Why are ferries to Ireland so expensive?
Discussion
Looking at driving over to Ireland for a long weekend later this month. Ferry comes to £284 return Holyhead to Dublin.
Can get a flight for £30 return meanwhile which leaves plenty of money leftover for hiring a car.
Why are the ferries so expensive? Even ferries to France or Holland aren't this extortionate. Cairnryan to Belfast is £60 cheaper, but an extra 200 miles or so driving so not much of a saving.
Can get a flight for £30 return meanwhile which leaves plenty of money leftover for hiring a car.
Why are the ferries so expensive? Even ferries to France or Holland aren't this extortionate. Cairnryan to Belfast is £60 cheaper, but an extra 200 miles or so driving so not much of a saving.
It’s so annoying.
We have family over there and would love to take the car but the maths simply don’t work. Ryanair and carhire nearly always works out significantly cheaper if you book ahead and limit your stay.
I guess lack of competition is the main problem.
Mind you IOW ferries on a cost per mile sailed would run them close…
We have family over there and would love to take the car but the maths simply don’t work. Ryanair and carhire nearly always works out significantly cheaper if you book ahead and limit your stay.
I guess lack of competition is the main problem.
Mind you IOW ferries on a cost per mile sailed would run them close…
valiant said:
It’s so annoying.
We have family over there and would love to take the car but the maths simply don’t work. Ryanair and carhire nearly always works out significantly cheaper if you book ahead and limit your stay.
I guess lack of competition is the main problem.
Mind you IOW ferries on a cost per mile sailed would run them close…
But it makes you wonder why anybody bothers to use the ferries when they are super uncompetitive, even against flyingWe have family over there and would love to take the car but the maths simply don’t work. Ryanair and carhire nearly always works out significantly cheaper if you book ahead and limit your stay.
I guess lack of competition is the main problem.
Mind you IOW ferries on a cost per mile sailed would run them close…
aturnick54 said:
valiant said:
It’s so annoying.
We have family over there and would love to take the car but the maths simply don’t work. Ryanair and carhire nearly always works out significantly cheaper if you book ahead and limit your stay.
I guess lack of competition is the main problem.
Mind you IOW ferries on a cost per mile sailed would run them close…
But it makes you wonder why anybody bothers to use the ferries when they are super uncompetitive, even against flyingWe have family over there and would love to take the car but the maths simply don’t work. Ryanair and carhire nearly always works out significantly cheaper if you book ahead and limit your stay.
I guess lack of competition is the main problem.
Mind you IOW ferries on a cost per mile sailed would run them close…
Alickadoo said:
Have you tried going to the Isle of Wight?
Indeed. Most expensive in Europe, according to https://www.islandecho.co.uk/transport-website-cla...
Older link: https://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/is-the-sole...
suggested Holyhead-Dublin was £2.74 per km, whereas the IoW Yarmouth-Lymington was £21.51
aturnick54 said:
The only issue with Ryanair is that they require you to have a passport, despite it not being a requirement when traveling between UK and ROI. Stupid requirement imo
Problems with Ryanair extend much further. Low point of our short holiday in France. Can't believe Ryanair flights to Ireland are any better.Will make alternative arrangements in future.
bigothunter said:
Ryanair experience is awful. I despise that airline with vengeance. Best avoided.
No choice really.My local airport is Stansted and I fly into Shannon (can do Dublin at a push) so choice is limited.
Ryanaair ain't so bad. It's just when there's problems you're generally on your own.
Shorter ferry crossings will always be more expensive mile for mile than longer ones. I don't think you can tell much by doing that calculation.
Flying will always be cheaper than ferry, I guess they are expensive things to run. Plus there's no tax on aircraft fuel, you can spread the cost of running an airport over the dozens/hundreds of daily flights, but ferries might go from a port once or twice a day. Far fewer trips to spread the costs over.
Flying will always be cheaper than ferry, I guess they are expensive things to run. Plus there's no tax on aircraft fuel, you can spread the cost of running an airport over the dozens/hundreds of daily flights, but ferries might go from a port once or twice a day. Far fewer trips to spread the costs over.
Mrs V's parents live in Oil-Land and as she's a teacher, so we are restricted to visiting in the silly holiday seasons. £284 would be a bargain. I think most times we pay around £500.
A £30 Ryanscare ticket isn't a meaning comparison. In our case it would be 4 x £30 fares, taxi or parking at the airport, airport food and shopping etc. We only hire a car in if it's a short weekend visit, preferring to take the ferry and load up.
A £30 Ryanscare ticket isn't a meaning comparison. In our case it would be 4 x £30 fares, taxi or parking at the airport, airport food and shopping etc. We only hire a car in if it's a short weekend visit, preferring to take the ferry and load up.
sparkyhx said:
Same here, I just can’t justify the cost for a short break. As you say cheaper to fly+hire
……….just look at prices to Isle of Man (not TT time). If you think Ireland is expensive
A car club I'm a member of has a one-day, 100 mile tour of the IoM in this year's calendar. I shouldn't think there'll be many entrants.……….just look at prices to Isle of Man (not TT time). If you think Ireland is expensive
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