Pet Friendly Ferry Boat Routes allow you and your Pets to travel to the UK, England, Wales and Scotland by Sea from the Netherlands, Spain or Ireland
For Pet Travel Ferries from France to England UK, See all the routes and Ferry Boats in my full list here
You cannot fly your Dog, Cat or Ferret into England or the UK with a Pet In Cabin.
But, You can fly to the Netherlands, Spain and Ireland with a Pet In Cabin and take a Pet Friendly Ferry to England, Scotland or Wales.
Avoid the hassle of airports with your Pets, avoid the mandatory cargo requirement for Pets traveling to England by flying with your Pet In Cabin to France and take a Pet-Friendly Ferry to England.
Pet Friendly Ferry Boat Routes
| FROM Country and Port | TO ENGLAND PORT | Pet Friendly Ferry Boat |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands Amsterdam (IJmuiden) | Newcastle upon Tyne | DFDS Seaways Pet Friendly Private Cabins Vehicles with Kennels |
| Netherlands Hook of Holland | Harwich | Stena Line Ferry & Holland BV Ferry (Stena subsidiary) Foot Passengers, Vehicles and Pet friendly Private Cabins On Board |
| Netherlands Rotterdam (Europort) | Hull | P&O Ferries Vehicles Pet Friendly Private Cabins |
| Spain Bilbao | Portsmouth | Brittany Ferries on the Salamanca Pet Friendly Cabins Kennels Vehicles: No Pets allowed to Stay in Cars |
| Spain Santander | Portsmouth | Brittany Ferries Pet Friendly Cabins Kennels Vehicles: No Pets allowed to Stay in Cars |
| Spain Santander | Plymouth | Brittany Ferries Pet Friendly Cabins Kennels Vehicles: No Pets allowed to Stay in Cars |
| Ireland Dublin | Wales | Irish Ferry Dublin Swift Foot Passenger Stena Line Foot Passengers |
See also, Airlines that Allow Snub-Nose Dogs and Cats In Cabin in 2022
DFDS Seaways
As part of the DEFRA Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), we provide safe transportation for your Pets onboard our ferries. You will have the opportunity to visit your Pets on longer crossings, as arranged by the onboard staff.
The Newcastle-Amsterdam and Copenhagen-Oslo crossings even boast pet-friendly cabins.
Kennels are available for$36 (£30) each way. Pets in kennels must be secured inside your vehicle. Alternatively, there are our 4-bed, sea view pet friendly cabins available for $36 (£30) per dog. Each can accommodate up to 2 medium sized dogs. These cabins are bookable by calling 0871 522 9955. Foot passengers travelling with dogs must book by calling the customer contact centre.
RELATED: What Size Pet Carrier Fits Under an Airline Seat?
Stena Line Pet Friendly Ferry Boat
Pet Travel by ferry between England and Holland in luxury and in style on the Stena Britannica and Stena Hollandica Superferries.
Harwich to the Hook of Holland is the most direct route to the Netherlands and Germany from the south of England.
Choose from 4 daily sailings with a crossing time from only 6 hours 30 minutes. Whether you’re travelling on our day or overnight sailings, our Pet Friendly private ensuite cabins offer a great private space for you to relax and unwind.
Two sailings are offered per day and, whether on a day or night sailing, there are Pet Friendly private en suite cabins with comfortable beds, TV and bathroom with shower are available.
See Also, 4 Best In-Cabin Pet Carriers for Airlines 2022
Irish Ferries
Your Pets,Dog, Cat or Ferret have the option of either staying in the comfort of your car for the duration of the voyage, or being housed in the onboard kennels.
If you do choose to use a kennel it must be booked in advance.
When travelling with your pet / assistance animal, you must reserve them at time of booking.
Procedures for Pet Travel on Irish Ferries
Car passengers with Pets
- Your pet must be taken on board the ship in your car and must remain either in your car or in the kennels provided by Irish Ferries for the duration of the voyage.
- The kennels can be booked in advance and are free of charge.
- Family pets are not allowed on the passenger decks at any time.
Foot-passengers with Pets
- Pets (all dogs and cats) must be transported to and from the ferry in a secure, rigid and appropriate pet carrier/cage or crate (please bring your own).
