The ship was launched on 1 September 2000[3] at Aker Finnyards shipyard in Rauma, Finland and services the Dublin–Holyhead route.

The vessel stands 12 decks high, at a height of 167.5 feet[2] (approx 51 metres) from keel to mast.

When launched she was the world's largest car ferry in terms of vehicle capacity.

[7] Following the 2003 sailing season, Ulysses underwent a refit at the A&P Group's Birkenhead shipyard.

[8] She has sailed on Irish Ferries' Dublin–Holyhead route for her entire career, uninterrupted until the 2018 season when she suffered mechanical problems with her starboard propeller, requiring drydock repairs that took several weeks in June and July.