What is the fastest ferry from Dublin to the UK?

The Dublin Swift fast craft is the fastest ferry on the Irish Sea, crossing Dublin to Holyhead in just 1 hour 49 minutes. It carries foot passengers only — no vehicles accepted.

Can I take my dog on Irish Ferries?

Yes. On Ireland–UK routes, pets travel free in your vehicle or free onboard kennels. On Dublin–Cherbourg, kennels cost €30–€60 depending on size. Required: microchip, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and Animal Health Certificate for UK–EU travel.

Is Irish Ferries cheaper than flying?

For passengers travelling with a car, Irish Ferries is often significantly cheaper than flying when you include the cost of car hire. On Dublin–Cherbourg, the ferry is almost always more cost effective than flying to France when car hire is factored in.

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Q: Can I take my car on Irish Ferries?

Yes. Seven of Irish Ferries' nine vessels accept cars, motorcycles, campervans, motorhomes, and caravans. The only exception is the Dublin Swift fast craft (foot passengers only). Declare your vehicle type and dimensions at booking.

Q: Does Irish Ferries sail directly from Ireland to France?

Yes. Irish Ferries operates Dublin–Cherbourg year-round with W.B. Yeats. The overnight crossing takes approximately 18–19 hours and bypasses the UK entirely — particularly popular since Brexit.

Q: What is the Ulysses ferry?

Ulysses is Irish Ferries' flagship and the largest ROPAX ferry on the Irish Sea. Capacity: 2,000 passengers and 1,342 cars. Features a 2-screen cinema, multiple restaurants, bars, duty-free shopping, children's play area, and cabins. Serves Dublin–Holyhead.

Q: How do I check in for Irish Ferries?

Irish Ferries does not offer web check-in. Collect your boarding pass at the ticket desk using your booking reference number. Arrive at least 40–45 minutes before departure on Irish Sea routes and 60 minutes before on France routes. On Dover–Calais, allow extra time for border control at Calais.

About Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries is Ireland’s leading ferry operator, connecting Ireland with the United Kingdom and mainland Europe since 1973. A division of the Irish Continental Group (ICG), the company operates a modern fleet of cruise-ferries and fast craft on some of the most important sea routes in Europe — including Dublin to Holyhead, Rosslare to Pembroke, Dublin to Cherbourg, and the busy Dover to Calais English Channel crossing. In 2025, Irish Ferries carried approximately 2,985,500 passengers, reinforcing its position as one of the busiest ferry operators in the British Isles.

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Irish Ferries Ferry Routes

Irish Ferries Ferry Ports

How long is the Dublin to Holyhead ferry?Irish Ferries — History & Background

Irish Ferries traces its roots to 1972, when Irish Continental Line was founded as a joint venture to operate between Rosslare and Le Havre, France. In 1992, the company acquired the state-owned B&I Line (British and Irish Steam Packet Company), which gave it control of the key Dublin–Holyhead and Rosslare–Pembroke routes. The combined company subsequently rebranded its passenger services as Irish Ferries. Over the following decades, Irish Ferries invested heavily in fleet renewal, commissioning some of the largest and most modern cruise-ferries in Europe. In 2021, the company expanded significantly by launching a new Dover–Calais service. Furthermore, in 2025, ICG took delivery of the James Joyce cruise-ferry and is consequently moving towards full ownership of its entire fleet — enhancing operational flexibility for the future. Key facts:

Founded: 1972 (as Irish Continental Line)
Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
Parent company: Irish Continental Group (ICG)
Annual passengers: approximately 2,985,500 (2025)
Routes: 8 routes across the Irish Sea, English Channel, and to France
Fleet: 7 vessels including fast craft
Investment: over €450 million in fleet and ports
Up to 20 daily sailings on Dover–Calais

Irish Ferries Fleet & On-Board Services

Irish Ferries operates 7 vessels across its route network, ranging from the iconic Ulysses — the largest ROPAX ferry on the Irish Sea — to the high-speed Dublin Swift fast craft, and the award-winning W.B. Yeats cruise-ferry.

The Irish Ferries Fleet

W.B. Yeats — Flagship cruise-ferry. Serves Dublin–Holyhead and Dublin–Cherbourg. Built in 2018. Capacity: 1,885 passengers and 1,200 cars. Winner of the Ferry Concept Award and Interior Architecture Award at the Shippax Industry Awards 2019. Features premium and standard cabins, multiple restaurants, bars, entertainment areas, Wi-Fi, and a children’s zone. Named after the Nobel Prize-winning Irish poet. James Joyce — Cruise-ferry. Serves Dublin–Holyhead. Purchased by Irish Ferries in 2025, moving the company towards full fleet ownership. Built in 2007 in Finland. Capacity: over 2,000 passengers. The largest and fastest passenger cruise-ferry on the Irish Sea with a top speed of 27.5 knots. Features cabins, restaurants, bars, and Wi-Fi. Named after the iconic Irish novelist. Ulysses — Flagship cruise-ferry. Serves Dublin–Holyhead. Built in 2001. The largest ROPAX ferry on the Irish Sea. Capacity: 2,000 passengers and 1,342 cars. Features a 2-screen cinema, multiple restaurants, bars, duty-free shopping, children’s play area, cabins, and Wi-Fi. Named after the James Joyce novel. Dublin Swift — Fast craft. Serves Dublin–Holyhead. The only fast craft on the Irish Sea, crossing in just 1 hour 49 minutes. Capacity: 800 passengers. Foot passengers only — no vehicles accepted. Isle of Inishmore — Cruise-ferry. Serves Dover–Calais with up to 20 sailings per day. Capacity: 2,000 passengers and 400 cars. Features restaurants, bars, duty-free shopping, and Wi-Fi. Oscar Wilde — Cruise-ferry. Serves Dover–Calais. Regarded as the most luxurious vessel on the Dover–Calais route. Features premium Club Lounge, multiple dining options, duty-free shopping, and Wi-Fi. Isle of Innisfree — Cruise-ferry. Serves Rosslare–Pembroke. Features restaurants, bars, cabins, and Wi-Fi for this crossing to Wales.

