Irish Sea ferry Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please find below our most frequently asked questions. If this list does not provide you with the information you need then please contact us.
ABOUT NORFOLKLINE IRISH SEA
- What routes does Norfolkline Irish Sea offer?
- What are the crossing times for each sailing?
- Where are the ports located?
- Do you have a frequent traveler scheme?
- Can foot passengers travel on Norfolkline Irish Sea ferries?
CHOOSING YOUR TICKET
- What type of tickets does Norfolkline Irish Sea offer?
- Apart from the basic fare are there any other surcharges included?
- Are you charged extra when booking via the the contact centre?
- Are cabins included?
- Do children pay to travel?
- Are meals included?
- Are there regular Special Offers?
- What are the different vehicle types accepted on the Norfolkline Irish Sea Ferry?
- What is a commercial vehicle?
PURCHASING YOUR TICKET
- How can I get a quote or book onto a Norfolkline Irish Sea sailing?
- How can I pay for my ticket?
- Can I just turn up at port and buy my ticket?
- What information will I need to confirm a booking?
- How will I book if I don't know the car registration details?
PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP
- When will I receive my tickets?
- I have lost my booking details - what should I do?
- Can I have a roof box or bicycles attached to my car?
- Are there car parking facilities at the port?
- What documentation do I need to travel?
- How long before departure time should I check-in?
- What if my sailing is cancelled or delayed?
- How much luggage can I take?
AMENDING/CANCELLING
- How can I change my booking?
- What are the charges for changing my booking?
- Can I cancel my booking?
- How do I request a refund?
- What if I miss my sailing?
CUSTOMERS WITH PARTICULAR NEEDS
- What if I am traveling with children who do not have their Parent or Legal Guardian traveling with me?
- Can children travel alone?
- Which of your ships are suitable for disabled passengers of wheel chairs?
TRAVELLING WITH PETS/ANIMALS
- What is the procedure for traveling with pets?
- Can foot passengers or cyclists travel with a dog?
ONBOARD OUR SHIPS
- Can I smoke onboard?
- Can you exchange currency onboard the vessel?
- Do I need a travel plug adaptor?
- What facilities are onboard the ships?
- What is Club Class?
TRAVELLING WITH FIREARMS OR DANGEROUS GOODS
- Can I travel with medical oxygen?
- Can I take my shotgun, rifle or weapon with me in the car?
- What about fuel and gas?
ABOUT NORFOLKLINE IRISH SEA
The Norfolkline Irish Sea Ferry offers sailings between Belfast & Liverpool and Dublin & Liverpool.
For ferries between Liverpool & Belfast it is approximately 8 hrs and for ferries between Liverpool & Dublin it is approximately 7 hrs. For a sailing schedule for Belfast & Liverpool click here. For a sailing schedule for Liverpool & Dublin click here.
For Belfast port information click here. For 12 Quays port information click here. For Dublin port information click here.
The Anchor Club offers valuable savings for passengers who travel at least 6 times a year. To find out more email us at anchorclub@norfolkline.com
Foot passengers can travel on our sailings between Belfast & Liverpool and Dublin & Liverpool.
CHOOSING YOUR TICKET
Norfolkline Irish Sea Ferries offers Single Fares, Return Fares, 5 Day Return Fares and Special Offers.
Yes, all Norfolkline Irish Sea Ferry fares are subject to a fuel surcharge (£8/€10 per adult per single journey and £1/€1 per child per single journey).
If you make a booking by telephone or in person, we will charge you a £10/€12 booking fee per booking.
Cabins can be booked from £20/€25 on all day sailings. On the night sailings an inside cabin is already included in your fare if you book with a vehicle. Extra cabins can be booked from £50/€60. Cabins for people with reduced mobility can be booked via the call centre on 0871 230 0330.
Children aged between 0 and 3 years travel for free on all routes. Children 4-16 will pay the relevant standard fares.
On our evening sailings we offer a complimentary evening meal and breakfast. There is also a wide selection of snacks available to purchase onboard. On our day time sailings meals are not included but a full lunch menu is available to be purchased onboard, with discounts for students and passengers over 60 years.
Special offer fares are available throughout the year. For the best value fares book online.
Vehicle types are divided up into cars, vans & minibuses, motorhomes and motorcycles. For a more comprehensive breakdown of each vehicle type please click here.
A commercial vehicle is any vehicle that is being used for or designed for the carrying of goods. Therefore they cannot travel on passenger tariffs, and must pay commercial freight rates. Freight rates are subject to VAT.
