On the southern coast of the Emerald Isle, ferries sailing between Cork and Swansea connect the Republic of Ireland with mainland Britain. Scheduled sailings run to Swansea all year round, and routes between Ireland and France operate on a seasonal basis.

The port of Cork has limited facilities, but the city centre is quite close and offers a good range of amenities. There is a bed and breakfast close to the ferry terminal and the post office can provide a bureau de change service as well as information about the local area. Cork harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world.

Swansea Cork Ferries operate the sailing between Ireland and Wales, while crossing from Cork to Roscoff in France is provided by Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries. Ferry crossings to Swansea take 10 hours, while the Brittany Ferries route takes 13 hours and Irish Ferries is the longest sailing, taking 16 hours.

The sailing to Roscoff is usually an overnight service so passengers have a choice of cabins. All vessels feature a good range of facilities. Passengers can enjoy a meal or a relaxing drink in the ferries’ restaurant or bar, while shoppers can browse onboard shops.

The ferries can transport a wide variety of vehicles including cars, bicycles, minbuses, motor homes, caravans and boats. Disabled passengers are well catered for with ramps and wide doorways providing easy access for passengers in wheelchairs. Passengers should advise staff of any special needs when booking their ferry trip.

The ferry terminal is 12 miles from Cork city centre, and the journey takes around 30 minutes depending on traffic. A bus departs from the ferry terminal every hour and if you are travelling from the centre to the ferry terminal, board a bus bound for Ringaskiddy.

Tags: Britain, Brittany Ferries, Cork Port, Emerald Isle, France, Ireland, Roscoff, Swansea, Wales