Famous People From Ireland Dublin

Best car ferry routes from Ireland

Ireland has six major ports for international ferry shipping. These are Cork, Rosslare, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin in the Republic and Belfast and Larne in Northen Ireland. Ferry crossings can be by car by Roll-on Roll-off, or as a walk-on and -off passenger. Ferry routes run from the West coast of the UK and Northern France to Ireland and back. Special offers occur but prices may also go up at peak times. High season, July to August, is usually more expensive, as are Friday, Saturday and Sunday sailings. Online bookings are generally cheaper.



Stenaline's routes are to Dun Laoghaire and Dublin from Holyhead, Rosslare from Fishguard, Belfast from Stranraer and Larne from Fleetwood. Stenaline occasionally has special offers, such as students travel for free. Fares are divided into economy, flexi and premium. Economy tickets are cheapest, but do not permit refunds in case of cancellation or free date changes.



Brittany Ferries offers a fourteen hour journey to Cork from Roscoff in Brittany, France. One way fares for four people in a car are an economical option if you are travelling with friends. Special offers are on their website and booking early can be cheaper.



The best way to get the cheapest tickets on Irish Ferries is to book online more than 28 days prior to sailing. Fares are lower midweek. One-way car and motorist fares are available to Dublin or Rosslare from Wales.



There are also four car ferry services between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These operate from the South West of Scotland and North West of England to the ports of Larne and Belfast.



The Cairnryan to Larne, Troon to Larne and Stranraer to Belfast services offer the shortest crossing times. The Cairnryan to Larne route is operated by the vessels 'European Causeway' and 'European Highlander' which takes two hours to sail between the two ports. Stena Line's High Speed Ship (HSS) 'Stena Voyager' sails Stranraer to Belfast in 120 minutes while the conventional ferry 'Stena Caledonia' completes the crossing in 170 minutes.



Norfolk Line's ships 'Lagan Viking' and 'Mersey Viking' take eight hours to travel between Liverpool and Belfast. Passengers can choose to make the crossing either during the day or overnight. The Stena vessels 'Pioneer', 'Leader' and 'Seafarer' also take eight hours to travel between Fleetwood and Larne and offer passengers a choice of day and night sailings.



Motorists can drive into Belfast from Larne in 30 minutes and the port is ideally situated for tourists planning to spend time on Northern Ireland's scenic North coast as it lies at the start of the famous 'Antrim Coast Road'. The Stena and Norfolk Line terminals in Belfast are located at Fort William on the North foreshore of Belfast Lough. Disembarking passengers can join the southbound M2 motorway to travel into the city centre or the northbound lanes to travel towards Templepatrick and Antrim. Motorists taking their cars to Northern Ireland can use the English motorway system to access ferry services from Liverpool and Fleetwood.



Consider taking the ferry and travel in comfort with your car. As with any type of travel though, it is important to make sure your car is in good condition before driving for long distances. Make sure your tires are filled with air correctly and take care of any damage that needs repaired, such as a cracked windshield.



Daniel Collins writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Daniel Collins writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Kilmainham project Dublin Ireland

Next page: Fanning Ireland Genealogy

Bookmark/Share This Page:

Famous People From Ireland Dublin News