We love traveling around Europe with our dog! New sights, sounds, and sniffs are great stimulation for dogs, and it is fun having a fluffy companion as we explore the continent. However, air travel can be stressful for an animal, so we try to avoid flights whenever possible. A great alternative is to explore Europe with your dog by boat.
Many ferries welcome your furry friends, and there is even a pet-friendly ocean liner! With all of the following options, your pet will need a microchip, up-to-date veterinary records (typically a valid EU Pet passport), and comply with any height, weight, or breed restrictions.
In some cases, you can book a pet-friendly cabin. Other ships/ferries have kennels, pet-friendly lounges, and/or allow dogs to remain in your vehicle. Please note that pets are not allowed in public areas such as bars and restaurants. Regardless of the company, pet cabins/kennels are in high demand. Be sure to pre-book early to secure your place.
Queen Mary 2
We had a fantastic experience on the Queen Mary 2. Cunard’s luxury ocean liner transports passengers across the Atlantic in style. The enormous ship has world-class entertainment, delicious food, and lots of onboard activities. Best of all, Cunard has a kennel program for dogs and cats traveling between North America and Europe. The ship travels between New York and Southampton (and sometimes Hamburg), and a one-way journey takes 7-8 days.
Depending on the size of your dog, you can book a lower kennel (H 36″ D 35″ W 30″) or an upper kennel (H 27″ D 35″ W 30″) for your pet to sleep in. Upper kennels are appropriate for pets of 25 lbs or less, and lower ones accommodate pets that weigh 25.1 lbs or more. The room is air-conditioned, and each kennel comes with a fleece blanket.
During the day, four-legged guests can stretch their legs and enjoy the ocean breezes on Deck 12. When nature calls, the designated pet area is equipped with a New York fire hydrant and a Liverpool lamp post. The dogs have lots of fun playing together, and the doggy deck is open for human visits four times a day.
The animals are supervised by at least two full-time staff. In our experience, the kennel masters think of everything a dog or cat could need. They will adhere to your pet’s regular feeding schedule and administer any medications. Cunard offers a variety of kibble brands, or you can bring your own dog food when you board. You can also order fresh items from the ship’s kitchen such as chicken, rice, broth, and vegetables.
Our favorite part of cruising with our dog was the complimentary portrait session. You and your pup will pose with a Kennel Master (dressed in his iconic red bellhop uniform). The photos can include nautical props such as a Queen Mary 2 life ring, a miniature bellhop hat, and an embroidered Cunard dog coat (that you get to take home as a memento).
The Queen Mary 2 is only equipped with 24 kennels, so it is essential that you reserve your cruise voyage and kennel well in advance. Email kennels@cunard.com
for more information.
Ferries
Stena Line
Pet-friendly cabins are available on the Stena Horizon, Stena Edda, Stena Embla, Stena Adventurer, Stena Estrid, and Stena Nordica ferries. Stena’s 2- or 4- berth vinyl-floored pet cabins come with water bottles and pee pads. Humans can enjoy the beds, en suite bathroom, and TV — with up to 2 pets at their side.
On some ships, Stena Adventurer (Holyhead – Dublin) and Stena Nordica (Fishguard – Rosslare) pets must remain in their cabins for the duration of the crossing. On others, Stena Edda (Liverpool – Belfast), Stena Embla (Liverpool – Belfast), Stena Estrid (Holyhead – Dublin) and Stena Horizon (Cherbourg – Rosslare) your dog can get fresh air, exercise and toilet breaks in a specified area on the outside deck. Muzzles are not required (unless your dog is aggressive), but he or she must remain on a non-retractable leash. Visit the Stena Line website for more details.
