Isle of Man Ferry?

[MikeP996]

Has anyone here taken their motorcycle to the IOM on the ferry from Liverpool?   My wife and I have been going to the IOM for the Manx GP every year for the past 5-6 years but have never taken our own motorcycles; we fly over from Bristol/rent motos on the Isle.

The hire bikes are waiting for us at the cottage where we always stay but it would be fun to ride our bikes on the isle at least once.  Any thoughts regarding experience with the ferry would be helpful!l

[Motormike]

I've never been to the TT but have always wanted to go.  How far in advance do you book your accommodations?  Or are you fortunate enough to have friends or relatives to stay with?

[MikeP996]

 To get a decent place to stay, a year in advance is not enough for the TT nowadays though it's possible to find something at the last minute due to cancellations.  Even for the Manx GP, we have to make the reservations for the following year while we are there.  IOW, we had to decide/reserve the place for this year's Manx ('26) while we were there at the Manx in '25. 

Re the ferry - my wife and I looked at some videos of the ferry "experience," and her reaction was, "I'm not doing that!"  With a disappointed look on my face I responded, "Really?  I thought it would be fun!" 

In my head I was thinking, "Thank God, I didn't want to do it either!"  :)  TBF, when I was a young rider, I think it would have been great but it looks too stressful for me now.  It's like camping; I used to really enjoy it; now I don't!

[Tony F]

Heres a video of someones 2026 ferry trip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emt51ju19iM

It doesnt seem that different to when I took my new SP1000 back in 1979 although the ferry was packed both with bikes both ways then.

[paulbricey]

I went on evening ferry from Heysham for August veterans IOM (even though Lpool is much closer to me - fully booked) a few years ago - it's a fun way to get there - even in dark & rain !. Hotels were very limited and expensive if you aren't very early booking. Only issue I had was riding around the island with the level of nutters (on m/cs) who don't seem to have any sense of safety/respect/space on road in big group/mass riding.

[Tkelly]

First world problem.