The new service will sail three times a week
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has unveiled plans for a new year-round service from Larne Port, set to begin later this year.
Previously, the ferry operator ran a seasonal weekly service from Belfast to the island. The move to Larne will see sailings increased to three times a week, including Mondays and Fridays, allowing visitors to enjoy long-weekend trips.
The first sailings from Larne are scheduled for April 2026, with the full timetable beginning in July. The company has committed to the route for at least two years, offering three weekly sailings all year round, providing greater flexibility for leisure, business, and freight travel.
Speaking to Belfast Live at the Holiday World Show in Belfast, Brian Thomson, Managing Director of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, said the new schedule would improve connectivity between the island and Ireland: “From July we’re going be running three services a week to Larne, from the Isle of Man, and obviously that’s return service as well, so bringing people from the island of Ireland to our beautiful island.
“Larne just offers us a bit of connectivity, you know, Belfast’s a very busy port. Larne have the space to accommodate us, it’s not that far from Belfast. The connectivity between the two is really good and to the greater island of Ireland as well. So, we have taken that opportunity and we’ve partnered up with Larne Port, and we are going to provide a great service.”
Thomson highlighted the benefits for leisure travellers.
“It’s been sort of seasonal once a week, so now this is going to be all year round, three times a week, including a Friday and Monday service for people who can have a long weekend.
“The Isle of Man’s got a rich tourism industry where people can come and do unusual things, and, obviously, the motorcycling’s important, but it’s for people coming the other way as well, you know, the Manx public like to go out and explore. There’s a large Irish diaspora as well who want to come back and visit family and bring family over to the island, so it really provides that connectivity.”
On the onboard experience, he added: “We try and give people as much luxury as we possibly can on a short ferry ride. The Ben-my-Chree is a vessel that’s going to operate this service. She’s an old vessel and has been with us many years. She’s actually going to go through a refit, so she’ll be very spick and span for the public travelling on her come July.”
Thomson also highlighted the island’s attractions and confirmed the company would also continue a seasonal service to Dublin.
“The Isle of Man has everything you could imagine, things that you can do everywhere, but in a sort of more compact nature. So you can mountain climb and windsurf in the same day. We’ve got all the outdoor activities, mountain biking, walking but all very close to towns and cities as well, so you’re in the countryside but with a city just a step away.
“We’re also going to have a sort of seasonal service sailing twice a week to Dublin as well. We’ve always had a Dublin connection, and it’s that connection to the island of Ireland throughout the week, it gives people the opportunity because it’s not too far to travel really between the two ports. So if somebody comes on one day and wants to go back the next day, they can, they can go south and do it from there.”
The journey is estimated to take four and a half hours, but Brian Thomson said that passengers will not be stuck for things to do on board.
“There’s fantastic food on board. We have a great executive chef, I think people are blown away with the local produce that we sell on board, and we have local drinks producers as well. The island’s full of distilleries, so I think people will enjoy that experience of travelling as much as they’re getting to the destination.
“One of our sort of biggies is people travelling with pets, on all our routes, that is the biggest demand. We joke that we should just make the vessel all pet compliant, but unfortunately, some people do have allergies, so we can’t do that. Travelling with pets has become so popular now, especially on ferries, and we cater for that very much.”
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Jackson Minford said: “We are delighted to welcome the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s new Larne service, a significant boost for connectivity, tourism, and trade in Mid and East Antrim.
“The launch of this route underlines Larne’s importance as a vital link in the Irish Sea network and showcases our Borough as a region open for business and leisure – creating exciting opportunities for our local economy and fostering closer ties with the Isle of Man.
“This new service is a fantastic investment that will draw visitors and boost growth which are key priorities for Council. With breathtaking landscapes, vibrant events, and a proud heritage, Mid and East Antrim is the perfect place to invest, visit and explore.”
Laura Gilmour, General Manager of Larne Harbour, added: “We are thrilled to welcome the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s new service to Larne. This route not only enhances connectivity across the Irish Sea but also highlights Larne’s strategic position as a gateway for both leisure and freight travel. We are confident this partnership will deliver long-term benefits for passengers, businesses and the wider region and we look forward to working together to make this service a success.”
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