The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company set out to make 2025 a significant year: When you’re 195-years-old keeping things fresh and exciting is important.
In October 2024, the Company unveiled major changes to its pricing structure, based on public feedback, as part of its commitment to boosting use of its services and maximising the economic benefits of the Company to the Island. This also contributes to helping achieve the Isle of Man's 2032 visitor strategy targets, in conjunction with Visit Isle of Man.
The key initiatives in the pricing reset are:
- Kids Go Free – on all scheduled sailings throughout the year there is no charge for people under the age of 16 on the day of travel.
- 10% off Flexi Fares – As their name suggests, Flexi fares give travellers the opportunity to change their travel plans without facing penalties. For 2025 IOMSPC took 10% off the 2024 prices to give more travellers the opportunity to experience flexibility.
- Freight rates – IOMSPC harmonised freight rates so that accompanied freight pays the same rate as drop-shipped freight trailers.
- Vans – More and more passengers choose #vanlife. For 2025 we made it possible to book private vans online. This makes sorting travel plans easier than ever, and also attracts the online booking discount.
IOMSPC’s commitment to boosting the Isle of Man as a destination for businesses and visitors alike was also backed up with an improved service to and from the island of Ireland.
With more frequent winter sailings to the new terminal in Liverpool, the use of Ben-my-Chree to support TT growth, and additional sailings to Belfast with a marketing campaign to back that up – the Company’s commitment to a growth agenda presented opportunities to private travellers, the travel trade and the wider business community on all sides of the Irish Sea.
So, after all that, how did we do? Click on the link below to find out how the year went for IOMSPC, and how that in turn benefits the Isle of Man:
Watch the video
Watch the Year in Numbers 2025 on Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's You Tube Channel
A very positive year, building on the growth trends seen since 2022. But IOMSPC is looking to do still more for the Isle of Man.
In 2026 we are maintaining all of the headline pricing offers from 2025, including Kids Go Free and 10% off Flexi Fares. We are also making a further major investment in our services to and from Ireland.
To do that we’re dedicating former flagship, Ben-my-Chree to serving Ireland. Although Ben-my-Chree is a well-loved stalwart of the fleet, to really fit her for the new role she’ll be getting a full interior refit, her first significant upgrade in over a decade.
From late July Ben-my-Chree will sail three times a week to and from Larne , a service she’ll be maintaining year-round.
The first sailings to Larne, a new port for IOMSPC, will be undertaken by a combination of Manannan and Manxman, starting in April.
Between late July and the end of September 2026, Ben will also make two return crossings a week between Dublin and the Isle of Man, ensuring a connection between the Island and one of Europe’s most vibrant capital cities.
In the whole of 2026 there are 256 sailings scheduled to and from Ireland, compared to 108 in 2025.
While the number of scheduled sailings to and from England haven’t increased as much, freeing Manannan from the Dublin schedule allows a moderate increase in sailings to Liverpool, and Manxman will also have a slight increase in scheduled sailings to Heysham.
In 2025 IOMSPC operated 2,039 sailings to and from ports in England, compared to 2,239 scheduled for 2026.
All of the above has been achieved or will be delivered without any recourse to public subsidy, with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company financing all of its day-to-day operations from its own revenues.
While the Company is the recipient of a loan facility secured via the Isle of Man Government, the full cost of the loan and the interest repayable is held on the IOMSPC’s balance sheet and is being repaid in accordance with the Company’s long-term financial plan. In 2025 alone IOMSPC repaid a total of £5.2m of capital and a further £2.3m of interest.
With the public consultation into a new build vessel to join the fleet in 2030 now completed, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has its eye firmly on the future and building a fleet and service the Isle of Man can truly be proud of, and one that will bring the widest economic and social benefits.