#ManxCruise – Manannan, the Isle of Man Steam Packet's fast-ferry catamaran is this year taking the honour of making the annual Round Island Cruise instead of ro-pax, Ben-My-Chree, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The cruise around the scenic island will be a 'Lap' as this is scheduled to take only around two hours. The 96m Incat craft departs from the Manx capital, Douglas on 29 March, with a morning departure of 11.00am.

Normally, the Steam-Packet organise two island cruises provided by each vessel for those wishing to see the spectacular coast seen from a sea based perspective. This time, Manannan will be taking the cruise. This leaves Ben-My-Chree to maintain routine duties on the main year round Douglas-Heysham route. 

As for the Manannan's routine duties, they are scheduled to take place just days before the cruise when the 820 passenger /200-car craft resumes a summer-season Douglas-Liverpool link on 26 March.

Crossings on this England-Isle of Man route by the 43-knot craft are timed to takes 2 hour 40 minutes. In addition, Manannan will be deployed on the seasonal Douglas routes to Belfast and Dublin.

In advance of the season, Manannan starts off with Easter sailings, when tasked to carry out a round trip Douglas-Dublin sailings on 1 April before the bank holiday and afterwards.

Two days later, Manannan will make a round trip on the Douglas-Belfast with sailings on 3 April closer to the Easter period. Likewise a return leg will be made after the holiday period.