Help with the ferry..

helimachoptor

Chaps, taking the car to london next saturday. Having never taken a car on a ferry before (Stena from dublin port).

Any advice particularly around boarding, do i just park up and wait to be called?
when do i go back to the car when we pull up in holyhead?

Atlantic Dawn

You are usually given a colour coded numbered card to hang on your rear view mirror, you will then be directed to a certain section of the ship to be loaded and parked.

ScouseMouse

Dont worry about it. You will be marshalled to where you need to go.

Tails142

When you check in at the booth you join a queue. There are marshals that direct you into a line, you drive onto the boat and they wave you where to go, make you pull tight up to the car in front.




And they tell you when to go back down to the cars over the intercom

helimachoptor

Cheers lads!

Seth Brundle

Is it a low profile car or a sporty car with a low nose or rear?
If so, be careful of any ramps between decks.

helimachoptor

kbannon wrote: »

Is it a low profile car or a sporty car with a low nose or rear?
If so, be careful of any ramps between decks.

3 series saloon, will be careful anyway!

coylemj

The car decks are locked during the voyage and there's no access so when the boat docks in Holyhead, you just wait to be told when you can go back to your car. Foot passengers assemble by the gangway exits and people with vehicles wait at the stairs to the car decks.

helimachoptor

any idea roughly how long boarding takes?

Im on the 2am ferry so expect it'll most be trucks im sharing with

Plopli

Don't worry.
Follow the direction given either on the card they give you at the boot or given by the men directing the boarding.

Unless you're really stupid , nothing can go wrong.

They will tell you when to go back to your car.
No need to rush in (but don't delay either), you have plenty of time to do it.
If you land in Holyhead, the way to get out is a bit long and windy but again, just follow and you will be fine.

Enjoy your trip !

Plopli

helimachoptor wrote: »

any idea roughly how long boarding takes?

Im on the 2am ferry so expect it'll most be trucks im sharing with

It's surprisingly fast for the number of car/trucks getting on.
IIRC, they board the trucks first.
Expect between 30min and 1h (more 30min, again IIRC)

You'll be surprised by the number of car taking the 2am. If you want to go up to the continent trough the tunnel, it gives you a nice long day to get there.
You can get a bit of sleep on the ferry and be fresh to drive to your destination.

And if you want to sleep, take a pillow, a blanket and some earplugs, hurry up to a couch as far away as possible as any bar/food counter and spread out :0

Seth Brundle

Also, whilst I'm not sure of the route you will follow, you may want to fill up before you leave Ireland so you're not having to find somewhere and stop in Wales.
Also it petrol (and diesel) should should be cheaper here.

helimachoptor

Cheers, off to london to repatriate a mate whos moving back.

Wife went to the late late a while back and this was the prize :pac:

helimachoptor

kbannon wrote: »

Also, whilst I'm not sure of the route you will follow, you may want to fill up before you leave Ireland so you're not having to find somewhere and stop in Wales.
Also it petrol (and diesel) should should be cheaper here.

For diesel, i think its about €1.60 from what my mate said with the current exchange rate

Valetta

When you park up on the ship, make sure and take note of the deck number and stairs colour (all the stairs are colour coded).

You wouldn't believe the number of people I've seen wandering around with no idea where their car is after the ship has docked.

shanec1928

they usually give a sticker with the deck and the colour, At least they do heading to cherbourg.

savagethegoat

usual advice with a Beemer is not to set the alarm....

kirving

If your car has a "reduced protection mode" on the alarm, make sure to use it too.

It will turn off the tilt sensors so that the car wont think it's being lifted if the ship rocks too much. Unlikely to happen anyway, and you wouldn't hear it yourself anyway, but the alarm going at 3am wouldn't be nice for the deckhands on the ship, and you wont come back to your car thinking someone tried to break in if the lights are still flashing.

helimachoptor

can switch the alarm off, there wont be anything in it worth stealing on the way over anyway

9935452

Dublin to holyhead with stena . You arrive at the booth with your ticket info. they give you a boarding pass and tell you what lane to go into.
when its time to board they will direct you to what ever deck they want you on.
If you want to sleep bring a duvet/pillows and find a suitable spot.
Be about an hour early. Free wifi with stena as well.
When you arrive in holyhead follow the traffic out onto the motorway .

