Anyone know much about booking cheap ferries?

[colm_mcm]

Trying to get good prices for the Rising Sun festival in May 9th/10th

Does anyone have any contacts in the business. I was looking at maybe going over late on Friday and back either late Sunday or very early monday morning

Prices are running at around €250 on Irish Ferries, that's without a bed.

If anyone can find cheap ferries, can they let me know. at this stage we can be flexible on times, there's no point in getting a cheap ferry at an inconvenient time and then have to pay for accommodation because of the time.

[d_dan]

irish ferries do a special that they dont advertise. its a 24 hour return crossing. for car and driver where you much return back to ireland within 24 hours of leaving. thats what i got when i was getting the turbo bits
cos me ABOUT €180 CAR 2 ADULTS return

[colm_mcm]

No good for us, as rising sun is a 2 day event

[d_dan]

ahh in that case thats the going rate

[colm_mcm]

...hense the thread

[CJ]

I know the IT Director in ICG (Irish Ferries) but the level if discounts he can get is insignificant.

Have you compared costs between IF \ P&O \ Norfolk Line \ Stena Line ?

CJ

[colm_mcm]

The main problem is that they all sail at different times, and the timetables are all over the place. Will have to look at it in depth tomorrow evening and try and get some prices together.

Would booking through an agent be an option? is there scope to save money that way?

[Mustang]

Colm you will find that, with the exception of the fast ferry, they all tend to sail at around the same time, out of necessity -as the tide effectively dictates the time.
The price of ferries is a joke, I'd imagine it's typical Irish pricing mentality -business is down lets put the price up to make up the shortfall.

The ferry is only (relatively) cheap if you go on as a foot passanger

[scottledeuce]

I'm pretty sure I remember reading somewhere that you can book thorugh Irishferries.co.uk or stenaline.co.uk and there is still quite a difference in price when you take into account the GBP exchange rate.

It may be that you can only book one way at a time as a round trip would be to Ireland and then back to UK but it might be worth checking out.

Afraid I don't know any more than that

[Bernard]

I have a 'valued customer' card for Irish ferries, probably makes no difference but you're welcome to use it if you like...