Pet-Friendly Ferries UK: Every Operator's Dog Policy 2026
Brittany, P&O, DFDS, Stena, Irish, Wightlink — each UK ferry operator's dog policy, cabin/kennel options, fees, and the post-Brexit pet-passport rules.
By Editorial team30 May 2026 · 11 min read
UK ferries are one of the most underrated pet-friendly travel options — every major operator accepts dogs, and the bigger cross-Channel and North-Sea services run dedicated pet-friendly cabins and dog-walking decks. The structure differs sharply by operator and route: Brittany Ferries has the most pet infrastructure, P&O Hull–Rotterdam runs six pet cabins per ship, the Irish Sea services are free for dogs, and short-hops like Wightlink to the Isle of Wight are free with the dog in your vehicle. This guide covers each operator's specific policy plus the post-Brexit pet-passport requirements that apply to every cross-Channel route.
What documents does my dog need for a UK–EU ferry?
Post-Brexit pet-travel paperwork
Since Brexit, the UK pet passport is no longer valid for travel to the EU. UK-resident dogs travelling to the EU now need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian no more than 10 days before travel. The AHC is valid for entry into the EU, 4 months of EU travel, and re-entry to the UK within that window. The full requirements per gov.uk's pet-travel page:
- Microchip (compulsory for all UK dogs anyway since 2016).
- Rabies vaccination — first vaccination must be at least 21 days before travel; valid for booster periods set by the vet.
- Animal Health Certificate — issued within 10 days of departure from GB; cost typically £150–£250.
- Tapeworm treatment for return to UK — administered by a vet 1–5 days before the return crossing (24–120 hours), recorded in the AHC.
- Designated entry point — return to GB must be via a designated Travellers' Point of Entry (every major ferry route qualifies; airports are more restricted).
For Irish Sea crossings between GB and Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, the requirements are looser — see the per-operator detail below.
BRITTANY FERRIES
Brittany Ferries
France + Spain + Ireland — the most pet-friendly major operator
- UK→France routes
- Long cabin-class crossings
- Pet-friendly cabin + promenade access
- Pet fee (France) from £35 one-way
- Pet fee (Spain) from £50 one-way
- Pet-friendly cabins Yes (multiple ships)
- Onboard kennels Yes (multiple routes)
Brittany Ferries operates the largest UK pet-travel programme of any operator — pet-friendly cabins on Cap Finistère, Pont-Aven and several other ships, with dedicated pet promenades for dogs to walk during longer crossings. Kennels are available on most routes, including the Portsmouth–Caen, Portsmouth–St Malo, Poole–Cherbourg, Plymouth–Roscoff, and Portsmouth–Bilbao/Santander services. Muzzles are compulsory for dogs at all times outside the owners' vehicle, kennel or pet-friendly cabin. This is the operator to book if a comfortable cross-Channel pet experience matters more than the lowest price.
P&O FERRIES
P&O Ferries
Dover–Calais, Hull–Rotterdam, Liverpool–Dublin
- Quick Dover–Calais hops
- Hull–Rotterdam pet cabins
- Northern Ireland routes
- Pet cabins (Hull–Rotterdam) 6 per ferry
- Pet capacity per cabin 2 small or 1 medium/large
- Cats accepted Dogs only in cabins
- Short Dover–Calais Dogs stay in vehicle
P&O's flagship pet offering is the Hull–Rotterdam overnight route, where six dog-friendly cabins are available on each ferry — each cabin takes up to two small dogs or one medium/large dog. On the short Dover–Calais crossings (90 minutes), dogs travel in the owner's vehicle on the car deck; access to the vehicle during the crossing isn't permitted but the crossing is short enough that this is rarely an issue. On the Liverpool–Dublin and other longer P&O routes, check the specific ship's pet provisions before booking.
