The Crossing: Belfast to Cairnryan on a Premium Ticket
Leaving Belfast
I have been taking this crossing for 30 years. First it was Larne to Stranraer. Now it is Belfast to Cairnryan, and I know the routine cold.
Belfast Port is easy to reach from the city centre. Follow the signs off the M2 and you are there in minutes. The signposting is clear and consistent.
Every vehicle goes through security and customs before check-in. Be polite, have your documents ready, and it moves quickly. On my most recent trip I was through in under ten minutes.
Check-in itself is smooth. Have your booking reference or registration number ready. The agent hands you a cardboard hook for your mirror and, if you booked Premium, a pass for the Stena Plus Lounge.
With a Premium ticket I was assigned a priority lane. That meant boarding first, which matters when you are manoeuvring a motorhome into a parking lane on the car deck. The ramp looked tight but was fine in practice.
Loading starts 30 to 60 minutes before departure. Ferry staff walk to the top of each lane and wave vehicles forward. This is a roll-on, roll-off service, so first on means first off at Cairnryan.
Car check-in opens two hours before departure and closes 45 minutes before. Foot passengers check in between 1 hour 45 minutes and 45 minutes ahead. Arrive early on Friday evenings and bank holidays. The security queue alone can eat 20 minutes.
Stena Plus Lounge
I reviewed this crossing on a Premium fare, which includes Stena Plus Lounge access. The lounge is a private space with comfortable seating, sea views, and complimentary food and drink. It is a genuine upgrade over the main passenger areas.
You present your pass at the entrance. Staff tick your name off a list and hand you a keycode for re-entry. Do not lose the pass - you need that code every time you leave and return.
Seating is a mix of armchairs and tables. I found a window seat overlooking the stern. On a clear day you can watch Belfast shrink behind you and the Scottish coast appear ahead. There is enough space that I never felt crowded, even on a busy sailing.
If you do not want to pay for the lounge, the main seating areas are perfectly adequate. Standard seats are airline-style and the cafe is nearby. But the lounge is noticeably quieter and more relaxed.
Lounge vs Standard: Is It Worth It?
| Feature | Standard Seating | Stena Plus Lounge |
|---|---|---|
| Seat type | Airline-style recliner | Armchair / sofa |
| Food included | No (buy at cafe) | Yes (snacks, fruit, muffins) |
| Drinks included | No | Tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine |
| Noise level | Moderate to high | Low |
| Private bathrooms | No | Yes |
| Sea views | Limited | Large rear windows |
| Extra cost | Included in fare | £20 add-on, or included in Premium fare |
The Premium fare is usually about £30 more than Economy. It includes lounge access, priority boarding, and flexible rebooking. Buying the lounge separately costs £20.
If you are travelling solo, just book Premium. It is better value than adding the lounge to an Economy ticket.
Leave a jacket or sweater on your seat when you get up for food or the bathroom. The lounge does not assign seats, and on busy sailings people will take an empty chair without checking.
Other Seating Options
The Superfast Suites are on Deck 10 near the Pure Nordic Spa. Most have a double bed and an en-suite. They cost from £40. For a 2-hour-15-minute crossing, I cannot see much use for a suite.
The Hygge Lounge is a quiet room with 36 reclining chairs. It costs from £10 per person. The idea is good but the reality is mixed. People come and go constantly, and the door bangs every time.
Food and Drink
In the Stena Plus Lounge, food is complimentary. On my last trip there was hummus with vegetable sticks, mini muffins, fresh fruit, juices, sealed crisps, and cookies. Fridges had fizzy drinks and water. Tea, coffee, and wine were available throughout.
The lounge food is fine for a two-hour crossing. It is light snacking, not a full meal. Do not board hungry expecting a proper lunch.
Outside the lounge, the main cafe serves hot food, sandwiches, and coffee. A main meal runs around £8 to £12. Quality is functional. It fills you up, but you will not remember it.
My honest advice: if you are not in the lounge, eat before you board or bring your own food.
Facilities
The Stena Superfast is a well-maintained ship. The outside deck areas are a highlight. Multiple access points lead to open decks where you can watch the crossing unfold. There are wooden bench seats, sheltered spots, and full views of the Irish Sea.
I love standing at the stern and watching Belfast Lough disappear behind the wake. On a clear day you can see both coasts at once.
Inside, there is a shop selling the usual ferry retail. Wi-Fi is available but patchy mid-crossing. Charging points exist but are not plentiful. Bring a power bank.
There is a children's play area and a cinema screen in the main lounge. [VERIFY: Has the Pure Nordic Spa reopened? Stena website promotes it but it was closed since Covid on my last visit.]
Head to the outside deck as soon as you board. The departure from Belfast Lough is the most scenic part of the trip. By the time you settle inside and find a seat, you will have missed it.
Arriving at Cairnryan
Disembarkation follows a strict lane rotation announced by staff. With a Premium ticket I was parked near the front and off the ship quickly.
You know you have arrived when the alarm sounds and the huge roll-off door begins to open. The first sight of Scotland through the bow is always a good moment.
Here is where the only real negative of this crossing hits. The roads out of Cairnryan are single carriageway. The A77 north to Glasgow and the A75 west to Stranraer both suffer from slow traffic, farm vehicles, and limited overtaking.
Being first off the ferry helps. But the road infrastructure around Cairnryan has not kept pace with the port. It is the weakest link in an otherwise smooth journey.
If you are bringing a motorhome or large campervan, book a Premium fare for the priority boarding. Being first off means you clear the single-carriageway roads before the main queue forms behind slow vehicles.