Liverpool to Dublin ferry: route no longer sailing
Liverpool–Dublin in short
- not a regular passenger ferry route
- used temporarily during the Holyhead disruption
- best Dublin option: Holyhead–Dublin
- best Liverpool-area ferry: Liverpool–Belfast
- South Wales alternatives: Fishguard–Rosslare and Pembroke–Rosslare
Liverpool to Dublin ferry: what happened to this route?
There is currently no regular Liverpool to Dublin ferry for passengers. The Liverpool/Birkenhead to Dublin sailing appeared as a temporary solution during the Holyhead port disruption after Storm Darragh in winter 2024 to 2025. It helped keep traffic moving across the Irish Sea while the main Holyhead–Dublin route was affected, but it should not be treated as a normal bookable ferry route.
If you want to travel to Dublin, the main route is again Holyhead to Dublin. If you want to sail from the Liverpool area, the practical passenger ferry is Liverpool to Belfast, although that takes you to Northern Ireland rather than Dublin.
Our straightforward route advice
- If your destination is Dublin: start with Holyhead–Dublin. It is the main direct Wales to Dublin crossing and the route we would check first.
- If you are based around Liverpool or northern England: compare the drive to Holyhead with the Liverpool–Belfast ferry. Belfast can work if your trip is in Northern Ireland or you do not mind continuing south after arrival.
- If you are in South Wales or the southwest: look at Fishguard–Rosslare and Pembroke–Rosslare. They are not Dublin routes, but they can make more sense for the south and southeast of Ireland.
- If you saw an old Liverpool–Dublin timetable: treat it as disruption history, not a current sailing schedule.
Map: Liverpool to Dublin and the main alternatives
The map gives useful context, but the important point is that Liverpool–Dublin is not the normal route. For Dublin, the core crossing is Holyhead–Dublin. From the Liverpool area, the active ferry route is Liverpool–Belfast. From South Wales, the permanent routes sail to Rosslare.
If you keep this map live, we would mark Liverpool–Dublin as a discontinued or temporary route, and show Holyhead–Dublin, Liverpool–Belfast, Fishguard–Rosslare and Pembroke–Rosslare as the practical alternatives.
Best alternatives to Liverpool–Dublin
Use this table to choose the route that actually fits your journey.
| Route | Best for | Watch out for | FerryGoGo verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holyhead–Dublin | Dublin, eastern Ireland, foot passengers, cars and campervans | You need to drive or take the train to north Wales first | The main option if Dublin is your destination |
| Liverpool–Belfast | Travellers starting near Liverpool, Manchester or northern England | It lands in Belfast, not Dublin | Useful if Northern Ireland works for your trip, less direct for Dublin |
| Fishguard–Rosslare | South Wales, southwest England and the southeast of Ireland | Not ideal if you specifically need Dublin | A strong South Wales route, but not a Dublin substitute |
| Pembroke–Rosslare | South Wales to Rosslare with Irish Ferries | Longer onward drive if Dublin is the target | Worth comparing with Fishguard–Rosslare for South Wales trips |
Better route for Dublin
For Dublin, we would not plan around Liverpool–Dublin. We would start with Holyhead–Dublin, a route we have tested ourselves on both the Dublin Swift and a regular Stena Line ferry.
Go to the Holyhead–Dublin route page →
Why did Liverpool–Dublin appear?
The route appeared during an unusual disruption period. Storm Darragh damaged berths at Holyhead in December 2024, which affected the main ferry corridor between Wales and Dublin. Operators had to move quickly because Holyhead is a key port for passengers, freight and Christmas travel between Britain and Ireland.
During that period, temporary alternatives were discussed or used, including extra capacity through ports such as Birkenhead/Liverpool, Fishguard and Rosslare. Once Holyhead reopened in January 2025, the normal route network became the relevant one again. That is why Liverpool–Dublin should now be seen as historic disruption context, not a route to compare for a normal trip.
Should you redirect this page?
We would only keep this page live if it still receives impressions, clicks or links for searches such as Liverpool to Dublin ferry or Birkenhead to Dublin ferry. In that case, the page has a useful job: it prevents travellers from chasing a non-existent sailing and points them to the right alternatives.
If the page has no search value and no useful links, a 301 redirect to Holyhead–Dublin is probably cleaner. If the query data shows more interest from Liverpool-area travellers than Dublin-specific travellers, redirecting to Liverpool–Belfast could also make sense. Based on the route intent, though, Holyhead–Dublin is usually the safer target.
Can you book Liverpool to Dublin?
No, not as a regular passenger ferry route. We would not show Liverpool–Dublin as a bookable option, and we would remove any old price, timetable or route-card that makes it look available.
For live bookings, compare the current routes below instead.
Practical questions
Is there a ferry from Liverpool to Dublin?
No regular passenger ferry currently sails from Liverpool or Birkenhead to Dublin. The route was temporary during the Holyhead disruption and should not be used for normal trip planning.
What is the best ferry route to Dublin from northern England?
For Dublin, the usual answer is Holyhead–Dublin. From Liverpool, Manchester and the north west, you drive or take the train to Holyhead first, then cross directly to Dublin.
Is there still a ferry from Liverpool to Ireland?
Yes, but not to Dublin. Stena Line operates Liverpool–Belfast, which can work well for Northern Ireland or for travellers who prefer sailing from the Liverpool area.
What are the best South Wales alternatives?
Fishguard–Rosslare and Pembroke–Rosslare are the permanent South Wales ferry routes to Ireland. They are better for the south and southeast of Ireland than for Dublin.
Why do some websites still show Liverpool–Dublin?
Some route pages, booking feeds or old news items still refer to the temporary disruption route. Check current operator availability before planning around any Liverpool–Dublin sailing.
Useful for travellers to Ireland
