Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

At Irish Ferries, we value our customers and recognise the importance of protecting their data.

We publish a Privacy Notice on our website to better help you understand how we collect your information, how we use it, and how you can control how we do that. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring your data is managed securely and treated with respect in line with the new EU General Data Protection Regulation, which came into effect on the 25th May 2018.

Any changes to this policy will be notified by email to our customer marketing mailing list and will be published on our website.

You can book on-line, by telephone or through any of our offices. Bookings made by telephone or in person at our ports and offices will include a service fee of €15/£10 for motorist bookings or €5/£5 for foot / cyclist / motorcycle and sail rail bookings.

Passenger information required to make a booking:

Irish Ferries is required by law to record specific details of every passenger travelling. For this reason, we will need to know the following details for each person on your booking:

Full name, Gender, Age category (adult, child 4-15, infant 0-3), Nationality (as per passport), Date of Birth and any special needs / reduced mobility requirements.

Currency:

Fares are priced in the currency of the port of departure. The first port of departure determines the currency in which the booking is priced,

• Euro for a departure from Ireland to France
• Euro for a departure from France to Ireland
• Euro for a departure from Ireland to Britain
• Sterling for a departure from Britain to Ireland.
• Sterling for a departure from Dover to Calais
• Euro for a departure from Calais to Dover
  • Customers on our Dover - Calais route now have the option to change their booking currency to GBP or EUR.

Contact us:

If you require assistance in making a booking, here is a list of our contact telephone numbers, frequently used email addresses, as well as the addresses of our walk-in offices.

In 2020, a cancellation credit was granted exceptionally against non-refundable fares cancelled due to Covid-19 related restrictions. This credit attracts the following terms & conditions:

Promotional and Sale fares may attract special terms & conditions for amendments / cancellations. Standard terms & conditions of booking and travel apply.

For Amendment information please click here  - Fare Terms: Economy, Flexi, and Flexi+

Lending you a helping hand

Whatever you need we will do our best to help make travel on our services as easy and comfortable as possible for passengers with reduced mobility and special needs.

In addition to mobility and sensory restrictions our disability facilities are available to passengers with mental health problems, specific learning difficulties and medical conditions which may have an impact on day-to-day activities. In order to assist we need be aware of your needs. So please let us know at least 2 days before you travel.

If you are making a booking at our ports and require any assistance, please let our staff know and we will do our best to accommodate.

Below are some links to information to help you plan your trip.

Facilities available and the best way to access them

Sunflower lanyard - Hidden Disabilities

Information for each ship

Medical oxygen for personal use

Discounts Available

Travelling with a Guide, Hearing or Assistance Dog

Facilities available & the best way to access them

• Wheelchair accessible ports and ships.
• Wheelchairs are available for short term passenger use in our ports and on our ships
• Specially adapted public toilets in our ports and on our ships.
• Dedicated seating areas on our ships.
• Specially adapted cabins on our cruise ferries.
• Hearing loops at all our reception desks on board and ashore.
• Registered guide dogs allowed on the passenger decks.

Please contact us at least 2 working days (48 working hours) before travel commences. Self-identification is the best way for us to help you. If you have reduced mobility your booking will be flagged, and we will try to position your vehicle close to the passenger lift on-board thereby making the transfer from the car deck to the upper passenger deck areas as easy as possible. Send an email to: disabilityofficer@irishferries.com

If you are travelling as a wheelchair passenger, please make sure to add “Passenger with Wheelchair” to your booking.

Please be aware that there are limitations to the service we can reasonably offer and deliver.

During the crossing our crews will be happy to advise and assist. Please contact the reception desk on board

Sunflower lanyard - Hidden Disabilities

If you are a customer with a hidden disability or have a family member with a hidden disability, help is always at hand in our ports or onboard our ships.

Sunflower lanyards

We are pleased to be able to offer you a sunflower lanyard to wear on your journey through our Ports and onboard our ships. Wearing a sunflower lanyard allows our Teams to recognise that you have a hidden disability without you needing to declare it. This allows you to travel independently through the Port and onboard our ships, whilst knowing that if you need any additional support during your journey, any of our Team will be able to support you. Our Teams have been trained to recognise the sunflower lanyard and act accordingly.

