Crossing guide
What the Bilbao to Rosslare crossing is like
Galicia, Salamanca and Santoña share the route and all carry pet-friendly cabins. Afternoon arrivals in Rosslare suit an onward drive towards Dublin or the south-west; the later 18:00 departure lands in the evening. Seasonal variations apply, so confirm the dated itinerary.
Leaving Bilbao
The Bilbao terminal is at Zierbena, around 21 kilometres from the city centre, so navigation should target the port rather than Bilbao itself. Brittany Ferries asks pet travellers to check in at least 90 minutes early, and dogs must stay on a lead in the port. The exposed harbour setting can feel very different from inland conditions.
Before you join the lanes
- Allow more than the sat-nav drive time — port approaches and check-in cut-offs are not motorway estimates.
- Check the booking confirmation for the final vehicle and foot-passenger deadlines; pet travellers often have an earlier one.
- Photograph or download the booking before you travel, because reception in a port queue is unreliable.
- Pack one small bag with medicines, chargers, a change of clothes and dog supplies: car-deck access is normally restricted at sea.
- Save the onward address offline and check whether tolls, low-emission zones or local driving rules affect the road ahead.
The passage
The working duration is about 27–32 hours. Conditions at the celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay passage can differ sharply from either harbour, which is why this guide samples three points rather than one coastal icon — a moderate wave with a long swell period feels quite different from short, steep seas. If anyone aboard is prone to seasickness, prepare before departure and choose a cabin position with comfort in mind.
A resilient plan
Choose the departure by the Rosslare arrival hour you want, then build the dog’s meals and the tapeworm appointment around it. Fewer sailings than the UK routes means an alert for the right week is worth acting on the same day.
Conditions
Weather along the route
Departure
Bilbao departure
- Air / sea
- 18.1°C / 21.0°C
- Wind / gust
- 2.3 kn / 2.9 kn
- Wind direction
- SSW (200°)
- Wave / period
- 0.9 m / 8.5 s
- Wave direction
- NNW (334°)
Mid
Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay passage
- Air / sea
- 16.4°C / 16.9°C
- Wind / gust
- 12.6 kn / 15.2 kn
- Wind direction
- NE (37°)
- Wave / period
- 1.2 m / 8.4 s
- Wave direction
- NW (305°)
Arrival
Rosslare arrival
- Air / sea
- 15.9°C / 15.4°C
- Wind / gust
- 13.2 kn / 23.5 kn
- Wind direction
- SW (232°)
- Wave / period
- 0.9 m / 4.2 s
- Wave direction
- SW (227°)
Provider data: Open-Meteo (licence); units and three-point presentation normalised by SailSoon.
For planning context only — not for navigation or decisions about whether a sailing will operate. Check Brittany Ferries for official sailing status.
Seven-day passage outlook
| Day | Sea state | Wave | Wind | Gust | Air |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun4 OctToday | Moderate | 1.5 m | 16.1 kn | 24.1 kn | 23°C |
| Mon5 Oct | Slight | 1.2 m | 13.5 kn | 22.9 kn | 22°C |
| Tue6 Oct | Slight | 1.1 m | 12.1 kn | 26.8 kn | 25°C |
| Wed7 Oct | Rough | 3.1 m | 27.8 kn | 35.6 kn | 22°C |
| Thu8 Oct | Rough | 2.8 m | 23.1 kn | 32.5 kn | 18°C |
| Fri9 Oct | Moderate | 2.0 m | 17.5 kn | 22.4 kn | 17°C |
| Sat10 Oct | Moderate | 2.0 m | 17.3 kn | 22.9 kn | 17°C |
Daily maxima for planning only — not a forecast for any particular sailing, and not a statement about whether a crossing will operate.
Availability
Recently seen cabins
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Create an account for member-first alertsRecent sighting reserved for alerts
Members receive the useful details before a delayed historical example can appear here.
Create an account for member-first alertsSeasonal context
Typical conditions through the year
1991–2020 averages — not a forecast. Long-term conditions provide planning context; a particular crossing can be very different.
