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How to get from Belfast to Cairnryan by ferry ?

Looking for the perfect Belfast to Cairnryan ferry ticket? You've come to the right place. Taking a ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan is a convenient and enjoyable way to travel.

We know that planning a ferry trip from Belfast to Cairnryan can be stressful, so we do our best to make your Belfast to Cairnryan ferry booking as quick and easy as possible.

With Vivanoda, our easy to use platform, you can compare prices, routes and services of different ferry companies like Stena Line. This way you can find the best deal on a Belfast Cairnryan ferry ticket to suit your needs and budget, whether you're travelling alone, as a couple or with your family.

Most Stena Line ships offer on-board facilities such as cabins, restaurants, shops, Wi-Fi and more. Often they also offer facilities for people with reduced mobility.

To find the best deals on ferries from Belfast to Cairnryan simply enter your travel dates and start your search on Vivanoda.

Belfast to Cairnryan Ferry Information

Port of departure
Belfast
United Kingdom
Northern Ireland
Port of Arrival
Cairnryan
United Kingdom
Scotland
Distance
44 mi
Ferry Companies
Stena Line
Frequency of crossings
5 crossings a day
Minimum crossing time
2 hours 20 min
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Ferry Belfast Cairnryan: Fares, Timetables and Duration

To travel by ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan, you'll find tickets range from £38 for one person if you're travelling without a car to £188 if you're travelling with your car. The average price we've seen on the Belfast to Cairnryan route is £115. The average ferry crossing time from Belfast to Cairnryan is 2 hours 22 min. The slowest ferries will take 2 hours 22 min to reach Cairnryan, while the fastest boats will arrive in Cairnryan in 2 hours 22 min. The first ferry leaves the port of Belfast at 03:30. The last boat to Cairnryan leaves the port of Belfast at 19:30.

Average price of a Belfast to Cairnryan ferry crossing
£115
Price range of ferries Belfast Cairnryan (Lowest price for 1 passenger and highest price for 1 passenger and a car)
£38 - £188
Average crossing time Belfast Cairnryan
2 hours 22 min
Departure time of first ferry to Cairnryan
03:30
Time last ferry leaves for Cairnryan
19:30
Arrival time of first ferry to Cairnryan
05:52
Arrival time of last ferry to Cairnryan
21:52

Why travel by ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan?

Whether you're travelling alone, as a couple or with the family, a Belfast to Cairnryan ferry can be a convenient and enjoyable option for getting to Cairnryan. Here are 3 reasons why we think a ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan is an ideal way to travel.

So you don't have to worry about the amount of luggage
One piece of luggage is free, all the others have to be paid for. This is often the formula used when we travel with other modes of transport, which very often leads to a significant increase in the bill. However, when you board a Stena Line ferry in Belfast, you are free to take as much luggage as you like, as long as it is contained in your vehicle. If you are travelling without a car, then you will be restricted in your movements throughout the journey to Cairnryan. However, many ships provide luggage storage for foot passengers. Check with Stena Line.
Because it's the ideal way to travel with your family!
Travelling by ferry is simply the ideal way to travel between Belfast and Cairnryan when you are with your family and especially with children. Everything is simpler. As soon as you leave Belfast, imagine your children exploring the ship, spending long periods playing in the children's play areas or in the video games and arcades (for teenagers), watching the latest films in the cinema, sharing a family meal in the restaurant, or marvelling at a magic show or other countless activities. On board the ferry to Cairnryan, time flies by faster than you think and this maritime experience between Belfast and Cairnryan will remain unforgettable for your children for a long time.
Resting in a cabin
Although it is not compulsory to make the crossing from Belfast to Cairnryan by booking a cabin, you are depriving yourself of a comfort that the ferry is the only mode of transport to offer. Like real hotel rooms, they offer travellers beds, bathrooms and, in some suites, portholes and balconies. Even on a day crossing, enjoying the privacy of a cabin is still possible and much more comfortable than sitting in a lounge.

Which companies operate between Belfast and Cairnryan?

If you want to travel between Belfast and Cairnryan by ferry, there are a number of companies to choose from including Stena Line who run regular services between the two cities. You can find out more about the different shipping companies on this route and their departure times here.

