When do ferry tickets get released?

1jim

I know it's early, but so you know when next summers ferry tickets get released, stena or Irish ferries to Ireland?
Cheers

[Deleted User]

1jim wrote: »

I know it's early, but so you know when next summers ferry tickets get released, stena or Irish ferries to Ireland?
Cheers

I wouldn't worry too much - there are very few sailings where you can't book the night before and still get a crossing.
However advance booking does secure some offers - you just need to keep monitoring the websites or sign up for email offers.

1jim

The ones I travelled on this year were sold out,
Booking early got me priority boarding and lounge access for us all for about £20 more than economy fare

Bob_the_Saver

When do ferry tickets get released?

Usually they are paroled after they've served half their sentence.

[Deleted User]

1jim wrote: »

The ones I travelled on this year were sold out,
Booking early got me priority boarding and lounge access for us all for about £20 more than economy fare

Ferry crossings to Ireland are so short that it's pointless paying for lounge access, especially as both Stena and Irish Ferries provide free wifi on board for everyone.

Priority boarding is another Ryanair-style con. The ferry still leaves at exactly the same time for everyone and you get the same seats as everyone else. However, if that floats your boat ...

To the OP, the summer seats are released months in advance, there is ALWAYS availability but as I mentioned in my previous post sign up online for early offers.

As always midweek and overnight sailings are cheapest.

1jim

Ferry crossings to Ireland are so short that it's pointless paying for lounge access, especially as both Stena and Irish Ferries provide free wifi on board for everyone.
That is unless you value knowing that you can get seats altogether, Irish ferries allow you to pick your seats so you can guarantee that you will all be together. You also get free tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, biscuits, snacks etc. I was able to pick up a bottle of water for each of us for the onward journey, as well as fill travel mug with a coffee for the adults. Booking in advance meant this came as part of the price and was much cheaper than paying per person on a standard ticket


Priority boarding is another Ryanair-style con. The ferry still leaves at exactly the same time for everyone and you get the same seats as everyone else. However, if that floats your boat ...That's true, the boat does leave at the same time for everyone, but priority boarding will allow you to get out of the car and on board quicker, if you haven't booked the lounge you get a choice of seats that haven't been taken already. The priority boarding also gives you priority disembarkation, you get out on the road quicker and ahead of the main body of traffic

To the OP, the summer seats are released months in advance, there is ALWAYS availability but as I mentioned in my previous post sign up online for early offers.
I was asking of there was a month when they became available, there may be availability across the route and across different days/times but there are peak travel days and times, you cant simply turn up and hope to get on these, we went on stena explorer on the first Saturday of the school holidays, this crossing was full. Seating across the ferry was pretty full, we were seated all together in the lounge, I saw many people paying extra per person to get access when they realised how full the boat was.

Katiehound

Sorry I don't know the answer to the question! However sometimes in the autumn there is a *10% discount for the next year bookings (I am talking about Stena.)
The HSS is bound to be very busy as there is only one return journey each day in summer- it used to be 4 per day.
The further in advance you are prepared to book the cheaper they may be, just like flights when that band is full the price goes up to the next band.. Even the staff don't know what the ceiling is!
If you buy Premium you automatically get lounge seats and staff generally try to ensure you get seats together- I have seen them reserve seats in the executive lounge on Stena Nordica.


* might be more than 10%- bought a ticket last Nov for March travel this year- both too long ago to remember the fine detail!!

If you sign up there's a chance to win a crossing!
http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/email-registration/

You could e-mail and ask when next summer's timetable is available

1jim

Thanks katiehound, that offer sounds good, I wonder if it could be used at same time as aa 10%off?

Am very happy to pay early and get deal, it was the premium fare we booked this year and to be honest when we booked it was only fractionally more expensive than economy ticket. The lounge was invaluable with kids and the wife who is a bit of a nervous traveller. Will email and see if they know
Thanks again

Katiehound

Usually you can only get one discount!
Except, I think, if you have their "Extra"loyalty card- hopefully you have one from this year? If you made a valid journey and haven't registered perhaps you can ask now? They have changed the rules over the years and it may be you can only earn points on discounted fares but not spend points on them.

Another thought is to use Tesco points but there is now a £105 ceiling on a single crossing and that can not be combined. It wouldn't be a great deal if you are travelling peak. As I travel off season off peak it almost pays for a crossing (just car & driver.)
The price difference between economy & flexi is £10, then a further £10 for premium.
If you book a cabin (mine is at night) you get priority boarding - that's new this year. It may apply if you book a day time cabin... that's another option.
You can always phone and ask the various price options. I find they are very helpful.
Most people have free inclusive calls at w/e on standard land lines- 01407 606666 generally gets thro to Holyhead unless diverted when very busy. 01776 802165 is another of theirs.