Departure Bilbao departure
| Month | Air °C | Wind mean / p90 kn | Prevailing wind | Wave mean / p90 m | Period s | Prevailing wave |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.8 | 7.4 / 13.0 | SW (220°) | 2.1 / 3.5 | 10.2 | NW (312°) |
| February | 9.9 | 7.1 / 12.6 | WSW (239°) | 2.0 / 3.3 | 10.1 | NW (314°) |
| March | 11.7 | 6.7 / 12.0 | WSW (246°) | 1.8 / 2.9 | 9.5 | NW (315°) |
| April | 13.0 | 6.3 / 11.0 | WNW (295°) | 1.5 / 2.4 | 8.7 | NW (317°) |
| May | 15.6 | 5.7 / 9.9 | NNW (334°) | 1.2 / 1.9 | 7.7 | NW (319°) |
| June | 18.3 | 5.1 / 8.7 | N (353°) | 1.0 / 1.6 | 7.2 | NW (320°) |
| July | 20.2 | 5.0 / 8.3 | N (353°) | 1.0 / 1.5 | 7.0 | NW (320°) |
| August | 20.9 | 4.9 / 8.3 | N (357°) | 1.0 / 1.6 | 7.2 | NW (321°) |
| September | 19.0 | 5.2 / 9.1 | NW (323°) | 1.3 / 2.0 | 8.2 | NW (321°) |
| October | 16.5 | 6.3 / 11.2 | SSW (206°) | 1.5 / 2.5 | 8.9 | NW (314°) |
| November | 12.7 | 7.4 / 12.5 | SW (225°) | 1.9 / 3.0 | 9.5 | NW (313°) |
| December | 10.5 | 7.5 / 12.8 | SSW (212°) | 2.0 / 3.3 | 9.7 | NW (311°) |
Mid-route Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay passage
| Month | Air °C | Wind mean / p90 kn | Prevailing wind | Wave mean / p90 m | Period s | Prevailing wave |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.9 | 17.7 / 27.7 | WSW (249°) | 2.2 / 3.7 | 9.3 | W (269°) |
| February | 9.3 | 16.8 / 26.7 | W (271°) | 2.1 / 3.5 | 9.3 | W (274°) |
| March | 9.9 | 15.1 / 24.0 | WNW (301°) | 1.7 / 2.9 | 8.8 | W (276°) |
| April | 10.9 | 14.1 / 22.4 | NW (323°) | 1.5 / 2.4 | 8.0 | W (278°) |
| May | 13.0 | 12.9 / 20.2 | NW (326°) | 1.2 / 1.9 | 7.3 | W (277°) |
| June | 15.3 | 12.2 / 19.1 | NW (308°) | 1.1 / 1.7 | 6.9 | W (279°) |
| July | 16.8 | 11.7 / 18.1 | WNW (299°) | 1.0 / 1.6 | 6.7 | W (279°) |
| August | 17.3 | 11.3 / 18.1 | WNW (300°) | 1.0 / 1.7 | 6.9 | W (279°) |
| September | 16.4 | 12.4 / 19.8 | NW (314°) | 1.2 / 2.0 | 7.6 | W (280°) |
| October | 14.7 | 14.8 / 23.6 | WSW (242°) | 1.6 / 2.7 | 8.0 | W (269°) |
| November | 12.4 | 17.0 / 26.0 | W (264°) | 1.9 / 3.1 | 8.4 | W (273°) |
| December | 10.7 | 18.0 / 27.7 | WSW (247°) | 2.1 / 3.6 | 8.9 | W (267°) |
Arrival Rosslare arrival
| Month | Air °C | Wind mean / p90 kn | Prevailing wind | Wave mean / p90 m | Period s | Prevailing wave |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.8 | 17.1 / 26.6 | WSW (237°) | 2.1 / 3.6 | 7.1 | SW (221°) |
| February | 7.4 | 16.3 / 25.7 | WSW (243°) | 1.9 / 3.3 | 6.9 | SW (226°) |
| March | 7.8 | 14.6 / 23.6 | WSW (245°) | 1.6 / 2.7 | 6.5 | SW (224°) |
| April | 8.9 | 13.1 / 21.4 | WSW (238°) | 1.3 / 2.3 | 6.2 | SW (223°) |
| May | 10.8 | 12.4 / 20.2 | WSW (241°) | 1.1 / 2.0 | 5.8 | SW (222°) |
| June | 13.1 | 11.5 / 18.8 | WSW (238°) | 1.0 / 1.8 | 5.8 | SW (230°) |
| July | 14.8 | 11.3 / 17.9 | WSW (241°) | 0.9 / 1.7 | 5.5 | SW (232°) |
| August | 15.4 | 11.7 / 18.7 | WSW (244°) | 1.0 / 1.8 | 5.5 | SW (230°) |
| September | 14.6 | 13.1 / 20.6 | WSW (248°) | 1.2 / 2.1 | 5.7 | SW (227°) |
| October | 12.7 | 15.6 / 23.9 | SW (235°) | 1.6 / 2.8 | 6.2 | SW (217°) |
| November | 10.3 | 16.4 / 25.5 | WSW (254°) | 1.8 / 3.1 | 6.4 | SW (229°) |
| December | 8.6 | 17.3 / 26.5 | WSW (239°) | 2.0 / 3.5 | 6.8 | SW (222°) |
Sea-surface temperature is omitted because the ERA5 reanalysis behind this baseline does not carry it historically. Current sea temperature is shown in the conditions panel above.
Provider data: Open-Meteo (licence), using ERA5 weather and ERA5-Ocean marine reanalysis; monthly means, p90 values and prevailing directions calculated by SailSoon for 1991–2020.