PURCHASING YOUR TICKET
To book your ferry use our online booking engine or call 44 (0)8 71 230 0330 (UK) / 353 (0) 1 819 2999 (RoI).
We can accept the following cards when booking online or via the contact centre: American Express, Laser, Maestro – UK, MasterCard, Solo, Visa Credit, Visa Debit. Credit cards are subject to a handling fee per booking and debit cards have no charge.
Between the hours of 06.30 and 09.00 or 18.30 and 20.30 you are able to buy tickets at the Passenger Check-In Terminal. No special offers are available when booking on day of departure. If making a booking at port on the day of travel, we will charge you a £10/€12 booking fee.
Note: We would always advise that you pre-book your journey in advance of travel as we cannot guarantee space availability on the day.
We will need to know the following information: the name of each passenger travelling; title; age (Infant 0-3, Child 4-16); contact telephone number; make, model, dimensions and registration of vehicle as well as payment details.
If you are unsure of your car registration or you are hiring a vehicle please enter your surname. If possible please contact Norfolkline once you know your vehicle registration, as this will avoid delays at the port.
PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP
Norfolkline operates as a ticketless company. When you make an online reservation you will be sent an email confirmation containing the booking reference and travel details. Alternatively, if you make a phone reservation, you will be asked to make a note of your booking reference number. On the day of travel you will need to quote your booking reference at the Norfolkline check-in booth.
Norfolkline do not issue tickets, but to travel you will need your booking reference number. If you have mislaid this or any other piece of information related to your booking (e.g. departure times and dates) please contact our call centers on 44 (0)8 71 230 0330 (UK call centre for Irish Sea bookings), or 353 (0) 1 819 2999 (Republic of Ireland call centre for Irish Sea bookings).
Note: in order that we can trace your booking as quickly as possible please have as many relevant details as possible to hand - booking reference, vehicle registration, names of those travelling, dates, credit card etc.
We do not have any problems if the combined height of the vehicle does not exceed 2.4 meters and the length of 5 meters. This excludes the Dublin-Liverpool route where cars must be under 1.75m in height. For vehicles over this height, please contact the call centre on 0871 230 0330 (UK) or 01 819 2999 (ROI).
Yes, in Belfast and Liverpool there are free parking facilities available on a first come, first served basis. In Dublin we have paid parking facilities available.
All passengers aged 18 or over must produce photographic identification in either the form of a valid passport, valid photographic EU national identity card, valid photographic driving license or valid police warrant card/badge, Citizen Card or a valid Government-issued identity card at Norfolkline check-in.
Passenger check-in opens 2 hours before the ship's scheduled departure time. Check-in desks will close 1 hour before the departure of the ship. Passengers who arrive after this time will not be permitted to board the ship and will forfeit their ticket - no refund or free transfer will apply. Passengers are advised to check departure times 24 hours before sailing.
We use our best endeavours to advise passengers of any delays or cancellations. We cannot accept any liability for extra costs or inconvenience caused due to severe weather which may lead to the cancellation or delay of our services. We recommend that you check our Sailing Information line before starting your journey on 0871 230 0330.
Passengers are advised that a luggage allowance of two pieces per person is permitted. Passengers are responsible for carrying and moving their own luggage on and off the ship. Any unattended luggage onboard will be treated as a security risk and dealt with accordingly.
AMENDING/CANCELLING
Norfolkline does not allow changes to be made to your booking online. If you have booked directly with us, either online or via our call centre, please contact our call centres on 44 (0)8 71 230 0330 (UK call centre for Irish Sea bookings), or 353 (0) 1 819 2999 (Republic of Ireland call centre for Irish Sea bookings). You will also need to pay any difference in fare between what you have already paid and the price of the new sailing.
Note: Norfolkline can only process amendments to bookings made directly with us. If you have made your booking with a travel agent, or online via another website, please contact the relevant agent/website to process any amendments required.
Changes to the dates or times of travel are subject to availability and a pricing supplement is charged if the booking is changed from a lower to a higher priced sailing. The amendment fee on offers indicated as 'Special Offers' or 5 Day return fares is £25/€31. The amendment fee on standard fares is free for the first amendment and £25/€31 for each further change to the same booking.
