Frequently asked questions

Ireland/Britain Routes

All prices on board are in Euro. We accept both Euro and Sterling as payment. On board currency exchange rates apply for payment by sterling. Bureau de Change facilities are available on board all 3 ships serving these routes.

Ireland/France Routes

All prices on board are in Euro and we only accept Euro currency as payment.

• All Irish Ferries vessels are equipped with medical supplies in accordance with the latest Medical Store Regulations. Supplementing the medical facilities on board is a full 24-hour radio medical service.
  
  
• All Irish Ferries Captains and Officers receive comprehensive first aid training. In addition a first aid team of designated personnel have completed an intensive para-medical course. All courses are broad based, designed for ship personnel, and cover a full range of medical emergencies.
  
  
• Our vessels travel sufficiently close to the coastline to be within range of helicopter assistance at all times.

• Irish Ferries operate to the highest safety standards, as set down by the International Maritime Organisation and monitored by the regulatory authority in each country.
  
  
• We advise all passengers to be aware of the on board Assembly Stations and to listen carefully to all announcements by the crew.

Irish Ferries have put in place rules, regulations and provisions to ensure that the laws relating to smoking are strictly observed on board.

• Smoking is not permitted in any inside passenger area on board our ships.
• Passengers wishing to smoke may do so on the outside passenger decks where there are dedicated areas for smokers.
• This regulation also applies to the use of electronic cigarettes.

Petrol & Diesel

Spare cans of fuel or diesel are not allowed in passenger vehicles.

Cars powered by multi fuel hybrids (LPG & LNG)

Vehicles propelled by LPG ( liquid petroleum gas) and LNG ( liquid natural gas either compressed or refrigerated) are allowed to travel. The cylinders should be in a closed position when the vehicle is on the ship and all cylinders should be properly secured to the vehicle. Only recognised manufactured models with standard specification approved by a recognised authority will be accepted for carriage.

Cars powered by multi fuel hybrids (CNG)

Vehicles propelled by CNG (compressed natural gas) are allowed to travel. The cylinders should be in a closed position when the vehicle is on the ship and all cylinders should be properly secured to the vehicle. Only recognised manufactured models with standard specification approved by a recognised authority will be accepted for carriage

Gas Cylinders ( Butane and Propane) for private use only ( caravans/camping etc)

Each vehicle is allowed a maximum of 47kgs of gas (maximum 3  cylinders). The gas flow must be shut off at the cylinders when the vehicle is on the ship. The cylinders must be adequately secured against movement and stored away from sources of ignition and heat

Helium Gas Bottle, including balloonists equipment

Cruise ferries
Helium Gas bottles are allowed on the cruise ferries only. If you intend to travel with a helium gas bottle please let us know before travel commences. For balloonists propane/helium cylinders are allowed but confined to a maximum of 3 cylinders the combined weight of which must not exceed 47kg.

Dublin Swift
Helium is  not allowed on the Dublin Swift .

Medical Oxygen for personal use

Cruise Ferries
Passengers travelling on any of our cruise ferries in a private vehicle may carry a maximum of 6 size "F" or smaller cylinders containing compressed Oxygen UN1072. Passengers must carry a letter from their doctor confirming that they require medical oxygen. The onus is on the passenger to ensure that their own medical oxygen cylinder is in good working order. Passengers must inform Irish Ferries at the time of booking and the use of oxygen on board is only permitted in non-smoking areas designated by the Master.

Dublin Swift
Medical oxygen cylinders for personal use are not allowed on the Dublin Swift. We allow mobile Oxygen compressors.

Other Gases

There are a range of other gases, some of which may be acceptable when shipped in a freight vehicle. If you have any other type of gas, other than those listed above  please contact the Irish Ferries Freight Department, who will advise you if we can carry the gas.

Divers.

Cruise Ferries
A maximum of 6 cylinders may be carried per vehicle, of size “F” or smaller, containing either UN1002 Air Compressed, UN1072 Oxygen, or UN3156 Compressed gas, Oxidising NOS (Oxygen, Nitrogen).

