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See the Best Cruises in 2022 as rated by Australians on ieatwords.com.au.
Dan BoydLaunceston, TAS
- 3 reviews
Good Option but not the Cheapest
Our sailing was quite good, cabin was clean and comfortable, loading and unloading was efficient, food and drink options we reasonable. Sailing is economical if you would need to hire a car at your destination for a long period of time.
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MY review spirit of tasmania
the ship is ok but the cost starts with booking .there is a hefty fee.the cost of travelling in feb 2020 for 2 people is $500 more than feb 2022 don't eat on the boat you can buy a fabulous meal either end for much less.Everthing on this boat cost much more than you would except . as a Tasmanian and have travelled through necessity many times I find that this service is now out of touch pricewise for average tamanians and that is why the ship was commission in the first place.the government has to step in and change management before it becomes a tourist ship for the rich only. MIKE FORREST
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Simon HLaunceston, TAS
- 4 reviews
- 1 like
Ok loading from Devonport but travel with a cabin only.
Great if you have a cabin and need to take your car. Much easier and efficient to load on from Devonport than Melbourne. Can be very expensive though. Choose off peak times otherwise it’s so much cheaper to fly and hire a car.
It’s a pretty good otherwise and well laid out, but remember it’s a ferry not a cruise ship. The next bigger generation ships hopefully will be better and more cost efficient for the passenger.
If you can afford a cabin...yes, otherwise fly and hire a car if it’s just a visit to Melbourne,
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Alan.CMetropolitan Adelaide, SA
Plain sailing
Took the ferry a couple of weeks ago. A cabin is definitely recommended for a restful night even in big seas and a shower. Helpful staff. My only criticism is loading on the Melbourne side was very inefficient. The all important f&v and flammables etc check was fine but over an hour of a stop start queue sucking in diesel fumes and CO2 is poor WHSE indeed. Some coordination to turn off engines and move the queue in waves would help. The Davenport loading took a few minutes only.
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DayvoGreater Melbourne (Outer), VIC
- 4 reviews
3 Years of great sailing in a row!
Each year, my school's Year 9s go to Tasmania for camp. This year, we took a group of 130 students, with 14 staff, and the accommodations, amenities and crew of the Spirit were absolutely amazing... yet again. The cabins are small, but it is a ferry, not a cruise ship. The beds are adequately comfortable. There are plenty of entertainment options on board, too - enough to keep a large group of 15-year-olds entertained! If I were to travel to Tasmania again for personal reasons, I would definitely go on the Spirit.
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MattGreater Melbourne (Inner), VIC
Upsized
Being 'UPSIZED'
One star is purely based on one experience I had by having been charged an extra $235 for a van I was towing. And potentially missing the boat. Otherwise the rating would bee an easy 3-4 stars. I have travelled numerous times without issue.
Firstly the van was deemed by a boarding staffer to be a 'high trailer' as it did not have fixed beds. It is custom built van registered as a caravan. Not a trailer I informed them. Their attitude was "what we say goes. If you want to board you'll have to pay or miss the boat." Had no ch...Read more
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Great
Great way to travel. You can take your car and dog!! Staying in a cabin offers you all comfort and hot showers! Definitely recommend to sail with Spirit of tasmania! Friendly staff
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Derek12New South Wales
- 5 reviews
- 1 like
Government monopoly fleeces public $1200!
Dept_of_Transport_handed_over_this monopoly to TT lines in 1993. $1200 to get car across. Double dipping for travel by passage + accommodation. Our 4yo is calculated at $150. They charge for stuff on roof racks and even an $8 visa charge. Last year $44M in profits.
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John71Cygnet
- 6 reviews
- 4 likes
As bad as ever.
