Stena Line Ferry from Cairnryan (Loch Ryan Port) to Belfast Port (Victoria Terminal 4)
The fourth leg of my Edinburgh to Belfast journey is finally by ferry, the highlight of the trip. The Cairnryan-Belfast ferry route is the shortest connection between Scotland and Northern Ireland. Currently, there is just Stena Line operating on this route. The 3.30pm Stena Line ferry from Cairnryan Loch Ryan Port to Belfast Port Victoria Terminal 4 is the sole ferry connection sold in the Rail & Sail to Belfast and Ireland ticket from Edinburgh according to the ScotRail journey planner.
National Rail offers a Rail & Sail to Belfast and Ireland Ordinary Promotion ticket which is an all in one ticket for rail from any Scottish station, coach link between Ayr and Cairnryan, and ferry travel to Belfast (via Cairnryan) with Stena Line. Regular 26-30 Railcard concessions apply on this ticket, offering a 34% discount off adult fare, which is perfect for me to head to Belfast from Edinburgh by train, bus, and ferry, all in a single train ticket.
Cairnryan (Loch Ryan Port)
The Stena Line Ferry departs from Cairnryan (Loch Ryan Port) for Belfast Port (Victoria Terminal 4). The connecting ScotRail Stena Line Rail Link Coach from Ayr Railway Station drops off right beside the passenger terminal at Cairnryan Loch Ryan Port.
Heading in to the Cairnryan Loch Ryan Port passenger terminal.
The departure hall of Cairnryan Loch Ryan Port passenger terminal.
My Rail & Sail tickets for the Stena Line check-in process.
My Rail & Sail ticket from Edinburgh to Belfast.
My Rail & Sail Stena Line seat reservation ticket from Cairnryan to Belfast.
After passing the counter my passport and Rail & Sail train tickets for the check-in process, I was issued this Stena Line boarding card which is a bar code on a slip of thermal paper.
A few minutes after check-in, the waiting room was opened. There’s a security screening after this door before entering the waiting room.
The path to the ship is just adjacent to the entrance to the waiting room, but the ship is not ready for boarding yet.
A big seat is advertised at the waiting room to entice you to an upgrade on board.
There are a couple of benches in the waiting room, sufficient for foot passengers, as most will be with vehicles driving on to the ship.
Power sockets are available at the end of some benches.
There is also a small café in the waiting room.
The doors opened for boarding at 2.50pm, 40 minutes before scheduled ferry departure.
There is a service road to cross before the sheltered walkway to the ferry.
Taking the escalator up to the sheltered walkway.
It’s a bit of a walk to the ship from this elevated walkway above the vehicle area.
Vehicles are being driven up the Stena Superfast VII at the same time.
My first view beside the Stena Superfast VII.
Boarding the Stena Superfast VII by the level covered gangway.
Stena Line Stena Superfast VII
Stepping on board the Stena Line Stena Superfast VII ferry on Deck 7, with cruise vibes given her size and fittings.
There are 10 decks on board the Stena Superfast VII, with Decks 7 and 8 having the main passenger facilities. Deck 10 houses the Superfast Suites if you somehow need a cabin and bed for the 2-hour sailing, the Pure Nordic Spa, or the Sun Deck for fresh winds and views of the Irish Sea.
Deck 7
Some details about Stena Superfast VII just on the right after boarding.
Arcade
There is an arcade behind this information wall.
Metropolitan Bar & Lounge
There’s plenty of lounge seating areas where passengers can spend the sailing at. There’s no fixed cramped airline seats on board. A bar is also located around for snacks and drinks.
Taste Family Restaurant
Taste is the on-board restaurant serving up mains, snacks, and drinks. Passengers may also take a seat in the restaurant without purchasing any food or drinks, if you don’t mind the food smell lingering around.
Stena Shopping
There is a duty-free shop which is open during the sailing.
Deck 8
The deck plans of Deck 8 on board Stena Superfast VII.
