Dogs and Ferries
Discussion
Would like to hear of other experiences of taking dogs on ferries - specifically the longer Hull / Rotterdam route.
We have taken ferries to Islay and Ireland a number of times - in the old days you could take the dogs into the passenger areas but of course now they must stay in the car. This does not seem to be a problem for the 3 / 4 hour crossing. However now the dogs have their pet passports we were thinking about a trip to Holland and Germany which is of course an overnight crossing.
I believe there are kennels, and some opportunities to visit the dogs. Are there some ''shared kennel'' arrangements - the dogs are setters but often curl up together in the giant cage we have. There is quite a difference in the journey compared to our current experience so all comments good and bad welcomed. We would be looking at late September.
Then there is the other option of a long drive from Yorkshire down south - shorter ferry over the Channel / Tunnel - long journey at the other end (first time driving on the wrong side - 22yo old Mercedes but does the miles fairly comfortably).
Cheers
We have taken ferries to Islay and Ireland a number of times - in the old days you could take the dogs into the passenger areas but of course now they must stay in the car. This does not seem to be a problem for the 3 / 4 hour crossing. However now the dogs have their pet passports we were thinking about a trip to Holland and Germany which is of course an overnight crossing.
I believe there are kennels, and some opportunities to visit the dogs. Are there some ''shared kennel'' arrangements - the dogs are setters but often curl up together in the giant cage we have. There is quite a difference in the journey compared to our current experience so all comments good and bad welcomed. We would be looking at late September.
Then there is the other option of a long drive from Yorkshire down south - shorter ferry over the Channel / Tunnel - long journey at the other end (first time driving on the wrong side - 22yo old Mercedes but does the miles fairly comfortably).
Cheers
We always use the tunnel too, no matter how far out of our way it is. There's no stress for the dogs that way, which we prefer.
The animal check-in on the French side can be interesting, though. Last time we were there, a young girl was allowed by her parents to take her cat into the check-in building in her arms, no box or anything. The place was full of dogs at the time. Luckily they were all well-behaved!
The animal check-in on the French side can be interesting, though. Last time we were there, a young girl was allowed by her parents to take her cat into the check-in building in her arms, no box or anything. The place was full of dogs at the time. Luckily they were all well-behaved!
Not quite relevant for the OP, but a neighbour regularly goes to Spain, I'm not sure which crossing but they allow you to take your dog on deck and in the cabin. I was on an IOW crossing last yr dogs allowed on deck.
Anyone taken a dog over to Minorca? Wondering about dogs on the Spanish ferries.
Anyone taken a dog over to Minorca? Wondering about dogs on the Spanish ferries.
PositronicRay said:
... a neighbour regularly goes to Spain, I'm not sure which crossing but they allow you to take your dog on deck and in the cabin....
We did the Brittany Ferries Portsmouth-Bilbao crossing last year with our dog. We had to book very early to get a dog-friendly cabin; they get snapped up almost as soon as they are released, but we really didn't fancy the kennel option. Our female dog* wasn't happy peeing on the steel deck though males seemed to have no reservations.- swear filter doesn't like "b
h".
Nimby said:
PositronicRay said:
... a neighbour regularly goes to Spain, I'm not sure which crossing but they allow you to take your dog on deck and in the cabin....
We did the Brittany Ferries Portsmouth-Bilbao crossing last year with our dog. We had to book very early to get a dog-friendly cabin; they get snapped up almost as soon as they are released, but we really didn't fancy the kennel option. Our female dog* wasn't happy peeing on the steel deck though males seemed to have no reservations.- swear filter doesn't like "bh".
Many thanks
I think the message seems to be that NSF is possibly too long in the circumstances - been speaking to a local who drives south towing a caravan just to get the shorter crossing.
For the right dog NSF may work - Irish Setters are quite ''reserved'' but full of 200% love.
An added 1200 miles to the journey seems a reality (350+250 on each journey) - the old barge will just have to soak up the miles - as long as next weeks MOT goes well - if its suspension related it would be money well spent longer term.
We used Stena for Ireland and got a better deal than Irish - so happy to use Stena again. Interesting about the tunnel procedures - £18 each way per dog according to MrsMercs - another £72.
May low petrol prices stay for some time @30mpg - or an extra £200 fuel - but saved off the cost of the NSF route. (Can't you tell I'm a Yorkshireman). But the dogs are part of the holiday and the people we meet as a result are the bonus. Can you believe the number of folks in Ireland who have never seen an Irish Setter (having seen all their collies and Jack Russell's you know why) !
I think the message seems to be that NSF is possibly too long in the circumstances - been speaking to a local who drives south towing a caravan just to get the shorter crossing.
For the right dog NSF may work - Irish Setters are quite ''reserved'' but full of 200% love.
An added 1200 miles to the journey seems a reality (350+250 on each journey) - the old barge will just have to soak up the miles - as long as next weeks MOT goes well - if its suspension related it would be money well spent longer term.
We used Stena for Ireland and got a better deal than Irish - so happy to use Stena again. Interesting about the tunnel procedures - £18 each way per dog according to MrsMercs - another £72.
May low petrol prices stay for some time @30mpg - or an extra £200 fuel - but saved off the cost of the NSF route. (Can't you tell I'm a Yorkshireman). But the dogs are part of the holiday and the people we meet as a result are the bonus. Can you believe the number of folks in Ireland who have never seen an Irish Setter (having seen all their collies and Jack Russell's you know why) !
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