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How to get from Cairnryan to Belfast by ferry ?

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

We know that planning a ferry trip from Cairnryan to Belfast can be stressful, so we do our best to make your Cairnryan to Belfast 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 Cairnryan Belfast 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 Cairnryan to Belfast simply enter your travel dates and start your search on Vivanoda.

Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry Information

Port of departure
Cairnryan
United Kingdom
Scotland
Port of Arrival
Belfast
United Kingdom
Northern Ireland
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 Cairnryan Belfast: Fares, Timetables and Duration

To travel by ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast, 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 Cairnryan to Belfast route is £113. The average ferry crossing time from Cairnryan to Belfast is 2 hours 16 min. The slowest ferries will take 2 hours 45 min to reach Belfast, while the fastest boats will arrive in Belfast in 2 hours 15 min. The first ferry leaves the port of Cairnryan at 03:30. The last boat to Belfast leaves the port of Cairnryan at 19:30.

Average price of a Cairnryan to Belfast ferry crossing
£113
Price range of ferries Cairnryan Belfast (Lowest price for 1 passenger and highest price for 1 passenger and a car)
£38 - £188
Average crossing time Cairnryan Belfast
2 hours 16 min
Departure time of first ferry to Belfast
03:30
Time last ferry leaves for Belfast
19:30
Arrival time of first ferry to Belfast
05:45
Arrival time of last ferry to Belfast
21:45

Why travel by ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast?

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

So you don't have to worry about the amount of luggage
With the train, bus or plane, an excess of one free piece of luggage is often applied and each additional piece of luggage generates an additional cost. However, when you board a Stena Line ferry in Cairnryan, 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 Belfast. However, many ships provide luggage storage for foot passengers. Check with Stena Line.
Enjoy the fresh sea air
The health benefits of the sea have long been proven. During the Cairnryan-Belfast crossing, access the outside areas of the Stena Line ship to take a deep breath of air. The fresh sea air and the waves that rock the ferry will soothe you instantly. You'll arrive in Belfast feeling perfectly zen and energised.
Resting in a cabin
Although it is not compulsory to make the crossing from Cairnryan to Belfast 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. While their use is most obvious on an overnight crossing, it is perfectly possible to book one during the day.

Which companies operate between Cairnryan and Belfast?

If you want to travel between Cairnryan and Belfast 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 Cairnryan Belfast
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 Cairnryan-Belfast fares and book a Stena Line ticket between Cairnryan and Belfast. Stena Line operates 5 crossings a day to Belfast from Cairnryan 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 Cairnryan? Where do the boats arrive in Belfast?

Port of departure in Cairnryan

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

Cairnryan
Map

Port of arrival in Belfast

Stena Line ships arrive in Belfast from the following ports:

Belfast Stena Line Ferries
Map
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FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

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

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

There are 1 ferry companies operating between Cairnryan and Belfast: 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 Cairnryan Belfast 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 Cairnryan and Belfast, you will travel 44 mi.

To go by boat from Cairnryan to Belfast, you can find prices ranging from £38 for the lowest, to £188 for the highest. The average price we observed was £113.

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

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

Experience a Cairnryan to Belfast ferry crossing

If this is your first time on a ferry, it is not easy to imagine what a Cairnryan to Belfast sea crossing is like. To help you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a Stena Line ferry cruise, here we explain the different stages of the journey, from boarding the ship in Cairnryan to disembarking in Belfast. You can also find some tourist and practical information about Cairnryan and Belfast.

Boarding in Cairnryan

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

  • Presentation at the port of Cairnryan / You should arrive in the port of Cairnryan 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 Cairnryan Belfast crossing / In Cairnryan, present your identity papers (passport or CNI) and the booking number at the Stena Line ticket offices at the Cairnryan ferry terminal. By car, the process is the same, but directly from the boarding lanes. You remain in your vehicle.
  • Boarding the ferry to Belfast / Watch out for voice messages in the Cairnryan ferry terminal inviting you to board. By car, follow the instructions of Stena Line staff to board and park your vehicle on board.

Cairnryan to Belfast 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 Belfast

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

  • The ferry enters Belfast Harbour / You will only be allowed access to the garage once the boat is moored. There is no point in rushing. It is best to wait on the outside decks to watch the ferry manoeuvre into Belfast Harbour.
  • Vacate your cabin. / If you have travelled from Cairnryan to Belfast in the comfort of a cabin, you will need to vacate your cabin approximately half an hour before arrival in Belfast.
  • Leaving the ship and exploring Belfast / 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 Belfast. Finally, leave the port and Belfast is waiting for you!

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