417patty

I'm spending about 5 days in northern England (in and around Lancaster) in July with my 2 teenagers, then we want to spend another 10 days in Ireland. What is the least expensive way to do get to Ireland? I am having no luck figuring out which ferries will allow passengers (no vehicle)from Liverpool. I was planning Liverpool to Dublin, but we're flexible at this point.

PalQ

I think nearly all ferries allow foot passengers even though they may exist mainly for vehicles or lorries. Ferries cost about $40-50 for foot passengers though you should ask about discounted return tickets. Irish Sea Express runs the fastest service Liverpool-dublin 4 hours vs 8 hrs for P & O Irish Sea ferries
Irish Sea Express: ph in liverpool - 0870 11 22 222 - don't dial first zero is calling from outside UK
P & O Irish Sea Ferries: in Larne, northern Ireland 0870 24 24 777
You can usually buy foot passenger tickets at the dock, no reservations needed, unlike often for vehicles.

GeoffHamer

Irish Sea Express were bankrupt in October, so don't bother trying to phone them.
From Liverpool to Dublin, the best choice would be Norse Merchant Ferries (www.norsemerchant.com), though the ships actually sail from Birkenhead on the other side of the River Mersey. Sailings are both overnight or by day and fares are complicated, but include meals. Cabins are extra for foot passengers.

cambe

The cheapest and most convenient way to get to Dublin is to Fly from either Liverpool or Manchester

Try Aer Lingus

janisj

I would definitely fly - faster, usually cheaper, and easier logisitics.

cambe

Patty,

Ryanair also fly to both Shannon and Dublin from Liverpool.
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/

There is also Aer Arron (not sure about the spelling here) .

I would Decide where you want to go in Ireland and get a flight to that destination. There are numerous small airports and with low cost airlines they are by far the cheapest. The ferries are really for cars.

Hope this helps

Helen

ben_haines_london

The site http://www.poirishsea.com/booking/POISbook.asp?l=GB shows you the only overnight boats from city to city, and I think will be the best for you. You sleep most of the way, and can spend a whole day visiting each of the two cities. Boats sail nightly at 2200 from each port. Buffet car trains run from London Euston on Mondays to Fridays at 1845 to Liverpool at 2115. They leave Euston at 1715 on Sundays and 1717 on Saturdays.

Ben Haines, London
[email protected]

wasleys

I would endorse GeoffHamer's comments about Norse Merchant. Consider the overnight sailing. The cabins are fine and you get to sleep instead of just wasting time travelling. Food's good, too. Fare includes cabin, dinner and breakfast.

flanneruk

The nearest airport for Dublin or Belfast to Lancaster is probably Blackpool, which has a couple of Ryanairs a day.

Manchester airport is probably easier to get to from Lancaster than Liverpool, as it's got its own station, but generally Liverpool and Blackpool fares are more consistently cheap than fares from MCR.

Unless you actually live in beautiful downtown Birkenhead (not altogether an oxymoron: New York's Central Park was actually modelled on Birkenhead's and the substantial walk to the dock from Hamilton Square station takes you past some splendid Scottish Baronial architecture), flying will almost certainly be quicker and cheaper.

samandtom

Hi, me and my partner looked at getting a ferry to Ireland last October and it worked out cheaper to fly. We flew from Liverpool to cork for £80 (that was the final total...2 people return flight).
try ryan air, the deals they have are excellent.
Hope this helps.

417patty

Thank you all so much for your assistance! I hadn't considered flying, and indeed, that turns out to be the best choice. We'll fly from Manchester to Shannon on ryanair.
Happy Trails!