Hygge Recline Lounge
The Hygge Recline Lounge, as advertised at the terminal waiting room, is a quiet space with comfy reclined chairs, large windows, soft tones, and lighting and muted TVs. The Hygge Recline Lounge costs £8 to enter.
Truckers’ Lounge
The Truckers’ Lounge, as the name suggests, is for truckers only.
Casino
Unsurprisingly, there’s a casino on board the ship. The area is small with just a few machines, 1 of each type, and the bets are quite low, so it’s fine to try it for fun and expect to lose some change in the process for laughs.
What was surprising to me was that the casino was already open when docked, without waiting to sail out to international waters. Or maybe there aren’t any international waters on this domestic route, hence it made no difference?
Cinema
There is a cinema on board with 1 movie screening per sailing. The movie run time is about the same as the total sailing time anyway.
Free PS4 Games
There are also free PS4 games outside the cinema. This is giving me Changi Terminal 2 vibes with the cinema and entertainment deck.
Pod Lounge
More seating areas are available at the Pod Lounge.
The Living Room
Even more seats are available in The Living Room.
Barista Café
The Barista Café is located in The Living Room for snacks and drinks to purchase.
Stena Plus Lounge
The Stena Plus Lounge is the most popular lounge on board with complimentary snacks and refreshments, newspapers and magazines, and a dedicated waiter service. This costs £20, and was fully booked on my sailing, meaning, passengers who show up are not allowed to pay for the lounge as it is already full.
Toilets
Ample toilets are available all around the ship with minimal to no queues throughout the sailing.Deck 10
There is 1 set of stairs and lifts up to Deck 10, on the blue stack.
The Pure Nordic Spa and Superfast Suites are located behind the blue lift through the blue door.
Sun Deck
The Sun Deck offers views out and around the ship, though the area near the bridge is not accessible.
The namesake of Stena Superfast VII.
There are outdoor seats around the Sun Deck.
The stylish funnel of the Stena Superfast VII.
Looking down at Cairnryan Loch Ryan Port.
Sailing from Cairnryan to Belfast
Retracting the gangway when ready to depart.
Slipping off from Cairnryan Loch Ryan Port. Goodbye Scotland.
Heading out of Loch Ryan, a natural harbour where various ports are located within.
Sailing across the Irish Sea. The ferry not the fastest way from Scotland to Northern Ireland, but it is possibly the most comfortable way with lots of seats, spaces to stretch out and walk around, and facilities to enjoy the journey.
Approaching Northern Ireland between Whitehead and Bangor.
Sailing past the departing Stena Nordica out of Belfast.
Approaching Belfast Port Victoria Terminal 4.
An elevated gangway is available here for easy walking too.
Aligning the gangway to the ship.
Belfast Port (Victoria Terminal 4)
The gangway was opened at 5.56pm – 11 minutes after scheduled arrival time.
Looking back at Stena Superfast VII. Thanks for the ride.
A warm welcome to Northern Ireland.
Heading down the long elevated gangway.
There are signs for the Translink Metro Bus 96 from Belfast Port (Victoria Terminal 4) to Donegall Place (City Centre) with bus departures matching some ferry arrival times.
Heading into the passenger terminal.
Taking the escalator down to the ground floor.
There’s a waiting Translink Metro bus for passengers on the Ulsterbus 923 from Glasgow to send them on the final leg to Belfast Europa Buscentre.
Ironically, this Ulsterbus service is operated by a Translink Metro Airport Express 300 bus in Nothern Ireland rather than an actual Ulsterbus, and the actual Nothern Irish Ulsterbus bus was operated in Scotland instead.
Baggage reclaim is on the ground floor of the passenger terminal.
Walking out of Belfast Port Victoria Terminal 4 after walking past baggage reclaim with no baggage to reclaim.
There is a sign for onward travel out of Belfast Port Victoria Terminal 4 at the arrival hall.
From here, I continued my journey to Belfast city centre by Translink Metro Bus 96.