On-board amenities

Restaurants, cafés, and bars on all vessels
Premium cabins and standard inside cabins (Dublin–Holyhead, Rosslare–Pembroke, Dublin–Cherbourg)
Club Lounge with premium seating (Oscar Wilde on Dover–Calais)
Duty-free and onboard shopping
2-screen cinema (Ulysses)
Children’s play areas and family zones
Wi-Fi on all vessels
Accessible facilities and wheelchair-friendly lifts
Pet kennels and pet-friendly cabins (route dependent)

Destinations Covered by Irish Ferries

Wales — Holyhead & Pembroke

The Dublin–Holyhead route is the busiest and most frequent Irish Sea crossing, operated by Ulysses, James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, and the Dublin Swift. Holyhead is in Anglesey, North Wales, and offers easy motorway access to London — approximately 4.5 hours by road. The Rosslare–Pembroke route furthermore serves South Wales, with easy access to Cardiff and the M4 corridor into England.

France — Cherbourg

The Dublin–Cherbourg route is Irish Ferries’ direct connection from Ireland to mainland Europe, bypassing the UK entirely. W.B. Yeats operates year-round on this route with overnight crossings of approximately 18–19 hours. From Cherbourg, Paris is 3.5 hours by road. This route has additionally grown significantly in popularity since Brexit, as it allows Irish travellers to reach the EU without any UK border formalities.

France — Calais

Irish Ferries also operates the Dover–Calais English Channel crossing with up to 20 sailings daily. Calais gives direct access to northern France and easy motorway connections to Paris, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Moreover, short break fares to France start from just £54 each way.

United Kingdom — England & Beyond

Via Holyhead and Pembroke, Irish Ferries connects Ireland to the wider UK road and rail network. Consequently, it is the preferred choice for Irish travellers heading to London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and other UK destinations.

Irish Ferries Prices & Promotions

Irish Ferries ticket prices vary by route, travel date, cabin type, and how far in advance you book. Use FerryNav’s search to compare live fares on your chosen dates.

Price guide

Route	From	Crossing Time
Dublin – Holyhead	from €25 (foot) / car + passengers from ~€100	~3h15
Dublin – Holyhead (Swift)	from €25 (foot passengers only — no vehicles)	~1h49
Rosslare – Pembroke	from ~€80 return with car	~4h
Dublin – Cherbourg	from ~€200 return with car + cabin	~18–19h
Dover – Calais	from £54 each way with car	~1h30

All prices are indicative and subject to availability. Search FerryNav for the latest live fares.

Ticket types

Economy: Lowest available fare. Restrictions on amendments and cancellations.
Flexi: Full amendments available. Currently offered FREE at Economy price on Holyhead–Dublin and Pembroke–Rosslare departures in 2026 — an exceptional saving.

Promotions & discounts

Children under 4 travel FREE on all routes
Children aged 4–15 receive discounted fares
Free Flexi upgrade on Holyhead–Dublin and Pembroke–Rosslare departures in 2026 (booked before 10 November 2025)
France short break fares from £54 each way with a car
Early booking discount: save on 2026 France sailings when booked in advance

Tip: Dublin–Holyhead summer sailings and Dublin–Cherbourg departures sell out fast. Book cabins on overnight crossings as early as possible — they are the first to go.

Practical Information

Check-in & boarding

Irish Ferries does not currently offer web check-in on most routes. After booking, you receive a booking confirmation. You must collect your boarding pass at the Irish Ferries ticket desk at the port using your booking reference number.

Dublin to Holyhead: check-in closes 40 minutes before departure
Rosslare to Pembroke: check-in closes 45 minutes before departure
Dublin to Cherbourg: check-in closes 60 minutes before departure for overnight sailings
Dover to Calais: allow extra time for border control at Calais — this is processed after check-in and is a common source of delays for first-time travellers

Luggage

Irish Ferries allows 1 small piece of hand luggage and checked baggage up to 22 kg per item
On car ferries, vehicle passengers may leave luggage in their car on the car deck
Car decks are inaccessible during the crossing — take everything you need before boarding
Dublin Swift (fast craft): bring only what you can carry — luggage space is limited

Vehicles

Seven of Irish Ferries’ vessels accept cars, motorcycles, campervans, motorhomes, and caravans
Dublin Swift is foot-passenger-only — no vehicles accepted on this service
Declare your correct vehicle type and dimensions when booking
Unaccompanied vehicles cannot be transferred

Pets

Irish Ferries accepts pets on all routes. Policies, however, vary by crossing.