Fuel wise , buying off the motorway services is about 10p per litre dearer than in a town but i always find chester services are the same price as a town over there which is about an hour from holyhead.

On the way home from holyhead the only differences are they will give you a yoke to hang from the mirror and you could be stopped for security checks. If you are coming home at a reasonable time there is a fairly good shopping centre/area in holyhead

anonanymore

If you're taking the M6 you'll hit Birmingham at rush hour. Take the M6 toll road, at £5.50 it's worth it.

blinding

Valetta wrote: »

When you park up on the ship, make sure and take note of the deck number and stairs colour (all the stairs are colour coded).

You wouldn't believe the number of people I've seen wandering around with no idea where their car is after the ship has docked.

I lost my car on a ferry coming from europe to England once .

I felt a bit of a plank wandering around and hoping that I have not blocked in some irate people behind me.

Found it before holding up people for too long . A big relief:eek:

A good idea to write down the information.

Have a good journey.

anonanymore

Nothing annoys me more than being held up by an inconsiderate driver on the ferry

Armchair Andy

Apologies for hijacking thread helimachopter anyone know the price of diesel in Brittany France?

Better off fill up here?, supposedly only 90 minute drive far side. Parking up for duration.

anonanymore

When you arrive at the destination port don't start your engine until you see cars moving in your row.

helimachoptor

anonanymore wrote: »

If you're taking the M6 you'll hit Birmingham at rush hour. Take the M6 toll road, at £5.50 it's worth it.

Yep have been told to make sure i take it, im tight on time as im coming back same day

Plan is..

Home from work friday and into bed
Boat @ 2:15am on Saturday so into Dublin port for 1:15am
Grab couch and cuddle up to stranger for duration

Presumably get moving from ferry @ 6am
Get to wimbledon by 11am

Couple of hours sleep

Leave Wimbldedon @ 1pm

Ferry back @ 8:30pm


any thoughts/comments?

blinding

helimachoptor wrote: »

Yep have been told to make sure i take it, im tight on time as im coming back same day

Plan is..

Home from work friday and into bed
Boat @ 2:15am on Saturday so into Dublin port for 1:15am
Grab couch and cuddle up to stranger for duration

Presumably get moving from ferry @ 6am
Get to wimbledon by 11am

Couple of hours sleep

Leave Wimbldedon @ 1pm


Ferry back @ 8:30pm


any thoughts/comments?

Don't fall asleep while your driving.

Explosive_Cornflake

As it happens I'm getting that same ferry.
Advice, when you hit the Dual carriageway after Holyhead, the speed limit is 70.

UK "N" roads are 60, but if it's a dual carrigeway it's 70. Motorway also 70 (113KM/H). The cops love looking for people of the ferry but not as bad as Cairnryan. I tell you this now as both will have the our old black and white strike through circle sign.

Valetta

helimachoptor wrote: »

Yep have been told to make sure i take it, im tight on time as im coming back same day

Plan is..

Home from work friday and into bed
Boat @ 2:15am on Saturday so into Dublin port for 1:15am
Grab couch and cuddle up to stranger for duration

Presumably get moving from ferry @ 6am
Get to wimbledon by 11am

Couple of hours sleep

Leave Wimbldedon @ 1pm

Ferry back @ 8:30pm


any thoughts/comments?

Is there a boat that leaves Dublin at 2.15am?

helimachoptor

Valetta wrote: »

Is there a boat that leaves Dublin at 2.15am?

I hope so thats the one im booked on!

Valetta

helimachoptor wrote: »

I hope so thats the one im booked on!

Ah... my apologies.

Hope I didn't give you a scare.

Seth Brundle

Armchair Andy wrote: »

Apologies for hijacking thread helimachopter anyone know the price of diesel in Brittany France?

Google is quoting some Russian website and saying €1.24 for diesel in France

http://autotraveler.ru/en/spravka/fuel-price-in-europe.html

The AA give fuel prices but they tend to be for the previous month.
http://www.theaa.ie/AA/Motoring-advice/Petrol-Prices.aspx

YouTookMyName

diesel is between £1.18 & £1.22 in the uk. thats €1.72 at top whack

TrailerBob

Yeah, avoid fuelling up in the UK if at all possible as it's criminally expensive. I know I can get from Carlow to Calais on a tank, even fully loaded, to fill up on the cheap French diesels that the cruiser loves to drink!

