Crossing guide
What the Cherbourg to Dublin crossing is like
Irish Ferries’ autumn schedule has late-afternoon or evening departures from Cherbourg, with W.B. Yeats arriving in Dublin at about 11:15 and Isle of Inisheer in the early afternoon — around 20 hours either way after the clocks go back an hour. The ships alternate through the week, and there are no sailings around Christmas. A late-morning Dublin arrival leaves plenty of the day for the drive onward.
Leaving Cherbourg
The Cherbourg terminal is at the northern tip of the Cotentin peninsula. Irish Ferries notes rail services from Cherbourg to Paris-Saint-Lazare via Caen. Passengers with pets check in two hours before departure, and pets must already be on the booking.
Arriving in Dublin
The ship docks at Dublin Ferryport, about 2 miles from the city centre, with the Port Tunnel and M50 leading onto Ireland’s motorway network. A late-morning or afternoon arrival leaves time to drive on the same day after the pet and passport formalities.
Vessels
Ships commonly used on this route
W.B. Yeats
Typical route vessel; assignment is not guaranteed. Check your booking for the ship actually operating.
Irish Ferries also names Isle of Inisheer, which it describes as a basic service, for Dublin–Cherbourg. The two ships alternate, and their pet arrangements differ.
Dogs aboard
Travelling with a dog on Irish Ferries
Coming back to Ireland, the dog again cannot stay in the vehicle. Book a kennel on W.B. Yeats or, if Isle of Inisheer is sailing, one of its pet cabins with outside deck access. Before boarding, a vet in France must give the tapeworm treatment inside Ireland’s window, counted from the Dublin arrival.
- Documents
- The Government of Ireland asks for an EU pet passport for EU residents, or an EU health certificate for non-EU residents such as UK-based owners, with the microchip fitted before the rabies vaccination.
- Tapeworm window
- A vet must give a praziquantel tapeworm treatment no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before the scheduled arrival in Ireland. On a crossing this long, check that the treatment will still fall inside the window when you land in Dublin.
- Booking
- Pre-book every pet, up to five per booking, and arrive two hours before departure for pet check-in in Cherbourg.
- On board
- On W.B. Yeats you can visit the kennel and walk the dog at allocated times. Pets must be on a lead, with a muzzle for restricted breeds or any risk of biting.
Carrier and border rules change. Confirm every item with Irish Ferries, the official sources below and your vet before you travel.
Cabin alerts
What SailSoon watches on this route
Irish Ferries monitoring currently covers the next 180 days. Dates further ahead are checked on a rotating schedule. Checks are made for two adults travelling with a car, so other party sizes or foot passengers may see different results. Prices we show are for the cabin or option only, not the full fare, and nothing is reserved for you: book and confirm the total price and pet terms with Irish Ferries.
- Pet-friendly cabins
- Cabins Irish Ferries marks as pet-friendly, when it offers them on the sailing. Check the pet rules and any pet charge on the booking page.
- Premium cabins
- The operator’s premium or deluxe cabin categories, including pet-friendly premium cabins where they exist.
- Standard cabins
- Ordinary private cabins for at least two people, inside or with a window.
- Not monitored
- Kennels, seats, shared berths, deck options and the full fare. Check those directly with Irish Ferries.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from Cherbourg to Dublin?
Around 20 hours. Irish Ferries’ schedule has W.B. Yeats leaving Cherbourg in the late afternoon and arriving in Dublin at about 11:15 the next day.
Which ships sail from Cherbourg to Dublin?
W.B. Yeats is the usual ship for this crossing. Irish Ferries also names Isle of Inisheer, which it describes as a basic service, for Dublin–Cherbourg. The two ships alternate, and their pet arrangements differ. The ship on your booking is the one whose cabins and pet facilities apply.
Can I take my dog on the Cherbourg to Dublin ferry?
Yes, in a kennel on W.B. Yeats or a pet cabin on Isle of Inisheer, but never in the car. Ireland requires a vet-given tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before the scheduled arrival.
What paperwork does my dog need for Dublin?
An EU pet passport (or an EU health certificate for non-EU residents), a microchip fitted before the rabies vaccination, and a vet-given tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours before the scheduled arrival in Ireland. Check the official guidance before you travel, as rules change.
Does SailSoon alert me to kennels on this route?
No. On Irish Ferries we watch pet-friendly, premium and standard cabins only. Kennel space is not monitored, so check and book kennels directly with Irish Ferries.
Sources
Where these facts come from
- Irish Ferries: Dublin to Cherbourg (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- Irish Ferries: France autumn 2026 schedule (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- Irish Ferries: your trip (check-in) (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- Irish Ferries: our ports (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- Irish Ferries: pet travel on all routes (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- Government of Ireland: pet travel (reviewed 2026-09-11)
Member alerts
Get told when a Cherbourg to Dublin cabin appears
Create a free account, then set the dates and cabin types you need on this route. We email you when a matching cabin shows up in Irish Ferries’s booking system.
Already a member? Set an alert for Cherbourg to Dublin.