Summer 2025 Cal Mac Schedules including Isle of Arran

Thank you for the information. I just checked Craignure to Oban for May, and it says no sailings available. Am I doing something wrong?

Just read your post more carefully and see that bookings don’t open until the 19th.

SERVICES TO ARRAN FROM 13 JANUARY TO END MARCH- CALMAC UPDATE STATEMENT-
CalMac has offered an urgent update to discuss changes to network demands which will impact our service and require the redeployment of the Isle of Arran in early January, thus effectively moving the service to Troon until the return of MV Caledonian Isles.
Caledonian Isles.
Report from the detailed analysis has now been received and indicates a positive prognosis for repair and return to service.
The vessel will return to dry dock today and remain until the 4th Feb to allow the work to progress.
Other work not requiring dry dock will continue with the expectation of return to service from Ardrossan for the start of the summer timetable as published.
Glen Sannox
The vessel will continue network trials 26th December - 31st Dec or 2nd Jan – 6th Jan depending on suitable weather conditions.
A stakeholder session to allow key users to view the vessel is being scheduled for 7th January with details to be confirmed.
That will facilitate an introduction to service from Troon 13th January alongside MV Alfred.
An interim timetable has been prepared This is prepared to try and provide the most practical service within the boundaries of crew hours and delivery of key services.
The above will allow the IoA to be redeployed from the Ardrossan service 14th January to assist elsewhere on the network.
CalMac will establish a focus group to respond to questions and support the transition for questions around connectivity etc.

The temporary schedule with 75 minute crossing times is planned to be-
MV Alfred depart Brodick at 0730, 1125 and 1545, and Troon at 0915, 1335 and 1800 (the 1800 is not Saturdays)
Glen Sannox depart Brodick at 0840, 1300 and 1720 and depart Troon at 0630, 1050, 1510 and (Saturday only) 1930

On Sundays - MV Alfred depart Troon at 0930, 1450 and 1910, and Brodick at 1240 and 1700:
Glen Sannox depart Troon at 1240 and 1700, and Brodick at 1030, 1450 and 1910.

All sailings are rail connected except the 0630 from Troon on weekdays and the 0930 on Sunday.

The timetable may be tweaked after discussions with stakeholder groups.

Calmac have confirmed today that the Glen Sannox WILL commence revenue service on 13 January.

The timetable given above IS NOW CONFIRMED (Edited 12 January).

They have also confirmed both that the free shuttle bus from Troon Railway Station to the port will continue, and that a free shuttle bus will run from Ardrossan Harbour to Troon for Glen Sannox sailings- this will leave Ardrossan Harbour 60 minutes before each GS sailing and 10 to 15 minutes after each GS arrival at Troon back to Ardrossan Harbour (Edited 12 January).

They are also discussing with Stagecoach about retiming island bus services on Arran to maintain connections- This has not been possible so until the end of March island bus services will not connect with ferry arrivals and departures

MV Alfred will be off service from 10 to 17 February for annual overhaul- so only the Glen Sannox will run on a single vessel timetable as no other spare vessel is available. ((Edited 12 January).

The Glen Sannox will be off service for a planned two days sometime in February to fit the new gypsies when they arrive from the manufacturer- dates to be advised.

Thank you for all of these updates Stuart. It’s a bit far out for us to plan specifically what route to take, but it helps me familiarize myself with the names, etc. We bought our airline tickets yesterday while I had the kids home. We are so excited already! I’m not going to look at any airfare sites bc they may drop, but it feels great to have them now! Did get a pretty decent deduction by using my AARP membership and going with British Airways, in case anyone is interested.

I’m going to be asking a bunch of questions for the next several months, I am sure, so get ready lol! Happy New Year!

Trying to do a booking for June to Arran but I don't know what vehicle we will have - the calmac site won't let me book - am I doing something wrong? Okay now - I created an account and that worked!

stuchfan, that's okay if you don't know what car you will have. Just put some generic answer in there and it will be fine.

Hi, Stuart,

Happy New Year to you and yours!

I read in The Scotsman last weekend that the new Glen Sannox has been found to have inadequate sewage facilities to meet the needs of the expected amount of passengers she'll be transporting. I hope that the problem is resolved before tourist season! Joke writers must be having a field day with this! I am going to go out on a limb and predict that a Glen Sannox joke will be awarded "best joke" at this year's Festival Fringe.

Have a good year, Stuart!

Best wishes,

Mike (Auchterless)

Julie booked our out and back crossings for early June yesterday and judging by the banging, crashing, wails of frustration and the odd sweary outburst, I gather it wasn’t straightforward. However despite the angst, she managed to get it done. I think.

now in operation, per BBC

And, as usual the BBC, along with much of the press, couldn't even report that correctly.
Her first passenger sailing was not pre dawn on Monday, but on Sunday afternoon standing in for a storm bound MV Alfred. The Alfred was also storm bound for all of Monday- the swells exceeded her passenger certificate.
Doing what Cal Mac do well- providing service if at all possible with whatever resources are available.
And don't believe the Daily Record, who clearly don't pay their journalists- you don't need to take a flask of tea on the ship. There are places to eat.

TWO UPDATES-

a- On the Isle of Arran Stagecoach have now revised bus timetables to better align with the Glen Sannox sailing times from Troon until the end of March. There are limits to what can be done due to school service commitments, but they have done their best.

b. Calmac still have no date to issue their summer timetables for the Phase 2 routes. This is because they are awaiting news on the repairs to the Caledonian Isles . If she is not to be available then other large vessels will need to be moved round the network to cover.