Hi, my name is Graham, I am married with a son. We are an active family based on the Isle of Man an...
Hi, my name is Graham, I am married with a son. We are an active family based on the Isle of Man and we like weekends away to the UK and Europe. I like gadets and devices and like to keep up to date on all that is here and now.
Member since:02.01.2007
Reviews:14
I live on the isle of man, we have a popular saying to folk who come over the water, "if you don't like it, there is a boat in the morning" this is true today as it has ever been. The steam packet is the only passenger service operating to and from the island. Douglas is the main port. Today there are six crossings, the main route is to Heyshem near Lancaster.
Heyshem or Heysham, depending where your from from, is best described as a hovel, the steam packet own it so why not use it, It recently had a new landing stage put in and new marshalling area and carpark, the terminal and railway station are getting over hauled this winter., Heyshem village is just up the road if you get bored waiting to board. Alternatievely, you can bask in the shadow of Heyshem 1 & 2, nuclear power statiions, I went around them once and was assured they are very safe. The vessel used for this crossing is the mighty Ben ny chree, the flagship roll on roll off vessel, two levels of vehicle decks, cabins, bars quiet lounges and viewing platforms all available to help you make the 3.5 hour crossing as pleasant as possible. This vessel took a lot of critiscm when she came into service, has had a few upgrades and extra stabilisation put in, she is a nice boat. You can see similar boats being used across the english channel. This vessel takes all the commercial traffic and Tuesday is Dangerous Goods day, they only let on 20 cars so its really quiet.
The other sailings today are back and forwards to Liverpool, presently it is the SuperSeaCat, a monohull fast craft, known locally as the "puke monster" or "sickcat", when its smooth less then gale force 5 she is great any faster wind speeds and she really starts to rock, lots of seating and vehicle room. Used a lot by people taking day trips to Dublin, Belfast, Liverpool and the Isle of Man. Be aware on Saturdays a lot of people go to the north west of england to watch the football and rugby, a lot of drunken fools use this boat on the return.
Don't be confused, this is not the seacat that was hit in Feb in the Mersey, she is still getting repaired.
The staff are very efficent and helpful, if you are nice they are, although it must be said you get better quality staff on the Ben boat than the seacat.
you can pay extra for the 1st class lounges, and get free coffee, tea, biscuits and papers.
I am a member of the Blue Ribbon, this has its own private lounge just below the bridge with massive viewing windows. You can help your self to all drinks alcohol included, buscuits and sandwiches, papers and a small libary. The captain visits sometimes and it is waited on so you don't have to mix with the normal travellers. It costs about £140 a year but I travel a lot and its worth it, no children allowed and priority loading and unloading!
All the cabins are ensuite have a tv and DVD with coffee making facilities, 4 bunks and a sea view.
The Ben will sail just about in any weather, she runs but not always on time, the captain can change the departure time by upto 60 minutes either way and does, some captains rush over the irish sea some don't , so don't worry the boat will get there but not always on time. I have sailed on the Ben in a Force 10 and on the seacat in a force 8, I have sailed in the fog, in snow and on seas that have been so smooth there is not even a ripple. I have seen nimrods and harrier jets flying by a boat level, dolphins and porpoise darting around, in the summer you see basking shark and massive jellyfish, on the run into the mersey you even see seals basking on sandbanks.
Come on sail to the isle of man on the Isle of Man Steam Packet.
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Advantages: Marginally better than swimming across dragging your car behind you. Marginally. Disadvantages: Inflexible, over priced, takes too long, the ferry is rubbish and is in need of a refit, terrible
Advantages: Marginally better than swimming across dragging your car behind you. Marginally. Disadvantages: Inflexible, over priced, takes too long, the ferry is rubbish and is in need of a refit, terrible
Mar 28th, 2007
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