How to pick up a lanyard

If you're travelling with ourselves in the near future, we'd be happy to issue you with a lanyard. To allow time to process your request please allow 2-3 working days. A note will be applied to your booking and then the lanyard will be available for collection when you arrive at check-in for your sailing. For imminent travel, lanyards can be collected at the ticket desk in the terminal building.

Send an email to: disabilityofficer@irishferries.com

Ship Information:  

HSC Dublin Swift

• There is one wheelchair access platform on board which is situated at the back of the ship.
• The lift goes up to main passenger deck and enters the main passenger deck at the back of the ship which is in the Lafayette Café area.
• It can accommodate wheelchairs up to 1.48m long and 1.1m wide.
• Full time wheelchair users can now access the Club Class lounge on the Dublin Swift.
• To request parking close to the lift onboard, we can only guarantee vehicle placement beside it for full time wheelchair dependent passengers. We will do our best for all other special needs requests but there are limitations to what we can provide.
• To place such a request, please email disabilityofficer@irishferries.com.
• If you are travelling with a mobility reduced passenger or very young children or children with special needs we suggest that you consider travelling on one of the cruise ferries instead as the car deck space is more generous on the cruise ferries and the embarkation and dis-embarkation pace is more leisurely.
• Due to the nature of the fast craft medical oxygen cylinders for personal use are not allowed on board.

Mv Ulysses

• This is a very large cruise ferry. The car deck space is generous and loading is done at an efficient pace.
• There are 4 lifts from the car deck to the passenger decks.  If you have pre- requested vehicle placement close to a lift you will be asked at check-in to activate your car hazard lights. Your vehicle will be called on board when a suitable placement beside a lift becomes available.
• There are three specially adapted wheelchair accessible toilets on board – one is on deck 11 close to the Club Class lounge and the other two are on deck 9.
• Club Class on the Ulysses is very suitable for full time wheelchair dependent passengers as a lift goes directly from the car deck to the Club Class lounge which is situated on deck 11.
• There are four specially adapted wheelchair accessible cabins on board. These cabins are situated on passenger deck 10. There is direct lift access to the cabin deck. 
• The shop, cinemas and restaurants are on deck 9 - there is direct lift access between all decks.
• There is a special seating area for reduced mobility passengers on deck 9 beside the reception desk.

Mv Isle of Inishmore

• This is a large cruise ferry. The car deck space is generous and loading is done at an efficient pace.
• There are 4 lifts from the car deck to the passenger decks.  If you have pre-requested vehicle placement close to a lift you will be asked at check-in to activate your car hazard lights. Your vehicle will be called on board when a suitable placement beside a lift becomes available.
• There are two specially adapted wheelchair accessible toilets on board – one is on deck 7 and the other is on deck 8.
• The Club Class lounge is on deck 11. There is no lift from deck 9 to deck 11 so Club class is not suitable for full time wheelchair dependent passengers. The Club lounge is accessed by stairs – approximately 40 steps.
• There is one specially adapted wheelchair accessible cabin on board. This cabin is situated on deck 9 close to the lift.  
• The shop, restaurant, lounge bar and café are on deck 7 and 8.
• There is a special seating are for reduced mobility passengers in the motorist lounge on deck 7.

MV WB Yeats

• This is a very large cruise ferry. The car deck space is generous and loading is done at an efficient pace.
• There are 5 lifts available from the car deck to the passenger decks. If you have pre- requested vehicle placement close to a lift you will be asked at check-in to activate your car hazard lights. Your vehicle will be called on board when a suitable placement beside a lift becomes available. There is a gangway lift available for foot passengers - goes from gangway deck 7 till deck 10, in service only for gangway operations, not in use at sea.
• There are three specially adapted wheelchair accessible toilets on board – one is on deck 11 Grey stairs, second one is on deck 10 beside the reception desk and another one on deck 10 Purple stairs.
• Club Class on the W.B. Yeats is very suitable for full time wheelchair dependent passengers as a Club Class lift goes directly from the car deck 7 to the Club Class lounge which is situated on deck 10.
• There are four specially adapted wheelchair accessible cabins on board. These cabins are situated on passenger deck 8. There is direct lift access to the cabin deck.
• The shop, cinema, bar, cafe and restaurants are on deck 10 and deck 11 - there is direct lift access between all decks.
• There is a special seating area for reduced mobility passengers on deck 10 beside the reception desk.
• There are wheelchair securing points available on deck 10 and deck 11.

