As one who is more accustomed to travelling by air, I found it particularly interesting recently to experience conditions at sea level.
Sailing on the recently introduced Irish Ferries vessel Epsilon – which services the Dublin – Holyhead route save for weekends when she operates a return service from Dublin to Cherbourg – I enjoyed a motorist’s eye view of how pleasant life can be when travelling by ferry and car.
In this era of crowded airport terminals, tight security controls and intensive checks, it was a relief to arrive at the port just 30 minutes before departure, knowing that, when travelling by sea, there are no restrictions on what you can carry.
Travelling by car, sea travel affords you the luxury of being able to buy what you want and transport it home again without worrying that you might be breaking some weight restriction.
For families, a motoring holiday can be a truly enjoyable experience. Whether your destination is the UK, France or further afield in Europe, the choice and value on offer can be truly amazing.
Studying brochures on board, I could see that Irish Ferries offers a wide choice of family-centred packages dotted around Britain in conjunction with resort operator Haven Holidays. Available are inclusive packages to fun-filled places like Alton Towers and Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire.
Throughout the UK, there’s a world of places to see and things to do and travelling by car brings them all within reach of Holyhead – itself just a few short hours from Dublin port.
And the best news is that ferry travel today is infinitely more luxurious and comfortable than it once was. On Irish Ferries Dublin to Holyhead services, motorists can also travel on Ulysses, the world’s largest car ferry when launched, or on the fast ferry Jonathan Swift, which zooms across to the Welsh port in less than two hours.
Comforts that travellers can expect on board include Club Class facilities with priority check-in and lots of pampering. There are regular services also on the southern corridor between Rosslare and Pembroke, which is serviced by Irish Ferries’ cruise ferry Isle of Inishmore.
I must say the ease of travel and flexibility offered by taking your car has me convinced. I will do it more often!
I recommend that you check the ferry companies websites for the best offers of which there are a few right now. There are some great places to stay in Wales or if you venture further in to the Uk too. Enjoy the relaxing experience that taking your car abroad can be. The holiday starts the moment you get on board and that is such a breath of fresh air in an era when flying has become a rather tiresome experience.