Dublin to Liverpool ferry
The old direct passenger service is gone. Here is what runs now and which route works for your journey.
Can you take a direct passenger ferry?
No current direct passenger booking is available on the Dublin–Liverpool route. P&O left the route at the end of 2023. Stena Line started a dedicated Dublin–Birkenhead freight service in 2024, while other operators also move cargo on this corridor.
The word “ferry” in a search result does not tell you whether a sailing accepts leisure passengers. Check the route and passenger type on the operator’s own booking site.
Your three practical routes
Compare passenger ferry crossings
Use the booking search for the ferry leg of your trip. Search a route that accepts passengers rather than the direct Dublin–Birkenhead freight service.
What to select: For a trip starting in Dublin, search Dublin–Holyhead and arrange the onward journey to Liverpool separately. To arrive closer to Liverpool by ferry, first travel to Belfast, then search Belfast–Liverpool (Birkenhead). These are separate routes; the direct Dublin–Birkenhead freight sailing is not a passenger option.
Dates, fares, vehicle rules and foot passenger availability depend on the sailing you select. Book onward travel separately.
Which option should you choose?
Heading to central Liverpool?
For foot passengers, Dublin–Holyhead followed by a train to Liverpool is often the most direct itinerary to compare. It requires a separate onward rail journey, so check both timetables.
Taking a car, van or cargo?
For a private vehicle, compare passenger fares via Holyhead or via Belfast. For commercial freight, ask the freight operator about accompanied and unaccompanied cargo rules before booking.
Related Irish Sea crossings
Planning a different way across the Irish Sea? Read the Holyhead–Dublin ferry guide for the Wales crossing. If your journey takes you through Northern Ireland and southwest Scotland, see the Larne–Cairnryan ferry guide for that crossing. Choose each route by its actual ports when searching.
Where did the old ferry go?
P&O stopped the Liverpool–Dublin service after losing access to its Liverpool berth. The newer Stena route serves Birkenhead as a freight operation. Older ticket pages and travel articles can therefore be misleading.
Sources: Dublin Port and Stena Line Freight.