We’d be committed car-on-the-ferry users in our house – over the years have travelled all the routes from IRL to UK / France and have done most of the North Sea, English Channel and a few Baltic routes too – driving to Sweden, Norway, Poland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Czechia, all over France, Spain etc., on camping spins. I jumped at the opportunity to use Hibernia ferries as it lands you right in the heart of things – Brittany and Irish Ferries are grand for west of France but you’re miles from the proper motorways with them.
Anyway, went over in July on the St. Patrick and came back yesterday on the Akka. Turns out we were the first car passengers to book the trip back in May / June / whenever.
Price / Value – around €300 cheaper than Brittany Ferries
Punctuality – bang on. The St. Patrick is a faster boat, so 20 hrs going out and 23 on the way back.
Service – Off the charts – friendly staff, nothing was a problem for them. They had one really nice touch – as you went from the car deck to reception to get your cabin key, the staff were lined up in various areas to welcome you on board
Cabin – usual fare – fine bunks, view of the sea and a shower / toilet
Food – Excellent – choice of main courses – pasta, fish, lamb, beef, chicken etc. The Mrs thought her chicken was a bit dry, but I thought it was grand. Main course plus salad or dessert plus tea / coffee - €22.
There was a cooked or continental breakfast available. Continental was €11
General condition of the boat – well ahead of Irish Ferries, around the same level as Brittany Ferries, a bit ahead of DFDS and Stena Line. So, no complaints there
All in all, an excellent trip, landed right where we wanted to be, and at a cheaper price than the alternatives.
However, the boat was near empty both times – the lad in the bar was telling me that they’ve yet to break their record of 120 people on board. Six trucks and 30 cars / vans on yesterday’s arrival. Presumably there is a longer-term plan to grow business but they need to get going. Irish people aren't going to use it much – your average Irish traveller to France thinks they’re the equivalent of Marco Polo if they go down beyond Ile de Rey – like Tupac and the lads, Irish ferry users are West coast all the way.
The key here is the vast population of Dutch, German, Belgian and Northern French campers and holidaymakers. It’s a real PITA for them to get to Ireland and this ferry fixes all of that. They've also been burnt alive this year holidaying on mainland Europe. They should be the holiday target here – targeted social media and broad advertising campaigns advertising the shite out of Cork / Kerry / the West of Ireland with Hibernia Lines.
I assume there’s all sorts of fixed contracts and set arrangements for freight – it must be a tough nut to crack, and I hope they can do it.
Either way, this is a great way to visit Europe – with various activities in different locations, we were driving down through Germany / Switzerland / Austria and on to the Adriatic coast this time. Doing that from Roscoff would have been murder. With the Boulogne arrival point, you're straight onto the motorway network at the heart of Europe.
Hibernia Lines – Five out of Five 