- The animal must be able to stand or lie down in comfort.
- The owner of the animal must be able to carry the carrier/cage or crate from the terminal to the ship.
- The carrier/ cage or crate will be accommodated in the kennel area on the car deck.
- If you turn up at the port without an appropriate pet carrier/cage or crate you will not be allowed to bring your pet on board. There are no exceptions to this rule.
5. P&O Ferries
P&O Ferries from Rotterdam the Netherlands to England are very Pet Friendly. Their Pet Travel policy for 2022 allows Dog and Cats on board.
Pet Travel on P&O Ferries allows Cats and Dogs on board the ferry travelling in your vehicle, or in one of the limited, pre-booked kennels or Pet friendly cabins.
The Dog kennels and Pet friendly cabins are not available on every route, so foot passengers can only travel with Pets on certain P&O Ferries crossings.
Pets Allowed: Dogs and Cats
Automobile: Yes
Foot Passengers: Yes—reservations are required
Pet Friendly Cabins: Yes. Reservations are required because cabins are limited
Cost: $80-$190 USD
See Also, Amazon Pet Travel Finds Under $25
Brittany Ferries
Sail with your Pet from Spain to England on Brittany Ferries’ Bilbao to Portsmouth ferry route.
Sailings operate twice a week with sailing durations of as little as 28 hours 30 mins. .
- Two return sailings each week aboard Salamanca (28 hrs 30 mins to 31 hrs 45 mins)
- Set sail at 14:00 on Tuesday and arrive in Portsmouth at 20:45 on Wednesday
- Set sail at 15:00 on Saturday and arrive in Portsmouth at 18:30 on Sunday
Portsmouth is less than two hours’ drive to London.
1. Pet Travel On Board Salamanca Bilboa to Portsmouth
There are two ways that your pet can travel on board Salamanca – either in a Pet-friendly cabin or dogs may stay in a kennel.
They do not allow pets to stay in your car on this ship.
Your dog must be muzzled at all times, while in the port and on board, whenever outside of your vehicle or your pet’s accommodation. This includes whilst in the Pet exercise area.
2. Pet Travel On Board Ferry Santander to Portsmouth
Sail from Spain to England on Brittany Ferries’ Santander to Portsmouth ferry route.
There are sailings twice a week, taking around 28 to 31 hours on our Spanish-themed ships, Galicia, until November 2022 and Salamanca, from March 2023.
There are two ways that your pet can travel on board Galicia – either in a pet-friendly cabin or dogs may stay in a kennel. We’re sorry, we can’t allow pets to stay in your vehicle on this ship.
Your dog must be muzzled at all times, while in the port and on board,
3. Pet Travel On Board Ferry Santander to Plymouth
Take Brittany Ferries’ most direct route to Spain on our Plymouth to Santander ferry. Operating until November 2022 and from late March 2023, these twice weekly sailings take just over 20 hours aboard our flagship ferry, Pont-Aven.
Take your car and enjoy a relaxing start to your holiday with a day and night on board – it’s the easy, convenient way to get to Spain.
Two sailings a week departing on Sundays and Wednesdays
Travel from Plymouth to Santander in as little as 20 hours and 15 minutes.
When sailing from Spain, Pets must stay in a Pet-friendly cabin, or Dogs can stay in a kennel. Cats must stay in a pet-friendly cabin on all sailings from Spain.
Your dog must be muzzled at all times, while in the port and on board,
You may also like Cool Pet Travel Gear for the Stylish Dog
What Documents are Necessary to Travel the Ferry with Pets EU to England UK?
- 1. Ferry Ticket for you and your Pet
- 2. Passport
- 3. Pet’s Passport or Endorsed Health Certificate (Pet Passport) 1 for EU Country and 1 for UK
- 4. Passenger Locator Form (required by UK to enter England)
- 5. Negative Covid Test (for some Ferries)
Documents Required: Ferries allow Pets that comply with the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), for services to and from France. You can find more information at UK.gov
Does My Pet Need a Tick or Tapeworm Treatment to Travel to UK England?
Tick and tapeworm treatment is required for Dogs but is not required for cats and ferrets.
Dogs – Tapeworm treatment must be administered by a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival into the UK.
