The Irish Ferries pet travel policy 2023 allow pets on board, but they can also travel free of charge on crossings between the Great Britain (Scotland, Wales & England) and Ireland. Irish Ferries accepts cats, dogs and ferrets on board their ferries either travelling in your car, or in one of the limited number of pre-booked car deck kennels. Not only that, but foot passengers can also take their pet on Irish Ferries between Ireland, Great Britain and France. Pet friendly cabins or lodges aren’t available on Irish Ferries crossings. Read on for full details of the Irish Ferries pet policy 2023 for dogs, cats and ferrets. You can also check out reviews by other pet travellers to find out about their experiences with Irish Ferries before you book.
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Irish Ferries Pet Travel Policy
For all sailings with pets aboard Irish Ferries, some general conditions apply across the board, regardless of your travel route.
Your pet can’t be taken out of their carrier anywhere onboard, including the outer deck. Whether you choose for your dog, cat or ferret to travel within your vehicle or in a kennel on the car deck, you must pre-book. A limited number of pet carriers are allowed onboard each sailing. You may be required to place your pet in the dedicated car deck kennel if they aren’t secured in their carrier at all times during the crossing.
Car Passengers
- Your pet must be board the ship in your car, and remain either in your car or a pre-booked on board kennel for the duration of the crossing (Except France crossings)
- The kennels must be booked in advance and are free of charge (Except France crossings)
- Pets are not allowed on the passenger decks at any time
Foot Passengers
- Cats, dogs & ferrets must be transported to and from the ferry in a secure, rigid pet carrier or crate
- Your pet must be able to stand up or lie down in comfort
- Foot passengers with pets on Irish Ferries must be able to carry the carrier or crate from the terminal to the ship
- The pet travel carrier will be accommodated in the kennel area on the car deck
- You won’t be able to sail if you arrive at the port without a pet travel carrier or crate
Pets travelling on Ireland – United Kingdom routes with Irish Ferries
If you wish, your dog, cat or ferret can travel free of charge in a pre-booked kennel on the Irish Ferries car deck, or they may remain in your car for the duration of crossings between Ireland and the United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland)
Rosslare, Ireland & Pembroke, Wales crossings on The Isle of Irishmore Irish Ferries
For crossings between Rosslare and Pembroke, a mix of small, medium and large pet kennels up to 100cm high, 80cm wide and 85cm deep are available to pre-book with Irish Ferries.
Please be aware that your pet can’t be taken out of their carrier anywhere onboard, including the outer deck. Whether you choose for your dog, cat or ferret to travel within your vehicle or in a kennel on the car deck, you must pre-book. A limited number of pet carriers are allowed onboard each sailing. You may be required to place your pet in the dedicated car deck kennel if they aren’t secured in their carrier at all times during the crossing.
Dublin, Ireland & Holyhead, Wales crossings with Irish Ferries
Four different ships are used for crossings between Dublin and Holyhead. The dimensions available for pre-booked pet kennels depends on the vessel for your sailing:
The Dublin Swift
A mix of small, medium and large kennels up to 84cm high x 120cm wide x 88cm deep.
Ulysses
A mix of small, medium and large kennels up to 96cm high x 96cm wide x 85cm deep.
Epsilon
A mix of small, medium and large kennels up to 110cm high x 140cm wide x 95cm deep.
Y.B. Yeats
A mix of small, medium and large kennels up to 100cm high x 75cm wide x 95cm deep.
Be sure to check that your pet will fit in the available on board Irish Ferries kennels before booking this service.
Pets on Irish Ferries between Ireland or England & France
If you’re sailing on the Dover, England – Calais, France or Dublin, Ireland to Cherbourg, France routes, your pet must travel in an Irish Ferries pre-booked on board kennel. Cats, dogs and ferrets can’t sail on routes to and from France in their own carrier, or a vehicle. However, you will be able to visit your pet and take your dog on a short walk on crossings between England or Ireland, and France. Just speak to a member of the Irish Ferries staff on board to make arrangements.
The following conditions also apply for pets transported on Dover – Calais, or Dublin – Cherbourg Irish Ferries crossings:
- Check-in time for passengers travelling with pets is at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the ferry
- You may be asked to help staff to use the scanner as your pet will be more comfortable being handled by you
- Irish Ferries charge kennel fees of € 30 / € 45 / €60 per animal per journey for travel to and from France. This fee includes the use of a kennel/cat box on board.
- Each pet must occupy a separate on board kennel.
- Pets are not allowed to remain in your car or travel on the passenger decks during the voyage, except trained and registered Assistance & Service Dogs.
Available Pet Kennel Sizes
The dimensions and costs of the pet kennels on Irish Ferries crossings between Ireland and France depend on the ship used for the journey:
Epsilon
The kennels are situated on car deck 4. The small kennels are situated along a corridor leading to the car deck and the medium and large kennels are in a secluded area on the car deck itself.
Small Kennel
€30 (55 cm high x 53cm wide x 80cm deep)
Medium Kennel
€45 (72 cm high x 93 cm wide x 96cm deep)
Large Kennel
€60 (115cm high x 144cm wide x 90cm deep)
W.B. Yeats
The kennels are situated on car deck 5, whilst the cat-boxes are situated on deck 4.
Small Kennel
€30 (51cm high x 75cm wide x 95cm deep)
Medium Kennel
€45 (70cm high x 75cm wide x 95cm deep)
Large Kennel
€60 (100cm high x 75cm wide x 95cm deep)
Cat Box
€30 (50cm high x 80cm wide x 72cm deep)
Foot passengers with Pets on Irish Ferries between Ireland or England & France
Foot passengers are permitted to travel with pets on Irish Ferries to and from France. You must take your cat, dog or ferret on board the ship in their carrier. They will then travel in kennel that you have pre-booked.
Assistance & Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) with Irish Ferries
Trained and registered Assistance & Service Dogs are allowed to remain with their owner on the passenger decks for the duration of the voyage. If you’re an Irish Ferries foot passenger travelling with an Assistance or Service Dog, they may walk from the terminal to the vessel with you. You must identify your dog with a harness and jacket at all times on board the vessel.
Psychiatric Service Dogs can travel under the Assistance & Service Dog policy, as they’re trained to perform a specific task for their owner. However, as Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) aren’t professionally trained, they must travel under the standard Irish Ferries pet policy.
Always protect your pet from vector-borne diseases when travelling to a foreign country, and remember to leave a review if you voyage on Irish Ferries with your pet!
