Book a ferry to and from Ireland, today!

Irish Ferries coming into Dublin PortI took my kids back to school this morning to hear that one of the teachers was absent due to being 'stuck' in Ireland. Having just returned a few days ago myself on the Cork to Swansea ferry from Fastnet Lines, I was just a little bit fed up at the capacity for people to forget that ferries really do exist across the Irish Sea. That there is, in fact, sea space as well as air space, between these pieces of land. Most of the services have availability, with the former putting on extra crossings. Here at greentraveller, we are keeping our readers up to date with regular Tweets... 

Today's news from Irish Ferries, one of the leading ferry services between UK and Ireland is good.  Despite bookings being up 500 per cent, it has both foot passenger and vehicle space on its four daily sailings today and for the foreseeable future.   Declan Mescall, passenger sales manager for Irish Ferries emphasises “We have tremendous capacity – the Ulysses is the largest car ferry in the world – and we can cope with the demand.”

There is in fact capacity to carry 7,620 passengers and 4,670 cars every day, in each direction. Intending passengers can make advance reservations online via greentraveller's online ferry booking system.

Advance reservation is recommended because the ports have limited ability to handle on the spot bookings, which slows boarding.  Irish Ferries stresses that there is space for everyone who needs it, but does ask passengers to advance book online or by phone if at all possible. Irish Ferries has six daily sailings from UK to Ireland:

• Holyhead to Dublin: two fast ferry departures on the Dublin Swift at 1200 and 1715; two cruise ferry sailings on the Ulysses 0240 and 1410.
• Pembroke to Rosslare: two cruise ferry departures on the Isle of Inishmore 0245 and 1430.

For more information on this and other options of travelling without flying to Ireland, read my more detailed blog on How to Travel to and from Ireland without flying.