Stena Line Ferries provides service between Northern Ireland, Ireland and France. This ferry permits dogs and cats to travel in a vehicle, in a cabin (select routes), in a kennel or on foot. Reservations must be made in advance. Regulations of the Pet Travel Scheme must be met.
Irish Sea Routes
Belfast to/from Cairnryan
Stena Superfast: Pets must be pre-booked in the Pet Lounge. As this lounge is open to all kinds of pets, all pets must be contained in a secure pet crate measuring no more than 91 L x 56W x 62H cm. Two pets are permitted per booking. Pets can also ride in vehicles or kennels at no charge. No pet-friendly cabins are available. Pets must stay in the Pet Friendly Area on Deck 8. Foot traffic is permitted with reservation.
Belfast to/from Liverpool
Stena Edda, Stena Embla, Stena Foreteller: Pre-booked pets are accepted in a pet-friendly cabin or a kennel for a fee. Pets cannot travel in vehicles on this route. Foot traffic is permitted with kennel reservation.
Dublin to/from Holyhead
Stena Estrid, Stena Adventurer: Pets can travel at no charge in kennels which are accessible to pet owners. An exercise area is available. Pets can also ride in vehicles. Foot traffic is permitted with kennel reservation.
Rosslare to/from Cherbourg
Stena Vision: Pet-friendly cabins must be pre-booked in advance. Maximum two pets per cabin. No pet kennels are available. Pets cannot travel in vehicles.
Rosslare to/from Fishguard
Stena Europe: Pets must be pre-booked in free kennels. Pets can also travel in vehicles. Foot traffic is permitted with kennel reservations.
Scandanavian Routes
Grenaa to/from Halmstad
Stena Nautica: Pets must be pre-booked. They are permitted to ride in the Pet Lounge, in a designated area on the deck or in a vehicle (except May through August). Pets may be denied boarding due to weather conditions.
Rostock to/from Trelleborg
All pets must be pre-booked and declared at check in. Book your pet when completing your booking under the Extras heading. If the option to add a pet is not available, it will not appear under this heading.
You must pre-book your pet and also advise our check-in team when you arrive at the port. A limited number of pre-bookable pet-friendly cabins are available on board the Mecklenburg-Verpommen and Skåne. Pets are not allowed in the restaurants, bars and shops; however, pets can stay on deck accompanied by adult passengers in the designated areas.
Gothenburg to/from Frederikshavn
Stena Jutlandica, Stena Danica or Stenga Vinger: All dogs and cats must be pre-booked. Cats must travel in a crate or carrier. Pets must travel either in a vehicle (except May-September) on an open-air car deck or a dog-friendly lounge.
Kiel to/from Gothenburg
All pets must be pre-booked in pet-friendly cabins. Maximum of two pets are permitted per cabin. Availability for pet transport depends on pet cabin availability. No pets are permitted in vehicles. Register your pet at check in and be assigned a cabin. Pets are only permitted in cabins and special exercise area.
Baltic Sea Routes
Gdynia to/from Karlskrona
Stena Spirit, Stena Ebba and Stena Estelle: pets must travel in pet-friendly cabins. There are a limited number of cabins available on each ferry, so pre-booking is required. Pet owners can bring up to three pets when staying in this type of cabin. Pets without reservations will not be accepted.
No pets are permitted in vehicles. Register your pet at check in and be assigned a cabin. Pets are only permitted in cabins and special exercise area. Dogs must be leashed and muzzles when outside the cabin. Cats must travel in a carrier or crate.
Travemünde to/from Liepāj
Stena Flavia and Stena Livia: pets can travel in a pet-friendly cabin; however, they must be pre-booked. If your pet is not pre-booked, it will not be accepted. A maximum of two pets per cabin is permitted. No pets permitted to travel in vehicles during crossing. General passenger areas are off bounds to pets. Dogs must be leashed and muzzled when outside the cabin.
Nynäshamn to/from Ventspils
Stena Baltica and Stena Scandica: these ferries offer pet-friendly cabins. Cabins must be pre-booked and there is a maximum of five pets per cabin. There is no charge for your pet when traveling in a cabin. Your pet can also travel in a vehicle during summer months (except October – April). Pet owners can visit pets at certain times accompanied by a crew member. There is an additional charge per pet traveling in the car.
