Published ferry schedules extended to 18 months

The schedule includes additional ferry services to Belfast

The ferry operator on the Isle of Man has released an extended schedule of sailings to allow passengers to plans trips further in advance.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet's latest lists of crossings extends to 18 months to May 2026, which is six longer than usual.

The new schedule includes year-round sailings to Liverpool following the completion of the first phase of Manxman's berthing trials.

The government-owned ferry operator said feedback from a recent survey had also led to the inclusion of some extra sailings to Belfast alongside the Heysham and Dublin routes.

The changes would see crossings to Ireland increase overall, with a rise in weekend crossings to Belfast and a slight reduction of those to Dublin.

Managing director Brian Thomson said the company had "worked hard to increase frequency, flexibility, and accessibility" of its services within the new schedule.

Fare changes

The firm was "committed" to improving services, returning to "high levels of reliability and punctuality" and "enhancing" customer experience, he added.

It comes after the operator made a number of changes to pricing, including free fares for children, a 10% reduction in flexi fares outside the TT period, and the introduction of online bookings for private vans.

Following a survey, which ran over the summer and saw 3,000 responses from island residents, frequency in service was identified as a key area for improvement, particularly in relation to the Liverpool and Belfast routes, a spokesman for the firm said.

In September, the ferry operator announced that it would make discounted fares available to passengers up until the point of departure.