Liverpool - Belfast

Getting to the Liverpool terminal

The ferry doesn't depart from Liverpool itself, but from the opposite bank of the Mersey in Birkenhead: Twelve Quays Terminal, Tower Road, Birkenhead CH41 1FE. By car you're there in ten minutes from the M53, and around seven minutes from Liverpool city centre through the Mersey Tunnel; "Stena Line" signage leads all the way to the terminal, which is open daily from 07:30 to 10:30 and from 19:30 to 22:30.

There's a large car park run by Horizon Parking outside the terminal (location "Stena Line Birkenhead Belfast"), payable at the machine, by phone or online. Foot passengers can reach the terminal by bus from Hamilton Square station or by taxi; Argyll Satellite Taxis can be reached around the clock via a free phone in the terminal. National Express coaches stop at Liverpool One Bus Station.

Check-in and departure

Fixed windows apply on this route: for the morning sailing, check-in opens at 08:00 and closes one hour before departure; for the night sailing it opens at 19:30 and also closes one hour before - in each case for vehicles and foot passengers, at Birkenhead as at Belfast. Arrive late and you risk losing your booking with no refund.

There's no border control, but Stena Line requires all travellers to carry photo ID that matches the booking details exactly. Bring your passport or national ID card.

On board

The Stena Edda and Stena Embla are the largest ships ever to have sailed between Belfast and Liverpool, with Scandinavian-inspired interiors. The offering includes the Sky Bar with atrium, a restaurant and café, the shop, en-suite cabins, the Stena Plus Lounge with table service and the quiet Hygge Recline Lounge (both from age 8), plus the Happy World play area and a Game Zone for children. Payment is by card or smartphone; on the Irish Sea ships you can also pay cash in pounds or euros.

Vehicles, bikes and pets

Cars, motorbikes, caravans and motorhomes are all carried, and horse trailers up to 12 metres can be booked online; the fare depends on vehicle length. Bicycles, e-bikes and tandems are allowed, one bike per person, with the battery staying on the bike on the vehicle deck. Everything about travelling by camper is in the guide Motorhome.

Pets may stay in the vehicle; but because of the eight-hour crossing and the heat on the vehicle deck, Stena Line recommends an onboard kennel or a pet-friendly cabin instead. Kennels are chargeable on this route, but accessible throughout the crossing, so you can visit and, under supervision, exercise your dog. Foot passengers must book a kennel or pet-friendly cabin in advance. The documents your dog or cat needs for Northern Ireland are summarised in the overview Ferries from England to Ireland; the general rules are in the guide Dogs and pets.

Arrival in Belfast and onward travel

In Belfast you arrive at Victoria Terminal 2 (West Bank Road, Belfast BT3 9JN), at Junction 1 of the M2 at the Fortwilliam roundabout - not to be confused with Victoria Terminal 4 on the Cairnryan route, less than a mile away. The city centre is ten minutes away by car, Dublin around two hours via the M1, and the Giant's Causeway just under two hours along the coast road. Without a car, Translink's Metro route 96 runs between Upper Queen Street and West Bank Road (around 22 minutes); FonaCAB can arrange taxis. Parking at VT2 is limited; there's more space at VT4.

Tickets and fares

Stena Line offers Economy, Flexi and Premium: Economy is the cheapest fare, with changes costing a fee plus any fare difference and no refund on cancellation. Flexi can be changed with no rebooking fee and cancelled for a small fee up to 24 hours before departure, or for half the fare up to two hours before. Premium offers the most generous terms and, depending on the route, extra benefits. Caravan and motorhome deals are available seasonally on selected sailings. The booking screen shows the final total; see the prices page for an overview.