Travelling with Pets ON THE IRISH SEA

Everyone deserves a break – even your four legged friends! What’s more, when they travel with us they go FREE! Before you travel, please read the information below so you and your pet can be assured of a happy and healthy trip away.

Pets can travel in your car, in one of our pre-bookable kennels (subject to availability) on all routes between Ireland and Britain. Please note: All pets must be pre-booked. Certain breeds of dogs are more sensitive to heat/poor air circulation in vehicles. We would advise owners to take extra precautions and to use the kennel facilities where available.

Please Note: Latest government regulations for travelling with a pet from Britain to any EU country after 31 October 2019.

The rules for pet travel from Britain to the EU will change when Britain leaves the EU. Pet owners should contact a vet at least 4 months before travelling to get the latest advice.

Advice from DEFRA

TRAVELLING BY CAR

Pets may travel free of charge either in your vehicle or you may use one of the limited number of kennels located on the car deck which must be pre-booked. Guide, hearing and autism assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of our ports and ships.

TRAVELLING BY FOOT

Your pet can travel for free in one of our onboard kennels (available on all Irish Sea routes, charges apply of Liverpool - Belfast route) or in a secure pet traveller case (Cairnryan - Belfast route only, max size: 80cm x 52cm x 52cm) but must be pre-booked. Guide, hearing and autism assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of our ports and ships.

Pets travelling on Cairnryan - Belfast

By car

Kennels can be pre-booked at no extra charge or if you prefer, your pet can remain in the vehicle for the duration of the crossing. You can pre-book a kennel on the "Stena Plus & Onboard Extras" step of the booking process. Small pets are permitted onboard if they are secured for the duration of the crossing in a pet traveller case (max. size: 80cm x 52cm x 52cm, pets cannot be taken out of the container anywhere onboard including the outer decks) but must be pre-booked prior to travelling as a limited number of carrier cases are allowed onboard each sailing. Passengers may be required to place the pet traveller case on the car deck in the dedicated kennel area if the animals are not secured in the case at all times during the crossing.

Please note: Bags are not permitted as carrier cases and you will be unable to bring your pet onboard if you don't have an appropriate pet carrier case with you where access to the case is via a secure door/zip/lock mechanism and your pet is totally enclosed.

By foot

Foot passengers may pre-book a kennel or bring small pets onboard at no additional cost if they are secured for the duration of the crossing at all times in their own pet carrier case (max. size: 80cm x 52cm x 52cm) - otherwise passengers will be asked to place the carrier case on the car desk in the dedicated kennel area for the duration of the crossing. All pets must be pre-booked as a limited number of carrier cases are allowed onboard each sailing. This can be done on the "Stena Plus & Onboard Extras" step of the booking process.

Please note that pets, other than guide, hearing or assistance dogs are not permitted in our Superfast Suites.

Guide, hearing and autism assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the port and onboard our vessels. Please visit our Guest Services desk when you board in order to show the relevant documentation for your dog to allow access to all areas onboard.

Pets travelling on Liverpool - Belfast

By car

It is recommended you pre-book a dog lodge for crossings on our Liverpool-Belfast route. This costs an additional £15 single per dog lodge and can be booked at the "Stena Plus & Onboard Extras" step of the booking process. Booking a dog lodge will allow you access to your pet throughout the crossing. Not only can you visit your dog but you can also exercise them under controlled conditions and free dog food is available.

For customers travelling with large dogs, please note the dog lodge sizes for this route: Depth: 100cm Height: 82.5cm Width: 75cm

Please note: Certain breeds of dogs are more sensitive to heat/poor air circulation in vehicles. We would advise owners to take extra precautions and use the dog lodge facilities where available.

By foot

Pets are not permitted in cabins or any other passenger areas onboard. You must pre-book a dog lodge which are available on the Promenade Deck and allow access to your pet throughout the crossing. Not only can you visit your dog but you can also exercise them under controlled conditions and free dog food is available. This costs an additional £15 single per dog lodge and can be booked on the "Stena Plus & Onboard Extras" step of the booking process.

For customers travelling with large dogs, please note the dog lodge sizes for this route: Depth: 100cm Height: 82.5cm Width: 75cm

Please note that guide, hearing and autism assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the port and onboard our vessels. Please visit our Guest Services desk when you board in order to show the relevant documentation for your dog to allow access to all areas onboard.

Pets travelling on Holyhead - Dublin

By car

By foot

Kennels can be pre-booked at no extra charge. You can pre-book a kennel on the "Stena Plus & Onboard Extras" step of the booking process. Please note that we have a limited number of kennels available.

Please note that pets cannot be brought onboard in pet carriers on this route.

Pets travelling on Fishguard - Rosslare

By car

By foot

Please note that pets cannot be brought onboard in pet carriers on this route.

Pets travelling on Rosslare - Cherbourg

By car

Cats and dogs may travel in your vehicle free of charge, in one of our free kennels or one of our heated onboard dog lodges for £30 each way. Kennels and dog lodges are subject to availability and must be pre-booked. If no kennels or dog lodges are available, you must leave your pet in your vehicle. You must advise us that you intend to bring a pet in advance of travel when you book. You can pre-book a kennel or dog lodge on the "Meals & Onboard Extras" step of the booking process.There is a maximum of 5 pets per booking.

