Ferry company
Irish Ferries
A profile of the Irish ferry company - routes from Wales and France, ships, check-in, pets and fares
- Three routes to Ireland from Holyhead, Pembroke and Cherbourg, plus Dover-Calais for the onward journey
- Part of the Irish Continental Group, based at Dublin Ferryport, eight ferries on international routes
- Economy, Flexi and Flexi+ fares - kennel and pet den for dogs, Club Class Lounge on board
About Irish Ferries
Table of Contents
About Irish Ferries
Irish Ferries is the ferry division of the Irish Continental Group (ICG), listed on the Dublin and London stock exchanges; the company is headquartered at Dublin Ferryport on Alexandra Road. Its roots go back to the early 1970s, when Irish Continental Line, an Irish-Scandinavian joint venture, began the first direct ferry from Rosslare to Le Havre; a management buyout in 1984 created the Irish Continental Group. Today Irish Ferries describes itself as the leading ferry operator to and from the Republic of Ireland, with eight ships on international routes and two more on Dover-Calais, plus up to 16 sailings a day across the Irish Sea.
Ships
On the Irish Sea, the Ulysses and the James Joyce sail between Holyhead and Dublin, both with a Club Class Lounge, restaurants, shops and a children's area, the Ulysses also with cinemas; the cruise ferry Isle of Innisfree serves Pembroke-Rosslare. Between Cherbourg and Dublin sails the flagship W.B. Yeats with 440 en-suite cabins up to balcony suites, a brasserie, an à la carte restaurant, a cinema and duty-free, complemented by the more basic Isle of Inisheer. On Dover-Calais, the Isle of Inishmore and the Oscar Wilde are in service. The high-speed ferry Dublin Swift remains listed on the Holyhead-Dublin route page, but every one of its sailings is currently shown as cancelled in the published timetable.
Routes to Ireland
From Wales, Irish Ferries sails the busiest route to Ireland, Holyhead - Dublin, and the link to the south-east, Pembroke - Rosslare. From mainland Europe, the direct route Cherbourg - Dublin crosses overnight from Normandy to the Irish capital. If you're travelling via England, combine Dover-Calais with one of the Wales routes. All the options are compared in the overviews Ferries from England to Ireland and Ferries from France to Ireland.
Check-in, vehicles and pets
On the Wales routes, be checked in and ready to load at least 30 minutes before departure with a vehicle, or 40 minutes before as a foot passenger or cyclist. On Cherbourg-Dublin, check-in closes 60 minutes before departure, 90 minutes with a motorbike, and two hours before with a pet so the pet travel documents can be checked. Have valid ID ready. Cars, motorhomes, caravans, motorbikes, minibuses, small vans and bicycles are all carried; give the exact vehicle dimensions to avoid extra charges at check-in. Dogs travel on the W.B. Yeats in pre-booked kennels with fixed visiting times, on the Isle of Innisfree and the James Joyce in the pet den with an outdoor area, and on the Isle of Inisheer in pet-friendly cabins. More in the guides Motorhome and Dogs and pets.
Tickets
Irish Ferries offers Economy, Flexi and Flexi+: the cheapest fare is tied to the booked sailing, while the higher fares give more flexibility to rebook and cancel. Prices are dynamic, and booking early pays off especially for the overnight route with a cabin. The booking screen shows the final total; see the prices page for an overview.
FAQ Irish Ferries
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and answers about Irish Ferries and the ferries to Ireland
Which routes does Irish Ferries sail?+
To Ireland, Holyhead - Dublin and Pembroke - Rosslare from Wales, plus the direct route Cherbourg - Dublin from Normandy. For travel via England, Irish Ferries also sails Dover - Calais.
Which ships does Irish Ferries operate?+
Ulysses and James Joyce between Holyhead and Dublin, Isle of Innisfree between Pembroke and Rosslare, W.B. Yeats and Isle of Inisheer between Cherbourg and Dublin. The high-speed ferry Dublin Swift is still listed by the company as a ship on the Holyhead-Dublin route, but every one of its sailings is currently shown as cancelled in the published timetable.
When do I need to check in with Irish Ferries?+
On the Wales routes, by vehicle at least 30 minutes before departure, and foot passengers and cyclists 40 minutes before. On Cherbourg-Dublin, check-in closes 60 minutes before departure, 90 minutes with a motorbike, and two hours before with a pet.
Can I bring my car or motorhome?+
Yes, all ships carry cars, motorhomes, caravans, motorbikes, minibuses and bicycles; the fare depends on vehicle length. Details in the guide Motorhome.
Does Irish Ferries carry pets?+
Yes, with advance booking. On the W.B. Yeats dogs travel in pre-booked kennels, on the Isle of Innisfree and the James Joyce there's a pet den, and on the Isle of Inisheer there are pet-friendly cabins. All the rules are in the guide Dogs and pets.
Where can I find the timetable and prices?+
Departures are listed in the timetable. Prices are dynamic and staggered into Economy, Flexi and Flexi+; the prices page explains how to compare them.