Rail and Sail and ash clouds

[4SRKT]

If I want to go to Dublin and back using a Rail and Sail ticket this weekend, does it guarantee me a place on the return boat of my choice? If this pathetic panicking about ash kicks in, the boat will likely be very full with flyers who should have known better in the first place, and I don't want to get bumped for a cheapskate Australian backpacker to take my place.

Any ideas on whether having a ticket on this is the same as having a reservation?

 

[junglejames]

If booked through Stena (or Irish Ferries), then it will include the reservation. If booked through one of the TOCs then you will have to get a seperate reservation for the ferry to make sure. Once you have that reservation, your fine. You could always check beforehand with the ferry company (Stena or Irish Ferries) that the sailing isnt full. If not, then go and get your ticket, and call up afterwards to complete the reservation.
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Oh, and your unlikely to come across a full ferry if your travelling as a footie, unless this ash cloud really does kick off. Its extremely rare for a ferry to have no space for a footie.
Still, get the reservation afterwards just to make sure.

 

[wintonian]

Not much help but I have just come back on the 20:55 Irish Ferries sailing last night and bought the ticket at Connolly as I left and even with the swift sailings being cancelled the loadings on the ferry seemed pretty much the same as they did last year when I got the 20:55 sailing.

 

[Jordeh]

How could people have known better in the first place? It's hardly anyones fault if they've booked flights in advance and need to return to Ireland/Britain, volcanic ash clouds can hardly be predicted.

If anything it's an excellent chance for rail & sail to be shown as a great alternative to air travel - people "jumping ship" isn't a bad thing at all.

 

[northwichcat]

Not much help but I have just come back on the 20:55 Irish Ferries sailing last night and bought the ticket at Connolly as I left and even with the swift sailings being cancelled the loadings on the ferry seemed pretty much the same as they did last year when I got the 20:55 sailing.

The ITV Granada forecast has been showing the Irish Sea as being very rough for crossings recently. It's calmed down in the last 24 hours but I imagine the fast ferries can't cope with very rough conditions.