Isle of Man ferries

ellay864

I'm looking at booking a few days in October in Isle of Man. The Steam Packet site is offering some discounts for autumn crossings, but I wondered if any of the other discount sites are likely to have anything better going. A quick bit of googling didn't help as aferry.com wouldn't load when I tried to get a quote, and cheapferrytckets.com put me back on the aferry site which still wouldn't load.
Also I had the option of booking seats either in lounge or first class. If I didn't book seats what are the options once on board? Is there other seating available? I know the crossing is just under 3 hours so don't want to be standing for that length of time

hxm

I don't think you'll find a voucher for Steam Packet anywhere, but their walk-on fares are quite reasonable anyway. You don't need to book a seat, when you get on you can just take any available seat or move around as you like

chergar

I doubt you will find any discount codes anywhere for the steampacket as they are the only company going to IOM so can charge what they like really. As hxm says you don't need to book a seat, we went at Easter and didn't book a seat in the reserved lounges, we just went on board and found a seat in the standard area which was fine for us.

Will you be taking a car with you? If so I would maybe book that in advance just in case there are no spaces left, I am not sure if it well sell out or not.

ellay864

Thank you, yes we will take car so will book in advance but good to know we can get seats ok.
Have you any experience of using these other websites to book with?

rustyboy21

Booking into the first class loung has to be measured out IMO.

Take into account that if you are a tea guzzler, it will cost you approx £2.50 for a cuppa , each time, as well as other drinks.

I have been over with business 4 times with the car and have booked the lounge all times. It is a lot quieter, you reserve your seats, get free drinks ( non alchoholic ) papers and access to outside deck. It is very quiet. Compared to normal seating area, which normally ends up with bored kids screaming up and down the aisles and fellas getting drunk in bar and playing slots.

Are you looking at Liverpool fast ferry or Heysham Ben Ma Chree?

ellay864

I haven't decided which ferry. My instinct had been the Liverpool one as that's closer but price seems to be coming the same and I have heard some less than great things about the Liverpool one (unreliable, delays, 'vomit comet') especially if weather isn't great which could be the case in October. The sailing time looks longer on the Heysham one but I also heard that the Liverpool one often takes longer and in reality there's not much in it, and pricing is the same, so not sure which to go for.
There seem to be 2 lounge options, we don't drink much so I don't think the free drinks would make me spend an extra £14 each on the premium lounge. By 'normal seating area' I assume you mean no lounge booking at all? We'd be going on a Saturday to Tuesday, during term time so hopefully less kids around at that time, but still might prefer a lounge for the little extra that costs

rustyboy21

ellay864 wrote: »

I haven't decided which ferry. My instinct had been the Liverpool one as that's closer but price seems to be coming the same and I have heard some less than great things about the Liverpool one (unreliable, delays, 'vomit comet') especially if weather isn't great which could be the case in October. The sailing time looks longer on the Heysham one but I also heard that the Liverpool one often takes longer and in reality there's not much in it, and pricing is the same, so not sure which to go for.
There seem to be 2 lounge options, we don't drink much so I don't think the free drinks would make me spend an extra £14 each on the premium lounge. By 'normal seating area' I assume you mean no lounge booking at all? We'd be going on a Saturday to Tuesday, during term time so hopefully less kids around at that time, but still might prefer a lounge for the little extra that costs

I go from Liverpool as it is easier for me from there, Heysham just seems to be out in the middle of no where and you have to deal with getting through Lancaster and the horrible one way system, so leave extra time if you go from there.

The Mannan wasn't that bad TBH. I took a colleague with me and on the way out he was a little queasy !, had to stop the car in security at douglas for him to rush into the terminal to sort himself out, then ended up getting locked in the terminal by security ! On the way back we stopped and got him some kwells, got on board and ordered a steak bagueete each. Was a little choppy and one engine was broke, I went to the loo to find 3 people puking, that set me off, as I can't stand the smell, so when I got back to the lounge, he was tucking into his baguette, I just slid mine over to him to eat. That was the only time I felt ill and the ferry was 1/2 late getting into Lpool. All the other times were on time or Early.

Have been on the Normal Irish Ferry and felt ill as hell, bouncing around everywhere, whereas the HSS to Ireland was great. Been on Seacat2,Viking and Mannan and I would say as comparable ride as the HSS.

All in all though, it is cheaper than flying over and hring a car and the IOM is so beautiful you will enjoy yourself, so have a good time !