The W. B. Yeats cruise ferry from Irish Ferries has been launched at the Flensburger Schiffbau–Gesellschaft shipyard in Germany.

The remaining construction work on the hull and decks will now be completed. Before the scheduled service date, the vessel will undergo extensive sea trials, crew training and docking procedures.

Irish Ferries Managing Director, Andrew Sheen said

"The launch of our new cruise ferry W. B. Yeats – and the expectation of our second new cruise ferry yet to come – herald in a new era in ferry travel between Ireland, UK and Continental Europe bringing with it new standards in terms of passenger and freight capacity, comfort and reliability beyond anything previously envisaged."

The €150 million, 54,985 gross tonnes cruise ferry will arrive in Dublin in July when it will enter service on Ireland <> France and Dublin <> Holyhead routes.