Travelling With A Pet

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Travelling with a Pet on P&O Ferries

We understand travelling with a pet can be limiting and stressful, so at P&O Ferries, we make taking your pet on our ferries as simple as possible.

Whether travelling within the UK or across the sea to Europe, here's everything you need to know to ensure a smooth journey when taking a dog on our ferries.

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P&O Ferries Pet Policy: Everything You Need for Smooth Pet Travel

Before you travel, it’s essential to prepare properly. With many travel requirements changing, we know that your pet is part of the family, so our pet policy makes it easier to understand what you need to bring and do before setting sail, ensuring a stress-free journey.

Here’s everything you need to know about our P&O Ferries Pet Policy:

Documentation: Ensure your pet is microchipped and has the appropriate travel documents.

This includes:A pet passport or Animal Health Certificate (for EU travel)

Up-to-date rabies vaccination

Advanced booking is required for pets and spaces are limited and cannot be booked at the port.
During the crossing, pets must stay in your vehicle or be housed in our onboard kennels (route-dependent).
Service animals (registered assistance dogs) are welcome in all passenger areas.

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Dog-Friendly Ferries Across Europe

Travelling with a pet on a ferry is often less stressful for pets than flying. While pets are not allowed in passenger lounges (except assistance dogs), they are safely accommodated during the crossing.

For our overnight ferry from Hull to Rotterdam, our pet-friendly cabins ensure that you and your furry friend have a peaceful and restful night's sleep. And on our shorter trips, there are options for your furry friend to remain in your vehicle or relax in our pet lounge. Make sure you book onto our pet lounge in advance so they don’t miss out on all the fun.

When boarding our pet-friendly ferries, we recommend bringing additional items such as bedding and blankets, food and water bowls, and a key comfort item to ensure your furry friend is as comfortable as possible.

Another key essential to keeping your furry friend safe when boarding and disembarking a ferry with a dog is to ensure they are attached to a lead and harness, making the process much smoother.

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Dogs on Ferries to France

At P&O Ferries, we’re proud to offer a truly dog-friendly ferry to France experience, starting when you arrive at our terminals in Dover or Calais. Both terminals feature dedicated pet areas where your furry friends can stretch their paws, play in the fresh air, and even enjoy some fun obstacle tasks designed to keep them energised before boarding.

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Dover to Calais Ferry Pet Check In

When travelling on our dog-friendly ferries to France, always leave enough time to check in to ensure your furry friends settle in safely and calmly. Please arrive before these check-in deadlines:

Vehicles and motorcycles: 60 minutes before departure

Foot passengers: 90 minutes before departure

Dogs using the Pet Lounge: 90 minutes before departure

Remember, these times are the latest you can check in after passing through security, so we recommend allowing extra time for busy traffic and security checks, especially during peak travel periods.

Travelling with Pets to France: What You Need to Know

Onboard our pet-friendly ferries to France, all pets, including dogs, cats, ferrets, and pet birds, can travel with you as long as they meet EU entry requirements and have a valid Animal Health Certificate (AHC) or an EU Pet Passport.

All pets must stay inside your vehicle during the crossing unless you’ve booked access to the Pet Lounge (for dogs only) for a comfortable journey.

If you are travelling with more specific pets like parrots or tortoises, ensure you have the correct import and export paperwork, like CITE permits, in plenty of time before you travel, as these can take up to 30 days to process.

For the most up-to-date details, visit the gov.uk pet travel page.

Cost of Taking a Dog to France on P&O Ferries

Taking the Dover to Calais ferry with a dog is simple and affordable. Fees apply for pets staying in the vehicle or using the Pet Lounge. Make sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment and book directly to get the best offers.

Don't forget:

P&O Ferries does not transport banned UK dog breeds or birds used for hunting, breeding, or meat purposes.

If you’re a foot passenger with a dog to France, booking early is essential to secure your pet’s place.

Dogs on Hull to Rotterdam Ferry

P&O Ferries makes travelling with your dog on the Hull to Rotterdam ferry easy and comfortable. We want you and your furry companion to enjoy a stress-free crossing on our dog-friendly ferry.

Book your pet travel direct today for the best price!

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Planning Your Hull to Rotterdam Ferry WIth A Dog

We know your dogs are a significant part of the family, so when you travel with them, we know you don’t want anything to go wrong. To help your pet travel without hiccups, we offer a complimentary pre-check of your pet’s travel documents. Simply send copies of the relevant pages from your Animal Health Certificate (AHC) or EU Pet Passport to us at least 24 hours before your journey:

From Rotterdam to Hull: Email documents to switchboard.europoort@poferries.com upon request from our team

Our pet travel experts will verify your pet’s microchip, rabies vaccination, anti-echinococcus treatment, and owner details, ensuring everything is in order. If any issues arise, you’ll have plenty of time to fix them before travel day, speeding up your pet check-in.

