Plan the crossing from Dublin to Cherbourg, with departure-port details, Irish Ferries and onward travel after arrival.
Choose your route, travel dates, passengers and vehicle to compare current sailings and fares. Route selected: Dublin to Cherbourg. Search all ferry routes.
Check your ports, passengers, vehicle and dates before completing the reservation.
Dublin to Cherbourg is Irish Ferries’ direct route between Ireland’s capital and northern France. It avoids the need to cross the Irish Sea, drive across Great Britain and then take a second ferry or the Channel Tunnel.
Current Irish Ferries sailing updates show outbound journey times around 19½ to 21 hours depending on the assigned ship and departure. The route uses large cruise ferries including W.B. Yeats and Isle of Inisheer, with cabins central to the overnight journey.
Cars, motorcycles and larger leisure vehicles can be booked, and Irish Ferries also accepts foot passengers. Dublin’s terminal is close to the city and motorway network, while Cherbourg provides direct access to Normandy and western France.
The total price can vary substantially with cabin type, passenger numbers and vehicle dimensions. Compare the complete booking rather than the base crossing fare, particularly in school holidays and summer peak dates.
Rosslare–Cherbourg provides additional operator choice and may suit travellers starting in southern or south-eastern Ireland. Cork–Roscoff is another option for Brittany and western France.
Travelling the other way? Read the Cherbourg to Dublin ferry guide.
Irish Ferries currently operates this direct passenger ferry route. Check the live sailing because passenger categories, ship assignment and facilities can vary by date.
Irish Ferries
Crossing time: about 19½–21 hours on current outbound sailings
Irish Ferries operates Dublin–Cherbourg with W.B. Yeats and Isle of Inisheer on its current France schedule. The route carries motorists and foot passengers and offers cabin accommodation for the overnight journey.
Use the operator confirmation for the correct check-in area, terminal instructions and arrival deadline. Port procedures can vary by passenger type and sailing.
Dublin Ferryport is about two miles from the city centre and sits beside the Dublin Port Tunnel, with fast connections to the M50 and M1. Public transport links serve the terminal area.
Cherbourg is at the northern tip of the Cotentin Peninsula and is a major gateway for Normandy, Brittany and routes towards Paris. Rail services connect with Paris-Saint-Lazare via Caen.
The Dublin–Cherbourg crossing is long enough that cabin comfort, restaurants and lounge choices can shape the journey as much as the departure time.
W.B. Yeats offers a broad range of cabins and suites, while accommodation varies by assigned ship.
Restaurants, brasserie and café options make it easy to plan dinner and breakfast onboard.
Premium and standard lounge areas give passengers additional ways to relax.
Connectivity and onboard shopping are available, with details depending on the ship.
The assigned ship can change. Treat the live booking result and operator information as definitive for facilities, accessibility, seating, cabins and pet accommodation.
This is an external Schengen border crossing because Ireland is not part of the Schengen area. Every passenger should carry the documents required for their nationality and journey and check current France entry rules before departure.
Check that your passport meets France entry requirements and whether you need a visa. Rules differ by nationality, residence status and length or purpose of stay.
Carry your driving licence, vehicle registration or equivalent documentation, insurance evidence where required and any documents needed for a hired or leased vehicle.
The EU Entry/Exit System changes how many non-EU short-stay travellers are processed at Schengen borders. Follow current operator, port and official guidance shortly before travel.
Cherbourg is a strong arrival point for Normandy, the Loire Valley, Brittany and routes east towards Paris. Travelling with your own car lets you continue immediately after disembarkation.
Rosslare–Cherbourg offers additional operator choice and can be more convenient from southern Ireland. For western Brittany, Cork–Roscoff is worth comparing as well.
Compare Ferry RoutesThe shortest sea crossing is not always the best overall journey. Compare departure port, sailing length, operator and onward travel after arrival.
Current Irish Ferries schedules show outbound crossings of roughly 19½ to 21 hours depending on the ship and sailing.
Irish Ferries currently operates the direct passenger route.
Yes. Irish Ferries accepts foot passengers on its Ireland–France route and publishes dedicated boarding arrangements at Dublin and Cherbourg.
Yes. Cars, motorcycles, motorhomes and caravans can be booked subject to deck availability and correct dimensions.
Yes. This is an overnight route and cabin accommodation is available on the passenger ferries used by Irish Ferries.
Yes on suitable sailings with advance booking. Pet options depend on the assigned ship and accommodation category.
You need the documents required to enter France. Because Ireland is not in Schengen, this is an external Schengen border journey and passport, visa and EES requirements should be checked before travel.
Yes. Rosslare–Cherbourg offers additional operator choice and may be more convenient if you are starting in southern or south-eastern Ireland.
Cherbourg to Dublin ferry guide covers the opposite departure port, arrival arrangements and onward connections.
Use the terminal or pier named on your Irish Ferries confirmation. The published departure is the sailing time; check-in and vehicle acceptance close earlier. If reaching Dublin by train or bus, allow for the transfer from the station to the harbour and for luggage handling.
Start your onward itinerary at the actual landing point in Cherbourg. Leave time to unload before a timed collection, train or island bus. If the ferry arrives late in the day, check the final public-transport departure or arrange a transfer in advance.
Allow for the overland journey to Dublin before choosing the ferry. A separately booked flight, train or earlier crossing may not protect you if you miss check-in. Use local times on both sides and check entry rules for each country on your full itinerary. Travel within Europe is not automatically free of document checks.
Channel arrivals suit different parts of France: Calais and Dunkirk for the north and east, Dieppe for Normandy approaches, and Caen, Cherbourg, St Malo or Roscoff for journeys farther west. Check the motorway and toll itinerary after landing.
Select the correct passenger category before comparing Dublin to Cherbourg fares. A passenger-only boat cannot take a car, and a vehicle ferry may still have limited bicycle or foot-passenger availability. The travel modes shown in the facts panel should be checked against the specific sailing.
For a vehicle booking, give the full height and length including a roof box, rear rack or trailer. Where accommodation is offered, check whether a cabin or seat is required and whether meals are included. Request mobility assistance and any pet space before completing the booking, because these can have separate capacity limits.
Prices depend on the date, passenger mix, vehicle and ticket conditions. Compare the complete return cost and the amendment or cancellation terms. No fixed fare on this guide should replace a dated quote.
Car and motorhome planning · Travelling without a car · Taking a pet
Compare current sailings, passenger fares, vehicle prices and accommodation, then choose the crossing that works best for your journey.
About 19½–21 hours
Irish Ferries
Overnight cabins
Foot passengers
