Ferry Northern Ireland
Cairnryan - Belfast
The short crossing from Scotland to Northern Ireland - the busiest and fastest way to reach Belfast with a car
- Up to 6 sailings a day per direction with Stena Line, from early morning until late evening
- 2 hours 15 minutes across the North Channel from Loch Ryan Port to Belfast
- Stena Superfast VII and VIII with the Pure Nordic Spa, cinema, shops and Stena Plus lounge
Route guide
Cairnryan - Belfast ferry at a glance
Table of Contents
Everything about the Cairnryan - Belfast route with Stena Line: getting to Loch Ryan Port, check-in and parking, the Stena Superfast ships, vehicles and pets, and arriving at Belfast's Victoria Terminal 4.
Getting to Loch Ryan Port
Stena Line's Scottish terminal is Loch Ryan Port, Belfast Way, Cairnryan DG9 8RG, on the eastern shore of Loch Ryan in Dumfries and Galloway. Do not confuse it with the P&O terminal a short way further south in the village, which serves Larne. From Glasgow and Ayr you arrive on the A77, from Dumfries and the M6 on the A75; both roads end at the loch and the port is signposted. Cairnryan itself is a small village with a shop and a few guesthouses; more hotels, petrol stations and cafés are within easy reach around Stranraer.
Parking at the terminal is free for the first 30 minutes, after that there are short-stay and long-stay car parks, both payable. Camper vans without a trailer may use the car park as long as they fit into one bay. There is no railway station at Cairnryan: foot passengers with a Rail & Sail ticket from Glasgow, Edinburgh or other British stations are met by a bus connection at Ayr station on selected sailings, so book that combination in advance rather than turning up.
Check-in and departure
Up to six sailings a day per direction leave between the early morning and late evening. Foot passengers and vehicles have separate check-in deadlines, which Stena Line publishes for each departure in its sailing status and on the booking confirmation; the A75 and A77 are single-carriageway roads for long stretches, so allow more time than the map suggests. There is no border formality between Scotland and Northern Ireland, but bring photo ID for everyone in the car.
On board the Stena Superfast
The Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII were built for a longer crossing and it shows: restaurants and a bar, a shop, a free cinema, the Pure Nordic Spa and the Stena Plus lounge. Two hours pass quickly; a cabin is not needed on this route, and the lounge upgrade is the popular choice on the busy morning and evening sailings.
Vehicle, bike and pet
Cars, motorhomes, caravans, motorbikes and bicycles are all carried, with the fare following vehicle length and height; measure including roof box and bike rack before booking, and see the motorhome guide for the details. For a dog, cat or ferret travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland you need a microchip and the free Northern Ireland pet travel document, and the chip is scanned at the port before departure; Northern Ireland residents need no document for the return trip. Book the animal with the crossing and check the pets guide for the paperwork.
Arrival in Belfast and onward travel
The ship docks at Victoria Terminal 4 (VT4), West Bank Road, Belfast BT3 9JL, right by junction 1 of the M2 at the Fortwilliam roundabout, so you are on the motorway network within minutes: the M2 north towards the Antrim coast, the M1 south towards Dublin, which is under two hours away. The terminal has a car park with more than 300 spaces, free for the first 30 minutes. There is no train to the port; Translink's Metro 96 bus runs from Upper Queen Street near City Hall to the terminal for the 07:15, 11:15, 15:30 and evening departures and back to Donegall Place after arrivals, taking about 22 minutes, and a taxi-share scheme outside the terminal covers the city centre and Lanyon Place railway station.
Tickets and fares
Stena Line prices dynamically by sailing: early-morning and late-evening departures and midweek dates are usually the cheapest, school holidays and Friday evenings the dearest. Fares come as Economy and as the more changeable Flexi; the booking window shows the current price for your date and vehicle, and the price guide explains how to compare it with the Larne and Liverpool alternatives.
Cairnryan - Belfast
The quickest way to Belfast with a car
Cairnryan - Belfast is the workhorse of the North Channel: 2 hours 15 minutes from Loch Ryan Port in south-west Scotland straight into Belfast, with up to six departures a day in each direction from the early morning until late in the evening.
Stena Line sails the route with the Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII, the largest ships ever placed between Scotland and Northern Ireland: restaurants, shops, a free cinema, the Pure Nordic Spa and the Stena Plus lounge fill the two hours comfortably. Glasgow is under two hours from Cairnryan, Edinburgh about three and a half, which makes this the natural route for anyone driving from Scotland or the north of England.
- Crossing time
- 2 hrs 15 min
- Operator
- Stena Line
- Frequency
- up to 6× daily
- From
- €179
Next departures
FAQ Cairnryan - Belfast
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about the Cairnryan - Belfast ferry route
How long does the ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast take?+
2 hours 15 minutes on the Stena Superfast VII and VIII. It is the fastest way to Belfast for anyone travelling with a car from Scotland or the north of England.
How many sailings a day are there from Cairnryan to Belfast?+
Up to six sailings a day per direction, from the early morning until late in the evening, all year round. The departures for your date are in the timetable.
Where in Cairnryan does the Belfast ferry leave from?+
From Loch Ryan Port, Belfast Way, Cairnryan DG9 8RG, on the eastern shore of Loch Ryan in Dumfries and Galloway. It is Stena Line's own terminal; P&O's terminal for the Larne crossing lies a short way further south in the village, so check which one your booking names.
Can I reach Cairnryan by train?+
Not directly. Cairnryan has no railway station; Stena Line sells Rail & Sail tickets from Glasgow, Edinburgh and other British stations that include a bus connection between Ayr station and the port on selected sailings. Book the combination in advance rather than turning up at the terminal.
Can I take my car or motorhome on the Cairnryan to Belfast ferry?+
Yes. Cars, motorhomes, caravans, motorbikes and bicycles are carried; the fare follows the length and height of the vehicle, so measure it including roof box and bike rack. The motorhome guide covers the details.
Can I bring my dog on the ferry to Belfast?+
Yes. From Great Britain to Northern Ireland your dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip and the free Northern Ireland pet travel document; the chip is scanned at the port before departure. Book the animal with your crossing and read the pets guide for the paperwork.
How much does the Cairnryan to Belfast ferry cost?+
Prices are dynamic: early-morning, late-evening and midweek sailings are usually the cheapest, school holidays and Friday evenings the dearest, and the vehicle supplement moves with the season. The booking window shows the current price for your date; the price guide explains how to compare it with the Larne and Liverpool alternatives.
Ready for Belfast?
Check the departures for your date and continue to the booking with your vehicle.