Ireland Ferry Companies
Ferries between Britain and Ireland are run by three main companies: Stena Line, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries. Between them they cover every main crossing across the Irish Sea, to both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Each has carved out its own patch, though they compete head-to-head on the busiest route. This page is a quick directory of who runs what — follow the links for our full guide to each operator.
Ireland ferry operators at a glance
| Operator | Main Routes | Guide |
|---|---|---|
 Stena Line | Holyhead–Dublin, Fishguard–Rosslare, Cairnryan–Belfast, Liverpool–Belfast | View guide » |
 Irish Ferries | Dublin–Holyhead, Rosslare–Pembroke | View guide » |
 P&O Ferries | Cairnryan–Larne | View guide » |
Stena Line
Stena Line is the biggest operator on the Irish Sea, running more crossings than anyone else — Holyhead to Dublin, Fishguard to Rosslare, and both Cairnryan to Belfast and Liverpool to Belfast for Northern Ireland. It's a Swedish company and one of the world's largest ferry operators.
Read our full Stena Line guide » Irish Ferries
Irish Ferries is Ireland's own ferry company, competing with Stena on the busy Dublin–Holyhead route — including the fast Dublin Swift — and running Rosslare to Pembroke. It also sails from Ireland to France, and operates the Dover–Calais Channel crossing.
Read our full Irish Ferries guide » P&O Ferries
P&O Ferries runs a single Ireland route: the Cairnryan to Larne crossing between Scotland and Northern Ireland, one of the two short North Channel crossings. P&O's wider network covers Dover–Calais and Hull–Rotterdam.
Read our full P&O Ferries guide »Which operator will I travel with?
On most routes the operator is decided by your crossing. Stena Line covers the widest network and is your only option on several routes. The one route with genuine competition is Holyhead–Dublin, where Stena Line and Irish Ferries go head-to-head — so it's worth comparing both on price, sailing times and whether you want the fast ferry.
For Cairnryan, you can choose between Stena to Belfast or P&O to Larne.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the main ferry companies to Ireland?
Stena Line, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries. Stena runs the most routes; Irish Ferries competes on Dublin–Holyhead; P&O runs Cairnryan–Larne.
Which company runs the most Ireland routes?
Stena Line, with Holyhead–Dublin, Fishguard–Rosslare, Cairnryan–Belfast and Liverpool–Belfast.
Can I choose which company to travel with?
On most routes the operator is fixed. On Holyhead–Dublin you can choose between Stena Line and Irish Ferries; at Cairnryan, between Stena (to Belfast) and P&O (to Larne).
Is Irish Ferries or Stena Line better for Dublin?
Both run Holyhead–Dublin frequently. Irish Ferries has the fast Dublin Swift option; compare both on price and sailing times.
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