"Stena trip September 2014"
Everything was excellent, apart from one aspect of the trip.
Check in with our car was very easy, boarding was smooth (the only thing was I wasn't reminded by the crew to put on my hand brake fully once parked aboard - in fact I did remember to do so - and the crossing was very smooth anyway, fortunately).
Facilities on board very good; safety announcements were clear and helpful. Cabin was fine - comfortable and it was nice to have a shower in the early morning before arrival in Belfast. Disembarking was fine too - no problems.
The only thing that disappointed me was that on arrival at Birkenhead docks, after a long drive and a long day - arriving at approx. 9pm - I was hoping there would be a decent café actually on the docks, where I could get a proper samdwich and a big cappuccino. Instead, there was only stuff from a few machines...fortunately, there were toilets, which was important for an old man like me.
The trip was particularly memorable for me because my grandfather, Charles Keenan, was born on Copeland Island, near the entrance to Belfast Lough, in 1874, probably the son of the lighthouse keeper there. He himself became a lighthouse keeper in 1895 (Bull Rock) and finished his service, would you believe it, as Principal Keeper at Blackhead - on the northern entrance to Belfast Lough, in 1920. I didn't see Copeland Island, but I did see the Blackrock lighthouse clearly, not on the inward trip, but on the Belfast to Cairnryan daytime voyage, on our way home. It looked very impressive, on the top of the headland. I must get to both places one day.
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Overall Rating:
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General:
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Catering:
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Cleanliness:
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Staff:
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Punctuality:
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Recommended?
Yes
Reviewed by Peter Shambrook who travelled with Stena Line on Stena Lagan
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