Irish Ferries’ long-awaited but much delayed new cruise ferry WB Yeats eventually entered service in January. Even before making her first scheduled sailing — on the route from Dublin to Holyhead — there were waves of litigation, with the Irish courts ruling that the ferry company must compensate passengers whose sailings from Ireland to France last year were cancelled due to the late delivery of the WB Yeats. After initial service on the Holyhead service, the WB Yeats will move in mid-March to the Dublin to Cherbourg route — which hitherto has not been available for foot passengers, but only for travellers with cars. Happily that changes with the WB Yeats on the route. With this key route being opened up for foot passengers, it’ll be easy to create rail-sea itineraries through continental Europe that conclude with a convenient overnight sailing to Dublin. The oneway fare for foot passengers from Cherbourg to Dublin is €43 (www.irishferries.com).

The WB Yeats is the largest ferry serving any Irish port. One of the smallest is the boat which flits over the River Liffey in Dublin.