Swansea to Cork with fastnet Line
One of the best overnight ferry crossings I have experienced. Very efficient bathroom in our 2 berth cabin. No music or announcements on intercom inside cabin to disturb our sleep. Clean dining room and pleasant food with good choice. Plenty of comfortable chairs near windows to relax on the journey. Pity we were 4 hrs late into port.
Swansea to Cork with fastnet Line
It didn't start well as the boat arrived late and what should have been a 10:30 sailing did not leave until after 13:00. There was a problem with the engines. We should have docked at 20:30 but did not arrive in Cork until after 03:00, over 6 hours late! During this time the best the ferry operator could do was free tea & coffee, you still had to pay for soft drinks or water for the kids. Arriving so late meant you had to have your evening meal on-board, an extra expense and low quality food (for the price). On top of this the staff were generally abrupt and dismissive of any complaints, the exchange rate for Euros was very poor and lots of things seemed broken or "out of order". There were no signs for the disabled toilet, in fact the sign had been removed from the door. When found it was locked, the staff said they would unlock it but 15 minutes later needed to be reminded that my wife was still waiting. When opened it was full of rubbish bags that needed to be removed before it could be used. There was also no toilet roll, yet more waiting. Later in the evening some passengers slept in the corridors but they were woken up by staff and "moved on". For the return journey the ferry also arrived two hours late, although did make the crossing in the correct time. All in all not a good experience, I would not recommend it and next time I go to Ireland I will look for alternatives.
Swansea to Cork with fastnet Line
Delay 2 hours boarding (at no point told why) and then a further 1 hour setting off (engine problem). Foot passengers treated as second class citizens re boarding. No parking at terminal and first information to that effect is when reach ferry boarding. Bus on to ferry from terminal (yards), lenghty wait whilst bus driver finishes loading cargo. Ferry crawled to Cork arriving at 3.15am, 6hrs 45mins late. Free taxi into Cork but then cost 38 euros taxi fare to hotel in Cobh (would have been 6 euro river crossing pre 10pm). On plus side we were given a cabin for free, but not until around 11pm. General lack of communiction re events on board ferry. Having said that return journey was very smooth and efficient - until berthing at Swansea. Again foot passengers last off having to wait for bus which takes passengers a few yards to terminal as there is no direct walkway from ship to shore. No bus to take passengers to nearest car park 1 mile away. Swansea appears a poor port for foot passengers.
