Stena Line from Liverpool to Belfast

[harry2919]

Hi. Question: Do we have to book cabin with port tax when travelling on night ferry from Liverpool to Belfast?

 

[181]

You certainly don't have to book a cabin, as seats can be booked in the Hygge Lounge or the Stena Plus lounge. On some overnight ferry routes, you have to book at least a basic reclining seat, but I think you may not even have to do that on this route. Cabins are cheaper than you might expect, though. I presume any port tax is included in the prices given on the website.

On my journey in 2022 I slept reasonably well in the Hygge Lounge on the way out, but even with single occupancy a cabin was at a price that I felt justifiable in one direction, so I booked one for the return journey.

 

[harry2919]

Thank you

 

[bangor-toad]

Hi,
This is a ferry I use often.

There is no additional port tax to pay as an extra to any ticket you buy as a foot passenger or with a car. (I believe it's a bit more complex if you're using something like a PRIV ticket?)
You don't have to book accommodation on this route. You can find a few seats and lie down on them. Quite a few people do this. Or you can pay a bit for the Hygge lounge as 181 says.

Personally I would only now travel on the overnight when I can book a cabin. I find I can get a decent sleep in a cabin and I can then function the next morning. You are normally asked to leave the cabins by 6am.
My recommendation to anyone using the overnight ferry is to never do it without a cabin or at least the Hygge lounge!

The ferries used on the route are the new(ish) Stena e-flexers, Edda and Embla. They really are very pleasant ships to travel on.
Have a good trip,
Mr Toad

 

[harry2919]

Hi. I forgot to add that I work for the railway and we pay only port tax on this service as well as on ferry service from Harwich to Hoea van Holland where booking cabin on night very is compulsory..

 

[northwichcat]

Personally I would only now travel on the overnight when I can book a cabin. I find I can get a decent sleep in a cabin and I can then function the next morning.

If you're a youngish student with not much money, there's an advantage to not booking a bed and travelling overnight, whether it's a ferry or a slow overnight coach vs a hotel and fast train the next morning. Once you get a bit older you really have a choice of either arranging a bed or writing off the next morning. Obviously if you live in Belfast and you're travelling home on Friday night, you might not care about wasting Saturday as a rest day.

 

[Statto]

The Liverpool - Belfast Stenna Line service is the one that gots to,from Twelve Quays Ferry Terminal in Birkenhead isn't it, their is a bus service (i think it's a complementary bus service but not sure) operated by Stagecoach for foot passengers that operates Twelve Quays - Hamilton Square Station

 

[Flying Snail]

The Liverpool - Belfast Stenna Line service is the one that gots to,from Twelve Quays Ferry Terminal in Birkenhead isn't it, their is a bus service (i think it's a complementary bus service but not sure) operated by Stagecoach for foot passengers that operates Twelve Quays - Hamilton Square Station

AFAIK that no longer operates, Stena certainly say it doesn't. There are public bus routes on the main road outside the port.

Liverpool Port | Ferry to Belfast | Stena Line

Find out all the information you need about Liverpool Port with Stena Line. Review the port facilities and get directions to the port. Book online today!

www.stenaline.ie

 

[Siebrand]

The Liverpool - Belfast Stenna Line service is the one that gots to,from Twelve Quays Ferry Terminal in Birkenhead isn't it, their is a bus service (i think it's a complementary bus service but not sure) operated by Stagecoach for foot passengers that operates Twelve Quays - Hamilton Square Station

I took the ferry from Belfast to Liverpool in Summer 2023. The bus first collected us on the ferry and brought us to the ferry terminal. We then walked through the terminal. On the other side of the terminal the same bus picked us up again and brought us to the Hamilton Square station, for free.

 

[Flying Snail]

-

 

[AHBD]

Do stena now run their own liveried double decker on off the ferry? This july, boarding at Birkenhead, the bus driver also seemed in charge of loading the bicycle trailer. Even though I arrived fairly early the bus seemed to wait for a full load, is that new?

Also, does the bus still do a run to hamilton square?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The Birkenhead-Belfast ferry isn't "International Transport".
Although thanks to Brexit there is some kind of virtual UK-EU border somewhere in the Irish Sea on routes to NI.

 

[Struner]

The Birkenhead-Belfast ferry isn't "International Transport".
Although thanks to Brexit there is some kind of virtual UK-EU border somewhere in the Irish Sea on routes to NI.

not yet…

 

[AHBD]

The mods could move thus thread into the Other Transport forum.

