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Irish Ferries Swift crossing

  • 20-09-2006 10:01PM
    #1
    william
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 309 ✭✭william


    Has anyone travelled on the Swift (as opposed to Cruise) ferry service to the UK? If so, which one is a person more likely to be sick on? Will be bringing the children to the UK soon and want to keep life simple.

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    Cynthia Sticky Baton
    Posts: 0 ✭ Cynthia Sticky Baton


    It depends on the sea. I've travelled many times on the sea cat and normal ferry and I've gotten sick on both of them when the sea was extremely rough. I was alright on the Swift but the sea was calm. I think it's supposedly more stable. But if the sea is very rough I can't see how you wouldn't get sick.


  • #3
    ninebeanrows
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,780 ✭✭✭✭ninebeanrows


    I have first hand experience of been terribly sick onboard ships!!

    My personal preference is the fast ferry.

    This is because its set in your mind when you set out that it will
    only take and hour or so to get there while if your on the slow boat
    you know its going to take hours.

    But if theyre kids and they dont anticipate in getting sick then bring them
    on the big boat. Although if you bring them on the swift they'll be less
    activities and things for them to go walking or running to! which would
    only add to there sicknesses or even cause them!

    So go swift in my opinion! If they get sick it will be violent and short!!

    I could write a book of occasions getting sick on boats! Famous memories
    being from Portsmouth to Cherbourg many a year ago! People thought
    i was gona die!!

    Recently on the Normandy even though the sea was calm! the boat was
    going all over the place! And the excitment of the getting the so called
    deluxe cabin soon turned into 20 hours of pure hell where my father and
    mother were getting sick!! ahh memories:D :eek:


  • #4
    ircoha
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,290 ✭✭✭ircoha


    take the motion sickness meds, they work.

    If u are sick as a dog u wont be much help to the kids


  • #5
    xebec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,311 ✭✭✭xebec


    Weathercheck wrote:
    I have first hand experience of been terribly sick onboard ships!!

    My personal preference is the fast ferry.

    That's interesting! I've worked on both fast and slow ferries on the Irish sea (not for this company) and I definitely would have said take the big slow boat! Bigger boats are definitely more stable and there will be far more room for the kids to run around. The Swift is a nice boat, but at this time of year any bit of chop on the sea could make for quite a rough crossing. The Ulysses should be far more comfortable all round. Don't worry about sickness with kids, don't even mention it to them and it's less likely to happen!

    I've spent loads of time cleaning up sick on the fast boat I worked on, but hardly ever saw any on the big boat - and I've been out in some very rough seas!
    ircoha wrote:
    take the motion sickness meds, they work.

    Not for everyone. Personally think it's more of a mental battle than anything else, but if you think they'll help then go for it - just be careful that they don't make you drowsy if you intend to drive.


  • #6
    Ruu_Old
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    Moved from AH.
    I have travelled a few times on sea cat and the regular ferry and never got sick once. Any reason why you are not flying (just curious as it is probably cheaper)?


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  • #7
    John R
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,106 ✭✭✭John R


    The fast ferries, particularly the smaller ones get cancelled in bad weather anyway so it is unlikely that you would be aboard them in rough seas.

    For some reason the motion that the small catemarans like the Swift have sets some people off, even in light seas so if you are really concerned about seasickness then it's best to stay clear.

    I'd suggest the Stena HSS as the best option, it is as quick as the Swift but is much bigger and far more stable. It is also much less likely to be cancelled.

    The regular ferries now used on the Irish sea are huge in comparison to the ones in use 10-15 years ago and are much better able to stay smooth in poor seas although if the sea is very rough any ship will be effected.

    If you are worried about seasickness then take the pills, also not drinking alcohol helps.


  • #8
    Irish Salfordia
    Closed Accounts Posts: 116 ✭✭Irish Salfordia


    In rough weather the Swift is like the smaller catermaran Stenna use on the Rosslare route.

    Used to have the nickname of 'The Vomit Comet'

    This time of the year i'd go with the big ferries, or fly


  • #9
    Mec-a-nic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 407 ✭✭Mec-a-nic


    Having travelled on all 3 ferries (Swift, Ulysses and the HSS) doing IKEA runs, and being also a terrible sailor, I'd go for the HSS.

    The Ulyeese is the biggest car ferry in the world and has stabilisers to keep it steady in most seas, but it does take 3.5 hours

    The Swift is a fast, small catamaran, that has to slow down if the seas get rough during the crossing, so it can get slower/rougher in bad weather, so not good this time of year.

    The USS is the middle way, big enough to ignore most rough weather and only 1.5 hours across.

    Of course, remember the cure for sea-sickness: sit under a tree… :)


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