Seas the Day: Irish Ferries & WBS Cherbourg – a ‘Booze Cruise’ Blueprint

July 18, 2025

Maybe a disclaimer first: Seasoned ‘booze-cruisers’ will know all about what we’re talking about below and the companies involved.

This feature is more for the new recruits, and an offer of a fool-proof guide to how to do the old ‘overnight ferry and fill the car with booze’ trip properly and without any hassle.

We’ve all done the day trip and fevered drive around French port towns to find the right wine supermarket, then spend hours ordering, haggling and paying before high-tailing back to the ferry before it leaves.

Fun…maybe; rite of passage…probably; necessary…certainly not!

And here’s why…Irish Ferries has resumed its popular wine tasting trips to France and has partnered with a local wine outlet to make it easier to purchase at the other end.

ITTN was on hand to road-test this model, having previously fallen prey to the aforementioned do-it-yourself version…and the results couldn’t have been better.

To put it a more civilised, less vulgar, way – Irish Ferries has resumed its series of onboard wine tasting events; the first of which was held in May; with more in September and October being planned.

To make it easy for the rookie booze cruiser, the key is to remember the letters ‘W’ and ‘B’…as in WB Yeats – the ship Irish Ferries uses on its Dublin to Cherbourg route – and WBS (Wine-Beer Supermarket) it’s official wine partner.

WBS is involved in the onboard tasting and is Irish Ferries’ official wine partner. The joy of that is you – the passenger – can order online from WBS – via its website www.winebeersupermarket.com and simply collect any time before reboarding the ship on your return.

WBS has two retail outlets – one in Cherbourg and one in Roscoff. The latter is operated by Fred Bossis, while the Cherbourg shop is run and managed by Chris Bullimore (pictured below).

Of course, you can just rock up and visit the shops (the Cherbourg outlet is a mere 15 minute drive outside the town), but visiting online and ordering via the website is advisable and easier and hassle-free.

WBS caters for pretty much every taste and has a massive selection – everything from reds, whites, rosé, sparkling wines, liqueurs, spirits, champagne, beers, ciders, and wine boxes; all very favourably priced. The owners will also offer any relevant advice regarding customs rules. The WBS website also contains a regularly updated special offers page. You’ll never want to buy wine anywhere else again!