Vessels
Ships commonly used on this route
Primary route profile
Galicia
Galicia is one of the modern ships created for the longer Portsmouth–Spain service. Brittany Ferries presents the vessel around a north-west Spain theme, carried through its public rooms and cabin design. For a route guide, the practical points are the broad choice of en-suite accommodation, video-on-demand in many cabins and the mix of standard, Club and Commodore categories. Its presence on a route should still be treated as typical rather than fixed: maintenance and timetable changes can bring a different vessel. Check the ship named on the dated booking before relying on a particular room layout or facility.
Pet context: The official accommodation guide lists inside and outside pet-friendly cabins with wipe-clean flooring; availability is limited and must be selected for the actual sailing.
Official sources and review date
Facts reviewed 2026-08-11.
Also commonly used
Salamanca
Salamanca is an LNG-powered cruise ferry designed for Brittany Ferries’ Portsmouth–Spain operation and is the sister ship that followed Galicia. Its interior identity draws on the Spanish city whose name it carries, while the passenger offer centres on modern cabins and spaces intended for a long sea passage. The range includes standard accommodation and premium options, so the exact cabin specification matters more than the ship name alone. Sailing assignments can change for operational reasons; use this profile as preparation for a likely vessel, then confirm the operating ship and accommodation shown in the final booking details.
Pet context: Brittany Ferries lists pet-friendly inside cabins on Salamanca, including laminate flooring and room for a standard animal bed; book the pet option explicitly.
Official sources and review date
Facts reviewed 2026-08-11.
Also commonly used
Santoña
Santoña is the third of the recent ships developed especially for Brittany Ferries’ services to Spain, following Galicia and Salamanca. The operator describes a contemporary passenger environment whose visual references come from the Cantabrian coastal town of the same name. That makes it a familiar candidate on the longer Spanish crossings, with accommodation intended for overnight travel and a range of onboard spaces. The timetable may swap vessels, so this description is not a promise that Santoña will operate a chosen departure. Confirm the named ship, cabin category and any included services on the booking before travel.
Pet context: The ship’s official booking material includes pet-friendly accommodation, but pet places and cabin types must be checked and reserved on the dated sailing.
Official sources and review date
Facts reviewed 2026-08-11.
Ships and schedules can change; check your booking for the operating vessel.
Landfall
Arriving in Rosslare
Rosslare lands you in the south-east of Ireland with the M11 to Dublin about two hours away and the N25 west towards Waterford and Cork. Disembarkation and checks take time after a long crossing, so keep the first onward appointment loose. From Rosslare the M11 reaches Dublin in about two hours and the N25 heads west. An afternoon arrival leaves daylight for the drive; an evening one may call for an overnight stop in Wexford rather than pressing on.
Sources for route facts
- Brittany Ferries: Bilbao to Rosslare (reviewed 2026-10-04)
- Brittany Ferries: Bilbao port guide (reviewed 2026-10-04)
- Brittany Ferries: Rosslare port guide (reviewed 2026-10-04)
- Brittany Ferries: travelling with pets (reviewed 2026-10-04)
- Your Europe: travelling with pets between EU countries (reviewed 2026-10-04)
Dogs aboard
Planning this ferry with a dog
A day and a night home to Ireland with a waking dog, landing in the afternoon or evening. Ireland’s pet entry rules apply, including a tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before landing — check the current list before you sail.
- Documents
- An EU pet passport with the microchip record and a valid rabies vaccination is the entry document for Ireland. Check the current rules on Your Europe before you sail.
- Tapeworm window
- Ireland requires a vet-recorded tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment no less than 24 and no more than 120 hours before arrival in Ireland. Calculate from the Rosslare arrival time of the sailing you hold.
- At Bilbao
- Zierbena is a working harbour, not a promenade. Dogs must stay on a lead in the port and pet check-in is at least 90 minutes early.
- On board
- One full day and a night at sea with a waking, eating dog rather than a sleeping one: plan water, enrichment and the pet-cabin routine for the ship shown. Ireland’s pet entry rules apply on arrival: an EU pet passport with microchip and rabies vaccination, and a tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before landing.
- Muzzle
- Brittany Ferries requires a muzzle whenever the dog is outside the car, kennel or pet-friendly cabin. Practise with it before travel.
Border and carrier rules change. Confirm every item against the official sources listed above and your vet before you travel.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from Bilbao to Rosslare?
The useful planning figure is about 27–32 hours. Check the dated Brittany Ferries timetable because individual crossings can differ.
Which ship operates from Bilbao to Rosslare?
Galicia (UK ↔ Spain) or Salamanca (UK ↔ Spain) or Santoña (UK ↔ Spain) are associated with this corridor. Operational substitutions happen, so the ship shown on the booking is the one to use for cabin and pet-facility details.
Can I take a dog from Bilbao to Rosslare?
Pet travel is offered on relevant sailings, but the available arrangement varies by ship. Select a confirmed pet-friendly cabin, kennel or other offered option and follow current carrier and border rules.
What weather should I check for the Bilbao to Rosslare crossing?
Compare departure, mid-route and arrival conditions, especially wind, gusts, wave height and swell period. Forecasts are guidance only; the operator makes operational decisions.
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