Pet Check in on The Hull To Rotterdam Ferry

With our overnight ferry, you must ensure you check in at least 90 minutes before departure. You will be asked to complete a pet check-in process to ensure all pet travel documents are sorted thoroughly before going onboard.

Onboard pets are only allowed in our pet-friendly cabins except registered guide and hearing dogs.

Arriving and Disembarking Our Dog-Friendly Ferries to Holland

As your overnight journey on our dog-friendly ferry to Holland ends, disembarkation typically begins around 15 minutes after arrival in port. Please factor this into your travel plans to ensure a smooth journey for you and your pet. Ready to explore Holland with your furry friend? Why not explore further and discover our minicruise and ferry to Amsterdam, book your pet-friendly crossing today and travel with peace of mind.

Picking the Right Pet Accommodation on the Ferry For You

Unlike other routes, pets cannot stay in your vehicle during the crossing from Hull to Rotterdam. Instead, you can choose from two comfortable options:

Dog-friendly cabins: We offer six specially designed cabins per vessel for passengers with dogs. These are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and are available to all passengers.
Onboard kennels: If cabins are full or not preferred, your furry friends can stay in kennels on Deck 7 for the overnight crossing. Our crew regularly checks on all pets to ensure their well-being.

Kennel Sizes

With our dog-friendly ferry facilities, we provide kennels in three sizes to suit your pet’s needs:

Small kennels for pets up to 20kg
Large kennels for pets up to 35kg
Extra-large kennels for pets up to 45kg

Travelling With A Pet Checklist

To make travelling with a pet even easier, regardless of where you are travelling to, make sure you tick off these essentials:

Book your pet's place when purchasing your ticket
Bring necessary travel documents (passport or Animal Health Certificate)
Pack essentials: leash, food, water, bedding, travel crate if required
Allow plenty of time for check-in
Familiarise yourself with the pet policy for your specific route

Prepping Your Pet Travel Documents

Following the new guidelines, travelling to Northern Ireland with a pet is straightforward. Whether you are taking a dog to Northern Ireland or planning a ferry crossing with your furry friend, preparing in advance is essential to ensure a stress-free journey.

From the 4th of June, if you’re taking a dog from Great Britain (England, Scotland, or Wales) to Northern Ireland, you will need a Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (PTD). This includes assistance dogs, cats, and ferrets.

The PTD is free of charge
It remains valid for the lifetime of your pet.

Applying is simple on the gov.uk website using your Government Gateway user ID and password. Make sure your pet is microchipped, and then you are ready to go. Now, pets don’t need a rabies vaccination or tapeworm treatment if they are travelling with a PTD.

If living in Northern Ireland, a PTD is not required but all pets must still be microchipped and have the updated vaccinations required.

Northern Ireland residents do not need a PTD to travel to and from Great Britain, but pets must still be microchipped.

Travelling With A Pet To Northern Ireland

Before boarding your ferry to Northern Ireland with your dog, the pet’s microchip will be scanned at the port. Officials will verify that it matches the microchip number on the PTD.

If any issues arise, upon arrival, you may be redirected to the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Inspection Facility at Belfast or Larne.

No pet checks are required for journeys from Northern Ireland back to Great Britain.

Please always check the latest travel rules on the gov.uk website.

Pet Check-In

When taking a ferry to Northern Ireland with a dog, passengers must check in at least 45 minutes before departure. This ensures a smoother boarding process for both you and your pet.

Check the Cairnryan to Larne sailing schedule to plan your trip more efficiently. Choosing the proper crossing for you can help minimise travel stress for everyone, especially your four-legged companion.

Pet Travel Guidelines

All Pets must remain in your vehicle for the duration of the journey
You can travel with a dog, cat, or ferret, provided they meet EU entry requirements and have a valid Animal Health Certificate (AHC) or EU Pet Passport
It’s the passenger’s responsibility to clean up after their pet.
We do not accept UK-banned breeds on our ferries.

For more information or help planning your journey with pets, contact our customer service team or visit gov.uk.

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What do you do if you need a vet when travelling with a pet?

If your pet is poorly on the way to the ferry, you’ll find the nearest vet information for all our ports below. As your pet can either stay in your vehicle, in a kennel, pet lounge, or a cabin across our routes, they must be fit to travel.

