You can drive onto a ship in Ireland and drive off in France, skipping Britain entirely. The direct routes are long — mostly overnight — but they've become the standard way to take a car to the Continent.
The routes
- Rosslare → Cherbourg — about 17 hours, several times a week with Stena Line and Irish Ferries; the busiest Ireland–France link.
- Dublin → Cherbourg — about 18–19 hours with Irish Ferries, handy if you're starting from the capital.
- Cork → Roscoff — about 14 hours overnight with Brittany Ferries, seasonal; the classic route to Brittany from the south.
- Rosslare → Roscoff — about 18 hours, seasonal sailings with Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries.
- Rosslare → Dunkirk — about 24 hours with DFDS; lands in northern France, well placed for Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
Which port in France?
Cherbourg suits Normandy, Paris and points south; Roscoff is the door to Brittany and the Atlantic coast; Dunkirk is the one to pick for the Low Countries and beyond.
Tips for the crossing
- These are overnight cruise-ferry sailings — book a cabin; it makes the trip.
- Book early for July and August and for school-holiday weekends; pet-friendly cabins and premium cabins sell out first.
- Carry passports — these are international sailings and carriers check travel documents.
- Compare against the UK land bridge (two shorter crossings plus the drive) if the direct sailings are full or pricey.