Other than that, just take it handy and get plenty of rest with a return to London in one day.. it's a lot of going if you're not used to it.

jamesbondings

coylemj wrote: »

The car decks are locked during the voyage and there's no access so when the boat docks in Holyhead, you just wait to be told when you can go back to your car. Foot passengers assemble by the gangway exits and people with vehicles wait at the stairs to the car decks.

not particularly true, dont worry if you forget anything important ...just present yourself to any member of crew and they will help you out.

Last summer i went to the uk and ended up forgetting my medicine in the car... no worries a lad came down with me.

9935452

There is a filling station in dublin port which isnt too expensive open 24 hours a day

Mezcita

helimachoptor wrote: »

Leave Wimbldedon @ 1pm

Ferry back @ 8:30pm


any thoughts/comments?

Did Wembley to Holyhead leaving at 1pm on a Friday. Traffic was insane and missed that ferry back. Saturday might be ok though.

helimachoptor

TrailerBob wrote: »

Yeah, avoid fuelling up in the UK if at all possible as it's criminally expensive. I know I can get from Carlow to Calais on a tank, even fully loaded, to fill up on the cheap French diesels that the cruiser loves to drink!

Other than that, just take it handy and get plenty of rest with a return to London in one day.. it's a lot of going if you're not used to it.

Will have a full tank going over, my mate is paying anyway as its the cheapest way to get back (stena line is free) so its the least he can do :pac:

In laws are from the back end of mayo, so used to driving 4 hours in one go,a few cases of down and up in one day but hopefully this will be a pretty easy drive

Mezcita wrote: »

Did Wembley to Holyhead leaving at 1pm on a Friday. Traffic was insane and missed that ferry back. Saturday might be ok though.

Yeah hopefully.. rather not be cuddling up to him in the back of the car, should be ok

ballooba

I took the ferry last week and took a video of the boarding process, might be useful for you op... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLZNwxFtNhk

Pherekydes

blinding wrote: »

Don't fall asleep while your driving.

I did that on the M5. Surprised no one mentioned it until now, though your itinerary wasn't known. Red bull. Bring it in the car with you. Should have no issues boarding the ferry. It's all very well marshalled.

The main issue is your route, trying to avoid traffic. Your timing is fairly tight.

helimachoptor

Pherekydes wrote: »

I did that on the M5. Surprised no one mentioned it until now, though your itinerary wasn't known. Red bull. Bring it in the car with you. Should have no issues boarding the ferry. It's all very well marshalled.

The main issue is your route, trying to avoid traffic. Your timing is fairly tight.

Yeah im hoping that i'll beat most of the traffic back to london if people had taken holidays this week, Coming towards Birmingham and then the M25 i think will be blackspots but hopefully my timing will make that ok.

Going back i should be ok

Marcusm

helimachoptor wrote: »

Yeah im hoping that i'll beat most of the traffic back to london if people had taken holidays this week, Coming towards Birmingham and then the M25 i think will be blackspots but hopefully my timing will make that ok.

Going back i should be ok

To be honest, your biggest issue seems like it will be tiredness. 2am ferry means little to no sleep and it sounds like you'll have a quickish turnaround at the other end. Depending on what part of London you're hearing to, the M25 may be a non issue. This is a 10 times a year route for me and it's generally topped and tailed with a day's driving either side. That being said, I would not generally go for a 2am and 8:30pm ferry on the same day. If your friend can share the driving it'll be less of an issue. Otherwise, if you can be refreshed getting off the ferry at 5:30am, you should easily make London by 10:30-11 with a single stop. Earlier if you're a swift driver.

I've just noticed that you are travelling Saturday - makes it more complex as you get much more randomised travel patterns during the day on UK motorways and around London. Hopefully it won't be a problem but it can add ages in my experience, both on the trip down and getting through/around London.

blinding

If you don't make this optimistic one day return is it going to cost you a second single back to Dublin.

It may be a good idea to have a contingency plan.

Falcon L

Just a little info.

