About the route
Launched in 2021 as a post-Brexit alternative, the Cherbourg–Rosslare route has grown from a handful of weekly sailings to a daily year-round service. Here's how it happened.
The story
When the UK left the EU on 1 January 2021, the traditional route for Irish goods and travellers to reach continental Europe — driving through Britain — suddenly came with customs checks, paperwork and delays. The so-called "UK landbridge" became a headache overnight.
Ferry operators responded fast. Direct services between Ireland and France expanded rapidly, and the Cherbourg–Rosslare route was one of the biggest beneficiaries. What started as a limited service quickly grew to meet surging demand from both freight hauliers and passenger traffic.
By 2025, passenger volumes had increased fivefold. Bookings grew 39.7% year-on-year. Freight units nearly doubled. The route had gone from a useful alternative to an essential link.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1972 | Brittany Ferries founded in Roscoff, Brittany, initially transporting artichokes and cauliflowers to the UK. |
| Jan 2021 | Brexit takes effect. UK landbridge becomes subject to customs controls. Demand for direct Ireland–France ferries surges. |
| 2021 | Cherbourg–Rosslare service launches with limited weekly sailings. Both Brittany Ferries and Stena Line operate on the route. |
| 2019–2025 | Brittany Ferries takes delivery of 5 new E-Flexer class vessels as part of a major fleet renewal programme, including the Galicia, Salamanca and Santoña. |
| 2025 | Bookings increase 39.7% year-on-year. Freight volumes up 96% since launch (3,945 to 7,734 units). Passengers up fivefold. |
| Sep 2025 | Stena Line withdraws from the Cherbourg–Rosslare route. Brittany Ferries becomes the sole operator. |
| 2026 | Daily year-round service established. 7 sailings per week in each direction, operated exclusively by Brittany Ferries. |
The operator
Brittany Ferries was founded in 1972 by Alexis Gourvennec, a Breton farmer who wanted a reliable way to ship produce to British markets. What started as a single cargo ship carrying cauliflowers and artichokes across the Channel has grown into one of Europe's leading ferry companies.
Today, the company operates a fleet of modern vessels across routes connecting France, the UK, Ireland and Spain. It carries millions of passengers and hundreds of thousands of freight units each year.
On the Cherbourg–Rosslare route, Brittany Ferries became the sole operator in September 2025 when Stena Line withdrew from the service. The company has invested heavily in new tonnage, with five new E-Flexer class vessels delivered between 2019 and 2025 as part of a comprehensive fleet renewal programme.
Fleet renewal
Between 2019 and 2025, Brittany Ferries took delivery of five new E-Flexer class vessels built by Stena RoRo. These ships are larger, more fuel-efficient and better equipped than their predecessors.
The new fleet features LNG-ready propulsion systems, improved passenger facilities including restaurants, bars and comfortable cabins, and greater freight capacity. Several of these vessels serve the Cherbourg–Rosslare route, including the Galicia and Salamanca.
Context
Before Brexit, most Irish freight and many Irish holidaymakers reached mainland Europe via the UK — ferry to Wales or Scotland, drive across Britain, then a short Channel crossing to France. It was the quickest way and the paperwork was straightforward.
After January 2021, that changed. Customs declarations, potential delays, and the administrative burden of transiting a non-EU country made the landbridge less attractive. Direct ferry services from Ireland to France offered a simpler alternative: one sailing, no borders, and you're on the continent.
Rosslare saw European sailings grow from 6 per week before Brexit to 36 per week by 2025. The Cherbourg–Rosslare route is at the heart of that transformation — a service that barely existed five years ago is now an essential piece of Ireland's trade and travel infrastructure.
Your crossing
Daily overnight sailings between Rosslare and Cherbourg. Book your crossing and experience the direct route.