Two operators sail from Rosslare Europort to France: Brittany Ferries to Cherbourg in Normandy and DFDS to Dunkirk. Here's what each crossing involves, what's on board, and how to get to the port without a car.
You can sail straight from Rosslare to France with two operators: Brittany Ferries to Cherbourg and DFDS to Dunkirk. If Rosslare isn't handy, there are also sailings from Cork and Dublin.
Everything below comes from the operators' own sites and Rosslare Europort, and I checked it on 10 November 2026. Each route page has the sailings and a link to book with the operator.
Rosslare to Cherbourg with Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries sails Rosslare to Cherbourg 4 times a week. It's an overnight crossing: you leave Rosslare in the evening and arrive in France in the early afternoon, and Brittany Ferries puts the sailing at 17 to 20 hours. Coming back from Cherbourg takes 15 to 18 hours. Brittany Ferries says the route suits you especially if you're heading for Normandy, Paris or the Loire Valley.
The ships are Salamanca or Santoña, both Spanish-themed, or Wexford. Brittany Ferries says Wexford sails from March 2027, with 2 or 4 berth cabins (with or without a window), Club and Commodore cabins, reserved lounge seats, a self-service restaurant, a bar and a children's play area. It also has 4 berth cabins with two bathrooms and a partition through the middle, for families and groups.
Brittany Ferries showed fares on this route from €292 return with your car.
Rosslare to Dunkirk with DFDS
DFDS typically runs five sailings a week from Rosslare to Dunkirk, and the crossing takes just under 24 hours. On the Rosslare to Dunkirk crossing, four meals at the self-service restaurant are included in your fare. Water, tea and coffee are included too.
You can choose a standard cabin, a sea view cabin or a pet friendly cabin. DFDS's starting price is per vehicle, one way, with up to 4 people in a 4-berth inside cabin and meals included. You can take a car, bike, motorbike, motorhome or other vehicle, and there are no baggage restrictions.
DFDS says Dunkirk is less than 2 hours by car from Brussels and 3.5 hours' drive from Paris.
On the Rosslare to Dunkirk crossing, four meals at the self-service restaurant are included in your fare.
Other ferries from Ireland to France
Cork to Roscoff. Brittany Ferries sails Cork to Roscoff twice a week, on its flagship Pont-Aven or on Armorique. The afternoon sailings take 14 to 15 hours, and Pont-Aven has a swimming pool and leisure area.
Dublin to Cherbourg. Irish Ferries sails Dublin to Cherbourg with W.B. Yeats and Isle of Inisheer. W.B. Yeats has a waiter service restaurant, self-service dining, a Club Class lounge, a cinema, en-suite air conditioned cabins and suites with private balconies. Irish Ferries describes Isle of Inisheer as a basic service with limited facilities: a restaurant, café, shop and bar, 2 to 4 berth ensuite cabins and 4 berth pet cabins. A €300 deposit secures your trip.
Brittany Ferries also sails from Rosslare to Bilbao and Santander in Spain.
Cabins and seats
All Brittany Ferries cabins are en suite and air-conditioned, with bed linen, towels and toiletries. On most of its ships you can book a reserved lounge seat instead, and buy a sleep pack with a blanket, pillow, eye mask and ear plugs. If you book a Commodore or Club cabin on Salamanca or Santoña to Spain, entry to the CClub Lounge is free.
Taking your pet
Brittany Ferries takes pets on both its Irish routes to France, in a pet-friendly cabin, and has kennels for dogs. A 2-berth pet-friendly cabin takes 1 large dog or 2 small dogs or cats, and a 4-berth one up to 2 large dogs or 3 small dogs or cats. Dogs must be muzzled whenever they're outside your vehicle, and pets aren't allowed in public areas. Space is very limited, especially in summer, so book early.
DFDS has limited capacity for pets on Rosslare to Dunkirk, and you choose a pet-friendly cabin when you book. Irish Ferries asks you to pre-book pets before check-in.
Getting to Rosslare Europort
Brittany Ferries puts Rosslare 2 hours and 15 minutes' drive from Dublin. The port is at Ballygillane Big, Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford, Y35 PH4X, on the N25 from Wexford town.
- Train: Iarnród Éireann runs the Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Europort line, with up to 5 services each way a day. The station is within a seven-minute walk of the terminal building.
- Bus: Bus Éireann runs a frequent service between Wexford bus station and the port, and buses stop outside the main terminal building. Wexford Bus and Local Link also run services in the area.
- From Dublin Airport: Bus Éireann runs buses to Wexford, with connecting buses to the port.
- Taxi: there's a taxi rank outside the main terminal.
The terminal has free Wi-Fi, and pets are welcome inside as long as they're supervised.
If you're under 25 and travelling on foot, Brittany Ferries refunds up to 25% of your ferry ticket when you also book a train within 24 hours of your sailing through Irish Rail, SNCF Connect or Rail Europe.
Finding a cheaper fare
Brittany Ferries' Early Bird tickets are its cheapest fares, apart from promotions, and are only on sale 60 days or more before your outward sailing. It also says sailing midweek can sometimes be cheaper than at the weekend, and tickets are often cheaper outside busy periods such as Easter and the summer holidays.
For the full picture, see the Rosslare to Cherbourg and Rosslare to Dunkirk route pages.
Sailing from Britain instead? Portsmouth to Cherbourg lands at the same Normandy port.
Coming from Wales to catch the ferry at Rosslare? See Fishguard to Rosslare and Pembroke to Rosslare.
