post-cruise Southampton to Dublin

[DMRick]

Thank you for great info. I've also written to Evesway about info on their coach from the ship to Liverpool or Chester. I may be asking about hotels in Liverpool close to the train station.

Can you tell me the approximate cost of a cab (if you know it) from Southampton port to the train, and where we actually get on it?

 

I have just come across this thread - not quite sure where the arrangements stand at the moment for the two parties who are going to/from Dublin, but as I have done railandsail (Stena line) and independant rail travel and ferry from Belfast to Liverpool, thought I'd add my tu'pence worth.

 

I have travelled to and from Southampton by train from Liverpool prior and following a cruise - there is one change at Birmingham New Street and the journey takes 4.5 hrs. Booked 12 weeks in advance gets you the best train fare.

 

Ships from Liverpool (Birkenhead) to Belfast and Dublin are with Norfolk Lines http://www.norfolkline.com/EN/Irish_Sea_Ferries/ and you can travel as a foot passenger with or without a berth which will cost you more. There are 2 sailings per day - 10.30 am (except Mon.) and 10.30 pm, so if you use the daylight sailing you would need a night in Liverpool. Otherwise, your train from Southampton will give you plenty of time to sightsee. You need to take a taxi from Liverpool to the Birkenhead dock (approx £10).

 

Hope this is of some help.

[bob-a]

Ships from Liverpool (Birkenhead) to Belfast and Dublin are with Norfolk Lines http://www.norfolkline.com/EN/Irish_Sea_Ferries/ and you can travel as a foot passenger with or without a berth which will cost you more. There are 2 sailings per day - 10.30 am (except Mon.) and 10.30 pm, so if you use the daylight sailing you would need a night in Liverpool. Otherwise, your train from Southampton will give you plenty of time to sightsee. You need to take a taxi from Liverpool to the Birkenhead dock (approx £10).

Your comments help , confirming that I wasn't off-base with my understanding of the SailRail program. Only difference is that to Dublin it'll probably be best to go thru Holyhead rather than Liverpool.

I've seen that the rail schedules are only good for 3 months out, so can't book 'til then, but current schedules show ferries from Holyhead at @5PM for a Saturday. I'll have to keep my fingers crossed, hoping it continues.

Your comments are very comforting though:)

[DMRick]

LaBelle, should we be looking at a combined train/sail ticket? If so, can we use the train one day and the sail part a few days later? I didn't see them on the site you posted, where would I find those? You mentioned the train to Liverpool..is there an almost direct train to Chester also?

Thanks again.

 

 

I have travelled to and from Southampton by train from Liverpool prior and following a cruise - there is one change at Birmingham New Street and the journey takes 4.5 hrs. Booked 12 weeks in advance gets you the best train fare.

 

 

Ships from Liverpool (Birkenhead) to Belfast and Dublin are with Norfolk Lines http://www.norfolkline.com/EN/Irish_Sea_Ferries/ and you can travel as a foot passenger with or without a berth which will cost you more. There are 2 sailings per day - 10.30 am (except Mon.) and 10.30 pm, so if you use the daylight sailing you would need a night in Liverpool. Otherwise, your train from Southampton will give you plenty of time to sightsee. You need to take a taxi from Liverpool to the Birkenhead dock (approx £10).

 

Hope this is of some help.

[LaBelle]

LaBelle, should we be looking at a combined train/sail ticket? If so, can we use the train one day and the sail part a few days later? I didn't see them on the site you posted, where would I find those? You mentioned the train to Liverpool..is there an almost direct train to Chester also?

Thanks again.

 

You can't get a railandsail fare using the Norfolk Line ship from Liverpool to either Belfast or Dublin as it is unique to Stena Line. We use this route from Belfast-Stranraer with inclusive rail fare to Glasgow or Edinburgh, or you can go to/from other destinations. http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/rail-and-sail/

 

With your independently bought train ticket from Southampton you can stay as long as you like before taking the ship, as again you will have purchased the ticket for the day you wish you sail.

 

To check times of all trains go to http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

 

There are several hotels very close to Lime Street Station in Liverpool, two I have stayed in -

http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/lpllp-liverpool-marriott-hotel-city-centre/

http://www.theliner.co.uk/

 

As regards cost of taxi from Southampton dock to the station, from memory think it was £6. I can remember we were off too early for our booked train and sat for a long time at Costa Coffee which is just beside the station. :)

[DMRick]

Thanks again, so much for your info. This will definately help to compare the different ways. It looks like the Evesway Coach is about 52 pounds one way from the ship to Liverpool, and not much difference to Chester, so I have other means of transport to compare to now.