Reservations required for RailSail (Stena Cairnryan)

[dvalts]

Are reservations required now for the Cairnryan-Belfast route, even with Anytime tickets?

I was coming back from Belfast a week ago on an Anytime Return and thought I was going to be made to buy a new ticket at the Stena check in desk. One of the ticket staff seemed insistent that I needed to have "the other part of the ticket", I assume they meant a reservation coupon?

I did have my original reservation, but had decided to travel back a day later. Eventually, after I kept insisting it was valid I was given a boarding pass. Should I have re-booked another reservation though?

Follow up question: can they ever turn you away from the ferry if it's at capacity (or the connecting shuttle bus to Ayr for that matter?)

 

[najaB]

Are reservations required now for the Cairnryan-Belfast route, even with Anytime tickets?

Yeah, but no, but yeah, but no. I suppose that technically you don't need a reservation since they are Anytime tickets, but some Stenaline staff insist that you need to have it. They'll say that you need to have the reservation coupon. Sometimes they collect them, sometimes they don't. It is hit and miss.

 

[yorkie]

Are reservations required now for the Cairnryan-Belfast route, even with Anytime tickets?

I had to give them something but I think it was the actual ticket. I recall this because someone wanted to retain their ticket for an expense claim (which wouldn't have required the reservation). I am not sure if they wanted the reservation as well as the ticket or just the ticket though. Did they want both from you or just the reservation?

Follow up question: can they ever turn you away from the ferry if it's at capacity (or the connecting shuttle bus to Ayr for that matter?)

It's difficult to envisage the ferry being full to foot passengers unless there were exceptional circumstances.

 

[dvalts]

Did they want both from you or just the reservation?

They almost certainly wanted a reservation from me - initially I'd presented the actual train ticket for the whole journey, but was asked for "the other part, as this isn't the one we take off you". So I guess they were after a reservation coupon.

If I'm travelling the other way, and the ferry is the last leg of my journey, they'll usually keep the ticket as well, although it has varied.

 

[yorkie]

They almost certainly wanted a reservation from me - initially I'd presented the actual train ticket for the whole journey, but was asked for "the other part, as this isn't the one we take off you". So I guess they were after a reservation coupon.

If I'm travelling the other way, and the ferry is the last leg of my journey, they'll usually keep the ticket as well, although it has varied.

Sorry, yes I see what you mean.

They will want something off you so in the direction of Belfast to Cairnryan they will probably want the reservation coupon as obviously they can't take the ticket in that direction.

I've not actually done Belfast to Cairnryan (in that direction) as I went back via Dublin/Holyhead (and previously did Belfast to Stranraer)

The ferry was a lot nicer on the Belfast route than the Dublin route!

 

[bkhtele]

I have travelled this route on multiple occasions & they have never yet shown any interest in the reservation. Just stand your ground if necessary.

Full ferry or bus, so far only during volcano ash crisis a few years ago, around12/7 and Xmas. Best to have a reservations though.