Mv Isle of Inisheer

• There is one lift on port side from the car deck to the passenger decks.  If you have pre-requested vehicle placement close to a lift you will be asked at check-in to activate your car hazard lights. Your vehicle will be called on board when a suitable placement beside a lift becomes available.
• The shop, restaurant, café, driver’s lounge and additional seating area are on deck 7 .
• There is a special seating area for reduced mobility passengers in the Boylan’s brasserie on deck 7.

MV  Isle of Innisfree

• This is a large cruise ferry. The car deck space is generous and loading is done at an efficient pace.
• There are 3 lifts from the car deck to the passenger decks.  If you have pre-requested vehicle placement close to a lift you will be asked at check-in to activate your car hazard lights. Your vehicle will be called on board when a suitable placement beside a lift becomes available.
• There are two specially adapted wheelchair accessible toilets on board –   one on deck 7 aft by reception area, another on deck 8 aft accessible by blue lift.
• The Club Class lounge is on deck 9. The Club lounge is accessed by stairs or blue lift from car decks to deck 9.
• The shop, restaurant, lounge bar and café are on deck 7 and 8.
• There is a special seating area for reduced mobility passengers in the Boylans Brasserie restaurant on deck 7.

Mv Oscar Wilde

• M/V Oscar Wilde has sufficient space and there are three lifts available on board to allow wheelchair users to use and move around the vessel freely. 
• There are six specially adapted wheelchair accessible toilets on board located on deck 9 and deck 8
• Wheelchair accessible shower is available in Driver’s Lounge located on deck 9
• Disable parking bays are available near the lifts on deck 7 
• There are special seating areas for reduced mobility passengers in each outlet on board 
• Considering that M/V Oscar Wilde is large vessel, for passengers who cannot walk long distances, there are two wheelchairs available on board. 

Food outlets

All food outlets are easily accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. Furthermore, each of our restaurants is equipped with movable furniture to suit individual needs.

Medical Oxygen for personal use

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.

Due to the nature of the fast craft oxygen cylinders are not allowed on the Dublin Swift.

Disability Discounts

We are delighted to offer some special % discounts on published fares. Discount cannot be combined with other discounts.

In Ireland this special discount is available to members of AsIAm, the Disabled Drivers Association (DDA) and the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA). Please book your ferry journey through the Irish Ferries website. Then email Irish Ferries at disabilityofficer@irishferries.com and share the booking reference number and details of the appropriate organisation and your membership number or I.D. number. Once approved, the discount will then be applied by processing a refund to the card used for the booking.

In Britain, members of the disability alliance group Disabled Motoring UK (previously known as Mobilise) receive discounts on Irish Sea and Britain to France routes. Please send an email to disabilityofficer@irishferries.com quoting your promo code which you will have received from DMUK, and your membership number and your booking will then be processed.

If you have a special query regarding on-board facilities or special needs including requesting a Sunflower lanyard click here or contact our Disability Officer - disabilityofficer@irishferries.com. Please allow 2 business days for requests. ( Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm).

Useful Links:
Disabled Drivers Association - www.ddai.ie
Irish Wheelchair Association - www.iwa.ie
Mobilise - www.mobilise.info

Ireland / Britain routes:

Irish Ferries recommends all passengers bring a passport with them. Irish and British citizens do not strictly require a passport to travel between the two countries, but some form of (photo) identification is however required.

Please note that all other nationalities (except Irish or British citizens) require a passport. They should also check with their respective embassies before travelling as they may need a visa.

Passengers who arrive at our ports without current valid documentation may not be allowed to enter either Ireland or Britain.  Useful means of identification when travelling on these routes include:

• Valid passport
• Photographic Driving License
• International Student Card
• Government issued photographic ID cards
• Health insurance/social security photographic ID cards
• Photographic bus/train pass
• Place of work photographic ID
• Birth certificates (for under 18’s with no photo ID)

Ireland / France routes

It is compulsory for all passengers (including babies) to have their own valid passport or officially recognised European Union I.D. card when travelling to and from Ireland or France. In some cases, a visa may also be required. If you are driving a vehicle you will also need a valid driving licence.

