For many it brings back memories of 17 hours sharing a grotty cabin en route to a family holiday in France. However, this may not be the case for much longer as Irish Ferries gets ready to replace the 25-year-old MV Normandy, and those unwilling to fly may soon be making the trip across the Celtic Sea on a modern ship with up-to-date facilities.

Earlier this week Irish Continental Group (ICG), owner of Irish Ferries, said rival operator P&O had exercised its option to extend the charter of the second of two ships, the Pride of Bilbao, leased out to the company until 2010. This, combined with another agreement reached late last year, is expected to generate about €10 million for the company, as well as paving the way for the sale of the Normandy.

Tony Kelly, marketing manager for Irish Ferries, said that now the chartering issue was out of the way, ICG would be looking at how to improve its Ireland to France offering.

According to some, such an action would be best served by replacing the vessel altogether - something that is expected to take place later this year.

Known for its outdated and tatty furnishings, crowded communal areas and industrial catering, the Normandy last year carried 200,000 passengers between Rosslare and either Roscoff or Cherbourg.

During any 12-month period the ship covers about 75,000 miles, meaning that in the nine years it has been operating on the route is has covered about 675,000 miles.

At 25 years old it is no longer the youngest of ships and with increased competition from lowcost airlines and other ferry operators, analysts believe Irish Ferries needs to do something to improve its offering. The group in September reported a 10 per cent decline in passengers, a trend that has been troubling the company for a while.

However, ICG is unlikely to purchase a new ship to replace the Normandy as shipyards are currently busy and such a commission would take too long. Instead it is expected to buy a second-hand vessel at a total cost of about €30 million following the sale of the Normandy, which will fetch between €15 and €20 million. Selling it should not be a problem, as demand for such ships is high in the Far East, where they operate until they are about 50-years-old, compared with 30 in Europe.

The Ulysses, which ICG bought in 2001, cost just under €100 million. A night operating ship such as the Normandy would cost significantly more.