North Sea Routes
Harwich to/from Hook of Holland
Pets must ride securely inside vehicle, pre-booked heated kennel or on foot
Visitation: yes, with crewmember
Pet Carriers Allowed: no
Kennels Available: yes
Foot Traffic Allowed: yes, with pre-booked kennel or cabin
Maximum 5 pets (riding in vehicle) and 3 pets (riding in kennel or cabin)
Maximum pets in cabins:
- up to 33 lbs (15 g): 3
- up to 66 lbs. (30 kg): 2
- over 66 lbs. (30 kg): 1
Kennel Sizes
- Large: 100 cm L x 94 cm W x 97 cm H
- Medium: 100 cm L x 108 cm W x 64 cm H
- Small: 100 cm L x 50 cm W x 65 cm H
All cabins and kennels must be booked in advance. Pets permitted: cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, mice, chinchillas or gerbils.
Stena Line Ferries Pet Policy
All pets must be a minimum of 15 weeks old, microchipped, vaccinated for rabies and accompanied by an EU Pet Passport (EU-resident pets) or an EU Health Certificate (non-EU-resident pets). All dogs must be treated for tapeworms prior to entering Northern Ireland or Great Britain. When arriving in Harwich, pets are subject to veterinary inspection.
All pets must either travel in your vehicle or in the onboard kennel except on the Liverpool to Belfast and Rosslare to Cherbourg routes where dog lodges are available. Pets are not allowed in the public areas or cabins onboard our ships for hygiene reasons.
Onboard kennel – There are a limited number of places available in the onboard kennel that must be booked in advance of travel by calling the Stena Line call centre on 08447 70 70 70. Pets can travel inside your vehicle; however, it is recommended that dogs should be placed in the kennel.
Traveling by car – At check in you will receive a colored hanger to identify that you are carrying a pet. This should be placed on your windscreen rear-view mirror and must remain there until you have cleared customs in each port. When boarding the ship we ask you to follow the directions from our staff closely. After boarding please report to the information desk on deck 8. If your pet is traveling inside your vehicle you must ensure that your pet at all times remains inside your vehicle at all times and the ventilation inside your vehicle is good and your pet’s welfare is well catered for.
Traveling on foot – If you are traveling on foot you must book the onboard kennel for your pet, your pet may otherwise not be permitted to travel. After boarding please report to the information desk on deck 8, our staff will then help you to place your pet in the kennel.
Visits during the crossing: It is recommended that you make a short visit to your pet during the crossing to ensure its well being. This can be arranged at the information desk on deck 8 where a member of staff will advise you when the visit can take place. Your pet may however at no time leave the vehicle or kennel.
Assistance dogs are permitted to travel in cabins with their disabled passenger. They must have proof of training by an organization that is a member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF). If not trained by an organization that is a member of ADI or IGDF, then evidence of the passing results of an assistance dog public access test must be available. Please contact Stena Line a few days before you travel on 08447 70 70 70 so that we can alert staff onboard the ship.
It is necessary to make a reservation for your pet in advance as onboard kennels are limited.
Pets must travel with their owners or a designated representative of the owner. Pet owners or representatives are responsible for the care and feeding of their pet during the trip.
Required Documentation
It will be necessary that you have the proper documents to travel on Stena Line Ferries with your pet. If you are not an EU resident and your dog or cat does not have an EU Pet Passport, Stena Line Ferries will need to see an endorsed EU Health Certificate. If your pet is an EU resident, a current EU Pet Passport is necessary.
Your cat or dog must have a rabies vaccination certificate reflecting current vaccination which was administered after a microchip was implanted and more than 21 days prior to travel.
Travel tips
1. Make your reservations early.
2. Arrive at the dock in plenty of time to check in your pet.
3. Walk and exercise your pet before boarding.
4. Bring portable water and food bowls as you will be responsible for the care of your pet.
5. Bring a muzzle and a sturdy leash as these things will be needed to walk your pet.
6. Never give your pet a medical (prescription) sedative prior to traveling on a ferry or cruise ship. If you have a hyper or nervous pet, then give it an all-natural calmer.
7. Always purchase your pet carrier well in advance of your trip and encourage your pet to use it so that your pet can get used to it.
8. Be sure to tell the cruise or ferry line you will be traveling with a pet as they impose restrictions on the number of pets on a specific sailing.
9. Do not try to sneak your pet to any areas of the ferry where they are not allowed. Be a responsible pet owner and follow the pet policies of the ferry.
10. Even though sea travel may be stressful both you and your pet, both of you will be happier if your pet gets to travel with you on your trip.
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To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given ferry may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the ferry refusing to board your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Stena Line Ferries pet policy.
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