Travelling between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland with your furry friend has never been easier. There are plenty of options for dog-friendly ferries.
Thanks to these ferries, you no longer have to leave your precious pet behind when crossing the Irish Sea!
Say you are planning a trip to the Emerald Isle from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), and you plan to take a ferry, you might be asking yourself, ‘Where do I start?’
If your pet already meets the requirements needed to enter the EU (microchip, documentation and rabies), then the next step would be the ‘how’.
While you certainly can look into flying with your pet from Great Britain to Ireland, why not make a road trip and hop on a ferry?
Then you can have more control over your journey, and as a bonus, you can probably carry a lot more luggage, and you don’t have to worry about fitting into a tight plane seat or having your pet go in the cargo hold.
Back in 2017, I travelled from Great Britain to Ireland and back with Rocky and we once again travelled to Ireland and back at the end of 2021. The trips were a long drive from the south where we lived at the time, but definitely worth it!
We had no shortage of ferries that would happily take us, and some things have changed since then – for the better! For instance, some ferries allow pets in the cabin.
So whether you are planning a scenic getaway to Dublin or a road trip across Ireland to get to the majestic Cliffs of Moher, here’s everything you need to know!
I’m also including ferries to Northern Ireland as reaching the Republic of Ireland is simply a drive away once you arrive to Northern Ireland. It should be noted that the rules for entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain are different from entering the Republic of Ireland. The updated rules can be found here.
Now without further ado.
Which ferry operators are pet-friendly?
Several major ferry operators allow pets on board, including dogs, cats and ferrets.
Let’s cover them!
Irish Ferries
Your pet (dog, cat or ferret) has the option of either staying in the comfort of your car for the duration of the voyage, or being housed in the onboard kennels. It’s up to you to decide which option is the most comfortable for your pet. If you do choose to use a kennel, it must be booked in advance.
Pet-friendly routes on Irish Ferries
Holyhead (Wales) to Dublin
The Dublin-Holyhead ferry is one of Irish Ferries’ most popular routes, with up to four sailings each day. This ship offers a mix of small, medium and large kennels up to 84cm high x 120cm wide x 88cm deep.
For passengers traveling by car, your pet must be taken on board the ship in your car and must remain either in your car or in the kennels provided by Irish Ferries for the duration of the voyage. The kennels can be booked in advance and are free of charge.
It should be noted that unfortunately, family pets are not allowed on the passenger decks at any time.
For foot passengers, pets (all dogs and cats) must be transported to and from the ferry in a secure, rigid and appropriate pet carrier/cage or crate (please bring your own). The pet must be able to stand or lie down in comfort. Furthermore, the pet parents must be able to carry the carrier/cage or crate from the terminal to the ship.
The carrier/ cage or crate will be accommodated in the kennel area on the car deck.
If you turn up at the port without an appropriate pet carrier/cage or crate you will not be allowed to bring your pet on board. There are no exceptions to this rule, Irish Ferries says.
Pembroke (Wales) to Rosslare
Pets are also allowed on this route. You can also keep your pets in the car or in a kennel onboard.
Link: https://www.irishferries.com/uk-en/frequently-asked-questions/top-10-faqs/pets-ireland-britain-routes/
Stena Line
Pets are welcome and you can pre-book your companion into a kennel, have them stay with you on onboard (there are some rules around this) or keep them inside the car on selected routes. Some of the ferries have pet-friendly cabins that can be pre-booked too.
Regardless of the option you choose when travelling with your pet, all pets, whether you are travelling by car or by foot, must be pre-booked in advance of travel.
Only the following pets are allowed: dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, ferret, mouse, chinchilla & gerbil (the maximum numbers also apply to small rodents). A maximum of two pets is permitted per booking.
Pets travel for free when remaining in your vehicle. Kennels can be pre-booked on the “Stena Plus & Onboard Extras” step of the booking process or via the Contact Centre.
Routes:
- Holyhead to Dublin
- Liverpool to Belfast (Northern Ireland)
- Cairnryan (Scotland) to Belfast (Northern Ireland)
- Fishguard (Wales) to Rosslare
Pets can remain in your vehicle on all routes. On the longer crossings (such as the Liverpool – Belfast vessel) while pets can remain in your vehicle, due to the length of the crossings and given that certain breeds of dogs are more sensitive to heat/poor air circulation in vehicles, the ferry operator recommends either booking a pet-friendly cabin or a pet kennel.
Stena Line states that the vehicle deck areas are not allowed to be accessed during the sailing. In exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the onboard team and with the master’s permission, a short, accompanied visit may be considered.
Pet kennels are free when travelling between Cairnryan – Belfast, Holyhead – Dublin and Fishguard – Rosslare. On the Liverpool – Belfast route, a fee is payable per kennel each way.