Dover to Calais Vet Information:

White Cliffs Vets

Unit 11, Whitfield Court, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield, CT16 3PX
Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 6pm
Thursday open until 7pm
Saturday 8.30am to 12noon
Tel: 01304 41 41 41
Web: www.whitecliffsvets.co.uk

Clinique Vétérinaire

Dr Wuillot, Dr Lavielle & Dr Mottoul, 139 Boulevard Curie, 62100 Calais
Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 1pm and 2pm - 8pm
Saturday: 8.30am - 12noon and 2pm - 8pm
Tel: +33 (0)321 821 511
Web: www.centre-veterinaire-curie.fr

Hull to Rotterdam Vet Information:

Kingston Vets Clinic & Veterinary Hospital

1-2 Park Street Anlaby Road, Hull, HU3 2JF1
Monday to Friday: 9am - 11am and 2pm - 7pm
Saturday: 9am - 12noon
Tel: 01482 223688
Web: www.kingstonvets.com

Dierenkliniek Kralingen

Oudedijk 197b
3061 AD Rotterdam
Mon Weds & Fri: 8:30 to 20:00 pm
Tues & Thurs: 8:30 to 17:00 pm
Tel: +31 (0)10-4526695
Web: www.dierenkliniekkralingen.nl

Cairnryan to Larne Vet Information:

Academy Veterinary Centre

6 Academy St, Stranraer, Wigtownshire, DG9 7DR
Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 6pm
Saturday: 9:00am - 12noon
Tel: 01776 703131
Web: www.academyvets.co.uk

Islandview Veterinary Clinic

1b Glynn Road, Larne, BT40 3AY
Call for opening times
Tel: 028 2827 2199
Web: www.glenovets.com

Travelling with a pet FAQs:

1 Can dogs go on ferries?

Yes, dogs are allowed on all our ferry routes at P&O Ferries. Each route has specific requirements, so always check your booking confirmation when adding your furry friend along for the journey.

2 Can I stay with my dog on a ferry?

Yes, on some ferry routes. On the Hull to Rotterdam ferry, if you book a dog-friendly cabin, your dog can be with you in your cabin. If your furry friend is staying in the kennel, you can visit them during the crossing. Unfortunately, on our Cairnryan to Larne route, this is not possible, and your dog must remain in your vehicle for the duration of the crossing. This also applies to our Dover to Calais ferry, unless you have booked your dog to be in the Pet Lounge.

3 Can I take my dog to France on the ferry?

Yes, our dog-friendly ferries to France mean the whole family can come on your next trip. However, dogs must have a microchip, a valid Animal Health Certificate (AHC), or an EU Pet Passport. Tapeworm treatment is also required for dogs returning to the UK.

4 Can I take my dog on a ferry as a foot passenger?

This depends on the route. On some ferries (like Hull to Rotterdam), dogs can travel with foot passengers if booked into a kennel. However, most short-sea routes, like Cairnryan to Larne, require pets to stay in vehicles, so foot passenger travel with dogs is not allowed on those services.

5 Can I take my dog to Northern Ireland without a pet passport?

Yes. From 4 June 2025, you’ll need a Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (PTD) instead of a passport when travelling from Great Britain.

6 How do dogs travel on P&O Ferries?

Dogs travel differently depending on the route:

Hull to Rotterdam: Dogs must be housed in onboard kennels or in pet-friendly cabins. Owners can check on them at set times during the journey.
Cairnryan to Larne: Dogs remain in the vehicle during the short crossing.
P&O complies with EU Pet Travel Scheme regulations on all pet-friendly routes.
Dover to Calais: Dogs remain in the vehicle during the short crossing, unless booked onto the pet lounge.

7 How can dogs travel on the Hull to Rotterdam ferry?

Dogs must be booked into one of the ship’s kennel facilities or our dog-friendly cabins, which are temperature-controlled and regularly checked. Passengers can visit their pets during specified times. A valid AHC or EU Pet Passport and proof of microchipping and tapeworm treatment for dogs are required.

8 How do dogs travel on the ferry to Northern Ireland?

Dogs travel inside your vehicle for the duration of the journey on routes like Cairnryan to Larne. You must check in at least 45 minutes before departure, and your dog’s microchip will be scanned before boarding to confirm it matches the information on the Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (PTD).

Discover our pet friendly ferries

Don't forget:

Arriving and Disembarking Our Dog-Friendly Ferries to Holland

Kennel Sizes

Pet Check-In

White Cliffs Vets

Clinique Vétérinaire

Kingston Vets Clinic & Veterinary Hospital

Dierenkliniek Kralingen

Academy Veterinary Centre

Islandview Veterinary Clinic

Travelling with a pet FAQs: