want to get ferry to blackpool where would be best to go from?

nettles77

belfast - stranraer or larne to liverpool. im coming from Rathfriland. Can you use codes on ferries and or tesco vouchurs. Would it be best to book now or will the prices go down in price? Thanks in advance.

yorkshire_lass_3

You can use the Tesco vouchers on some of the routes, I think we've used them on P & O, Irish Ferries (from Dublin to Holyhead) and Stena. You'd be best to check times/prices and then order your deal tokens/vouchers from Tesco. The closest of the ferries for Blackpool would be the one into Fleetwood but I don't think you can use Tesco vouchers for that one.

nettles77

Yorkshire lass do you know where the one from fleetwood goes from? Thanks very much for the quick reply.

dmxdave

Stena operate Larne to Fleetwood http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry
Unless you are taking a car flying might work out cheaper or try Ulsterbus/National Express

amandajim36

we did the stena line belfast to stranraer 2 summers ago. we used tesco clubcard vouchers. and booked well in advance and price did not come down.
we had 2 cars and drove down to blackpool took our time and there was a 5 yr old, 4 yr old and 18m and they didnt get bored or do the are we there yet.
it was a much quicker drive than i was expecting

nettles77

Sorry should have said we are taking car. Amandajim how long did it take you if you can remember. The stranraer option was working out at £200ish cheaper than the liverpool route. Want to plan and save well in advance. LOL

Indigo's_Mum

We did Blackpool in July and sailed Larne to Troon and back from Cairnryan to Larne. Troon and Cairnryan were both just over 4 hours from Blackpool (with stops) and most of the journey was on dual carriageway or motorway.

We went this way as none of us fancied the 8 hour sailing and we were told that lorry drivers get first dibs on the sleeping quarters on these boats (fact or myth?). Our children are still quite small, so the driving suited us.

Also, we live in Larne so once the boat docked, we were home with no extra travel on this side. This was the deciding factor.

We paid for the journey (and holiday) with Tesco vouchers, so it was free.

Personally, I would recommend this route.

amandajim36

nettles77 wrote: »

Sorry should have said we are taking car. Amandajim how long did it take you if you can remember. The stranraer option was working out at £200ish cheaper than the liverpool route. Want to plan and save well in advance. LOL

i honestly cant remember at a guess 4hours ish
but i just know it didnt seem as long as i thought it was gonna be and we stopped couple times on the way and took our time.
i would definitely do it again
i know we got early boat and were in blackpool early afternoon

Willyk

If you do go to Stranraer about an hour along the road (I think it is near / before Dumfries) is a children's play place just on the left hand side of the main road before a roundabout. Its about £5 per child, but has loads of things to do. Also a small cafe. Well worth a stop on the way or way back. I took my 3 there (9, 7 and 5) and they loved it. We had been to Legoland a couple of days before, but they much preferred this place !! Can't remember the name of it though.