Crossing guide
What the Rosslare to Bilbao crossing is like
The Spain-route ships carry pet-friendly cabins (codes 4E and 4N appear on this route) and the crossing is long enough that the cabin is the trip, not an extra. The pattern changes with the season and there are far fewer sailings than from Portsmouth, so check the ship and departure time on the booking and treat an alert as time-sensitive.
Leaving Rosslare
Rosslare Europort sits at the end of the N25 at Rosslare Harbour in County Wexford, reached by the M11/N11 and M1 from Dublin and the north, or the N24 and N25 from Cork, Limerick and the south. Brittany Ferries asks for check-in at least 45 minutes before departure, and at least 90 minutes when travelling with a pet; after check-in the pet stays in the vehicle, so finish the walk first. The 335-space APCOA car park (€1 an hour, €5 a day, €25 a week) takes cash and card.
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
Decide between the 23:59 pattern and the daytime Santoña departure first, because one adds a second night. Pet cabins are limited on a route with few sailings; respond to an alert promptly, confirm the live pet terms for the ship shown, and check the Spanish entry paperwork before Rosslare check-in.
Conditions
Weather along the route
Departure
Rosslare departure
- Air / sea
- 15.8°C / 15.5°C
- Wind / gust
- 12.2 kn / 21.6 kn
- Wind direction
- SW (230°)
- Wave / period
- 0.9 m / 4.2 s
- Wave direction
- SW (228°)
Mid
Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay passage
- Air / sea
- 16.4°C / 16.9°C
- Wind / gust
- 11.8 kn / 14.2 kn
- Wind direction
- NNE (33°)
- Wave / period
- 1.2 m / 8.4 s
- Wave direction
- NW (305°)
Arrival
Bilbao arrival
- Air / sea
- 18.9°C / 21.0°C
- Wind / gust
- 4.3 kn / 5.6 kn
- Wind direction
- SW (234°)
- Wave / period
- 0.9 m / 8.4 s
- Wave direction
- NNW (334°)
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 | 14.2 kn | 22.9 kn | 22°C |
| Tue6 Oct | Slight | 1.1 m | 15.0 kn | 29.4 kn | 24°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 alertsRecent sighting reserved for alerts
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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 Rosslare departure
| 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°) |
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 Bilbao arrival
| 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°) |
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 Bilbao
The ferry lands at Zierbena, about 21 kilometres from Bilbao. Drivers can join routes for Bilbao, the Basque Country or destinations farther south without entering the city. Leave slack for unloading and border checks, and choose a dog break away from moving port traffic: the immediate harbour is operational rather than a promenade. Zierbena is a working harbour outside Bilbao with fast motorway links east and west. After a night and a day aboard, give the dog a proper walk before the drive and do not promise a precise arrival time on the far side of the Cantabrian coast.
Sources for route facts
- Brittany Ferries: Rosslare to Bilbao (reviewed 2026-10-04)
- Brittany Ferries: Rosslare port guide (reviewed 2026-10-04)
- Brittany Ferries: Bilbao 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
Up to two nights at sea from Ireland to Spain, both EU countries, so the question is Spain’s entry paperwork and the pet cabin routine, not a British re-entry clock. Rosslare asks for pet check-in 90 minutes early and keeps pets in the vehicle afterwards.
- Documents
- Ireland issues the EU pet passport: check the microchip record, a valid rabies vaccination and the passport entries before travel. No Animal Health Certificate is needed between EU countries — confirm the current rules on Your Europe.
- Destination rules
- Spain and France do not require a tapeworm treatment for entry. Check the destination’s current pet rules on Your Europe before you sail, and keep the passport with the dog on board.
- At Rosslare
- Pet check-in is at least 90 minutes before departure and pets remain in the vehicle afterwards; exercise before joining the port lanes.
- On board
- Up to two nights aboard: the pet-friendly cabin, familiar bedding, measured food and the ship’s exercise routine matter more than on any other route in this guide. Ireland and Spain are both in the EU, so there is no British-style re-entry rule, but Spain’s own pet entry requirements apply.
- 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 Rosslare to Bilbao?
The useful planning figure is about 27–32 hours. Check the dated Brittany Ferries timetable because individual crossings can differ.
Which ship operates from Rosslare to Bilbao?
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 Rosslare to Bilbao?
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 Rosslare to Bilbao 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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