Word of the Week - Ferry

I took the camper van on the ferry from Birkenhead to Belfast this week to visit child 4 and family. Usually I fly when I go on my own, but this time I needed transport to literally ferry the grandchildren around.

I booked an overnight crossing after work last week. I drove up with a stop on route for coffee and arrived 2 hours early at the port.

Loading of vans was delayed until after all the freight lorries were on board and we didn't sail until gone 11pm (half an hour late)

There were no cabins available, but with Stena we have gold membership and I had free access to the Stena plus lounge.

It was packed, but I managed to find a seat and armed with my blanket and pillow I did manage a couple of hours sleep on the floor.

I had a 45 minute drive the other end, so I was able to manage.

Coming home, there were no cabins available again so I booked the day crossing as I wasn't sure I'd manage a 3 hour drive home after a night with no sleep.

It's only the 2nd time I've done a day crossing, I get sea sick and the last time was not a good trip.

This crossing was nice and calm and I bagged a sofa in the lounge again and got my head down for the first couple of hours and had a nap.

I had a packed lunch with me and I bought some chips and took advantage of the free soft drinks, tea and coffee and I'd also had some breakfast, including gluten free flap jacks.

I had a couple of walks around the ferry and I took some photos of the boat for the grandchildren.

The weather was really nice on the way out of Belfast, I sat in the sun until we reached the open sea.

The rest of time I caught up with the soaps on my phone, did some blogging and sorted through some diary appointments.

I had a 3 hour drive home, still in daylight, with a coffee and wee stop, unpacked the van, had a bath and went to bed.

We'll probably travel over again in July for a few days. The next trip after that won't be until October/November for eldest grandsons 4th birthday.

Travels with the dog - Liverpool to Belfast

When we visit our son, DIL and grandson for a week, we take the dog with us. It's a simple process as we travel by ferry.

With Brexit we were originally advised in 2021 that Bob would need an EU passport to travel, but thankfully that plan was scraped (after we got him a passport) We do carry his vet book and chip number as we were checked on one occasion due to people smuggling puppies over the sea.

Bob is used to long journeys having started his life in South Africa in 2010, moving to Dubai with us in 2015 and onto the UK in 2020. Him and the cat didn't need crate training they took to it naturally.

He has no problem going in a crate on a plane, at home or at our sons house, but the second you near the kennels on board the ferry he starts to run on the spot on the slippery surface as he tries to dig his feet in.

He doesn't get travel sick in the car and it's almost 3 hours to the docks, before we even get on board, followed by another 7 hours on the sea. 

He greeted us like this in the morning.

Whilst we queue to board we walk him around the docks and on arrival he gets fed and we make sure he has a pee before he goes back in the car, then we stop at the first services for a walk before we complete our journey home.

Bob was 13 years old earlier this month, I'm not sure how many more trips we'll be able to make with him, but while we can, it's nice to have him come along.

Do you travel with your dog?

Things to do on a Stena Ferry.

Check in at the port closes half an hour before sailing. 

We only travel on the Liverpool-Belfast-Liverpool crossing. It takes 8 hours. 

We travel by car, we take the dog.

We book a cabin for an overnight crossing as a preference, but if they're not available then we book the Lounge + where you can stretch out on a seat, help yourself to complimentary drinks and snacks and have meals served to your table.

If you don't have a cabin and need one, then visit Guest Services on Deck 7, right by the door where you enter from the car deck. They have a waiting list and will call your name if one becomes available.

The other option for sleep is the HYGEE lounge, with reclining allocated seats.

The dog can either stay in your vehicle or go into the kennels for an additional charge. The kennels are clean, located on the right of the ship Starboard. There is an area to walk the dog and the kennels are secure with a key code to enter. They are clean, there is bedding and bowls and access to water. 

So once onboard, what can you do to entertain yourself?

Well on a night crossing, I'd recommend you get straight to sleep, if you can. If in a cabin car alarms will go on and off most of the night, but at least you can lie flat and have a shower in the morning.

If you're on a day crossing, find a seat, settle in. Read, watch downloads on your device, chat with your other passengers, order a meal, watch the waves, walk your dog if you have one, watch the TV with subtitles, sleep.

Alternatively you could explore the ferry, find out for me what the restaurant and bars are like, how much the cinema costs and is there anything else to find out about.

July 2021 One Daily Positive, Project 365. Northern Ireland, Unpacking and family.

We had a trip to Northern Ireland to collect the dog from child 4's house. They collected the dog in April to enable me to go back to Dubai for the last time. We explored the north coast, visited a lot of the tourist attractions and spent a couple of days on the beach. 

Our container arrived but not without hassle which you can read about here. The dining room is being used for storage, a sofa bed, fridge freezer, garden furniture and bedding is going to my mums for her new place in September, there are several boxes of kitchen items we won't need until we get a new kitchen and a dining room table and another sofa that are waiting for an extension to be built. We've no idea when any of that will happen as we're struggling to get hold of builders.

Other than that there have been lots of dog walks, good foods, baby cuddles (next door neighbour had a little girl also) and time with family and friends.

Day 182 -  212

182 crops are in. Rhubarb has been stewed and potatoes baked and in the freezer. The rhubarb is waiting for our DILs apples and will be made into crumble.

183 our grandchild decided the lawn needed mopping on their visit

184 a visit to our great nephew born in April and collect MIL who is house and cat sitting for a few weeks

185 on the ferry to Northern Ireland to collect Bob the dog from child 4s house where he's been since April when I went to Dubai for the last time

186 Bob the dog and his friend Molly

187 Football Euros

188 exploring the northern coast, Giant Causeway

189 more football

190 Crocs from child 4 for my birthday

191 I said 'go to bed' they have a bed each

192 Dog walking at Divis

193 12th July

194 another beach visit

195 Dark Hedges

196 on the ferry home

197 a walk round Malvern

198 sorting out the garden planting

199 driving into Wales after dropping MIL back home

200 these two are taking a while to settle back to being together

201 so in charge of this house

202 Container arrived

203 a swim in the Wye with a friend

204 Friday night chips in the garden with my friend and neighbour

205 BBQ in the garden

206 it's a dog's life

207 dining room being used as storage

208 meeting my great nephew for the first time

209 another spot the cat competition

210 a walk up the Malvern Hills

211 wetting the babies head

212 more cat sagas

I'll be back next week with a summary of August, then back to weekly posts.

 

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