Irish Ferries’ magnificent Isle of Inishmore set sail on the inaugural service from Dover to Calais today (Tuesday 29 June), extending its network of award-winning services and providing customers with a new operator choice for travelling across the Channel. Irish Ferries encourages customers to “sea travel differently” – whether for holidays, business trips, reuniting with loved ones, or planning the road trip of a lifetime. With award-winning hospitality and service, onboard duty-free shopping and extensive amenities to make the journey even more special, the holiday really does begin once passengers’ step onboard.
The Isle of Inishmore ship has undergone extensive refurbishments for the new service – including an upgraded Club Class Lounge, with spectacular 360-degree sea views, and refreshed, spacious passenger areas. The 90-minute crossing is a breeze, with plenty of amenities onboard. Passengers can avail of free WiFi, re-fuel in Boylan’s Brasserie or Café Lafayette, or let the kids enjoy the soft play area. With new duty-free allowances post Brexit, it’s the perfect opportunity to stock up in the Duty Free shop, or even plan ahead on purchases, with an innovative, online Click & Collect service. Freight drivers can also enjoy the comfortable facilities including a drivers lounge and dedicated new showers.
Andrew Sheen, Managing Director at Irish Ferries, said: “Our newly-launched route between Dover and Calais brings even more choice for freight customers who can now experience our outstanding service while travelling between the UK and France. We’re delighted to bring a little bit of Ireland to this route, and after months of travel limitations, we know that people are very eager to see family and friends, re-ignite business relations, and escape their everyday and take a much-needed holiday. We are in the business of connectivity and want to enable those special memories to be created once travel is permitted again.”
Doug Bannister, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover, said: “We offer a very warm welcome to Irish Ferries and are delighted to see their operations commence from the UK’s busiest international ro-ro port. There has been considerable work by Port of Dover and all parties associated with this new service launch to get prepared for this day, and we are pleased to see all of those efforts come to fruition. We wish Irish Ferries every success for their new venture with us”
Ferry travel makes for a more relaxed holiday option, with the freedom to pack the car with unlimited luggage, bring pets along, and travel exactly where you want in the comfort of your own car. The Flexibility Option from Irish Ferries also offers additional peace of mind if customers need to change bookings at the last minute. With Irish Ferries ‘Travel Safe’ programme, customers can also travel in confidence; checking in from the security of their own car, sailing with plenty of space in communal areas for natural social distancing onboard, and take in the fresh, sea air from outdoor decks.
Fares start from just £69 for a car and up to nine passengers, and ferries will operate with up to 10 daily crossings. To Sea Travel Differently, customers can book by visiting www.irishferries.com.
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About Irish Ferries
Irish Ferries is the market leading ferry operator in Ireland, serving routes between Britain (Holyhead to Dublin, and Pembroke to Rosslare) and Ireland, Ireland and France (Dublin to Cherbourg) and now Britain and France (Dover to Calais).
Irish Ferries operates up to 16 sailings a day, with a fleet of modern cruise and fast ferries, including the famous Ulysses, and the Dublin Swift, the only fast craft on the Irish Sea. The newly built award-winning W.B. Yeats operates a hybrid service on both Dublin to Holyhead and Dublin to Cherbourg routes.
On the newly launched Dover to Calais route, Irish Ferries operates up to 10 sailings a day, serviced by the refurbished Isle of Inishmore cruise ferry.
Irish Ferries is a division of leading Irish maritime transport group Irish Continental Group plc and carried over 1.54m passengers and 401,000 cars on up to 16 daily sailings between Ireland, Britain and France in 2019.
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