Cylinders must be declared at check-in, so that the ships officer can be notified. No other dangerous goods (e.g class 2.1 flammable gases, class 3 flammable liquids), may be carried in the same vehicle as the diving gases.

Dublin Swift
Diving gas cylinders are not allowed on the Dublin Swift

DIY and household effects.

We allow flammable paint and paint related material (maximum 10 litres combined). Disposable Gas receptacle (Maximum 1 litre), for blow torch or similar.

Fire Extinguishers.

Small fire extinguishers up to a maximum total weight of 5 kg per vehicle or caravan or trailer are allowed.

Fireworks.

Fireworks are not allowed in Ireland unless you have a professional permit for a licensed display or event. Therefore Irish Ferries do not permit fireworks in private vehicles on any of our vessels.

Enquiries for the shipment of fireworks should be referred to the Irish Ferries freight department.

Lifejackets and flares.

Flares and lifejackets which are classified as dangerous goods must be within test date regulations. The maximum  allowed per vehicle is  6 lifejackets, 6 handheld flares, 4x parachute flares and 2 smoke floats for use in leisure craft only.

Items carried in personal luggage.

Personal grooming or hygiene products, e.g hairsprays, toiletries are all acceptable.

Foot Passengers.

With the exception of passengers with medical conditions, foot passengers and passengers who are in a coach party, can only carry personal grooming products in their luggage.

Irish Ferries operate to the highest safety standards, as set down by the International Maritime Organisation and monitored by the regulatory authority in each country.

Fuel - Spare containers of fuel ( petrol or diesel) are not allowed in passenger vehicles.

Guns and Firearms - Motorists are only permitted to bring sporting guns on board. You must declare the guns at check-in and they should be left in the boot of your vehicle for the duration of the voyage. Passengers travelling without vehicles are not allowed to bring sporting guns on board.

All firearms should be accompanied by a current valid Firearm, Shotgun or Registered Firearms Dealers (RFD) certificate and these should be available for inspection on request by security personnel at the port.

If you are travelling on our Dover – Calais route you must email Dover@irishferries.com in advance of your arrival to advise you will be carrying a firearm and to confirm that you will have the required documentation ready for inspection.

Email must include your Irish Ferries booking reference number and vehicle registration.

Ammunition - Ammunition is not allowed on any Irish Ferries vessel. If you bring ammunition with you to the port it will either be confiscated and disposed of ( if the facility is available ) or you will be refused travel. Passengers are also not permitted to carry the following items into the Port Security Restricted Area and onto the Public Area of the vessel:

(A) Pointed edged weapons & sharp objects, pointed or bladed articles capable of causing injury including:

• Kilt pins
• Axes & Hatches
• Arrows & Darts 
• Crampons (grappling iron, hooked bar of iron, or plate with iron spikes used in mountaineering)
• Harpoons & Spears
• Ice axes & ice picks
• Ice skates
• Lockable or flick knives with blades of any length
• Knives, including ceremonial, religious and hunting knives, made of metal or any other material strong enough to be used as a potential weapon
• Meat cleavers 
• Machetes
• Open razors and blades (excluding safety or disposable razors with blades enclosed in cartridges)
• Sabres, swords & swordsticks
• Scalpels
• Scissors with blades of any length
• Ski and walking/hiking poles
• Throwing stars
• Tradesman's tools that have the potential to be used as a pointed or edged weapon e.g. drill and drill bits, box cutters, utility knives, all saws, crowbars, hammers, spanners and blow torches.

(B) Blunt instruments, any blunt instrument capable of causing injury including:

• Baseball and softball bats 
• Clubs or batons - rigid or flexible - e.g. Billy clubs, blackjacks (truncheon of leather covered lead with flexible shaft), night sticks & batons
• Cricket Bats
• Golf clubs
• Hockey and Hurley sticks
• Lacrosse sticks
• Kayak and Canoe paddles
• Skateboards
• Billiard, snooker and pool cues.
• Fishing rods
• Martial arts equipment e.g. knuckle dusters, clubs, coshes, rice flails, num-chucks, cubatons, kubasaunts.