No first come first on and off for car travelers; parking at Devonport adequate but Melbourne is a shambles: a standard car park, apparently, but we were later told it is free for passengers' cars - and a totally inadequate number of spaces. How they will cope if the ferries carry more vehicles I don't know, and no mention of improving the situation. Resources for the transport of pets is woeful, how the RSPCA can approve of it leaves much to the imagination. And if it's a hot day, don't expect any shade or priority. Dogs and cats in wire cages...Read more
side by side! Even dogs alongside dogs, and cats alongside cats is stressful enough. Special venting to keep the animals away from car fumes? Forgetaboutit. As passengers are not allowed access to their vehicles during the voyage, how about vehicle inspections during voyage time? Obviously the inspectors will have to be thoroughly vetted, and any complaints of missing or damaged items taken very seriously. Would far prefer to take our car to the mainland rather than endure airports and hire car companies but The Spirit needs to lift its game - note to the the TT-Line executive.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Bed Bugs
Just travelled on Spirit of Tas for the 3rd time. First time on the recliners as the cabins are ridiculously overpriced and the most uncomfortable sleep ever. Well, the recliners weren’t a step up at all. They are extremely hard after a few hours it feels like you are sleeping on concrete. The worst part is, I was bitten by bed bug!!! 2 massive welts on my hips! I just hope that I haven’t brought them into my home now! Not happy, I will be pursuing legal action if I have.
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graemeGreater Melbourne (Outer), VIC
- 7 reviews
Not fun
This is a mode of transport so you can take your car.
It is not an enjoyable sailing trip.
The food is crap, lining up for ages getting on and off.
Difficult trying to get any sleep in recliner seats.
Wouldn't recommend doing it unless you have to.
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MelissaNorth-West & West coast, TAS
- 53 reviews
Was bit amused
I moved from NSW Australia to Tasmania a few years back and just boarded the spirit with my little hatch back car and everything I could fit in it, on the day of boarding I got in line with all the other cars waiting to be shown where to drive and park my car, while we I was waiting I had a very gruff and stern looking guy come over to my, so I put my window down a tad as I could see he was coming to me and in a somewhat stern tone he said to me.....step out of the car maam and can you open your boot !!!! with his stern and gruff manner I thou...Read more
ght I had done something wrong, so I got out and went to the back of my car and opened that hatchback, he started looking through my stuff, without touching it but still looking really hard and focused, I was a bit scared to open my mouth to ask a question but I got the gumption to say to him, is everything alright here, the next words to come out of his mouth were........Do you have any dog's/cat's/animals in your car any fruits or vegs and food.......NOW I know this is normal and it was what I expected where the fruits/veg was concerned BUT what I DIDN"T expect was the bit about. looking through my car asking if I had any dog's/cats birds etc, I said NO, that was just way too funny because I thought it was slightly stupid, I said to my friend about it who was travelling with me, and we laughed that I should have said yes i have dog travelling with me in the back their getting squashed under all my gear LOL, not to mention that he stood at the back of the car for ages in the hope of hearing a cat meow or dog bark etc, I know they have to do check cars, but mine was segmented out because I was loaded up the roof inside the car, but really I thought it was just a bit silly for this guy to think that I would have an animal in the car which would have been getting squashed in the back under all my gear, because if someone is going to sneak an animal in their car you wouldn't sit it in a cage in clear view.....now would you !!!! nor would you put it at the bottom of all the gear as it would suffocate, It made my day and my trip even more hilarious...oh apart from me getting sea sick, now that wasn't hilarious and the exorbitant money they charge for the food you buy on board.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
JoHobart, TAS
- 2 reviews
Really impressed, happy each time I have sailed
I have travelled with my vehicle on the Spirit 4 times in the last 3 months. The booking process is easy (including changing dates - I actually got a refund because the changed date was cheaper than the original!), I have never had problems boarding. Each time I have travelled in a 4 shared cabin and it has been fine. The bars are good, and live entertainment was provided. This is now my preferred way of travelling to Melbourne as I can take my vehicle and I can bring home lots of shopping etc and not have to stress about excess baggage charges at an airport.
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MicheleVictoria
Abused and threatened by fellow passenger for sitting in "their" seat, even though not in the allocated seating area
We travelled on good friday. The ship was packed and even though, unless you pay for allocated recliners there is no allocated seating, as 2 women travelling alone,, a grandmother and great grandmother we were threatened and abused by a male person (not a real man, because real men don't attack and threaten women) with no real help from staff. The chairs were all full as many passengers were laying on seats or had their feet on seats even though the ship was at capacity. We saw a vacant table with four chairs. One of the chairs had a small b...Read more
ackpack on it and on the table was some rubbish, paper and empty easter egg wrappers. We sat in two of the chairs and had been there for around 45 minutes to an hour when a woman about 40 came up and said we were in her seats. We explained that we had been in the seats for about 45 minutes and that the seating is not allocated or reservable. She sat in one of the other seats at the table. About 10 minutes later a male person in his 40s along with a boy of about 8 came up and told us to move as they were his seats. We again explained that the seats were not allocated and suggested he use the remaning chair and grab another chair. He started yelling that it was his table and he would not share. He then sat on the table and commenced abusing us and calling us unmentionable names. A staff member came and told him they were not allocated seats but did not do nearly enough to settle him down. He then proceeded to threaten to follow us back to our car. I think the staff member should have made him leave the area and nothing was done to clear any seats so that there were enough seats for everyone. The only reason to travel on this ferry would be to take your car. I provided feedback directly to the spirit of Tasmania about this incident but received no response.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Christa W.Sydney, NSW
- Verified customer
Bugs!!!
