Travelling with your pet
Travelling with your pet with DFDS
As part of the DEFRA Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), we provide safe transportation for your pets onboard our ferries. You will have the opportunity to visit your pets on longer crossings, as arranged by the onboard staff. Our Newcastle-Amsterdam and Copenhagen-Oslo crossings even boast pet-friendly cabins.
Please note: from now on it is no longer allowed to bring birds on board on the route Newcastle to Amsterdam. This applies to all types of birds.
From 1 January 2021, the UK will become a Part 2 listed third country in the EU Pet Travel Scheme. This means if you travel with your pet from the UK to Europe you will need a Health Certificate issued 10 days before travel if your pet(s) have an EU Pet Passport, issued in Great Britain. For pets travelling from the EU to the UK, the EU Pet Passport will still be accepted.
Detailed guidance from the Government on pet travel after the transition period ends can be found here.
Click here for our advice on travelling safely with your dog.
If the pet owner is not travelling with their animal, please provide a signed declaration from the owner. Movement of animals within the EU is limited to 5 per vehicle unless taking part in a competition or event. These animals will require a signed declaration and a specific health certificate issued by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency. Your pet must travel no more than 5 days before or after you. Click here for more information
Pets must:
Hold a valid European Pet passport or a Health Certificate which should be issued 10 days before travel. If you travel with your pet from the UK to Europe you will need a Health Certificate. For pets travelling from the EU to the UK, the EU Pet Passport will still be accepted.
Visit www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/pet-passport for more information.
Be microchipped. Chip number and implantation date must be recorded on travel documentation by a vet. Microchipping must happen before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination. Please make sure to travel with your pets previous passport if your pet holds a new one and the microchipping date in the new passport is reported as being a reading date. The order of preparation might not be valid if no booster vaccination follows the reading date.
Be vaccinated against rabies with a signed and dated veterinary certificate. Your pet cannot enter the UK until 21 days after the first vaccination (vaccination date = day 0). Subsequent entries to the UK do not require a waiting period if all rabies vaccinations are up to date and recorded. If the booster vaccination has not been administered by the ‘valid until’ date, a new waiting period of 21 days will be necessary.
Blood tests are no longer required if you are entering the UK from EU and listed Non-EU countries. If travelling from an unlisted country, a blood test must be performed a month after the rabies vaccination. Visit www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/pet-passport for more information.
For dogs only: A tapeworm treatment must be administered by a vet no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before entering to the UK. The treatment date and time must be reported on the passport. Please note that the product’s name must be recorded on the travel document and must contain prazicantel to comply with the Pet travel scheme.
- Dover
Burnham House Veterinary Surgery
33-35 Castle Street,
CT16 1PT Dover
Tel: 01304 206989; Fax 01304 225622
Email: Office@burnhamhousevets.com
- Calais
Clinique Vétérinaire Dr Wuillot,
Dr Lavielle & Dr Mottoul,
139 Boulevard Curie,
62100 Calais
Tel: +33 (0) 321 82 15 11
Web: www.centre-veterinaire-curie.fr
- Dunkirk
127 Rue du Canton du Caillouti
59279 Loon-Plage
France
Tel +33 (0) 328 21 31 51
- Newhaven
Avenue Veterinary Practice
Saxonholme
Meeching Rd
Newhaven
East Sussex,
BN9 9QX
Tel: +44 (0) 1273 515509
- Dieppe
Clinique Vétérinaire
Dieppe R vertus.
76550
SAINT AUBIN SUR SCIE
Tel : +33 (0) 2 35 84 27 35
- Newcastle (North Shields)
Ayres Terrace
North Shields
Tyne & Wear
NE29 0HL
Tel : +44 (0)191 258 6886
Web: www.ayresveterinaryhospital.co.uk
- Amsterdam (IJmuiden)
Veltmeijer en Kruithof
Kennemerlaan 57
1972 EH
Ijmuiden
Tel +31 (0) 25 55 16 211
Please ensure your pet will have suitable space within the kennel dimensions described below on our Newcastle-Amsterdam ships, the correct size kennel will need to be selected at the time of booking.
Princess Seaways
| Kennel | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Large Kennel | 60cm (H) x 86cm (W) x 94cm (D) |
| Extra Large Kennel | 76cm (H) x 68cm (W) x 101cm (D) |
King Seaways
| Kennel | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Small Kennel | 54cm (H) x 56cm (W) x 60cm (D) |
| Medium Kennel | 51cm (H) x 58cm (W) x 64cm (D) |
| Large Kennel | 60cm (H) x 86cm (W) x 94cm (D) |
| Extra Large Kennel | 76cm (H) x 68cm (W) x 101cm (D) |
Always ensure there is:
- Adequate ventilation
- Enough food and water
- Space for your pet to move around
- Familiar toys
- Absorbent bedding
Should you or your pets wish to stretch your legs once you’ve finished your ferry crossings, or before you board, below is a list of dog-friendly parks or green areas near our ports.
