If you want a ferry from Scotland to Ireland, both crossings leave from Cairnryan on Loch Ryan in Dumfries and Galloway. Stena Line sails to Belfast and P&O Ferries sails to Larne, a little further up the County Antrim coast. Stena's crossing takes 2 hours 15 minutes and P&O's takes 2 hours, and from either port you can drive on into the Republic.
I went through both operators' websites on 11 November 2026 and set out what each says below: crossing times, sailings, ships, check-in, foot passengers, pets, ID and the fares and offers they were showing that day.
Cairnryan to Belfast or Larne at a glance
| Route | Operator | Crossing time | Sailings | Car fare from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairnryan–Belfast | Stena Line | 2 hours 15 minutes | Up to 6 a day from Cairnryan | £155 single, car and driver |
| Cairnryan–Larne | P&O Ferries | 2 hours | 6 a day | £147 Standard ticket, car and one person |
Stena Line says you can "travel by ferry between Cairnryan and Belfast in just 2 hours 15 minutes". Its Cairnryan port page says there are up to 6 daily sailings to Belfast. Its route page says "a choice of 12 daily sailings".
P&O Ferries says its crossing takes 2 hours and that there are "6 daily crossings to and from Larne everyday with the first ferry departing at 4am with the last ferry departing at 23:59pm".
The ships and what's on board
Stena Line runs two ships on the route, Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII, which it calls "the biggest, most luxurious ferries ever to sail between Northern Ireland and Scotland". On Stena Superfast VII, Stena lists a restaurant, a bar, free movies, a shop, Superior Cabins, the Stena Plus Lounge with waiter service, a Hygge Lounge and the Pure Nordic Spa with a Jacuzzi. The Stena Plus Lounge and the Hygge Recline Lounge are both for guests aged 8 and over. There are play areas for children and a Pet Lounge you can pre-book.
P&O Ferries doesn't name its ships on the Cairnryan–Larne route page, so I haven't either. It says the route has a Club Lounge, a children's space, a gaming area, a quiet lounge and deck space, plus a food court, coffee shop, World Duty Free shop and free WiFi. Club Lounge access costs £16 per person and P&O says it's available on all sailings. In summer, children aged 5–11 can join the Junior Crew Kids' Club.
Check-in times
This is where the two routes differ a little, and where P&O's own pages don't agree with each other.
- Stena Line, Cairnryan–Belfast: Stena says check-in times for each route and ferry are shown on your e-ticket and Reservation Advice, so check yours carefully.
- P&O Ferries with a car or motorbike: P&O says check-in for the Cairnryan to Larne route closes 30 minutes before departure.
- P&O Ferries on foot: the route page says foot passenger check-in closes 30 minutes before departure, but P&O's foot passenger page says 45 minutes. I'd work to the earlier time.
- P&O Ferries with a dog: P&O says you must check in at least 45 minutes before departure.
Travelling as a foot passenger
Both routes take foot passengers, and both operators explain how to reach the ports without a car.
Stena Line. At Cairnryan, Stena says bus connections run to and from Ayr railway station on selected sailings for passengers who have pre-booked a Rail & Sail ticket, and coach connections run on selected sailings for passengers with a pre-booked Express coach ticket. Taxis are available too. At the Belfast end, Stena says there is no direct train link to Belfast Port. Translink's Metro 96 bus runs from Upper Queen Street, near Belfast City Hall, to the terminal for the 07:15, 11:15, 15:30 and 19:30/19:45 departures, and Stena gives the journey time as approximately 22 minutes. There's also a taxi-share scheme to the city centre from outside the terminal.
P&O Ferries. P&O lists Cairnryan to Larne foot passenger fares from £35 for an adult and £18 for a child, each way, on standard tickets. At Larne, P&O says the train station is in the harbour, with trains run by Translink. P&O also says luggage must be carried at all times as a foot passenger.
Taking a pet
Dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland now need paperwork. GOV.UK says you'll need a Northern Ireland pet travel document (PTD) to take your dog, cat or ferret from Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales) to Northern Ireland, and that it's free to apply and lasts for as long as you own the pet. Your pet must be microchipped. If you're going by ferry, GOV.UK says you must scan your pet's microchip at the port before leaving Great Britain using a scanner provided. The rules also apply to assistance dogs.
Stena Line says pets can stay in your vehicle on all routes and travel for free when they do. Kennels can be pre-booked and are free between Cairnryan and Belfast. The Superfast ships also have a Pet Lounge, where your pet must stay in its secure carrier case for the whole crossing; the case can be no bigger than 91cm long, 62cm high and 56cm wide. Stena says all pets, whether you're travelling by car or on foot, must be pre-booked.
P&O Ferries says pets must stay in your vehicle on the Cairnryan to Larne route. Foot passengers can't bring pets, except guide dogs.
