Newcastle - Amsterdam Ferry With A Dog

[Corpulent Tosser]

Considering going to europe with either a motorhome or car, possibly both at different times but taking our labrador with us.

Pets passport thing is getting sorted out, but looking on the DFDS website it states the animal must remain in the vehicle and be suitably restrained or in a kennel on the ferry (of which there are only 5).

The questions I hope someone can answer are
How comfortable/spacious are the kennels?
If the dog is left in the vehicle does it have to be in a cage or just locked in the vehicle ?

The crossing is around 17hrs and although he is OK being left on his own and quite often is for 8hrs he is never left this long ?

The alternative would be driving down from Scotland and taking the tunnel, but as we are going to Holland that is a long way round.

Thanks
Murray

[Bluebarge]

I'd check with the ferry company. From previous research we did on the P'mouth Santander crossing the kennels will be quite small and spartan but there may be a small exercise deck nearby. Check that you can visit the kennels while the ship is underway. Otherwise 17 hours will be too long to leave a dog cooped up in a vehicle. He will either chew it to pieces or crap all over it or both. I'd do the long trip by road myself and take the fast ferry from Harwich.

[Corpulent Tosser]

Thanks for the reply, checking the website they will let you visit your pet either in the kennels or your vehicle but at a prearranged time, suggested is 1 hr after sailing and 1 hr before arrival, which doesn't sound too good.

Since posting I have looked at the Harwich - Hook of Holland ferry and it is much quicker at around 7-8hrs, still same deal of kennels or vehicle and neither one lets you take the dog out for a walk/st.

So I think Harwich is the way we will go, even though it is another 250-300 miles each way.

Murray

[parakitaMol.]

Bluebarge said:

I'd check with the ferry company. From previous research we did on the P'mouth Santander crossing the kennels will be quite small and spartan but there may be a small exercise deck nearby. Check that you can visit the kennels while the ship is underway. Otherwise 17 hours will be too long to leave a dog cooped up in a vehicle. He will either chew it to pieces or crap all over it or both. I'd do the long trip by road myself and take the fast ferry from Harwich.

Last year we booked one of the dog friendly cabins on board on Brittany Ferries Portsmouth >Santander. We actually changed our plans and went somewhere else in the end but worth knowing you can have your dog on board in your cabin if you book early and get one of those.

[Hugo a Gogo]

Hull - Rotterdam with P & O is a good bit shorter, about 11-12 hours, only maybe 2 hours extra drive to Hull

they have kennels on board too