Shipping companies Ireland

When the weather permits, after a 45 minute crossing, the boat drops anchor for a good 2 hours at Skellig Michael, an island known for its impressive black rocky outcrop. There you can see the ruins of the 6th century St Fionan's monastery, where the monks lived in particularly harsh conditions. Then the boat approaches Little Skellig to allow you to observe the bird colony and the seals. Ready for the odyssey? Book well in advance.

Irish Ferries also operates weekly crossings from Cherbourg in France to Dublin, and from Pembroke in the UK to Rosslare in south-east Ireland (halfway between Dublin and Cork), and vice versa. From Dublin, you can also take the ferry to Holyhead, Wales (3h30 journey). On board the ferry, you'll find a range of classes, from single seats to suites. The Pembroke-Rosslare crossing takes around 4 hours, while the Dublin-Cherbourg crossing takes 20 hours (overnight on board).

In Dublin, this Swedish shipping line links the capital with Holyhead (Wales) several times a day in 3.5 hours. Stena Line also operates between Belfast and Cairnryan (Scotland) or Liverpool (England), and between Rosslare (a port between Dublin and Cork) and Fishguard (Wales). In France, a service runs between Cherbourg and Rosslare three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). The crossing takes an average of 18 hours. On board, you'll find all the comforts you need (restaurants, bars, stores, etc.).