Browse Sections

• Personal finance
• Health and beauty
• Dating
• Holidays 
  • Holiday reviews
• Hotels
• Food and drink

Simply plain sailing!

Maria McGeoghan
16/ 7/2008

TRAVELLING to Ireland by ferry has changed beyond all recognition. In the sixties, it was a long, usually rough crossing - the brown paper bags left on the tables in the cafeteria were a good clue to the night that lay ahead.

Our family saved and scrimped for a four-berth cabin and then squeezed six kids and mum and dad into that tiny space.

Most travellers stayed up and some even took part in all-night revelry involving someone with an accordion and copious amounts of Guinness.

Then came the seventies and, even while you were queuing to get on the vessel at Liverpool's Pier Head, the vagaries of various dockers' strikes meant that you were never entirely sure when you would land in the Emerald Isle.

My mum became so used to the "Will we? Won't we?" nature of the Irish ferry that she packed enough sandwiches for at least two days.

During the eighties, we branched out and headed up to Stranraer, in Scotland, in pursuit of a shorter, smoother crossing and fancier vessels and found both, but there was still that long drive up north to contend with.

It's not for the faint-hearted, and getting stuck behind a tractor a Ecclefechan and tearing into the ferry car park just as the sailing you were booked on pulled up anchor is a miserable experience.

We resolved to always set off at four in the morning before the tractor-drivers were awake.

The dawn of the high-speed ferry cut the journey to around two hours and a few years ago Stena Ferries launched a business-class section called Stena Plus, which ensured peace and quiet, free drinks and snacks and comfy seats away from the madding crowd.

The only snag was that children were allowed in only if they were over eight, but now all that has changed.

As a response to ever-increasing competition from cheap air travel, Stena has decided to woo families with luxury, and after many years and thousands of miles crossing the Irish sea, this is not something to be endured but really enjoyed. Stena Line has recently invested £2m in refurbishing the Stena HSS, expanding its Stena Plus service on the Stranraer-Belfast route with a 160-seater lounge at the front of the vessel.

Those choosing a premium ticket, or paying an additional £14 for access to the Stena Plus lounge, can enjoy comfortable seating on leather sofas and chairs, complimentary newspapers, snacks and refreshments, and a separate family area within Stena Plus which houses Playstation 3 consoles and PSPs. Power points are situated at tables for laptops and other electrical equipment and wi-fi access is also available for a small additional cost. A new treatment zone, run by leading manicure company New York City Nails, also features, along with a neck and shoulder massage point. There is also a Curious George-themed children's play area with kids' cinema, soft play zone and an interactive facility with touch screen technology.

A new Teen Town section has been opened where teenagers can make use of the latest video game technology and access internet stations with Bebo, Facebook and MSN as well as a video jukebox with plasma screens.

A Metropolitan Bar, featuring continental beers, wines and cocktails, has been installed in the centre of the craft and an expanded quiet lounge provides facilities for 170 passengers.

The £2m upgrade is part of a massive investment by Stena Line in its Northern Corridor Route.

A new ferry terminal which has just become operational has been built in the Port of Belfast at a cost of £37m.