DFDS
DFDS
Cross-Channel + North Sea + Baltic routes
- Dover–Calais / Dunkirk budget hops
- Newcastle–Amsterdam overnight pet cabins
- Newhaven–Dieppe kennel option
- Pet fee (Newcastle–Amsterdam) £30 each way
- Newhaven kennel fee £20 per dog per way
- Pet cabins 5 routes
- Kennels supply bedding? No — bring your own
DFDS offers pet-friendly accommodation on five routes: Newhaven–Dieppe, Newcastle–Amsterdam, Dunkirk–Rosslare, Portsmouth–Jersey, and the Baltic Sea services. The Newcastle–Amsterdam overnight is the marquee pet route — £30 per way and dogs can be booked into pet cabins or the onboard kennel. The Newhaven–Dieppe kennel option (£20 per way, three kennels per ship) is the cheapest cross-Channel pet route, but you must bring your own bedding — DFDS doesn't supply it. On the short Dover–Calais and Dover–Dunkirk hops, dogs stay in the vehicle.
STENA LINE
Stena Line
Irish Sea (free) + Hook of Holland (Harwich)
- FREE Irish Sea crossings
- Harwich–Hook of Holland with pet cabins
- Multi-pet households
- Irish Sea fee Free for dogs
- DEFRA inspection (Harwich) Possible on Hoek arrival
- Dog-walking area Onboard
- Other pets accepted Yes (cats, rabbits, small mammals)
Stena Line operates two main UK pet-relevant networks: the Irish Sea routes (Holyhead–Dublin, Fishguard–Rosslare, Cairnryan–Belfast, Liverpool–Belfast) which are free for dogs, and the longer Harwich–Hook of Holland service which has pet-friendly cabins and an onboard dog-walking area. Arrivals at Harwich from Hoek van Holland may be subject to DEFRA inspection of the pet's documentation. Stena accepts a wider range of pets than most operators — cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and small rodents are all in policy.
IRISH FERRIES
Irish Ferries
Irish Sea routes — FREE for dogs
- Dublin–Holyhead with pet cabins
- Rosslare–Pembroke Pet Den
- Republic of Ireland trips
- Pet fee Free on Irish Sea routes
- Dublin–Holyhead Pet-friendly cabins
- Rosslare–Pembroke Dedicated 'Pet Den'
- Kennel booking Required in advance
Irish Ferries' Irish Sea services (Dublin–Holyhead, Rosslare–Pembroke, Cherbourg–Dublin, Cherbourg–Rosslare) are free for dogs travelling in vehicles or in onboard kennels. The Dublin–Holyhead route runs pet-friendly cabins; Rosslare–Pembroke has a dedicated 'Pet Den' (the only one on the UK ferry network). Kennels must be booked in advance — they sell out, particularly on weekends and school-holiday departures. Cherbourg routes are subject to the full post-Brexit AHC + tapeworm requirements.
WIGHTLINK
Wightlink (Isle of Wight)
Day-trip ferries from Portsmouth + Lymington
- Isle of Wight day trips with a dog
- Foot-passenger dog travel
- Quick pet-friendly hops
- Pet fee Free
- Vehicle option Stay in car
- Foot passenger option Pet-friendly outside-deck lounge
- Documentation None required (domestic)
Wightlink runs three Isle of Wight ferry routes (Portsmouth–Fishbourne, Lymington–Yarmouth, Portsmouth–Ryde) — all free for dogs and with no documentation required (it's a domestic UK crossing). Vehicle passengers can leave their dog in the car for the crossing or accompany them in a carrier/on lead in a designated pet-friendly outside-deck lounge. Foot passengers can travel with dogs on a lead. Practical tip: book the FastCat (Ryde) for the shortest passenger crossing, or the larger car ferries when a dog needs space.
What other UK ferry operators accept dogs?
Beyond the six major operators above, dogs are also welcome on:
- Condor Ferries — Channel Islands routes (Poole, Portsmouth, St Malo to Jersey + Guernsey). Pet fees + kennels available. Useful for Jersey holidays with a dog.
- NorthLink Ferries — Aberdeen to Orkney + Shetland; pet-friendly with cabins.
- CalMac Ferries — Scottish island services (Skye, Mull, Islay, Lewis, etc.). Most are dog-friendly free of charge on short crossings.
- Smaller operators — Red Funnel (Isle of Wight), Hovertravel (Hovercraft to Ryde), Western Ferries (Argyll), and most river/island services in Scotland and Wales accept dogs free for short hops.
For Scottish island travel with a dog, CalMac is the dominant operator and pet-friendly across the network — the West Coast ferry hops are a particularly good experience for dogs since they're short, scenic, and uncrowded.