Car Passengers

Passengers travelling by car may bring as much personal luggage as they can fit into their vehicle.

Foot-Passengers

Dublin / Holyhead route

Foot-passengers may only bring small items of personal luggage on board (handbag, laptop, baby changing bag etc). Larger items of luggage must be transported in suitcases/bags/rucksacks/wheel base cases and put through our luggage handling facilities. We do not carry loose items of any weight except for pushchairs/buggies used for the sole purpose of transporting young children.

For your comfort all luggage put through this system is ticketed. Passengers are responsible for getting their own luggage to and from the luggage carousels and they must be able to comfortably carry it themselves. Please note that luggage is limited to 2 suitcases per person and each suitcase/bag must not weigh more than 22kg.

The luggage will be processed through our luggage handling facilities at check-in and may be collected at the luggage carousel in the terminal building on arrival. All items of personal luggage should be well labelled. Please note that the luggage is stowed on the car deck so you will have no access to it during the voyage.

Day trip passengers - passengers without cars may take one small piece hand luggage only (handbag, laptop, baby changing bag).

Rosslare / Pembroke route and Dublin France route
Passengers must be able to comfortably carry their own luggage and are responsible for getting it from the terminal building to the ship and vice versa. Access to and from the ship is either via a covered walkway or by special dedicated bus from the terminal building to the ship.

We carry all types of passenger vehicles. Please ensure that you select the correct vehicle size (including all appendages such as bicycle racks, tow bars roof racks) as we need to know the amount of space to set aside for you on the car deck.

Vehicles declared incorrectly at the time of booking risk being refused boarding or may be subject to additional charges at the port.

Cars

Up to 1.90M High
Any Car, MPV or 4x4 where the height including any roof items does not exceed 1.9m

Up to 2.25M High
Any car, MPV or 4x4 where the height including any roof items does not exceed 2.25m 

Over 2.25M High
Any car, MPV or 4x4 where the height including any roof items exceeds 2.25m

*Tip: put your bicycles on a rear-rack to reduce your overall height, and price.

Vans

Up to 2.25M high and 6.00M long Motorist van fares are available up to 2.25M high and 6.00M long

Up to 2.6M high and 6.00M long Motorist van fares are available up to 2.6M high and 6.00M long

2.6M high or over 6.00M long Vans which are 2.6M high or over 6.00M long are classified as freight and must be booked via our freight department.

Vans and other commercial vehicles carrying freight goods, or in excess of these dimensions must book on irishferriesfreight.com. 
Be aware of the government guidelines on carrying commercial or chargeable goods – see Freight for more information. 

Camper vans/dormobiles/motorhomes

Up to 2.25M high and less than 8.00M long Where the height including any roof items does not exceed 2 25M high and the length does not exceed 8.00M

Over 2.25M high and less than 8.00M long Where the height including roof items exceeds 2.25M and the length is less than 8.00 M 

Over 8.00M long Where the length of the vehicle including rear racks is over 8.00M long but less than 12m long The height is irrelevant.”

Any vehicles over 12m long must be booked at freight rates.

Minibus (multi seat )

Up to 2.25M high and less than 8.00M long Where the height including any roof items does not exceed 2.25M (7ft 6ins) and the length does not exceed 8.00M (26ft 8ins)

Over 2.25M high and less than 8.00M long Where the height including roof items exceeds 2.25M (7ft 6ins) but the length does not exceed 8.00M (26ft 8ins)

Over 8.00M long Where the length of the vehicle including rear racks is over 8.00M long (26ft 8ins) but less than 12m long (39 ft 5ins) The height is irrelevant.”

Any vehicles over 12m long must be booked at freight rates.

Irish Ferries operate to the highest safety standards, as set down by the International Maritime Organisation and monitored by the regulatory authority in each country.

If you are travelling on our Dover – Calais route you must email Dover@irishferries.com in advance of your arrival to advise you will be carrying a firearm and to confirm that you will have the required documentation ready for inspection.

Email must include your Irish Ferries booking reference number and vehicle registration.

