Irish Ferries
Irish Ferries is the leading ferry operator to and from the Republic of Ireland and the brand under which the ferries division of Irish Continental Group (ICG), a Dublin-based maritime group, operates. The company links Ireland, Wales, England and France with four routes served by a fleet of eight vessels, including cruise ferries, ro-pax ships and a fast craft.
On NetFerry you can compare timetables and fares for every Irish Ferries route and book tickets online for foot passengers, cars, motorbikes, motorhomes and caravans, with support in English before, during and after your trip.
The company was founded in 1972 as Irish Continental Line, a joint venture between the state-owned shipping line Irish Shipping and Scandinavian partners, with a clear aim: to connect Ireland directly with continental Europe without travelling through Great Britain. The first service sailed from Rosslare to Le Havre in June 1973 aboard the Saint Patrick, a ship built specifically for the route.
Following the liquidation of Irish Shipping, the business was acquired in 1987 by a group of investors led by Eamonn Rothwell and listed on the stock exchange the following year as Irish Continental Group. The turning point came in 1992 with the acquisition of B&I Line, a state-owned company whose history dates back to 1836, which brought with it the Irish Sea routes to Wales. From then on, all passenger services adopted the Irish Ferries name and a fleet renewal programme got under way. In June 2021 the company launched its first route between the UK and France, Dover–Calais.
The network covers three sea corridors:
Irish Sea (Ireland–Wales). Dublin–Holyhead is the most frequent route: the crossing takes around 3 hours 15 minutes on the cruise ferries and 2 hours 15 minutes on the Dublin Swift fast craft, which operates seasonally. Further south, Rosslare–Pembroke links County Wexford with Pembrokeshire in around 4 hours.
Ireland–France. Dublin–Cherbourg is an overnight crossing with up to three departures a week all year round, linking the Irish capital directly with Normandy and the French motorway network without passing through the UK.
English Channel (England–France). Dover–Calais is the shortest route between the UK and mainland Europe, with up to 20 sailings a day and a crossing time of around an hour and a half.
Irish Ferries operates large vessels designed for the sea conditions of north-west Europe:
The cruise ferries offer self-service restaurants, cafés, bars and lounges; the W.B. Yeats also has an à la carte restaurant, the Lady Gregory. For extra comfort you can choose Club Class, a private lounge with sea views, complimentary drinks and snacks and priority boarding. Cabins in a range of grades are available on the overnight crossing to Cherbourg, while duty-free shopping is available on routes to and from Great Britain. Free satellite Wi-Fi is available on board. Pets are welcome, with kennels and dedicated facilities on the France route; facilities vary from ship to ship and we recommend booking space for your pet in advance.
In 2025 Irish Ferries was named best ferry company by the Irish Travel Trade Network for the eighteenth year in a row.
NetFerry compares availability and fares from Irish Ferries and more than a hundred other ferry operators in real time: for a trip between France and Ireland you can compare the Dublin sailing with other operators' routes to Rosslare and Cork and choose the port that best suits your itinerary. You can book online or with the help of our team on +39 0831 564 257, receive your tickets by email and manage your booking from your account.
131 weekly sailings
1 h 30 min
7 weekly sailings
18 h
131 weekly sailings
1 h 30 min
7 weekly sailings
19 h 15 min
56 weekly sailings
3 h 15 min
56 weekly sailings
3 h 25 min
13 weekly sailings
4 h 01 min
14 weekly sailings
4 h 01 min
Children between the ages of 4 and 15 travel half price.
50% discount
Children between the ages of 0 - 3 travel free, but will not have a designated seat or accommodation.
100% discount
❤️ Book by 1 February 2027 and enjoy:
✅ 15% off new Economy vehicle fares, single or return
✅ Valid on the whole Dover–Calais route, in both directions
✅ Travel available from 1 January to 31 December 2027: take your time to choose the perfect departure date
✅ Easy booking: just book at least 24 hours before travel
Book now and get ready for a special journey with Irish Ferries!
*Offer valid for new Economy vehicle fare bookings. Discount not applicable to Short Break, Flexi and Flexi+ fares, environmental charges or extras (pets, Club Class), and not valid for freight. Fare terms apply to amendments and cancellations; changes to travel dates will be priced at the fares applicable at the time of the amendment. Subject to availability and not valid in conjunction with any other promotional offer. Irish Ferries reserves the right to amend or withdraw this offer at any time.
15% discount - valid until 01 Feb 2027
Do you want to know more about IRISH FERRIES?
IRISH FERRIES operate ferry services to Calais, Cherbourg, Dover, Dublin, Holyhead, Pembroke, Rosslare.
IRISH FERRIES depart from Dover, Dublin, Calais, Cherbourg, Holyhead, Rosslare, Pembroke.
Right now IRISH FERRIES offer: Discounts for children under 15 (50%), Children up to 3 years old travel for free (100%), ❄️ Early Booking 2027: Calais–Dover! (15%) .