IJmuiden
Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerlandm, Zeeweg 12, 2051 EC Overveen, Netherlands. Map Conditions for access
Calais
Parc St Pierre, Boulevard Jacquard, 62100, Calais, France. Map
Dunkirk
Plage de Petit-Fort-Philipe, Digue de Mer, 59820 Gravelines, France. Map
Dieppe
Forêt d’Arques-la-Bataille 76880 Arques-la-Bataille, France. Map
Please ensure any pets are booked in advance. Kennels are available for £30 each way. Pets in kennels must be secured inside your vehicle. Alternatively, there are our 4-bed, sea view pet friendly cabins available for £30 per dog. Each can accommodate up to 2 medium sized dogs. These cabins are bookable by calling 0871 522 9955. Foot passengers travelling with dogs must book by calling our customer contact centre.
On our Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk ferry crossings, pet bookings must be made in advance of travel. For pets travelling on our Dover to France routes there is a charge of £15 per pet each way. Pets must remain suitably secured inside your vehicle for the duration of the journey. However, you can visit your pet in your car during the crossing if accompanied by a crew member.
Motorists can take their pet on holiday with them by booking online in advance for £18 per pet, each way. You can visit your pet in your vehicle during the crossing if accompanied by a crew member, but not during the first or final hour of the crossing. Foot passengers may travel with pets but your pets must remain in kennels in the car deck throughout the journey.
Bring your pet onboard the Copenhagen – Frederikshavn – Oslo Ferry
Please remember that:
- On the Copenhagen – Frederikshavn – Oslo route you can bring your dog or cat whether you are travelling on foot or by car.
- Your pet must be booked in minimum 24 hours prior to your journey.
- Unaccompanied pets will not be accepted.
- It is your responsibility to comply with the applicable vaccinations, tests etc. which are required in the country you travel to. If your pet does not comply with these requirements, you risk being denied access at the check in counter.
- It will be possible to walk your dog in the ship's designated area on both Pearl and Crown.
How do I book my pet’s journey?
- A pet-friendly cabin can be booked for a fee by calling our customer care by phone +45 33 42 30 00.
- If you have booked online it is possible to add your pet to your booking subsequently.
Pet-friendly cabins on the Copenhagen – Frederikshavn – Oslo route
- There are 8 pet-friendly cabins on Crown and 10 pet-friendly cabins on Pearl.
- The price for a pet-friendly cabin is +425 DKK per pet each way.
- A maximum of 2 pets per cabin is allowed (rodents are not allowed onboard).
- Pets are only allowed to stay in the cabin during the crossing, but it is Possible to walk your dog in the ship's designated area.
- In case a pet is brought onboard without being pre-booked a fee of 1.500 DKK will be applied.
- We recommend that you book the pet-friendly cabin well in advance.
Each cabin is equipped with a bunk bed, window, toilet and bathing facilities. Towels and bed sheets are available.
Remember to make the staff aware that you are bringing a pet at check-in. The staff will accompany you to the cabin.
Read more about the requirement of travelling with pets
Norway:
Travelling with pets to Norway | The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (mattilsynet.no)
Denmark:
https://www.foedevarestyrelsen.dk/Dyr/Rejse_med_kaeledyr/Sider/Rejse_med_kaeledyr.aspx
Assistance & Guide dogs
On board DFDS we accept Assistance dogs who are recognised by the Assistance Dogs International, (ADI) and the International Guide Dogs Federation (IDGF) programmes.
The above programmes ensure Assistance dogs are specifically trained to assist and support people with a disability.
If travelling with an assistance dog it is essential you notify DFDS and that the dog complies with the Pet Travel Scheme. You should also note that sea travel can be distressing for animals and the safety and comfort of all our guests should not be compromised. You will be responsible for the welfare of the dog at all times. There is no fee to bring your assistance dog onboard. You will be asked to provide documentation.
Emotional Support Animals
In the UK, Emotional Support Animals are not legally recognised by the above organisations in the way that Assistance & Guide dogs currently are.
Emotional Support Animals can travel with us however they will have to follow the same rules set out for our regular pets, such as:
- Stay in Vehicle during crossing (All UK – France routes & Newcastle – Amsterdam)
- Stay in Kennels during crossing (Newcastle - Amsterdam only)
- Stay in Pet friendly cabin (Newcastle – Amsterdam only)
- Payable pet ticket fee for adding pets to crossing on all routes
More information can be found here:
Passenger Information
Award Winning Ferry Crossings
We are proud to have been voted World’s Leading Ferry Operator 2022 at this year’s World Travel Awards for the 12th year in a row! We have also won Europe's Leading Ferry Operator 2012-2022 and World’s Best Ferry Operator Website 2021-2022.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us and voted for us for over 12 years. Let’s sail the seas together with world class service!