Then perhaps my question could get answered

 

[Blindtraveler]

I'm unable to answer the bus logistical question but must and my endorsement of what a truly excellent service. Is, so much so that one of the organisations I work for uses it periodically for GB mainland to Northern Ireland and VV business travel. Whilst there is a degree of dynamic pricing or yield management on the cost of the passage fair, other costs such as cabins and other hotel services like meals are fixed. Therefore, making it an excellent option and allowing a day's work in Belfast before returning the same night, again with cabin accommodation you are able mostly to function normally the following day. However, having done it twice in quite quick succession earlier in the year. The second day when you're back in Liverpool, the combination 2/5:30 a.m. starts in a row. Does start to get to you so just bear this in mind. Don't know what the daytime crossing on this route might be like in terms of whether you'd get bored or not. But should you imagine that sometimes it could be quite pleasant, sitting having a few quiet points and Emil and generally watching the world go by

 

[Oxfordblues]

There is of course no ferry from "Liverpool" to Belfast. There's one from Birkenhead but Stena Line has determined that nobody has ever heard of Birkenhead!

 

[Polarbear]

Do stena now run their own liveried double decker on off the ferry? This july, boarding at Birkenhead, the bus driver also seemed in charge of loading the bicycle trailer. Even though I arrived fairly early the bus seemed to wait for a full load, is that new?

Also, does the bus still do a run to hamilton square?

As a Birkenhead resident, the bus that runs to/from Hamilton Square station and is contracted to Stagecoach to provide (certainly was the last time I saw it).

 

[185143]

Cabins certainly aren't compulsory.

Did the NorthLink to and from Shetland a couple of weeks back. Don't know how much sleep I got the way up, but I was dying the next day. Though that had something to do with it being payday and celebrating the election result I'm sure!

Coming back we also didn't have a cabin. My mate fell asleep across a bench style seat in the bar, I just couldn't get comfy there. Took a reclining seat (not as good as the Hygge lounge!) and slept well enough.

Back on topic, I got a cabin last time I did the overnight Liverpool-Belfast and found it to be pretty good value, though there were two of us. £65 I think for an inside cabin. Slept well enough, though an early start.

Came back from Dublin the next day on the overnight. Didn't bother with a cabin, I get Stena Plus for free anyway so had a quiet space. Ended up stood at the bar for most of the crossing as me and the barman were the only two awake, and slept on the train home.

Stena Plus is £30 on the Liverpool-Belfast route, I think that's a bit steep in all honesty. Think the Hygge lounge is about half that, that's probably worthwhile on an overnight crossing if you can't/don't want a cabin. But I'd say Stena Plus probably isn't worth it if you're paying. You get the same kind of seating as on the rest of the ship, private bogs, free nibbles (crisps, biscuits, cake) and pastries in the morning. Free hot and soft drinks along with red, white and alcohol free wine. Certainly the seats in the Hygge lounge are more comfortable. Probably slightly more so than the pods on NorthLink, which they sell at £18 for comparison.

 

[AHBD]

I wonder if this is in international Transport because stena have a Dublin birkenhead route now, that may take general public passengers in future?

 

[Djgr]

As a Birkenhead resident, the bus that runs to/from Hamilton Square station and is contracted to Stagecoach to provide (certainly was the last time I saw it).

And there always seem to be some people walking it, which is eminently doable if you've packed sensibly.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Although thanks to Brexit there is some kind of virtual UK-EU border somewhere in the Irish Sea on routes to NI.

Yes, NI is in a very strange legal situation where they're outside the EU Customs Union (and they are in the UK-CD Customs Union), but they are also part of the EU VAT area.

I took the ferry from Belfast to Liverpool in Summer 2023. The bus first collected us on the ferry and brought us to the ferry terminal. We then walked through the terminal. On the other side of the terminal the same bus picked us up again and brought us to the Hamilton Square station, for free.

Do you remember if there were any physical customs controls in the terminal, such as red/green lanes, or the presence of signs about making a declaration if required?

 

[185143]

Yes, NI is in a very strange legal situation where they're outside the EU Customs Union (and they are in the UK-CD Customs Union), but they are also part of the EU VAT area.



Do you remember if there were any physical customs controls in the terminal, such as red/green lanes, or the presence of signs about making a declaration if required?

Definitely no red and green lanes. No idea about signage

 

[Chester1]

Do you remember if there were any physical customs controls in the terminal, such as red/green lanes, or the presence of signs about making a declaration if required?

There are no controls for personal items under the Windsor Framework. I guess you would be pulled aside if you were brazenly carrying a couple of thousand cigarettes.

Unless the OP is under 25 years old I would highly recommend getting a cabin! I have used the service three times in recent years and found it very comfortable in a cabin. The breakfast is decent and reasonably priced but the last two trips I woke up a bit later and ate in Belfast.