There is something utterly romantic and adventurous about travelling by sea. I always find it more convenient and relaxing than travelling by other means of transport. As soon as you are on a boat, it feels like you’re already on holiday. On top of that, you don’t have any baggage limits, you can travel with your car and take your pet with you.
I was thrilled when P&O Ferries invited me to join them on an adventure across the Irish Sea from Cairnryan to Larne. I’ve never been to either of these towns and I have never travelled across the Irish Sea. It’s a perfect idea for a weekend getaway, since the whole sailing time takes only about two hours. This route is the fastest and shortest crossing from Scotland to Northern Ireland.
What to do on board a P&O ferry?
Although travel time on a ferry from Cairnryan to Larne is not too long, you can still use these two hours to enjoy your voyage across the sea to the fullest. You can embrace tranquillity and comfort in the luxurious Club Lounge – with stunning sea views, a complimentary glass of champagne and delicious bites. You could also visit the onboard World Duty Free store, where you can find a huge range of gifts for a great price.
There’s also an onboard food court, where you can have freshly prepared meals, salads, sandwiches, and snacks. And if the weather is good, you can grab a coffee from an onboard café and spend this time on deck enjoying breathtaking sea views, sipping your coffee and reading a book. And that’s exactly what I did.
What to do in Northern Ireland?
When you plan your trip to Northern Ireland, I would highly recommend spending at least two days exploring Belfast (which is about an hour’s drive from Larne), the Giant’s Causeway (a geological wonder and Northern Ireland’s first UNESCO Heritage Site), and the Dark Hedges (a mesmerising row of trees made famous by its appearance in Game of Thrones). Since I had only one day in Northern Ireland and I had already visited all the mentioned attractions above, I decided not to rush and to instead embrace a tranquil day exploring Larne and its surroundings.
Larne is a little seaport town and industrial market town located in County Antrim. The area around the town is believed to have been one of the earliest inhabited areas in Ireland. If you decide to spend some time in Larne and its surroundings, I recommend that you visit Cairndhu House, the ruins of a once-grand mansion in Northern Ireland; Chaine Memorial Tower, the lighthouse at the edge of the Irish Sea – and if the weather is nice, have a picnic on the coast overlooking the sea.
Whatever you decide to do when exploring Northern Ireland, I hope you’ll be able to enjoy your time there as much as I did. Thank you P&O Ferries for this wonderful experience.
Blog entry by Olga from LiolaLiola
Plan your trip to Northern Ireland with P&O Ferries today!
