TRAVELLING WITH PETS TO HOLLAND

Bringing your pet onboard with Stena Line

Don't leave one of your family members at home! The whole family, including your pet can travel with Stena Line to Holland and the continent. When you sail on our superferries you can choose for your pet to travel in your car or in one of our pre-booked kennels (limited availability) when you travel on our direct route between Holland and the UK.

Please note, all pets must be pre-booked prior to travelling. Please also remember that certain breeds of dogs are more sensitive to heat and poor ventilation in vehicles. If this is the case with your pet, you may want to take extra precautions and use our kennel facilities where available.

Please Note:
Latest government regulations for travelling with a pet from Britain to any EU country after 29 March 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. Take a look at the latest advice from DEFRA.

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Travelling with a Car

At check in you will receive a coloured 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 9, there we will give you more information about taking your pet onboard Stena Line Ferries.

Travelling by Foot banner with a sad cat in a cage.

Travelling on foot

If you are travelling 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 9, our staff will then help you to place your pet in the kennel.

Pet Passports

According to guidelines set out under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), a pet passport is required in order for travel to/from Europe and your pet has to be microchipped.

Read more about PETS requirements .

Essential Vaccinations

All pets that travel to/from Britain and Europe must have documentation showing that the necessary vaccinations have been carried out.

These include rabies, ticks and worm treatment.

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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.

Onboard Kennel

There are a limited number of places available in our kennels which must be booked before travel, online or by calling 0844 770 7070. Pets can also travel inside your vehicle however; we recommend that dogs should be placed in the kennel.

Our onboards kennels are available in three sizes:

Large kennels: 97cm x 94cm x 100cm (H x W x D)
Medium Kennels: 64cm x 108cm x 100cm (H x W x D)
Small kennels: 65cm x 50cm x 100cm (H x W x D)

Please note, kennels are located below car decks, accessed by stairs. Large pets weighing < 25kg, will need to walk down stairs, over a high doorstop and may need to be lifted up into small and medium kennels not on floor level.

After the crossing

When you disembark in Harwich International Port, your pet may be subject to an inspection by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs).

It is advised that you keep all relevant paperwork relating to your pet close at hand. This is standard procedure when arriving into UK ports.

If you would like to find out more information about DEFRA and bringing your pet to the UK, please browse the following link. DEFR A.

Alternatively, you can call a member of our team on the Stena Line Call Centre on 0844 770 7070.

terms and conditions carriage of pets

You are responsible for ensuring the animal's welfare during the crossing.

All pets must travel inside a vehicle or in the onboard kennel and remain there throughout the crossing.

We recommend that dogs should travel in the provided onboard kennel and Stena Line cannot be held responsible for any material or immaterial damage that may arise from not using our kennel facilities.

It is your obligation to ensure that all conditions for EU pet travel and the UK Pet Travel scheme (PETS) are met.

Stena Line cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information given.

Should your pet not meet the conditions of the EU pet travel and the UK Pet Travel scheme (PETS) the animal is liable to be held in UK quarantine for a period of up to 6 months or be re-exported.

Stena Line is obliged as an accredited PETS carrier to verify your documentation on travel to the UK and will refuse the carriage of your pet if the documentation is in breach of the PETS rules.

If you are planning to quarantine your pet in the UK you will be fully responsible for all arrangements and cost associated with this procedure. You will need to produce the relevant documentation to Stena Line prior to carriage.

Stena Line cannot be held liable for any cost material or immaterial in connection with non compliance with EU pet travel and PETS rules.

liability disclaimer

Stena Line cannot accept responsibility for any of the links from this web site, nor the content thereof. The links are provided purely for your benefit and Stena Line is not responsible for inaccuracies in the information provided.