Promotional offers or bookings are non-refundable in the event of a cancellation. The cancellation of bookings is subject to charges dependant on the period of time in advance of the sailing that the booking is cancelled:
Change up to 8 weeks prior to departure = Zero charge
8 to 4 weeks prior to departure = 25% of the total fare
4 to 2 weeks prior to departure = 50% of the total fare
Less than 2 weeks prior to departure = 100% of the total fare
Applications for a refund should be sent to the Norfolkline Belfast office or agent where the booking was made no later than two weeks following the intended departure date. All claims must by accompanied by the booking reference.
As long as you contact us as soon as possible we will strive to book you onto the next sailing depending on availability. You will also need to pay any difference in fare between what you have already paid and the price of the new sailing.
CUSTOMERS WITH PARTICULAR NEEDS
Children traveling abroad without their Parent or Legal Guardian but with another adult must have a letter of consent or permission to travel may be refused. It is the passengers responsibility to ensure that they have all the documentation needed to comply with the requirements of immigration, customs, health and other relevant regulations.
Children under the age of 16 cannot travel on their own. Unaccompanied 16 and 17 year olds need written authority from a parent or guardian.
All our vessels are equipped to carry disabled passengers however we need to be advised at the time of making a booking, the staff can allow for the car to be situated nearer to the lifts on the car deck. Staff will also accommodate as much as they can.
TRAVELLING WITH PETS/ANIMALS
Norfolkline Irish Sea vessels are able to carry pets as long as we are advised at the time of booking – please notify the Call Centre on 0871 230 0330 (UK) or 01 819 2999 (ROI).
Note: Animals other than guide dogs and disability assistance are not permitted in the passenger areas onboard ship. A number of dog kennels are available on all our ships and can be booked on the Belfast sailings for £15 per single journey. On the Dublin sailings the kennels are on a first come first serve basis.
Norfolkline acknowledge that on occasions foot passengers and passengers travelling with bicycles may wish to travel with their dogs as long as we are advised at the time of booking – please notify the Call Centre on 0871 230 0330 (UK) or 01 819 2999 (ROI). Please click here for our Carriage of Dogs policy.
ONBOARD OUR SHIPS
In the interests of passenger comfort, all public areas on the vessels are non-smoking however it is possible to smoke on the outside decks.
Exchange facilities are not available onboard, but passengers can however use both Sterling and Euro onboard.
Yes, if you are thinking of bringing any electrical equipment onboard a European plug adaptor is compatible with all sockets.
Our onboard ferry services aim to keep you entertained during your ferry trip, whether you're travelling by day or by night there are restaurant and bars, an onboard shop, dedicated areas for the kids and even a cinema. But if you are looking for that little bit extra, we also have a Club Class option available!
Norfolkline's Irish Sea ferries now offer all our passengers the opportunity to upgrade to Club Class, for only £25/€30 per passenger single leg.
Our Club Class service includes:
- Table service in restaurant
- Carafe of red or white house wine with evening meal
- Window seat for dinner and breakfast
- No queuing for seat in restaurant
- Complimentary fruit and water for your cabin
- A 20% discount for onboard shopping
- Complimentary passes for onboard facilities
TRAVELLING WITH FIREARMS OR DANGEROUS GOODS
Medical oxygen - UN1072a
The carriage of medical oxygen in a private vehicle is permitted to travel without a DGN under the following circumstances:
- Only 6 x 10 litre canisters can be carried in one vehicle and only if accompanied by a doctor's letter confirming that the passenger must carry the oxygen at all times.
- Passengers must inform Norfolkline at the time of booking that they will be carrying the oxygen so that a note can be made in the booking to this effect.
- Passengers are prohibited from being in designated smoking areas
Any further information can be found under MGN 340 on the MCA website.
Passengers must declare their intention to carry weapons and must comply with all statutory and legal obligations of the countries of departure. No ammunition of any kind is permitted on our Irish Sea route. All firearms must be out of sight and locked securely in the vehicle. Please refer to 'Carriage of firearms' in the General terms and conditions section of our website, or download our carriage of firearms policy.
Passengers must declare all inflammable, explosive or other hazardous substances. Fuel tanks should not be filled to capacity; no fuel cans are permitted and will be confiscated at check-in. Gas bottles must be turned off. The maximum possible amount of Propoane/Butane which can be carried is 47Kgs. Oxygen/Acetylene gases may be carried only if carried for maintenance work. One Acetylene or Propoane/Butane cylinder up to 35Kg gross mass and one Oxygen cylinder up to 40Kg gross mass may be carried but the cylinders should be less than 1m in height and disconnected from any equipment prior to boarding the vessel. No other 2 or 3 flammable gases or liquids are allowed in the same vehicle.