Extremely Rough Seas! Douglas to Liverpool on the Isle of Man Steam Packet Manannan

I crossed from Dublin to Liverpool with my father in 1975. It was the worst before or since to date. I went on deck and waves were crashing as high as the bridge. They advised people to keep off the deck. Then they advised people not to move around the ship at all. With great difficulty like a stringless puppet, I found my way back to the bar. Everyone was lying on the floor. furniture was moving around. The only person standing was my Dad clutching a pint of Guinness and hanging onto the bar.

Having spent 42 years in the merchant navy my tips on avoiding sea sickness would be, you need to believe you will not be sick and occupy your mind in a positive way. Avoid people who are being sick and go out side for a wander but mindful of violent rolling or pitching which can cause some nasty injuries. Hope these comments are helpful and good luck on all your future voyages.

This just reinforces my life mantra……..”The sea is only for flying over!”

My dad ended his naval career in the late 50's and told me of a very stormy trip from Liverpool to Dublin as they slowly passed the Calf of Man he took a fix to help plot a course the storm got worse and sometime later saw the Calf of Man again ! The ship was being driven backwards 😂

I lived in the Isle of Man for several years in the 1960s, went to school there etc, and took the Douglas/Liverpool ferry many times, mostly with my parents. However the roughest crossing I recall was one I took on my own at about 17 years visiting a university for an interview etc. At lunch I was almost the only passenger eating a meal, most were lying around groaning or being sick. I’ve fortunately never suffered from seasickness and indeed have always had a pretty normal appetite on board ships, whatever the weather. Happy sailing 🚢 😂👍😆.

Worst trip I had by boat was the Calais to Dover ferry. A gang of us from work had been on a boozy long weekender, in Lille. Coming back the seas were rough, but just before reaching Dover it got worse. So bad it was considered dangerous for the shiip to dock, so we had to lay up waiting for the worst of it to pass. Almost everyone but staff were lain waste. Sick everywhere, people slumpled over, or lying on any flat surface... Happily, my sea legs are great, and it being late November, we heard the resaurant had an early Christmas dinner on the menu. So my friend, also unaffected, and I decided to go for dinner And hats off to the galley staff, it was lovely. Needless to say we had the whole restaurant to ourselves 🙂

Enjoyed this video, and it's cemented my want to make a return trip from Liverpool to Douglas. I see the Manannan a few times a day living practically opposite the ferry terminal (and directly opposite the new one), and I love the look of the vessel. Looking forward to a photography trip to the Isle Of Man soon as a birthday treat to myself in September! Thanks for the video, informative, entertaining and useful.

I've done this Journey i love Liverpool

I delivered the COVID vaccine to the IOM during the pandemic. Had some much rougher crossings than that on the conventional ferry or the freighter service that the Steam Packet runs in winter. One evening I boarded the ferry in a gale and was absolutely starvin' Marvin because I'd spent the day on the isolation quay in Douglas due to the strict quarantine rules. I was the only customer in the restaurant. The hostess said: "Do you want a sick bag love?" I said, "No, I want cheese burger and chips and a bottle of beer". The plate was sliding one way across the table, the bottle the other, by the time I'd trapped them both I had no hands left to actually eat the meal. Did the Ministry of Silly Walks back to the cabin as the boat pitched about rather violently but arrived safely in Heysham in the morning. Happy days!

midship /lower down is closer to ships pivot point makes for less motion, like a see saw works. :)

I went over to the Isle of Man many times in the 70s for holidays with my grandparents-In my head every crossing was like that 😁

thanks for sharing -brings back happy memories - i worked on the IOM for many summers when in my twenties - now 60. The best part was when the ferry was a rough crossing it was pure entertainment watching most people being sick and lying on the floor, couldn't stop laughing as I never understood sea sickness, now if that turbulence was on an plane I would have soiled myself – that large crown which is offices now used to be a restaurant called the crow’s nest where I worked behind the bar, very posh in it’s day. Paul in Bournemouth

Nice one Mark! The things you do to keep us armchair travellers informed and amused is great! Regards. Blair.

As a yacht sailor, we have made the trip through those seas quite a few times in a 40(ish) foot boat and it gets kicked around quite a bit. We find that eating smaller meals more frequently is less upsetting than a big heavy meal. Also, stay warm - people who go out to get some "fresh air" usually get chilled and that often causes seasickness too. Standing upright and watching the horizon over the bow from indoors might help.

I went on a rough cruise for a week, I had no problem staying on my feet on the ship but as soon as I stood on dry land I looked like I was the drunkest man in the world - took me 3 weeks until my own bed wasn't swinging from side to side.

I’ve done that trip back in 95, on the old ship, crew pointed me to the cinema which was in the bowels of the ship, no windows, dark, light focal point, job sorted… 🎉

I have sailed the Irish sea all my life visiting family in Ireland and it tends to be very choppy to downright rough..the trick to avoid seasick!! eat at least 4 hours before you sail...avoid alcohol...find the most central point and the lowest point in the ship..this is where the least movement can be found

This reminded me of my crossing from St Malo, France, to St Helier, Jersey. That was supposed to be cancelled due to the weather and rough seas, but they decided it would be fine. The ferry was swaying all over and you could see the water in the port windows. It was an experience and I was so pleased to reach land. I think I kissed the ground like the pope when I reached St Helier lol. Great video, Mark. Working my way through all the others. 👍 Andy.

Loved this video. I have done many day trips (on the Ferry) to the I-O-M in the 70's and have sailed in some pretty awful weather too, so I feel for you on this trip, The Irish Sea can be really bad at times. Good to see the catamaran Ferry. Really enjoyed your video.

Happy New Year. I was on that boat sailing from Liverpool to the Douglas Isle of Man and back again to Liverpool.. Myself mum and grandma had seats in the reserved lounge. The outgoing and return crossings last June were lovely and smooth. I stood out on the back Deck out in the Irish sea and when it went into the River Mersey and i stayed there taking pictures whilst come back into Liverpool. The Isle of Man Steam packet an excellent company.