The passport must be signed, dated, stamped and include the date and time of treatment as well as the manufacturer and the name of the product used.
If the Pet passport does not comply with this, we regret that we will not be able to carry the animal under the Pet Travel Scheme.
Cats & Ferrets – A Pet passport or third country certificate is required. Tick and tapeworm treatment is no longer needed.
Pet Passport & Government regulations for Pet Friendly Ferry Boat
EU pet passport rules apply throughout the European Union. All Dogs, Cats and Ferrets traveling between member states need an official recognised EU Pet Passport with veterinary endorsements certifying compliance with tests, treatments and vaccinations.
Your Pet’s Health Certificate endorsements must be dated (including expiry dates), stamped and signed by an authorised Veterinarian.
Ensure your Dog, Cat or Ferret is microchipped. I recommend the Standard ISO Pet microchip.
Have a valid EU pet passport OR an animal health certificate issued by a UK official vet. A health certificate is required before each entry into the EU. (Pet owners are advised to retain any GB-issued EU pet passport, as it may contain important information about vaccinations, treatments, etc.)
Ensure your Dog, Cat or Ferret is vaccinated against rabies – Pets must be at least 12 weeks old before they can be vaccinated. Wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel.
Have a tapeworm treatment (for dogs). Dogs travelling from, or returning from, Britain to Ireland will require treatment against tapeworm by a veterinarian 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in Ireland. If travelling with a passport issued in Ireland, this treatment may be entered into the pet passport by a UK vet.
See also, Can I Buy a Seat on a Plane for My Dog?
What Documents Does My Pet Need to Travel to the UK and EU?
The UK has now left the European Union. If you are travelling with a dog, cat or ferret you will need either a UK issued EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC), or an EU Pet Passport that has been issued by a current EU country.
My Packing Checklist:
- Travel documents for Me: Passport, Boarding Pass
- My Pet’s Microchip certificate
- My Pet’s Rabies vaccination certificate
- My Pet’s Animal Health Certificate or EU Pet Passport
- Proof of tapeworm treatment (if traveling to UK). You can have the Test completed in France to comply with this requirement.
- My Pet’s Booking confirmation email printed
- My Pet’s fee (I try to bring enough cash just in case)
- Muzzle for Dogs. Link to muzzle A muzzle is often require when in public spaces on the ferry and at the dock or shuttle.
- Dog bed and blankets
- Food, treats, travel bowls, poop bags, pee pads and medicine
- If travelling with an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) you will also be required to have a record of your pet’s microchip and rabies vaccination certificate.
Will my Dog need a muzzle on the Ferry from EU to England?
Yes, most ferries require your Dog to be muzzled and on a lead in public areas, during check-in and during any transfers on board e.g. between the car decks and your pet-friendly cabin or kennels and between the pet-friendly cabin/kennel and the pet exercise area.
Some Ferries have muzzles to loan and some allow Dogs without muzzles if they are well-socialized.
How to Travel with a Dog from Paris to London England UK?
You can travel with a Dog from Paris to London England and the UK in two ways: 1. Pet Friendly Ferry Boat or 2. Drive through Eurotunnel with a Pet Taxi.
For Pet Travel from France to England on a Ferry: Dogs, Cats and Ferrets are allowed an travel in 3 ways:
- Pets remain in a vehicle
- Pets as Foot Passengers and in a Kennel
- Pets with You in Private Cabins
For Pet Travel from France to England UK see Pet Taxis from France to England
Travel with Pets by Ferry Boat or Taxi from France to England allows you to avoid your Pets having to fly in Cargo.
You can also travel with Dogs, Cats and Ferrets via Ferry to England from Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands. See Pet Friendly Ferry Boat Routes to England, Wales and Scotland
How to move with a Dog from US to England Uk
See Also, Dog Muzzles for Traveling: Why, How and Buyer’s Guide
- Airlines that Allow Snub-Nose Dogs and Cats In Cabin in 2023
- AEROMEXICO-Flying with Pets to Mexico in 2023
- 2023 Flying with Pet Updates
- More and More Pet Parents are Flying with Dogs by Private Jet
- Airlines that Allow Snub-Nose Dogs and Cats In Cabin in 2023