Guns and Firearms - Motorists are only permitted to bring sporting guns on board. You must declare the guns at check-in and they should be left in the boot of your vehicle for the duration of the voyage. Passengers travelling without vehicles are not allowed to bring sporting guns on board.

All firearms should be accompanied by a current valid Firearm, Shotgun or Registered Firearms Dealers (RFD) certificate and these should be available for inspection on request by security personnel at the port.

Ammunition - Ammunition is not allowed on any Irish Ferries vessel. If you bring ammunition with you to the port it will be confiscated and disposed of.

If you intend travelling with horses and other livestock you cannot book a passenger fare.

You must make your booking via our freight department. The telephone number is +353 (0) 818 221560. For further contact details go to www.irishferriesfreight.com.

However if you are just bringing an empty horse trailer you may book a passenger fare.

Free WiFi Onboard

We are delighted to offer Free 20 minutes of BASIC WiFi in designated public areas onboard. Check your mail, while you sail. Select network ‘PREMIUM WiFi’’ and then connect and browse the web.

Although this is a state of the art satellite system, it is worth remembering that it will never be as fast as you might enjoy at home or in the office. Remember we are moving across the sea, with variable atmospheric and weather conditions, all of which will affect the link to a satellite at least 35,000km away. And in addition, you are sharing this service with everyone else onboard too. So, to help ensure that the service is as good as we can deliver it, please be modest in your usage. Access to sites that stream data (e.g.: YouTube, Netflix, online games, Skype etc.) is restricted for the benefit of all.

HOW TO CONNECT

For FREE WiFi

• Make sure that you are in a designated WiFi location onboard
• Enable Wi-Fi on your device and choose the 'PREMIUM WiFi’ network
• Click Connect

For PREMIUM WiFi

• Select the network 'Premium WiFi' and then connect
• Choose from the options depending on your Wifi needs
• Follow the instructions and pay online.

Please ask at Reception if you need any further information about our WiFi services. Terms and conditions of use apply. To avoid any additional charges, we recommend that you turn off data roaming and use WiFi instead. The PREMIUM WiFi service is provided by Purple WiFi, a 3^rd party provider.

Data connections while on the Marine Network are charged by your own mobile service provider. 

For safety reasons the following travel restrictions apply to pregnant women:

• Up to 28 weeks - No restrictions
• 28 to 31 weeks - Doctors certificate needed confirming that Mother-to be is fit to travel 
• 32 weeks and over -Travel not allowed.

Please note it is the responsibility of all pregnant women to advise Irish Ferries of their condition and to adhere to these restrictions.

We are delighted to carry motorbikes on all of our ships and routes and we have some very competitive fares in place. Motorbikes, like all other vehicles, are carried subject to our conditions of travel.

It is Irish Ferries policy that motorbikes are secured on board all the time.

On our cruise vessels - Mv Ulysses, and Mv Oscar Wilde, bike owners will be supplied with adequate securing equipment on the car deck to secure their own bikes and crew members will assist where required. Before the ship departs crew members will routinely check all motorbikes to ensure that they are lashed in a safe and secure manner to prevent any damage to other vehicles or to the ship and will adjust the securing equipment if necessary.
Because of the high speed nature of the HSC Dublin Swift, members of our deck crew will secure the motorbikes on board this vessel.

Please note that the securing equipment is the property of Irish Ferries and must remain on board after use. However motorbike owners may bring their own securing equipment if they prefer. If you need help please seek the assistance of the Loading Officer on the car deck prior to the ships departure.

View our motorbike boarding video below  

Booking Cots - Irish Sea

Due to the shorter sea crossings on the Irish Sea routes we do not provide cots.

Booking Cots - French Service

If you have booked a cabin you can reserve a cot at a cost of €10 per crossing. The cots are small and are really only suitable for children under 2 years. Bedding will be supplied but many passengers prefer to bring their own.

A limited number of cots are available on the ship.

If you make your booking in person or by telephone please inform us immediately that you will require a cot. The cot will be reserved for you on the reservations system and a cabin suitable for a cot will be allocated to you.

Most cabins on WB. Yeats are suitable for cots however some of our 4 bed cabins can not take a cot if all beds are in use.