If you're carrying on into the Republic with a pet, GOV.UK says the rules are different depending on where you're going. Stena says pets travelling between the Republic of Ireland and the UK must be accompanied by an EU pet passport or animal certificate.
ID for the crossing
The passport-only rule that Stena Line brought in on its Holyhead and Fishguard routes from 28 September 2026 does not apply here. Stena says there is no change to the ID requirements for passengers travelling with Stena Line from Belfast, Liverpool, Cairnryan or Heysham.
For UK citizens travelling between Britain and Ireland, Stena accepts a form of identification such as a current or recently expired passport, a government-issued photo ID card, a photographic driving licence or a photographic bus or train pass. Children aged 17 and under need their own photo ID or a birth certificate if proof of identity is requested. Stena also asks that the names, dates of birth, genders and nationalities on your booking exactly match the photo ID each passenger shows at check-in.
P&O Ferries says UK residents do not need to carry their passport, but will need to carry some form of ID.
Stena says there is no change to the ID requirements for passengers travelling with Stena Line from Belfast, Liverpool, Cairnryan or Heysham.
Driving on to the Republic of Ireland
Stena's Belfast terminal is off Junction 1 of the M2. From Larne, P&O says the drive to Dublin "takes just over two hours", on what it calls a "126-mile cruise" down the A1 and M1. Larne to Galway, P&O says, takes around four hours and is around 250 miles. Its route page puts Belfast 40 minutes from Larne.
GOV.UK says British nationals are not legally required to show a passport to enter Ireland, but it may be useful to carry in case you need to prove your identity. British and Irish citizens can travel freely between the UK and Ireland under the Common Travel Area. On driving, GOV.UK's licence guidance says you do not need an international driving permit (IDP) for Ireland, though if you're hiring a car you should check whether the hire company says you need one. If you're taking your own car, GOV.UK says to check you have the right vehicle insurance for the countries you're driving through and what proof you need to carry.
Fares and offers
These were the prices and offers shown when I checked on 11 November 2026.
Stena Line, Cairnryan–Belfast: from £155 single, car and driver.
P&O Ferries, Cairnryan–Larne: Standard tickets from £147, Standard Flexi from £162 and Fully Flexi from £248, for a car and one person. Standard is non-refundable and changes cost a fee; Standard Flexi lets you sail within 5 hours either side of your booked time; Fully Flexi lets you take any departure, subject to availability.
Offers running when I looked:
- Stena Line Black Friday: 20% off Flexi and Premium motorist fares and Flexi foot passenger fares between Cairnryan and Belfast, with code BF20. Book by 1 December 2026 for travel between 10 November 2026 and 16 December 2027 (not 18 December 2026 to 3 January 2027).
- P&O Ferries Black Friday: 20% off Flexi and Fully Flexi fares, but only from Larne to Cairnryan, for travel by 16 December 2027. Book by 1 December 2026. Standard fares are excluded.
- P&O Ferries 28 Hour Return: 25% off returns of up to 28 hours on Cairnryan to Larne. It excludes vans and foot passengers.
- P&O Ferries Midweek Motorhome: a standard-size motorhome for the same price as a car on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday sailings. Book by 3 September 2027.
- Stena Line motorhome and caravan offers: a motorhome for the price of a car, or up to 50% off the caravan supplement, on any Tuesday to Thursday sailing between Cairnryan and Belfast.
For other ways across, see my Northern Ireland ferry routes and Ireland ferry routes pages.
Questions about the Scotland to Ireland ferry
How long is the ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast?
Stena Line says the crossing takes 2 hours 15 minutes. P&O Ferries' crossing from Cairnryan to Larne takes 2 hours.
Do I need a passport for the ferry from Scotland to Northern Ireland?
No, not on these two routes. Stena says there's no change to its ID rules from Cairnryan or Belfast and accepts photo ID such as a driving licence, and P&O says UK residents need some form of ID but not a passport.
Can I take the Cairnryan ferry as a foot passenger?
Yes. Both operators take foot passengers; P&O lists adult foot fares from £35 each way, and Stena runs Rail & Sail bus connections to Ayr station on selected sailings.
Can I take my dog on the ferry to Northern Ireland?
Yes, but you'll need a free Northern Ireland pet travel document, according to GOV.UK. Stena offers free kennels, a Pet Lounge or your car; P&O says pets must stay in your vehicle and foot passengers can't bring pets other than guide dogs.
How far is Dublin from Larne?
P&O says the drive from Larne to Dublin takes just over two hours and is 126 miles.
Which is cheaper, Stena or P&O?
On 11 November 2026, P&O's lowest car fare was £147 for a Standard ticket and Stena's was from £155 single for a car and driver. Both had Black Friday offers on Flexi fares that day.