I do the Fishguard London route quite regularly. The motorway cops on the M4 seem to be pretty happy with you doing 130KM/Hr, which is a shade over 80Mph. I had an unmarked behind me for a long stretch and he didn't pull me. I moved in and let him by and he was behind the next car doing 130. The entire lane 3 was a 130km/hr train.


Not to be taken as legal advice. Don't try this at home. Do so at your own risk. Your operator may charge more. T&Cs apply.

helimachoptor

Falcon L wrote: »

Just a little info.

I do the Fishguard London route quite regularly. The motorway cops on the M4 seem to be pretty happy with you doing 130KM/Hr, which is a shade over 80Mph. I had an unmarked behind me for a long stretch and he didn't pull me. I moved in and let him by and he was behind the next car doing 130. The entire lane 3 was a 130km/hr train.


Not to be taken as legal advice. Don't try this at home. Do so at your own risk. Your operator may charge more. T&Cs apply.

Yeah i think in general aslong as youre not driving like a dick you'll be fine, cruising along at 80 is probably acceptable

blinding

helimachoptor wrote: »

Yeah i think in general aslong as youre not driving like a dick you'll be fine, cruising along at 80 is probably acceptable

That might depend on how much is in the kitty of whoever gets the money for your fine.:)

helimachoptor

actually, whats the best radio station for traffic info does anyone know?

Marcusm

helimachoptor wrote: »

actually, whats the best radio station for traffic info does anyone know?

If your car can receive traffic broadcasts, simply turn this on and it will shift to the appropriate channel when the broadcasts are made. It will be a little frustrating through the West Midlands as the BBC ones often occur I. Sequence on the available stations (of which there could be 3-5 in range at any time).

As regards speed, UK guidelines effectively preclude prosecutions under 79mph in a 70 zone.

Henry Ford III

Took the RS2000 to the UK last w/e. 200+ rwd Ford's tearing around Cumbria. Fabulous trip in good weather for a change.

Used a new (to me) ferry service. Seatruck Dublin - Heysham. Long crossing - 9+ hours each way, but we got a clean cabins, food, and a lounge with wifi and Sky tv all to ourselves. Heysham Port is right beside the nuclear power station, which felt a bit odd.

We were the only passengers - the rest of the cargo was unaccompanied freight. A good experience overall but the route is primarily a freight one. Signs and directions for passengers didn't exist, and the climb frorm the main deck to the accomodation is a steep narrow very exposed stairs with a low guard rail on the side of the boat. Anyone with a fear of heights might have struggled.

savagethegoat

Falcon L wrote: »

Just a little info.

I do the Fishguard London route quite regularly. The motorway cops on the M4 seem to be pretty happy with you doing 130KM/Hr, which is a shade over 80Mph. I had an unmarked behind me for a long stretch and he didn't pull me. I moved in and let him by and he was behind the next car doing 130. The entire lane 3 was a 130km/hr train.


Not to be taken as legal advice. Don't try this at home. Do so at your own risk. Your operator may charge more. T&Cs apply.

you don't often see the Police on the M4 (and other roads) They will be watching on camera though. You do see the Highways Agency but they aren't cops. 130 km/h on your speedo is probably only 70 mph in reality anyway. It's quite the norm to be doing much more than that in safety as they are quite lenient provided you are driving safely (ie not lane-hogging or tail-gating and passing correctly) . They often patrol the Motorways looking for criminals rather than errant motorists .

Falcon L

savagethegoat wrote: »

you don't often see the Police on the M4 (and other roads) They will be watching on camera though. You do see the Highways Agency but they aren't cops. 130 km/h on your speedo is probably only 70 mph in reality anyway. It's quite the norm to be doing much more than that in safety as they are quite lenient provided you are driving safely (ie not lane-hogging or tail-gating and passing correctly) . They often patrol the Motorways looking for criminals rather than errant motorists .

I admit it was a rare sight in their unmarked, brand new, black Audi, but not the first unmarked unit I've seen on the M4. It had all the gear though, including an ANPR camera mounted on the boot. A bit of a give-away from the back. I noticed the blues in the grille in the rear-view.

I think the old thing about the speedo over-reading is fading out. My speedo always reads (within 1 or 2 Kms ) the same speed as the GPS.