If you are a UK passport holder travelling into a EU member country (except Ireland), as of 1 January 2021, you must make sure your passport:

• is valid for at least three months from the date you will leave the EU member country, unless the person has a EU-issued residence permit or an EU long-term visa.
• should be issued within the previous ten years upon the date of arrival.
• It is your responsibility to make sure your passport is valid to travel to/from the EU.
• French people not resident in the United Kingdom and entering UK territory will have to carry a passport. The identity card will no longer be accepted as a travel document.
• For French people resident in the UK who have settled or pre-settled status, the identity card will remain valid until 2025.
• Note: If you have a passport and an identity card, you are strongly advised to travel with the identity document that is linked to your resident (settled or pre-settled) status in the UK.

It is responsibility of each passenger, parent, guardian or group leader to ensure that the documentation is valid and readily available for inspection at check-in. Irish Ferries does not accept any liability in this regard. The onus is on the passenger to ensure that the documentation is correct.

Non-EU nationals should check with the French Embassy or with the Irish Embassy before travelling as they may need a visa as well as a passport. A visa can take several weeks to obtain so please make the necessary arrangements well ahead of your travel date.

Passengers who turn up at our ports without a valid passport or an officially recognised European Union ID card (and a visa if required) will not be allowed to travel and / or enter either France or Ireland.

Pre-departure boarding of an Irish Ferries vessel is conditional on the passenger(s) being in possession of valid documentation to comply with the immigration laws of the country of destination. This is the personal responsibility of the passenger. Irish Ferries shall also be entitled to recover from the passenger(s) all fines and/or other costs incurred on it by reason of the passenger's failure to produce immigration documentation satisfactory to the relevant authorities.

Drivers of vehicles must carry and be able to produce a valid driving licence. Failure to do so may prevent entry into Ireland or France.

For more specific information see:

Irish Department of Foreign Affairs: www.dfa.ie

British Embassy in Ireland: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-dublin

French Embassy in Ireland: https://ie.ambafrance.org/

Irish Embassy in France: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/france/

UK Government: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

French Government: https://uk.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-rules-for-travel-between-France-and-the-UK-28918

It is possible to use your mobile phone while at sea, to make calls, send texts and use data.

While close to land, you phone will connect to a terrestrial mobile network, and EU roaming rules apply.  The EU binding price cap does not apply if you use your mobile phone onboard via the ferry’s satellite connection, provided by Telenor Maritime.

Please remember the following:

• This satellite service is more expensive than your normal tariff.
• Irish Ferries / Telenor Maritime do not set the tariffs.
• Your own mobile operator sets the rates and is obliged to advise you of these by text message, when your phone switches to the onboard satellite network.
• Connection over a satellite network is not a terrestrial network and is not covered by the EU regulations on data roaming introduced in June 2017.
• Passengers from the USA, Canada and other countries may have to contact their home operator to activate the satellite service.
• Further clarification on the EU rules around data roaming can be found here: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/faq/question-and-answers-roaming
• If you are concerned over data roaming charges, please SWITCH OFF your mobile data and use the onboard WiFi instead.

If you choose to use your Tesco Clubcard Vouchers as a method of payment we will be happy to accept them against the applicable fare. The use of Tesco Clubcard vouchers as a payment method may be restricted on selected peak sailings.

The vouchers may be used as full or part payment against motorist, motorcycle or towed vehicle (caravan/trailer) fares on our Irish Sea and Ireland/France routes. You may also include cabins and club class upgrades. There’s no limit to the amount of Tesco Clubcard vouchers you may use for bookings on our direct services. Please note that the vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions or special offers.

Make sure to exchange your Clubcard Vouchers for a travel token before making your booking with us. During the booking process please enter your e-token code and value when requested to do so. No change will be given if the value of your vouchers is greater than the cost of your booking. If using e-tokens you may book up to 24 hours before travel commences. Please note that the maximum value of vouchers that can be used on the  Dover/Calais route is £160/€170 for a return journey or £80/€85 for a single journey.

To make an online booking:

• Sterling Tesco Clubcard vouchers tokens UK / Ireland Routes Book here
• Sterling Tesco Clubcard vouchers tokens Ireland / France Routes More Information 
• Euro Tesco Clubcard vouchers tokens all routes Book here

Our Frequent Traveller Scheme will soon be changing, and as a result is currently closed to new applicants.  Full details to be available soon.