Best Ireland-France option in winter (Irish Ferries Epsilon or Stena Horizon)

embraer170

With no Brittany Ferries operating, what is the better option in winter for a France - Ireland crossing?

The Irish Ferries Epsilon and Stena Horizon look like very similar ships. Any difference at all in passenger experience, cabin cleanliness etc.?

Wally Runs

To the best of my knowledge they are the same (sister ships). As for level of service, there is not a lot onboard on either from my recollection, one bar, cafe and one restaurant. I think you should consider that your holiday will begin once you disembark from either ship in France. Use the time onboard to do some reading. Other than that, I would choose on price and points of Irish departure.

Have a lovey break.

embraer170

Thanks for the reply!

Innisfallen

Stena have had a reshuffle on the Irish Sea. Stena Horizon has been replaced with Stena Vinga on Rosslare - Cherbourge, which is operating freight only at the moment.


Irish Ferries' Epsilon is the only ship offering passenger services at the moment.

embraer170

Horizon seems to be back 21 November (some crew apparently tested positive for Corona), but it seems that Stenaline.ie would accept a passenger/car booking on the Vinga too.

The Irish Ferries Epsilon crossings from January 2021 are not allowing passengers to book cabins. These are available only after boarding and if available.

damo86

Can concur, just booked the Stena Horizon for January 2nd. Wasn't really going to risk the Irish Ferries without a cabin prebooked, potential overnight in a chair...no thanks!

munchkin_utd

damo86 wrote: »

Can concur, just booked the Stena Horizon for January 2nd. Wasn't really going to risk the Irish Ferries without a cabin prebooked, potential overnight in a chair...no thanks!

The Stena Horizon is much critisised for being too "small" (noting that as a ferry its just as big as the Oscar Wilde back in the days), or having too steep a ramp or not enough restaurants or bar options or not having tellys in the bedrooms

Anyhow, we have travelled with it a number of times , only in the Winter, and its a fine ship. Its reasonably stable in choppy waters, the food is edible - even nice at times, the bar has reasonable guinness, the cabins are in good shape (only thing is that they have this one by one sheet thing for the bog roll which can be tricky... after a clatter of guinness) , the beds reasonably comfy.
After a few stena refits, its a little plusher than it was originally when it was very much styled as an italian ice cream parlour/ bistro on the seas (again not suiting irish people who prefer carpets over tiled surfaces to puke on !!! )
There also used to be a less than customer friendly key policy of having to stand in a queue at reception to swap a passport or car keys as security for a physical key but now its finally proper key cards (in case you see gripes online about that too)

I will admit that on a packed summer crossing I can imagine that it might get a bit full, but in the winter thats not an issue and for an overnight ferry where you get on, settle in, have some pints, sleep, get brekkie and then disembark: its spot on.

munchkin_utd

I just looked and the timetable for Stena is now changed that in January they no longer have a day in port on a Monday, and are instead shuttling over and back non stop, so the days of departure from Rosslare or Cherbourg are different every other week.

The timetable from February onwards is still the "old" way of fixed days for sailings in a certain direction with Monday free, but depending on Brexit and landbridge chaos that could change yet!

munchkin_utd

Coming back to this, the direct Ireland France winter options are still fantastic especially compared to pre brexit times

Stena is running every other day over the winter, with small break for christmas day, with the Stena Horizon from Rosslare to Cherbourg. The Stena vision was taken off the route this week for good leaving only 1 ship (they previously had a freight only ship on the inbetween days, which the vision replaced, but it isnt even running now)

Irish ferries has the WB Yeats every other day from Dublin to Cherbourg through the winter, so arguably the most comfortable option, and despite the orchestra of praises for Cork or Rosslare (or indeed Dun laoighre) from their respective fan lobbies, Dublin port is the handiest port for anyone north of the Galway to Dublin line, so for the vast majority of the population of the island. Taking the ferry during the summer there was a noticeable amount of northern cars, proving that IF are appealing to that market.

Brittany has a ferry 2 times a week in each direction from Rosslare to Cherbourg. Cork was serviced last year but this year they are taking a break from early Nov to start of April like was always the case previously.

DFDS runs 5 days a week each way from Rosslare to Dunkirk and is now open to bookings from car motorists. Its a long journey and drops you very far north so really more suited for anyone heading to Benelux/ North Germany and beyond than Paris or other touristy areas in France. Interestingly, they have their capsule hotel concept for solo drivers on this route, and its a very competitive price if opting for that.

https://www.dfds.com/en-gb/passenger-ferries/onboard/rosslare-dunkirk/sleeping-pods

Theres other freight only sailings from Dublin, Cork and Rosslare to Zeebrugge and the likes but they are no use for the normal car driver

AndyBoBandy

We drove to Lithuania 2 summers ago and took the Dublin - Cherbourg route with Irish Ferries, then over 2 days drove up to Kiel in Northern Germany to take a DFDS ferry to Klaipeda in Lithuania.. spent 3 days/nights travelling.. 1st night on the Irish Ferries boat, 2nd night in a hotel in Maastricht (wasted time), and the 3rd night on the DFDS boat.

I want to do similar next summer, but this time will probably do Dublin - Holyhead, then drive to Harwich and take the Stena from Harwich to Hook-of-Holland, and then drive to Kiel in a single day Kiel boat departs at 6pm, and the Stena gets into Hook at about 8am.. doing it this way means it only takes 2 nights, both of which will be at sea so we never stop moving…

I was considering Dunkirk, but the drive from there to Kiel is 830km, and it might just be too much for a single day whereas from Hook of Holland its only 620km, and doable in a day, and if doing Dunkirk that I'd also have to drive to Rosslare whereas departing from Dublin Port means getting off the boat with the car charged to 90%