Operator portrait
Irish Ferries
The Irish company completes the Dover - Calais rotation - big ships, pet lounges, club class, and a vehicles-only rule on the strait.
- Part of the up to 31 daily Dover - Calais sailings
- Prices shown live at the booking step
The third ship in the rotation
Irish Ferries is the newest of the three Dover - Calais operators, having brought its green-hulled ships to the strait to complete today's rotation of up to 31 daily sailings. On the Channel it runs vehicles only; its foot passengers and its famous France connections - Cherbourg and Roscoff - belong to the Irish Sea side of the company, sailing to Dublin and Rosslare.
Ships built for comfort on a short hop
The company's pitch on the strait is space. The Oscar Wilde carries over 2,000 passengers and around a thousand cars, with restaurants, a brasserie, duty-free shopping, children's play areas and an exclusive Club Class lounge; the Isle of Inishmore adds panoramic bars and the same club product. Both ships carry the Pet Den Lounge - a rarity on the short sea, where pets otherwise wait in the vehicle deck's parked cars.
Practicalities worth knowing
Vehicles only, so plan accordingly if anyone in the party travels without a car. Pets must be pre-booked before check-in and cross with the GB-to-France paperwork. The Dover - Calais route detail - terminals, boarding, the three-operator comparison - lives on our dedicated route site, linked from the route guide; departures for your date are in the timetable, and booking runs through the same booking step as every route here.
FAQ Irish Ferries
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Irish Ferries.
Which Channel routes does Irish Ferries sail?+
On the Channel, one: Dover - Calais, in rotation with P&O and DFDS. The company's home network crosses the Irish Sea and links Ireland with France - which is why Cherbourg and Roscoff appear on its wider map, sailing to Dublin and Rosslare rather than to England.
Can I travel on foot with Irish Ferries?+
No - on Dover - Calais, Irish Ferries carries vehicles only. The foot-passenger service on the strait belongs to P&O; on foot elsewhere, Newhaven - Dieppe is the regular walk-on route.
How do pets travel?+
Pre-book them - pets must be registered before check-in, and the ships carry dedicated pet facilities including the Pet Den Lounge. The GB-to-France paperwork applies: microchip, rabies vaccination at least 21 days old, animal health certificate within ten days of travel.
What are the ships like?+
The two ships are proper size for a 90-minute hop: the Oscar Wilde carries over 2,000 passengers and about 1,000 cars, with restaurants, duty-free shopping, a Club Class lounge and children's play areas; the Isle of Inishmore matches it with bars, brasserie and panoramic lounges.
Taking the short sea?
Compare the Dover crossings and check the departures for your date.