Irish Ferries Is Bringing a Wine Tasting Mini Cruise to France This May

Picture this: you’re sailing away from Dublin, a glass of Bordeaux in hand, the sea stretching out ahead of you, and not a lunchbox or school run in sight. This May, Irish Ferries is making that vision very much achievable with a Wine Tasting Mini Cruise to France — and honestly, it sounds like exactly the kind of trip the doctor ordered.

The sailing takes place on 21st May 2026 aboard the W.B. Yeats, departing Dublin for Cherbourg. Fares start from €307 return for a car plus two passengers with reserved seats, or €399 if you’d like an inner cabin thrown in. Decent value for a For a night away for a trip to France and a guided wine tasting.

Thirty-plus wines and someone else doing the explaining

In partnership with the Wine & Beer Supermarket, passengers will be treated to a complimentary onboard wine tasting showcasing more than 30 wines from across France and beyond. Think Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Alsace and Burgundy, alongside a selection of European and New World wines for good measure.

Experts will be on hand throughout to guide guests through the tasting, offering notes, advice and recommendations — so even if your current wine expertise extends to “the one with the yellow label from Lidl,” you’ll be well looked after. The final wine list for the May sailing is still to be confirmed, but previous events have featured a carefully curated mix of well-loved favourites and exciting discoveries from producers across France and beyond.

Stock up before summer

There’s a very practical bonus here too. Thanks to generous personal EU allowances, passengers can fill the car with wines and beers for the journey home — which makes this a rather economical way to sort your summer entertaining in one fell swoop. Garden parties, barbecues, the neighbour’s birthday bash — consider yourself sorted.

When you’re not tasting, the W.B. Yeats has plenty to keep you occupied: comfortable lounges, dining options, cinema entertainment and panoramic sea views. It’s the kind of trip that works brilliantly for couples wanting a proper break away, or a group of friends overdue a decent night out that doesn’t involve standing in a draughty pub car park.

Book early — this one won’t hang around

Irish Ferries are advising early booking, and given how popular their previous wine tasting sailings have been, that’s not just marketing talk. If May feels like it’s creeping up faster than you’d like, it probably is.

You can find all the details and book your spot at IrishFerries.com. Terms and conditions apply; fares are valid on selected sailings only and subject to availability.