Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about irish ferries crossings, bookings, onboard services and holiday packages — answered clearly in one place.

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Bookings

Booking with Irish Ferries is straightforward. You can reserve your crossing in several ways:

  • Online through our booking form — available 24 hours a day
  • By telephone on +353 1 417 9696 during office hours
  • In person at our Dublin office: 20 Molesworth St, Dublin D02 T250

Have your travel dates, preferred departure time, number of passengers, and vehicle details ready to complete the process quickly.

Bookings

Yes, amendments and cancellations are accepted. The applicable fees depend on how far in advance you make the change and the fare type purchased. Flexible fares allow free changes up to 24 hours before departure.

To amend or cancel, contact us via the details above or visit our Refund Policy page for full information on applicable charges.

Bookings

We accept all major credit and debit cards including Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Bank transfers are available for group and corporate bookings. All online transactions are secured with SSL encryption.

Bookings

We recommend arriving at the port at least 90 minutes before departure for foot passengers and 2 hours before if you are travelling with a vehicle. Check-in closes 45 minutes prior to sailing for all passengers.

During busy summer periods, additional check-in time is advisable to avoid delays.

Routes

Irish Ferries currently operates the following routes:

  • Dublin – Holyhead (Ireland to Wales) — up to 6 sailings daily
  • Rosslare – Pembroke (Ireland to Wales) — daily sailings
  • Rosslare – Cherbourg (Ireland to France) — several weekly crossings
  • Rosslare – Paris Ouistreham (Ireland to Normandy, France) — seasonal

View full timetables and available dates on our Packages page.

Routes

Crossing times vary by route:

  • Dublin – Holyhead (Swift): approximately 2 hours
  • Dublin – Holyhead (Cruise Ferry): approximately 3 hours 15 minutes
  • Rosslare – Pembroke: approximately 4 hours
  • Rosslare – Cherbourg: approximately 18–19 hours
  • Rosslare – Ouistreham: approximately 18 hours
Routes

The Dublin–Holyhead and Rosslare–Pembroke routes operate year-round with daily frequency. The France routes operate on a seasonal basis, typically from March through to November. We recommend contacting us for specific availability outside peak season.

Onboard

Yes, all our cruise ferries carry cars, motorhomes, motorcycles and coaches. Vehicle dimensions and overall weight must be declared accurately at the time of booking. Oversized or extra-tall vehicles may attract an additional charge.

The high-speed Swift service on the Dublin–Holyhead route is a foot-passenger only vessel and does not carry cars.

Onboard

Cabins are available on overnight and long-distance sailings including the France routes. Options range from standard interior cabins to spacious en-suite exterior cabins with sea views. Cabin categories include:

  • Standard interior cabin (2 or 4 berth)
  • Economy cabin (reclining seats, shared facilities)
  • Premium en-suite with sea view
  • Accessible cabins for passengers with mobility needs

Cabins sell out quickly during peak season — we recommend booking early.

Onboard

Our cruise ferries offer a range of dining experiences to suit every taste and budget:

  • The Restaurant: Full-service à la carte dining featuring Irish and European cuisine
  • Bistro Café: Casual all-day dining with hot meals, soups, sandwiches and pastries
  • Grab & Go: Quick snacks, hot drinks and light bites
  • Bar & Lounge: Cocktails, wines, Irish whiskey and live music on selected sailings
Onboard

Yes. Wi-Fi is available across all our cruise ferries. A complimentary browsing package is included with all cabin bookings. Standalone Wi-Fi packages can be purchased onboard or pre-booked at a discounted rate when making your reservation.

Packages

Irish Ferries offers a curated selection of holiday packages combining ferry crossings with accommodation, tours and experiences. Current packages include:

  • Britain Explorer: Ferry + hotel combinations across England, Scotland and Wales
  • France Drive: Self-drive holidays through Normandy, Brittany and beyond
  • City Breaks: Short stays in London, Paris, Edinburgh and more
  • Camping & Touring: Ferry + campsite packages for motorhomes and caravans

Browse all options on our Packages page.

Packages

Absolutely. Our travel specialists can tailor any itinerary to your preferences — whether that's choosing specific accommodation, adding excursions, extending your stay or combining multiple routes. Contact our team to discuss a bespoke package.

Packages

Yes. Groups of 10 or more passengers qualify for preferential group fares on crossings. Corporate accounts and school travel groups are also catered for. Please submit a group enquiry or call +353 1 417 9696 to speak with our groups desk directly.

Packages

We partner with selected travel insurance providers and can recommend appropriate cover when you book a holiday package with us. While insurance is not included by default, our team can guide you through available options. We strongly recommend that all passengers travel with appropriate cover in place.

Still have questions? Our team is ready to help you plan your journey.

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