Practical tips for ferry travel with a dog
Book pet cabins early. The pet cabin inventory is small — 4–6 cabins per ship on the operators that offer them. They sell out for summer departures months ahead.
Bring bedding for kennel bookings. Brittany Ferries supplies basic bedding; DFDS doesn't. Pack a fleece blanket regardless — it's the dog's familiar smell that calms them.
Get the AHC in good time. Animal Health Certificates must be issued within 10 days of travel. Plan the vet visit for 5–7 days before departure to leave room for emergency rebooking.
Tapeworm treatment timing matters. The return-to-UK tapeworm treatment must be administered 1–5 days (24–120 hours) before the ferry. Get it done at a French/Spanish/Irish vet near the port, not at home.
Use the dog-walking decks. On long crossings (Brittany Ferries to Spain, P&O Hull–Rotterdam, Stena Harwich) the dog-walking decks are essential. Identify them on the ship plan before boarding.
Short Channel crossings: stay in the car. Dover–Calais (90 min) and Dover–Dunkirk (2hr) don't allow vehicle-deck access during the crossing, but the duration is short enough that water + a final pre-boarding walk is sufficient.
For Irish Sea: book the kennel even though it's free. Stena and Irish Ferries' Irish Sea kennels are free but capacity is limited — book at the same time as the foot/vehicle ticket.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Which UK ferry operator is the most pet-friendly?
Brittany Ferries has the most pet-travel infrastructure — pet-friendly cabins on multiple ships, dedicated kennels on most routes, and pet promenades for dog-walking during longer crossings. P&O Hull–Rotterdam runs six dog-friendly cabins per ferry. For Irish Sea crossings, Irish Ferries and Stena Line are both free for dogs.
Q02Do I need a pet passport for UK ferries to France?
Since Brexit, the UK pet passport is no longer valid for EU travel. UK-resident dogs need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian within 10 days of departure. The AHC covers entry to the EU, 4 months of EU travel, and re-entry to the UK. Tapeworm treatment is required 1–5 days before the return ferry.
Q03Are dogs free on Irish Sea ferries?
Yes. Irish Ferries' Dublin–Holyhead, Rosslare–Pembroke, Cherbourg–Dublin and Cherbourg–Rosslare routes are free for dogs. Stena Line's Holyhead–Dublin, Fishguard–Rosslare, Cairnryan–Belfast and Liverpool–Belfast routes are also free. Kennels must be booked in advance even though they're free.
Q04Can dogs travel in cabins on P&O Ferries?
Yes, on the Hull–Rotterdam route. Each ferry has six dog-friendly cabins, each accommodating up to two small dogs or one medium/large dog. Cats are not allowed in P&O pet cabins. On short Dover–Calais crossings, dogs travel in the owner's vehicle on the car deck.
Q05How much does it cost to take a dog on Brittany Ferries?
Pet fees on Brittany Ferries start from £35 one-way to France and £50 one-way to Spain. Kennel and pet-friendly cabin bookings may carry additional charges depending on route and accommodation type. The fee is per pet per crossing and is paid at booking time.
Q06Can I take my dog on the Isle of Wight ferry?
Yes, free of charge. Wightlink operates three IoW routes (Portsmouth–Fishbourne, Lymington–Yarmouth, Portsmouth–Ryde) all pet-friendly. Dogs can travel in your vehicle, or with you on a lead/in a carrier in the designated pet-friendly lounge on the outside deck. No documentation is required — it's a domestic UK crossing.
Q07What if my dog gets seasick on the ferry?
Speak to your vet before the trip — they may prescribe canine motion-sickness medication (Cerenia is the most common). On the morning of the crossing, feed a light meal 3–4 hours before boarding. Pet-friendly cabins are easier than vehicle decks for managing a queasy dog because you can monitor them throughout.
Pet-Friendly Trains UK
Companion guide for the rail side of the trip — National Rail + per-operator dog policies for combining with a ferry crossing.
Dogs on London Transport
TfL rules for dogs on Tube, Overground, DLR, Elizabeth line, buses and trams — useful when the trip starts or ends in London.
Best UK Pet-Friendly Hotel Chains
Travelodge has hotels near most ferry terminals — useful pre-crossing pit stop with a dog.
Dog-Friendly Isle of Wight
Destination guide for the IoW once you've taken the Wightlink crossing.