Stena Line Ferries Overnight from Belfast to Liverpool Birkenhead

Last update: November 2025

The Belfast to Liverpool Birkenhead ferry, operated by Stena Line ferries, is a unique way to travel from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK, especially for folks not fond of flying. The ferry leaves twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, and if you opt for the overnight ferry, then you get a full day in both Belfast and Liverpool.

Tickets, Times & Check-in Rules

The easiest way to buy a ticket is directly on the Stena Line ferries website, if you are someone who is likely to be taking the crossing multiple times, then it can be worth your while to make a Stena Line account. Making an account is free and sometimes offer promotions or other perks that the ferry line runs.

As a reference point, my foot passenger ticket cost £54 (November 2025: €62), booked online without a cabin or Hygge Lounge.

The ferry from Belfast to Liverpool Birkenhead runs twice daily. The crossing takes about eight hours with no stops along the way:

• Morning Departure: Departs at 10:30, arrives in Liverpool at 18:30.
• Evening Departure: Departs at 22:30, arrives in Liverpool at 06:30 the following morning.

Be aware that you do need to get to the ferry port early as check-in closes an hour before departure, and if you miss check-in, you won’t be allowed to board. You will also need official photographic ID both to check in and when you disembark the ferry in Liverpool. For UK citizens, any official photographic ID is acceptable; for anyone else, a passport is advised.

From Desk to Ship: How Boarding Works

When you arrive at the ferry port, you will first have to check in at the check-in desk, which is found just through the main doors. From there, you pass through security (similar to airport security but a bit less intense), and then you will wait in the departure lounge until called to board. There are bathrooms and a café in the departure lounge, but there are no restaurants, so you will be limited to light snacks like muffins or chocolate bars if you are relying on the departure lounge café. The departure lounge is only one room, though, so it is impossible to get lost in it. When it is time to board, you will be directed to buses by the port staff, which will take you directly onto the ferry. Once on the ferry, if you have a room booked or have booked the Hygge lounge, then you can make your way to it. For those with a general ticket, you will be limited to the general decks.

At Sea at Night: Food, Seats & Sleep

For the overnight crossing, there is a restaurant and a café kiosk on board; however, they have very limited opening hours overnight, generally closing very soon after departure and opening again close to arrival. If you want snacks in between, they will need to be ones you have brought yourself. For those on a general foot passenger ticket, without access to a room or the Hygge Lounge, get one of the bench seats under one of the TVs. They mute the TVs early in the journey, and these bench seats are further away from the rest of the seats, so it is quieter, and there are less people around. They can be a prime spot to make a makeshift bed on the bench. It can also get quite cold on the ferry, so it’s best to bring a blanket or jacket.

Bench under TV, Credits: Emma Tidswell

Lights on the Horizon & the Roaming Trap

For the first part of the journey, while you are still close to Belfast, there is quite a nice view of the lights on the shoreline from the various coastal towns around Belfast, which was a nice surprise on an overnight ferry, where I wasn’t really expecting much of a view. Also, as the ferry crosses close to the Isle of Man, don’t be surprised if you receive a phone notification of being in international coverage areas (make sure to turn off roaming if this is likely to be an issue with your phone provider).

Morning in Birkenhead: Disembarking and Moving On

Once you arrive in Liverpool, ferry staff announce disembarkation and give directions based on your ticket type, on when to go down to the bus level to board the buses that will take you off the ferry. Once off the ferry, you will need to show your ID again before exiting the Liverpool ferry station. For those wanting to head to the train station, there is a free shuttle bus which will take you to Birkenhead Hamilton Square station, where you can get a train directly into Liverpool Lime Street Station and Liverpool city centre.