There is a particular kind of stress that comes with planning a family holiday, and this summer, why not make it less demanding and more about the adventure? With ongoing concerns about aviation fuel supply and the knock-on effect on flights, more families will be considering a Plan B.
For many, the answer may be closer and slower than we think. Ferry travel is now becoming a more feasible option. It is a more flexible, family-friendly way to travel when the idea of cancellations, queues and airport chaos feels a bit too stressful. Irish Ferries operates on routes between Ireland and Britain (Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Pembroke), Ireland and France (Dublin to Cherbourg) and Britain and France (Dover to Calais).
On Irish sea routes, it has up to 16 sailings a day with a fleet of modern cruise and fast ferries, including the famous Ulysses and Dublin Swift fast craft, as well as the most recent addition, James Joyce on Dublin to Holyhead and Isle of Innisfree or Rosslare to Pembroke. It also operates the stylish WB Yeats connecting Dublin to France (Cherbourg) throughout the year. The Dover to Calais service offers a back-to-back service with the Isle of Inishmore and Oscar Wilde ships, with a choice of up to 20 sailings daily.
The appeal of taking the car (and everything else)
One of the biggest pressures when flying with children is the logistics – baggage limits, liquids, bottles, forgotten chargers, forgotten favourite toys, etc. Taking the ferry removes a lot of that stress. You pack the car, bring what you need (and a bit more than you need) and the holiday begins the minute you drive onto your ferry.
At the moment, Irish Ferries is offering sailings to the UK from €178 one-way for a car and driver, opening up easy access to Wales and beyond without the usual airport stress. So, imagine being able to bring the bikes, wetsuits, extra clothes or even just extra snacks and liquids for the ferry journey, it doesn’t have to feel like a strategic operation.
Wales: the underrated family adventure
Wales is often overlooked in favour of sunnier destinations, but it does tick a lot of boxes for families. There are castles galore (more than 600 of them), beaches, mountain trails and low-key adventures, all within relatively short driving distances. It’s the kind of place where you can build a trip around what your children like to do and involve them in the planning, whether that’s exploring, climbing or just running free on a gorgeous beach.
Theme parks without the airport chaos
For families with younger children (or big kids!), the classic theme park holiday is still hard to beat, but flying to it can take the fun out of it and add on wasted hours. Ferry packages offer a straightforward alternative. Irish Ferries currently has family deals starting from around €668–€872, depending on the park, including return ferry travel, accommodation and park access.
That covers trips to places like Legoland, Alton Towers and Thorpe Park – without the early starts, baggage restrictions or delays. For up to four people travelling, it will actually work out cheaper than flying, including accommodation.
France: a slower, richer kind of summer
If your idea of a holiday is less about rollercoasters and theme parks and more towards food, culture and a bit of space, France becomes an even more interesting option by sea. It has always been a firm favourite for Irish visitors. The idea of a ferry and ‘bring the car’ trip is very appealing as the kids can experience an overnight on a ship and then a land holiday too. Return sailings to Normandy are starting from around €465 for a car, two adults and a cabin, making it a practical alternative to short-haul flights, particularly for couples or families happy to do a road-trip once they arrive.
Rethinking what a summer holiday can be
There is also the idea of a ‘festival holiday’ – there are so many family ones, in Ireland also. But if you want to try one across the sea, this could be worth looking into. And you can also throw a tent in the boot! In Wales, you could sample smaller wellbeing and music festivals, which are generally half an hour from ferry ports. Summer festivals across Normandy include jazz in the smaller towns to larger music gatherings, which can offer a more relaxed, local experiential holiday. The larger, more cultural events may be slightly further, but you are under no pressure with flight times, so you could go on that adventure.
Eurocamp Adventures
Irish Ferries and Eurocamp have teamed up to take 10 per cent off last-minute family summer breaks to Eurocamp sites across France. If you sail from Dublin to Cherbourg, it’s a pretty easy way to do a flexible, family-friendly holiday – that could be the beaches of the Vendée or campsites within reach of Disneyland Paris. This for me ticks a lot of boxes – pools, playgrounds, activities and plenty to keep everyone entertained once you get there. It’s a limited-time offer for stays of five nights or more between July 1 and August 31, 2026, as long as you book by July 23.
Pets travel for FREE to the UK
If you don’t want to leave your four-legged friend behind, dogs or cats go free on Irish Ferries’ UK to Ireland crossings only. They are also the only ferry company offering a proper purpose-built ‘Pet Den’ lounge on both Ireland – UK and Dover – Calais routes.
There’s plenty of room for pets to relax indoors, plus access to an outdoor deck area – so the journey is a lot more comfortable for them too.
This summer, it might be worth thinking about a slower kind of family holiday. Because sometimes the best trips aren’t the ones that get you there fastest but the ones that feel easy from the start. Less stress, less rushing, more room to actually enjoy it and the kind where the best bits aren’t over-planned.
Instead of chasing destinations, there’s something nice about building your family trip around what’s happening – events, festivals, whatever you come across along the way and letting the holiday unfold a bit more naturally. And the choice of adventure is yours.
Travel Facts
Irish Ferries is the market-leading and award-winning Irish ferry company operating on routes between Ireland and Britain (Dublin to Holyhead, and Rosslare to Pembroke), Ireland and France (Dublin to Cherbourg) and Britain and France (Dover to Calais).
On Irish Sea routes, Irish Ferries operates up to 16 sailings a day, with a fleet of modern cruise and fast ferries, including the famous Ulysses, and Dublin Swift fast craft, as well as the most recent addition, James Joyce on Dublin to Holyhead and Isle of Innisfree on Rosslare to Pembroke. Irish Ferries also operates the stylish W.B. Yeats connecting Dublin to France (Cherbourg) throughout the year.
The Dover to Calais service offers a back-to-back service with the Isle of Inishmore and Oscar Wilde ships, with a choice of up to 20 sailings daily.
For information on all sailings and packages, check out www.irishferries.com
