This weekend (Saturday 18th January 2014), Irish Ferries will inaugurate its new direct weekend car ferry service between Dublin and Cherbourg. The new 19-hour service will be operated using the passenger car and freight ferry vessel Epsilon, which the company acquired recently under a charter arrangement. When not operating the Cherbourg service, Epsilon will sail between Dublin and Holyhead, increasing Irish Ferries’ services on that route to a maximum of 12 sailings each day.
Sailings will depart from the Ferryport terminal in Dublin at 15.30 on Saturday and will arrive in Cherbourg at 11.30 on Sunday morning. It will return to Dublin later that day, departing Cherbourg at 17.00 and arriving back in Ireland on Monday morning.
The introduction of the new Dublin – Cherbourg service gives holidaymakers travelling into and out of Ireland a third route option, augmenting the company’s Rosslare – Cherbourg and Rosslare – Roscoff services. Timed to arrive in Cherbourg early enough to facilitate easy onward travel to campsites and holiday centres throughout France, the new service is expected to prove popular with families and hauliers alike.
On board Epsilon, the once-weekly, year-round service will offer a more limited range of cabins and passenger attractions when compared with those on board the company’s cruise ferry Oscar Wilde, which will continue to service routes from Rosslare to Cherbourg and Roscoff as before.
For those living in the northern half of the country, the new service eliminates driving to Rosslare and cuts the motoring time and cost involved.
MV Epsilon
Built in 2011, the Epsilon has capacity for 500 passengers. Modest facilities on board include a bar, cafeteria, self-service restaurant, 68 two- and four-berth cabins all with TV and free wi-fi service, and 2,860 lane metres of vehicle deck parking space.
Dermot Merrigan, Head of Passenger Sales, said: “Our new Dublin to Cherbourg direct service will appeal to those living within and beyond our capital city. Fast access straight through the city or from the Dublin Port Tunnel ensures that our new Ireland – France service will be more accessible to all.”
