The Jonathan Swift is more than a boat

If there is one thing I love it’s a ferry boat ride. The first ferry ride I remember was from Seattle to Victoria B.C. Since then I have been on ferries through the Inland Sea in Japan; channel ferries from Dover to Calais, both ships and hovercraft; Helsinger to Helsingor, Nyborg on to Copenhagen; hydrofoil ferries from Oostende to Ramsgate, Hong Kong to Macau, even a hydrofoil from Budapest up the Danube to Vienna.

So when the prospect of a ferry from Dublin to Holyhead in Wales presented itself, my interest was elevated (to say the least). To be sure, the modern man flies and fares between Dublin and England are very reasonable. But shedding all pretense of reasonableness, I forged ahead with schedules, sailing times, classes, individual ships – all the things that make travel in unknown places fun.

Settling on a 14:30 sailing to allow a bit more time in Dublin, we selected the Irish Ferries ship, the Jonathan Swift. A beautiful ship she is, a catamaran, built on a double hull, four Caterpillar diesel engines drive a water propulsion unit. Long, sleek, and comfortable, she can carry 800 passengers and 200 cars.

The Jonathan Swift (Dublin Swift) is, above all things, fast. Rated at 40 knots (46mph), she does that speed in a heartbeat. 46mph may not seem like much, but stand outside with a 20mph head wind and you better hold onto your hat.

We took a cab out to the Dublin Port. We checked in, a bit surprised at the security bur remembered we were going to the UK, a most security conscious country. The waiting room for the ship was busy but not overly crowded when we arrived. And the ship was not there. Nor was it there after a half-hour wait. In the meantime, a man with a guitar strummed a few tunes to amuse himself and us.

A ripple went through the crowd, meaning only one thing, the Jonathan Swift was in sight. And here she came, in the distance, driving through the nearly calm seas, a glory of technology. Then she was turning around, coming up to the dock; is there a man that can keep calm in the face of such wonder?

Soon we were walking up the gangway and finding our seats in Club Class. Yes, Club Class – even old Bill can splurge once in a while. More comfortable seats, our own table but also a sumptuous lunch with smoked salmon, cheeses, fabulous breads, wine, beer, deserts that were sinful – yes, sometimes its nice to live the high life.

Out on the after deck – a clear, cool, sunny day as the ship accelerated to cruising speed. Steady as a vicar’s faith, she cut through the Irish Sea, barely breathing hard.

The crossing passed too quickly; 1hr 49min and she was slowing down to dock at Holyhead, our first stop in Wales, bound for Conwy and its castle.

Photos are mostly from Sarah and Chris.