Brittany Ferries
If you are traveling between France, England, Ireland, or Spain, Brittany Ferries is a good option. Of its fleet, the Armorique, Galicia, Guillaume de Normandie, Normandie, Pont-Aven, Saint-Malo, Salamanca, and Santoña ships have pet-friendly cabins. Each cabin accommodates a single pet. The air-conditioned rooms feature en-suite bathrooms, bunk-style beds, and laminate flooring. The eight ships with pet-friendly cabins also have an outdoor pet exercise area. Please note, your dog must be muzzled and on a leash any time it is outside your cabin. For inquiries about traveling with your pet, please consult the Brittany Ferries site.
DFDS
Passengers can bring pets on DFDS’ Newhaven – Dieppe, Newcastle – Amsterdam, Dunkirk – Rosslare, and Baltic Sea routes. On most ships, your dog must stay in your vehicle. However, DFDS offers pet-friendly cabins on its Newcastle-Amsterdam route. The ferry’s pet cabins are equipped with vinyl flooring, and accommodate 2 medium-sized dogs (and sleep up to 4 people).
Some ships allow you to take your furry companion for a walk along the dog-friendly areas of the deck. Others require you to stroll accompanied by a crew member. Be sure to bring a muzzle and leash so you can walk your dog. More information about pet travel is available on the DFDS website.
Anek Lines
Anek Lines is a pet friendly ferry with routes between Greece and Italy. It welcomes accompanied dogs, cats, and ferrets. Anek has kennels and pet cabins, but you are not allowed to leave your pup inside a vehicle. The company permits a maximum of 2 pets per cabin. The ships have special areas for pets’ daily hygiene. However, your dog is required to wear a muzzle and be on a leash whenever they are walking on the open deck. You can learn more about bringing pets on board by visiting the Anek Lines website.
Tallink Silja
Tallink Silka cruises on the Baltic Sea, with ferries to Helsinki, Stockholm, Tallinn, Turku, and Åland. All of its ships welcome pets. You can book an onboard kennel or pet-friendly cabin. On the MyStar and Megastar, you also have the option of transporting your dog in a carrier bag, or leaving it in your vehicle. Each boat has an outdoor deck with a sandbox for your pup to do its business. On deck, dogs must wear a leash, and a muzzle is recommended. Pet cabins have enough room for up to 3 animals. For more details, visit the “Traveling With Pets” section of Tallink Silja’s webpage.
Irish Ferries
Irish Ferries transports passengers between Ireland, Britain, and France. The company allows you to bring a dog, cat, or ferret onboard. On Ireland-Britain routes, your pet must remain in your vehicle for the duration of the voyage, or stay in one of the onboard kennels. On Ireland-France routes, all pets must stay in kennels. You are allowed to visit your pup during the crossing and take them for a short walk. However, you can only do so at specified visiting times, and you must be accompanied by a crew member. Please note, the company requires foot passengers with pets to bring a pet carrier or crate (and be able to carry it from the ferry terminal to the ship). Additional information can be found on the Irish Ferries site.
P&O Ferries
P&O Ferries offers trips across the channel, between Dover & Calais or Hull & Rotterdam. Dogs, cats, and ferrets are accepted on all ships. On a Dover-Calais crossing, your pet must travel in your vehicle. If you have a dog, you can upgrade to the “Pet Lounge” where you can chill with other dog owners and use the accompanying exercise areas. On an overnight Hull-Rotterdam crossing, you can book one of six dog friendly cabins or reserve an onboard kennel. Unfortunately, you cannot visit your pup until the boat docks the following morning. Fortunately, the kennels are air-conditioned, and crew members regularly check on their furry passengers. For more info, visit the P&O Ferries website.
The foregoing are just some of the pet-friendly ships that travel between different countries. Other options include Grimaldi Lines (ferries between Spain, Sardinia, Greece, Sicily, Tunisia, and Balearic islands), Color Line (ferries from Norway to Germany, Sweden, or Denmark), and Viking Line (ferries between Finland, Sweden, and Estonia). There are also plenty of domestic ferries if you want to explore a specific European country.
If you are looking for more pet travel tips, please read our articles New Laws: Taking a Dog to the USA, Popular Dog-Friendly Hotels for Pet Lovers, and Tips For Traveling With Your Dog.