Stena Line Belfast Cairnryan
Stena Line
Stena Line is a Swedish-based ferry company offering passenger and vehicle services between ports in Western Europe, including between the ports of Harwich in the UK and Hook of Holland in the Netherlands, between Hull and Rotterdam and between Liverpool and Belfast in Northern Ireland. On Vivanoda, you can compare Belfast-Cairnryan fares and book a Stena Line ticket between Belfast and Cairnryan. Stena Line operates 5 crossings a day to Cairnryan from Belfast and the journey time is 2 hours 20 min. More information about Stena Line
2 hours 20 min
5 crossings a day

Where do the ferries leave from in Belfast? Where do the boats arrive in Cairnryan?

Port of departure in Belfast

Stena Line ferries depart for Cairnryan from the following ports in Belfast:

Belfast Stena Line Ferries
Map

Port of arrival in Cairnryan

Stena Line ships arrive in Cairnryan from the following ports:

Cairnryan
Map
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FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

If you take a ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan, it will take you at least 2 hours 20 min to cover the 44 mi between Belfast and Cairnryan.

This often depends on the season (there are fewer crossings between Belfast and Cairnryan in winter) and the ferry company (Stena Line). There are currently 5 crossings a day between Belfast and Cairnryan.

There are 1 ferry companies operating between Belfast and Cairnryan: Stena Line.

Yes, absolutely, direct crossings are offered by Stena Line.

Before booking, compare the prices of Stena Line on our website Vivanoda. Then book the crossing of your choice easily and securely on our partner's website.

If you want to change or cancel your Belfast Cairnryan ferry booking, you can do so easily by contacting our partner who manages your booking. Please note that, depending on the fare conditions, some tickets are non-refundable or non-changeable. It is important to take this into account when booking your ticket.

During your crossing between Belfast and Cairnryan, you will travel 44 mi.

To go by boat from Belfast to Cairnryan, you can find prices ranging from £38 for the lowest, to £188 for the highest. The average price we observed was £115.

The first ferry leaves Belfast at 03:30 for Cairnryan.

The last ferry to Cairnryan usually departs from Belfast at 19:30.

What is a Belfast to Cairnryan ferry crossing like?

If this is your first time on a ferry, it is not easy to imagine what a Belfast to Cairnryan sea crossing is like. We will therefore describe this unique travel experience, from embarkation in Belfast to disembarkation in Cairnryan, in order to help you better project yourself into the maritime world of Stena Line. You can also find some tourist and practical information about Belfast and Cairnryan.

Boarding in Belfast

Before you set off on your Belfast Cairnryan ferry journey, here are some steps to take before boarding:

  • Presentation at the port of Belfast / You should arrive in the port of Belfast well in advance. Please check this with your Stena Line company. After this period, the company is entitled to refuse you boarding.
  • Checking in for the Belfast Cairnryan crossing / At the Belfast ferry terminal, look for the Stena Line counters and present your passport and booking number. By car, the process is the same, but directly from the boarding lanes. You remain in your vehicle.
  • Boarding the ferry to Cairnryan / Watch out for voice messages in the Belfast ferry terminal inviting you to board. By car, follow the instructions of Stena Line staff to board and park your vehicle on board.

Belfast to Cairnryan crossing: on board the ship...

During the crossing, everyone can use the services on the Stena Line ship as they wish. Some will want to relax in one of the reclining lounges, others will want to make the most of all the services offered on board or simply enjoy the view of the sea from the ship's deck.

Ferry arrival in Cairnryan

Finally you will find some information for the arrival of the ferry in Cairnryan:

  • Cairnryan Harbour is in sight / You will only be allowed access to the garage once the boat is moored. There is no need to rush. It is best to wait on the outside decks to watch the ferry manoeuvre into Cairnryan Harbour.
  • Vacate your cabin. / If you have travelled from Belfast to Cairnryan in the comfort of a cabin, you will need to vacate your cabin approximately half an hour before arrival in Cairnryan.
  • Leaving the ship and exploring Cairnryan / Driving out of the ship's garage is fairly quick. Pedestrian passengers get off the boat even faster. A customs check cannot be ruled out in Cairnryan. At last, your holiday in Cairnryan has begun!

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