Pet kennels on the Liverpool – Belfast route and on the Holyhead – Dublin route can be accessed throughout your journey. Not only can you visit your dog on these two routes, but you can also exercise them under controlled conditions.
The onboard kennels are suitable for domestic pets such as cats and dogs. If you are carrying livestock, exotic, dangerous or larger animals you must contact the ferry operator in advance of booking to determine the suitability of the facilities onboard for the safe carriage of the animal/pet.
Onboard the Stena Superfast vessels between Belfast and Cairnryan, Stena Line has a dedicated pet lounge.
Link: https://www.stenaline.co.uk/customer-service/pre-travel/can-i-bring-my-pet
P&O Ferries
Pets can travel free of charge on the Cairnryan to Larne (Northern Ireland) route.
While Larne is in Northern Ireland, you can travel onward to the Republic of Ireland provided your pet meet the requirements to enter the country. However, pet parents should note there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
If you’re travelling by car you can take up to four pets for free, and all pets must stay in the vehicle during the crossing. Unfortunately, this means foot or coach passengers are unable to travel with their pets due to no appropriate facilities to accommodate them onboard – guide and assistance dogs are exempt from this and are welcome onboard.
Dogs, cats or ferrets are allowed on the P&O ships, as long as they meet all the EU entry requirements and have a valid AHC (Animal Health Certificate) or EU Pet Passport.
Link: https://www.poferries.com/en/routes/cairnryan-to-larne/travel-information/travelling-with-a-pet
Steam Packet
This ferry travels from Isle of Man to Dublin as well as Belfast. The ferry accepts cats and dogs.
Horses, cows, sheep, poultry, other agricultural animals and any animals that would ordinarily require transport in a dedicated livestock trailer or vehicle must be booked via the reservations team.
You must inform the ferry team if you intend to bring a pet on board in the vessels other than in a vehicle on the car decks. To ensure all passengers have a safe and enjoyable crossing, the ferry has a maximum number of pets allowed per crossing.
The Manxman vessel offers a range of pet-friendly facilities designed to make your journey with your furry friend as comfortable and convenient as possible. This includes a pet lounge, pet friendly cabin and an outdoor toilet area. Steam Packet added that pets are only permitted in pet-friendly cabins.
While the Manannan does not have pet-friendly seating areas or lounges, it provides options to ensure your pet’s safety and comfort during the journey including kennels. You can also leave your pet in the car.
Routes include Isle of Man to Dublin and Isle of Man to Belfast.
Link: https://www.steam-packet.com/onboard-experience/travelling-with-pets
Further tips
General rules
While each of the above ferry operators has its guidelines for pet travel, here are some general rules to keep in mind:
- Dogs traveling in vehicles must remain inside during the crossing.
- Onboard kennels should be pre-booked as they can fill up quickly, especially during peak travel times.
- Some of these routes offer pet-friendly cabins or lounges where you can stay with your dog.
Make sure to check the ferry operator’s website for specific details and book early to secure the best arrangements for your pet.
Before travel
When preparing for our lengthy trips make sure your dog gets a decent walk or better yet a run before, they board to help them relax for the crossing.
Be sure to bring food, water, their favourite toy (deemed safe to be around on while you may be away), as well as bedding or a blanket with a familiar smell to help them become more comfortable.
As previously mentioned, be sure that your pet has all documentation. If they are traveling to Northern Ireland, they will need different documentation from 4 June 2025. If they are traveling to the Republic of Ireland, they will need to make sure they follow the EU rules, even if the ferry does not check paperwork, be sure to have yours on hand just in case! In both cases, your pet will need to be microchipped at the very least.
Rules also state that you must notify Ireland before traveling with your pet from Great Britain. You can look at more information at the below links:
Pet travel portal: https://inis-pub-ui.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/#/
Pet travel guide: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/21d40-pet-travel/?referrer=https://www.gov.ie/en/service/28ae66-pet-travel/#advance-notice-portal-to-be-completed-prior-to-bringing-your-pet-into-ireland-from-non-eu-countries
Discovering Ireland with your dog
Once you arrive, Ireland offers quite a few dog-friendly adventures.
From the incredibly lush landscapes of County Kerry to some of the urban dog-friendly sites in Dublin, there’s no shortage of places to explore with your pup.
Many accommodations, restaurants, and even pubs across Ireland warmly welcome dogs.
When we went in 2017, Ireland was not quite as dog friendly as the UK, however when we returned in 2021, we found some more places that were dog friendly.
A few of the cool places:
- A walk around the seaside town of Youghal
- Exploring dog-friendly Cork and its many places and beaches
- Checking out the Wicklow mountains
- Visiting the many dog-friendly attractions in Galway
- Sightseeing in the many towns within County Mayo
- Playing around the parks in Limerick
- Walking around the Maritime Mile in Belfast and see the famous Titanic building from the outside
