Page 366 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

364  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

The Stena Line ferry docked at Birkenhead
Ferries to Belfast Port Connections in both ways before setting out.
and Larne Northern Ireland Those travelling to ports
Stena Line offers two routes to Belfast Port is located 1.5 km without a reservation should
Belfast – from the Scottish port (1 mile) from the city centre, always check avail ability before
of Cairnryan (Stranraer), which and can be easily reached by starting their journey. Check the
runs up to six times daily taking bus, taxi or on foot. Flexibus ferries’ websites for special offers
3 hours and 15 minutes , and shuttles also operate to the city and discounts.
from Liverpool (Birkenhead) in centre via the Europa Buscentre Often, the cheapest way
England, a longer journey of and Central Railway Station. for families or groups of adults
8 hours with a choice of day or From Larne Harbour, a regular to travel is to buy a ticket that
night sailings. (Note that on bus service connects to the allows you to take a car plus
Mondays there is only a night town’s bus station, and from a maximum number of
crossing available.) here, buses run every hour into pass engers. At certain times of
Crossing the Irish Sea with Belfast city centre. There are the year on particular routes,
the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co also trains to take ferry the return ticket for a car and
enables you to visit the Isle of passengers from Larne Port two adults (two children
Man en route to Belfast. Leaving to Belfast’s Yorkgate and count as one adult) can cost
from Liverpool, this service Central train stations. less than €120. The cheapest
pro vides the added advantage cross ings are usually those
of allowing you to disembark at where the passenger must
Dublin and return from Belfast Fares and Concessions depart and return within a
or vice versa. Crossing time from Fares on ferry crossings to specified period. Fares are
Liverpool to the Isle of Man is Ireland vary dramatically normally reduced for mid-
4 hours and 15 minutes by ferry, according to the season – week travel and early-morning
or 2 hours and 45 minutes by prices on certain days during or late-night crossings. Ferry
catamaran, then just under the peak period of mid-June com panies offer discounts for
3 hours onward to Ireland. to mid-September can be students with a student travel
P&O Ferries run a service from double those at other times card (see p352) and some have
Cairnryan in Scotland to Larne, of the year. Prices increase cut-price deals for those with
north of Belfast, taking just under greatly during the Christmas InterRail tickets (see p369). The
2 hours. During the week there and New Year period, too. It is website www.aferry.co.uk offers
are up to seven sailings a day. advisable to book your journey a selection of good-value ferries.

Ferry Routes to Northern Ireland Operator Length of Journey
Cairnryan–Belfast Stena Line 3hrs 15mins
Liverpool–Belfast Stena Line 8hrs

Isle of Man–Belfast Isle of Man Steam Packet Co 2hrs 45mins

Isle of Man–Dublin Isle of Man Steam Packet Co 2hrs 55mins
Cairnryan–Larne P&O Ferries 2hrs

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