The new Cork-Boulogne ferry is now sailing. Hibernia Line launched the direct route between Ringaskiddy in Cork and Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France on 12 June 2026. With six sailings per week in each direction, it adds another year-round way to travel directly between Ireland and mainland Europe without passing through the UK.
The route is operated by two RoPax ferries, St Patrick and Akka, carrying both passengers and freight. Check sailings and fares for Cork-Boulogne.
Facts about the Cork-Boulogne ferry
Hibernia Line operates six sailings per week in each direction between Ringaskiddy and Boulogne-sur-Mer. The crossing takes around 21 to 23 hours depending on the sailing, so this is effectively an overnight journey with most of a day spent at sea.
- Route: Ringaskiddy (Cork)-Boulogne-sur-Mer
- Operator: Hibernia Line
- Frequency: 6 sailings per week in each direction
- Service: year-round
- Crossing time: approximately 21 to 23 hours, depending on the sailing
- Ships: St Patrick and Akka
- Vehicles: cars, motorhomes, caravans and motorcycles are accepted
- Foot passengers: Hibernia Line says foot-passenger bookings are planned but are not yet generally available
- Pets: pet-friendly cabins are available
Schedules can vary by day, so check your exact departure rather than relying on a single standard crossing time. Hibernia Line currently operates the service from Monday to Saturday, with no scheduled departure on Sunday.
Two ferries: St Patrick and Akka
The route is operated by St Patrick and Akka. Both are RoPax ferries designed to carry passengers, vehicles and freight. Together they allow Hibernia Line to offer departures in both directions six days a week.
St Patrick has 193 cabins and Akka has 227, while both can carry hundreds of passengers. Cabins are an important part of the journey given the length of the crossing.
Route map
Why Boulogne is an interesting arrival port
The most distinctive part of this route is its French arrival port. Most direct ferries from Ireland to France arrive considerably further west, while Boulogne-sur-Mer is on the Channel coast close to Calais.
That makes Cork-Boulogne particularly interesting if your journey continues towards northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands or western Germany. For some journeys it can replace a substantial amount of driving compared with arriving at one of the ferry ports in Brittany or Normandy.
The route can work in the other direction too. Travellers from the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France can drive to Boulogne and sail directly to Ireland rather than travelling via Britain. For road trips towards Cork, the south and west of Ireland, that creates a genuinely different option from the established Ireland-France routes.
Boulogne-sur-Mer is also well placed for destinations such as Lille and Bruges. Use the map to get a better idea of its position relative to Lille and the wider region.
How does it compare with other Ireland-France ferries?
Cork-Boulogne does not replace the existing routes between Ireland and France. Its main advantage is geography: Boulogne is much further north and east than the established French ferry ports used by services from Ireland.
Other direct crossings include:
- Dublin-Cherbourg – useful if Dublin is the more convenient Irish port.
- Rosslare-Dunkirk – another strong option for northern France, Belgium and onward travel into northern Europe.
- Cork-Roscoff – particularly useful for Brittany and western France.
- Rosslare-Cherbourg – a well-established option between south-east Ireland and Normandy.
There is therefore no single best Ireland-France ferry. Cork-Boulogne stands out if Ringaskiddy is convenient on the Irish side and your journey on the continent takes you towards northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany. For Brittany or western France, Cork-Roscoff may still make considerably more sense.
Compare all ferry routes from Ireland to France to see which crossing fits your journey best.
Last updated: 28 August 2026. Cork-Boulogne has been operating since June 2026. Sailing times, fares and availability can change, so check your exact travel date before booking.