Although the ship itself is beautiful I had a horrible experience after spending the night sail sleeping in a recliner I was awoken to being covered in bug bites! When I emailed to inform them they wouldn’t refund me for my trip but instead proceeded to tell me the seats were cleaned 3 days before I boarded... thousands of people are on the ship each day!!! Unacceptable! When I pointed this out to them they then back tracked and said oh no they are cleaned after every sail which I for one cant see happening since people are coming off and instantly more being boarded. So unimpressed with the way it was handled would rather fly next time!
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SylviaSydney, NSW
A well oiled machine from start to finish!
The booking process I did online ..........perfect.
We travelled from Melbourne to Devonport, getting on the ferry in Melbourne was very straight forward as was getting off in Devonport thanks to the efficient staff who made it clear where they wanted you to go.
I had no idea how wonderful the trip would be, I loved the immensity of Bass Strait. Out on the deck was exhilarating.
No unexpected extras, we bought delicious coffees. Didn't need to buy food as we had our own.
All amenities were fresh and clean.
We had a recliner which was very comfortable.
What a relaxing way to travel to Tasmania.
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OzbeachMetropolitan Adelaide, SA
Taking our family pet to Tasmania.
On our resent trip to Tasmania on the Spirit Of Tasmania we were upset to see how family pets were caged on the car and truck deck. You could see many were very distressed as was one owner we say openly cry when he reached to collect his dog from a cage. It's not good enough and family loved pets should not have to endure 10-12 hour sea trip in theses conditions. Why can't the Spirit of Tasmania have a special pet deck where owners can stay with their pets for the crossing. Me personally would lock myself and my pet in our caravan, this way my pet would not get stressed out.
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Disgusted
- 2 reviews
- 1 like
Treatment of pets appalling, needs overhaul!
When I was leaving port Melbourne there was no one there to assist me with my cat, had another passenger stay with my cat until I found a security guard upstairs. By the time I got down there it was dark, my cat was put in a cage in the same row as dogs, she was petrified,
I didn't sleep that night, she didn't eat or drink.
. The cages are far too close to the cars, as the cars drive in the animals would breathe in the fumes, should be s barrier between the animals and the cars.
Why are dogs and cats in the same row and section!!! One...Read more
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MandyHobart
- 2 reviews
First Time
staff helpful, friendly, ... very cold inside, eating lunch near someone with their dirty feet propped on a chair yuck.
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- Verified customer
Teach women emoloyees courtesy.
Please teach the women traffic controllers to use courtesy. Customers are gentleman/men, ma’am, miss, and sir, Not ‘that guy’, or “move forward buddy”! ‘Please’ and ‘ThankYou also make for a better experience.
The Australian migrant workers were courteous, Australian locals were not.
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Questions & Answers
Barbara Collinsasked
Can I take cans of coke on board? Do you and your onboard luggage go through a scanner? Do they have sniffer dogs like at the airport?
No answers
Fran G.asked
Just travelled on Spirit of Tas for the 3rd time. First time on the recliners as the cabins are ridiculously overpriced and the most uncomfortable sleep ever. Well, the recliners weren’t a step up at all. They are extremely hard after a few hours it feels like you are sleeping on concrete. The worst part is, I was bitten by bed bug!!! 2 massive welts on my hips! I just hope that I haven’t brought them into my home now! Not happy, I will be pursuing legal action if I have.
1 answer
The lice problem too has been a long term issue. They’ve replaced seats, even tried freezing them. School holidays and backpackers seem to be the culprits. Best to avoid if one can.
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