Belfast - Liverpool with Norfolkline?

sleepymy

Hello, we were thinking of using Norfolkline ferries for a trip to the mainland. Online they give the price of a return Journey as £120 for a day sailing and £400 for a night sailing :shocked: . Does anyone know why there's such a difference and is there any way of getting a night sailing at a lower rate?

Coolhandluke

I would guess its because you get a cabin,an evening meal and breakfast.

sleepymy

Thanks luke but it's only £40 extra for a cabin, I can't imagine two evening meals and two breakfasts costing £240 :undecided

irishjohn

Hi sleepy

I have used this service - daytime at the lower rate. On overnight sailings everyone is required to book a cabin so I imagine that means they sail with potentially fewer people as there has to be a bed for everyone.

Daytime you can just wander the boat and not bother with a cabin so they can take loads more passengers.

The daytime ticket also includes 2 meals and the £120 is for two people - My feedback is

Its a long sailing to endure in the daytime and there are no really comfortable lounges to sit in. When i used it I used a cabin to have somewhere to lie and relax and I am glad I did!!

Thats it in a nutshell.

Last week I used belfast stranraer and drove south and I really prefer that to sitting all day on a boring uncomfortable boat. My usual destination is the midlands so its a long trip whatever route i use.

halwise

Norfolk line's services are predominantly aimed at the freight market.
Essentially the Day sailings both ways Birkenhead to Belfast and v.v
subsidise the more lucrative night market.

I've travelled on this route a number of times (the single foot passenger
ticket in the daytime used to be as little as £20). Its a relatively lengthy
voyage 8 or 9 hours, but it can prove quite interesting if you're like me and
like gazing out over open water!!!
Ships have been up date from when I travelled, but I can vouch for the
comfort and cleanliness of the older vessels.
Bon Voyage

Hal

sleepymy

irishjohn wrote: »

Last week I used belfast stranraer and drove south and I really prefer that to sitting all day on a boring uncomfortable boat. My usual destination is the midlands so its a long trip whatever route i use.

Thanks John, we'd definitely need a cabin then as I need regular rests during the day. The meal would be a waste for me being vegan with a few food intolerances, I always end up taking my own food when traveling. We're heading over to Suffolk so are kinda in the same boat (excuse the pun!) as you. We are thinking of the Stranraer route as it's a good sailing with a quiet lounge on the fast ferry, we'd just need to find a couple of cheap overnight stays somewhere.

halwise wrote: »

Norfolk line's services are predominantly aimed at the freight market.
Essentially the Day sailings both ways Birkenhead to Belfast and v.v
subsidise the more lucrative night market.

Thanks Hal, I though that was possibly the reason. I like gazing at the water for a while but I don't think I could stick 8hrs of it during the day lol.

A night sailing would have suited all our needs but not at £400

sundin13

Tell the truth, having done the night sailing, and been stuffed with food at 10pm only to be woken up at 4ish for a large breakfast before being thrown off the boat at 5.30am, I would rather do the day sailing. Its cheap, and if you get a cabin you can nap, read...do whatever you please. Much more pleasant than driving to Stranraer....but that's my opinion!

marty1888

Ive done the day sailing a couple of times and wouldnt do it again.

The way I see it is that you are going to go to bed at night time anyway so you may aswell travel overnight and not lose 8-9 hours in 1 day by using the day time crossing.

If youre going to Ireland on holiday then that way you can maximise your time there.

mab4

1st time on money saver
Does anyone know of any discount codes to use when booking on Norfolk line web site Liverpool- Belfast return? There is a box which says promotional code.
Thank you for you help

Andy_L

You might want to compare the cost of flying over & hiring a car, depending on how long you're away for & where you live/want to visit it could be cheaper & quicker