Ireland–UK routes: pets travel free in your vehicle or in free onboard kennels
Dublin–Cherbourg: kennels cost €30, €45, or €60 depending on kennel size — book in advance
Dover–Calais: pets can travel in your vehicle or use onboard kennels
Required for UK–EU travel: valid microchip, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

Travel documents

Valid passport required for all Ireland–UK and Ireland–France crossings
UK citizens need a valid passport for EU travel — national ID cards are not accepted
UK visitors to EU countries need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) — apply via gov.uk

Frequently Asked Questions — Irish Ferries

The Dublin to Holyhead crossing takes approximately 3 hours 15 minutes on the standard cruise-ferries (Ulysses, James Joyce, W.B. Yeats). The Dublin Swift fast craft completes the same crossing in just 1 hour 49 minutes, making it the fastest option on the Irish Sea. Up to 16 sailings per day operate on this route, making it one of the most frequent ferry crossings in Europe.

The Dublin Swift fast craft is the fastest ferry on the Irish Sea, crossing from Dublin to Holyhead in just 1 hour 49 minutes. However, it carries foot passengers only — no vehicles are accepted on this service. For passengers travelling with a car, the Ulysses, James Joyce, or W.B. Yeats serve the same route in approximately 3 hours 15 minutes.

Yes. Six of Irish Ferries’ seven vessels accept cars, motorcycles, campervans, motorhomes, and caravans. The only exception is the Dublin Swift fast craft, which is foot passengers only. Always declare your vehicle type and correct dimensions when booking.

Yes. On Ireland–UK routes, pets travel free of charge in your vehicle or in free onboard kennels. On Dublin–Cherbourg to France, kennels cost between €30 and €60 depending on size and must be booked in advance. Required documents for UK–EU travel include a microchip, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and an Animal Health Certificate.

Yes. Irish Ferries operates the Dublin–Cherbourg route year-round with W.B. Yeats. The overnight crossing takes approximately 18–19 hours and bypasses the UK entirely — consequently very popular since Brexit for Irish travellers wishing to avoid UK border formalities.

Ulysses is the largest ROPAX ferry on the Irish Sea. Built in 2001, it has capacity for 2,000 passengers and 1,342 cars. It features a 2-screen cinema, multiple restaurants, bars, duty-free shopping, children’s play area, and comfortable cabins. It serves Dublin–Holyhead and is named after the James Joyce novel.

For passengers travelling with a car, Irish Ferries is often significantly cheaper than flying when you factor in the cost of car hire at your destination. On the Dublin–Cherbourg route, taking the ferry directly to France is almost always more cost effective than flying when car hire costs are included. Moreover, Irish Ferries allows far more luggage than most airlines.

Irish Ferries does not currently offer web check-in. Collect your boarding pass at the Irish Ferries ticket desk at the port using your booking reference number. Arrive at least 40–45 minutes before departure on Irish Sea routes, and 60 minutes before on France routes. On Dover–Calais, additionally allow extra time for border control processing at Calais after check-in.

Irish Ferries — Customer Reviews & Reputation

Irish Ferries is consistently rated as one of the most reliable and comfortable ferry operators on the Irish Sea, with strong reviews across Trustpilot and travel forums. The company has built a particularly loyal customer base among Irish travellers who commute regularly between Dublin and Holyhead, as well as among families and holidaymakers travelling to France.

What passengers praise most

The W.B. Yeats is the most frequently praised vessel in the fleet, consistently highlighted for its modern interior design, quality dining, and comfortable premium cabins. The frequency of sailings on Dublin–Holyhead — up to 16 per day — is furthermore regularly cited as a major practical advantage. The James Joyce, the largest and fastest cruise-ferry on the Irish Sea since joining the fleet in 2025, has additionally received strong early feedback. The Dublin–Cherbourg direct route to France is particularly praised by Irish travellers post-Brexit as a stress-free way to reach continental Europe. The Oscar Wilde on Dover–Calais is moreover widely regarded as the most comfortable vessel on the English Channel route.

Areas for improvement noted by some passengers

Some passengers note that food and beverage prices on board can be high, particularly on shorter crossings. A small number of reviews note that the check-in process on busy summer departures can be slow. On Dover–Calais, some first-time travellers are additionally caught out by the need to allow extra time for border control at Calais after check-in.

Ratings & recognition

W.B. Yeats won the Ferry Concept Award and the Interior Architecture Award at the international Shippax Industry Awards 2019. Ulysses was awarded Most Significant Newbuild by Lloyd’s List Cruise & Ferry in 2001. Irish Ferries furthermore holds strong ratings across Trustpilot, Aferry, and DirectFerries for the quality and reliability of its Irish Sea and French routes.