Irish Ferries
Ireland’s largest ferry company, part of the Irish Continental Group. Irish Ferries sails between Dublin and Holyhead, Rosslare and Pembroke Dock, Dublin and Cherbourg, and on the Dover–Calais Channel route.
Irish Ferries Routes
| Route | Crossing Time | Vehicles | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin → Holyhead | 2h 15m | Cars & foot passengers | Book |
| Dover → Calais | 1h 30m | Cars & foot passengers | Book |
| Calais → Dover | 1h 30m | Cars & foot passengers | Book |
| Holyhead → Dublin | 3h 15m | Cars & foot passengers | Book |
| Pembroke Dock → Rosslare | 4h | Cars & foot passengers | |
| Dublin → Cherbourg | 17h – 19h | Cars & foot passengers | Book |
Irish Ferries sailing patterns
- Dublin → Holyhead
Stena Line advertises Superferries (Stena Adventurer and Stena Estrid) 8 times a day between Dublin and Holyhead, taking 3 hours 15 minutes. Irish Ferries runs up to 4 cruise-ferry sailings a day on Ulysses (about 3½ hours), and also has the Dublin Swift fast ferry (just over 2 hours).
Source: Stena Line and Irish Ferries Dublin–Holyhead route pages, checked 2026-09-28
- Dover → Calais
Dozens of sailings a day across three operators. P&O Ferries runs a minimum of 11 sailings a day (up to 15), crossing in about 1 hour 30 minutes. DFDS advertises up to 30 daily crossings (about 1 hour 40 minutes). Irish Ferries offers up to 20 sailings a day on Oscar Wilde and Isle of Inishmore (about 1 hour 30 minutes).
Only P&O Ferries carries foot passengers, on three sailings a day from Dover (09:45, 13:40 and 16:40 as of October 2026).
Source: P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries Dover–Calais route pages, checked 2026-10-15
- Calais → Dover
Many sailings a day across three operators. P&O Ferries runs up to 11 Calais–Dover sailings a day (about 90 minutes). DFDS advertises up to 30 daily Dover–Calais crossings (about 100 minutes). Irish Ferries offers up to 20 sailings a day on Oscar Wilde and Isle of Inishmore (about 1 hour 30 minutes).
Source: P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries route pages, checked 2026-10-15
- Holyhead → Dublin
Stena Line sails 8 times a day (Stena Adventurer and Stena Estrid), taking 3 hours 15 minutes; Irish Ferries adds four cruise-ferry sailings a day each way.
Source: Stena Line and Irish Ferries Holyhead–Dublin route pages, checked 2026-10-03
- Pembroke Dock → Rosslare
Irish Ferries runs 2 crossings daily between Pembroke and Rosslare, port to port in just over 4 hours.
Source: Irish Ferries Rosslare–Pembroke route page, checked 2026-10-03
Vessels on these routes: Dublin Swift (Fastcraft), Ulysses, Oscar Wilde, Isle of Inishmore, W.B. Yeats, Isle of Innisfree
Irish Ferries Network Map
6 routes on FerryConnect, 6 international; 6 carry vehicles; 1 with overnight sailings.
Ports Irish Ferries Sails From
Onboard Passenger Amenities
🚗 Vehicle Regulations
Carries cars, motorbikes, campervans, caravans and bicycles. Check height and length limits and declare vehicle dimensions accurately when booking.
🐕 Pet & Animal Travel Policy
On the Irish Sea routes pets can travel with motorists (staying in the vehicle or booked into a pet area), and with foot passengers and motorcyclists only when booked into a kennel or the Pet Den. Foot passengers bring the pet to the ship in a rigid carrier. Pet Dens are on Ulysses, James Joyce and Isle of Innisfree; kennels on Ulysses and Dublin Swift; pet cabins on James Joyce (up to 2 pets). Add pets when booking: up to 5 per booking.
Pets on Irish Ferries: Pet Den, kennels and pet cabins
On the Irish Sea routes, motorists can leave pets in the vehicle or book a pet area; foot passengers and motorcyclists can bring a pet only if it is booked into a kennel or the Pet Den, and must carry it to the ship in a rigid pet carrier. The Pet Den, an indoor space for pets and owners with access to an outdoor walkway, is on Ulysses, James Joyce and Isle of Innisfree. Car-deck kennels are on Ulysses and Dublin Swift, and pet cabins (up to 2 pets) on James Joyce. Space is limited: add pets when you book, up to 5 per booking.
Irish Ferries on Dover–Calais
On the English Channel, Irish Ferries offers up to 20 sailings a day between Dover and Calais on Oscar Wilde and Isle of Inishmore, with a crossing of about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Irish Ferries FAQs
Can foot passengers take a dog on Irish Ferries?
Yes on the Irish Sea routes, but only if the pet is booked into a kennel or the Pet Den, and it must be carried to the ship in a rigid pet carrier.
Which Irish Ferries ships have pet cabins?
James Joyce, with up to 2 pets per cabin. The Pet Den is on Ulysses, James Joyce and Isle of Innisfree, and kennels on Ulysses and Dublin Swift.
Checked 2026-10-02 against: Irish Ferries: pet travel FAQ (Ireland–Britain) · Irish Ferries: Dover–Calais route. Policies change; confirm with the operator before booking.