Passengers who choose to pre-book a dog lodge will be given an entry code at the Guest Services Desk onboard. Dog lodges are situated on the Promenade Deck. Not only will the dog lodge allow access to your pet throughout the crossing but you can also exercise them under controlled conditions. Pets, other than guide, hearing or assistance dogs, are not permitted onboard in the passengers areas.

Please note: Certain breeds of dogs are more sensitive to heat/poor air circulation in vehicles. Due to the length of this crossing, we would advise owners to take extra precautions and use the kennel facilities where available. It is also important to ensure that you are familiar with the EU and PETS rules before travelling. Click here for full details.

Visiting times for pets in vehicles: You can visit your pet at 10.00 and 22.00 during Tuesday-Friday crossings, 10.00 and 19.00 during Saturday crossings and 07.00 and 19.00 during Sunday and Monday crossings. Visits to the car deck are for a maximum of 10 minutes and are weather permitting.

Stena Horizon dog lodge dimensions:

Width: 73cm Height: 80 cm Depth: 95cm

By foot

Cats and dogs are not permitted in cabins or any other passenger areas onboard. Pets may travel in one of our free kennels or heated onboard dog lodges for £30 each way. Kennels and dog lodges are subject to availability and must be pre-booked.You must advise us that you intend to bring a pet in advance of travel when you book. You can pre-book a kennel or dog lodge on the "Meals & Onboard Extras" step of the booking process. There is a maximum of 5 pets per booking.

Stena Horizon dog lodge dimensions:

Width: 73cm Height: 80 cm Depth: 95cm

Please note: It is important to ensure that you are familiar with the EU and PETS rules before travelling. Click here for full details.

Vaccinations

Pets travelling to Britain and Europe need to have documentation showing that the necessary vaccinations such as rabies, tick and worm treatment have been carried out.

PASSPORTS

Under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), a pet passport is required in order to travel and your pet needs to be microchipped. Read more about PETS requirements.

VENTILATION

Certain breeds of dogs are more sensitive to heat/poor air circulation in vehicles. Take extra precautions and pre-book a kennel or leave the vehicle windows down sufficiently to give them some air.

EXERCISE & TOYS

It’s important to exercise your pet to ensure they are comfortable prior to boarding the ferry and bring their favourite toys to keep them entertained for the journey ahead.

FED AND WATERED

Don’t give your pet too much to eat before the ferry departs but leave water in your vehicle in case they get thirsty and ensure they have plenty of time for toilet breaks prior to boarding.

TEST RUN

First time travelling with your pet? If so, why not take them out on a few long drives in your vehicle to make sure they are comfortable with their surroundings.

RSPCA Top Tips when travelling with your pet

Pet Travel Top Tips

The Chamber of Shipping and the RSPCA have been working together to provide welfare guidance for dogs travelling on ferries.

Stena Line are delighted to be able to share this document with you and hope you will find it useful and helpful when preparing for your next journey.

Find out more ››

Guide, hearing and assistance dogs

Stena Line is proud to have signed the Guide Dog Travel Charter, a code of ethics for the treatment of Guide Dogs and their owners by the travel industry.

In accordance with the charter, guide dogs are entitled to free travel and have full access to the passenger decks on all Stena Line routes and vessels.

Please note: All guide and assistance dogs must have the necessary paperwork when checking in at the port and must wear the correct harnesses and jackets at all times while travelling.

What papers will my pet need?

Under the EU pet movement system, all pet dogs, cats and ferrets moving between EU Member States must meet the same animal health rules. All pets travelling between the Republic of Ireland and the UK or Continental Europe and between the UK and Continental Europe must be micro chipped, vaccinated against rabies and accompanied by a pet passport.

Please note it is your responsibility to provide all necessary documents and make all arrangements including where necessary quarantine, to satisfy all legal requirements.

For more information, visit the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) at www.defra.gov.uk or by calling 0870 241 1710.

You can find more information about the changes made to pet travel implemented on 29th December 2014 by viewing the EU Pet Travel Scheme.

For more detailed information on travelling with pets on our Rosslare - Cherbourg route, click here.

EU PET TRAVEL SCHEME

To find out about the EU Pet Travel Scheme please visit EU Pet Travel Scheme.

THE CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL PUPPY DEALERS

Stena Line condemns the illegal trafficking of puppies and works hard to stamp out the practice by carrying out a number of checks to ensure the safe and comfortable transportation of pets. As part of a multi-agency approach with DAERA and DEFRA, Stena Line is actively working on the prevention of dogs and puppies being shipped from puppy farms between Ireland and Britain and is keen to ban illegal puppy dealers from using its services. New powers are in place for investigators to stop and search vehicles of those suspected of illegally trafficking puppies. Any passengers found to be illegally shipping dogs will be stopped from travelling further and turned back. Those who refused to go back face prosecution and having their puppies seized.

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