Ferry company
Stena Line
A profile of the biggest ferry company on the Irish Sea - routes, ships, check-in, pets and fares
- Four routes to Ireland and Northern Ireland from Wales, England and Scotland
- Around 40 ships on 20 routes in ten countries, founded 1962 in Gothenburg
- Three fares: Economy, Flexi and Premium - pet-friendly cabins and onboard kennels on all Ireland routes
About Stena Line
Table of Contents
About Stena Line
Stena Line is a Swedish ferry company based in Gothenburg and one of the largest ferry operators in the world. It was founded in 1962, when Sten A. Olsson took over Skagenlinjen between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn; today, as Stena Line AB, it belongs to the family-owned Stena AB group. By its own account the company employs around 8,750 people from nearly 50 nations and operates around 40 ships on 20 routes in ten countries, with more than 34,700 sailings a year. Stena Line has been present on the Irish Sea since taking over Sealink British Ferries in 1990; in 2014 it added the Rosslare-Cherbourg route acquired from Celtic Link Ferries, which it operated until the end of September 2025.
Ships on the Ireland routes
Between Holyhead and Dublin sail the Stena Adventurer and the Stena Estrid, and between Fishguard and Rosslare the Stena Nordica. On the Cairnryan-Belfast route, the sister ships Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII are in service, with a pet lounge, the Pure Nordic Spa and an onboard cinema. Between Liverpool and Belfast sail the Stena Edda and the Stena Embla, the largest ships ever to have operated on this route, with a Sky Bar, en-suite cabins and Scandinavian interiors. All the ships have a restaurant, bar, shop, the Stena Plus Lounge with table service and the quiet Hygge Recline Lounge. Payment is by card or smartphone; on the Irish Sea ships you can also pay cash in pounds or euros.
Routes to Ireland
From Wales, Stena Line sails the shortest link to the Irish capital, Holyhead - Dublin, and the route to the south-east, Fishguard - Rosslare. To Northern Ireland, Cairnryan - Belfast runs from south-west Scotland in just over two hours, and Liverpool - Belfast from Birkenhead as a day or night ferry. Travellers from the Netherlands can combine the North Sea route Hoek van Holland-Harwich with one of the Irish Sea routes; an overview of all the options is on the page Ferries from England to Ireland. From 28 September 2026, Stena Line will require all travellers checking in at Dublin, Holyhead, Fishguard and Rosslare to carry a valid passport - details on the port page Rosslare.
Check-in, vehicles and pets
Check-in deadlines vary by port: by vehicle, the desk usually closes 30 minutes before departure, or one hour before between Liverpool and Belfast; foot passengers should arrive 30 to 40 minutes before, depending on the route. All ferries carry cars, motorbikes, caravans, motorhomes and bicycles, and on the Belfast routes also horse trailers up to 12 metres. Pets travel in the vehicle, in heated onboard kennels or in pet-friendly cabins, and on the Superfast ships also in the pet lounge; foot passengers must book a kennel or cabin in advance. More in the guides Motorhome and Dogs and pets.
Tickets
Stena Line offers three fare types: Economy is the cheapest, 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 such as lounge access. Prices are dynamic, and booking early pays off. The booking screen shows the final total; see the prices page for an overview.
FAQ Stena Line
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and answers about Stena Line and the ferries to Ireland
Which routes does Stena Line sail to Ireland?+
Four routes from Great Britain. To Ireland, Holyhead - Dublin and Fishguard - Rosslare; to Northern Ireland, Cairnryan - Belfast and Liverpool - Belfast. There's also the North Sea route Hoek van Holland - Harwich for travellers from the Netherlands.
Which ships does Stena Line use on the Ireland routes?+
Stena Adventurer and Stena Estrid between Holyhead and Dublin, Stena Nordica between Fishguard and Rosslare, Stena Superfast VII and VIII between Cairnryan and Belfast, and Stena Edda and Stena Embla between Liverpool and Belfast.
When do I need to check in with Stena Line?+
It depends on the route and port. By vehicle, check-in usually closes 30 minutes before departure, or one hour before on Liverpool-Belfast; foot passengers should be at the desk 30 to 40 minutes before, depending on the port. The binding deadline is shown in your booking confirmation and on the relevant route page.
Can I bring my car or motorhome?+
Yes, all of Stena Line's Ireland ferries carry cars, motorbikes, caravans and motorhomes; on the Belfast routes, horse trailers up to 12 metres can also be booked online. Details on campers in the guide Motorhome.
Does Stena Line carry pets?+
Yes, in the vehicle, in an onboard kennel, in a pet-friendly cabin, or on the Superfast ships in the pet lounge. Foot passengers must book a kennel or pet-friendly cabin in advance. All the rules are in the guide Dogs and pets.
Where can I find the timetable and prices?+
Departures for all routes are listed in the timetable. Prices are dynamic and depend on travel date, vehicle, cabin and fare type; the prices page explains how to compare them.