The roads in Wales are great, mostly motorway standard with a couple of roundabouts then motorway all the way from before chester. When is the last time you drove this route.

A55, M56, M6, M1,M25,M20 and get the eurotunnel, its great.

CiniO

650Ginge wrote: »

A55, M56, M6, M1,M25,M20 and get the eurotunnel, its great.

I've done exactly this route in December.
I took the evening ferry from Dublin to be driving overnight through UK as I thought that traffic will be smaller.
Unfortunately traffic was quite big, it didn't stop raining for a minute. Overall it took me 6 hours (1am to 7am) to get from Holyhead to Folkestone for Eurotunnel.

Still way better than a year before, where the same route took me 9 hours (6am to 3pm) as there were few accidents and traffic jams on M6 and M1.


On the way back to Ireland few weeks ago, instead of taking M6, M56 and A55, I decided to take A5 from Birmingham straight to Holyhead.
Very scenic and spectacular road, but it was definitely slower than the first option. However we had plenty of time for the ferry, so we didn't mind.

BenShermin

Give me the overnight ferry anytime, such a relaxing start to a holiday imo.

Anyway if you're going the "landbridge" route these links are worth a look:

http://www.stenaline.ie/europe

http://www.irishferries.com/ie/fares-offers-france-from-ireland.asp?tab=fares-landbridge