Dog-Friendly Cruises From the UK & Europe 2026: Ferry Guide
If you live in the UK and want to take your dog to sea, the choice is smaller than most search results suggest. Mainstream cruise lines sailing from Southampton don't take pet dogs. Our guide to pet-friendly cruises in 2026 covers the cruise lines worldwide and what each one allows.
What UK owners do have is better than it sounds: overnight ferries where your dog sleeps in the cabin with you, a Norwegian coastal voyage with pet cabins, dog-only river cruises, and one ocean liner that sails from Southampton with kennels on board. This guide covers each option, what it costs, and the paperwork for leaving and coming back.
The short answer
For a dog-friendly cruise from the UK or in Europe in 2026, your options are:
An overnight ferry with a pet-friendly cabin to France, Spain or the Netherlands. The most practical choice for most owners.
Hurtigruten along the Norwegian coast, with your dog in a pet cabin.
A dog river cruise with 1AVista Reisen on the Rhine, Danube or Mosel.
Cunard's Queen Mary 2 from Southampton to New York or Hamburg, with your dog in the ship's kennels.
Whichever you choose, your dog needs an Animal Health Certificate to enter the EU and tapeworm treatment before returning to Great Britain.
UK and European dog-friendly sailings at a glance
Operator | Route | Where your dog stays | Pet fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Portsmouth–Caen, Plymouth–Roscoff, Portsmouth/Plymouth–Santander, Portsmouth–Bilbao | Pet cabin, kennel or vehicle (varies by ship) | From £35 (France) or £50 (Spain) each way, plus cabin | |
Newcastle–Amsterdam | Pet cabin or kennel | About £30 each way | |
DFDS | Newhaven–Dieppe | Kennel or vehicle | £20 each way |
P&O Ferries | Hull–Rotterdam | Pet cabin | Varies |
Stena Line | Harwich–Hook of Holland | Pet cabin | Varies |
Norwegian coast | Pet cabin | 150 NOK per pet per night | |
1AVista Reisen | Rhine, Danube, Mosel | In your cabin | See operator |
Cunard Queen Mary 2 | Southampton–New York, Southampton–Hamburg | Kennel, Deck 12 | $1,300–$1,500 per kennel |
Fees change by season and sailing, so check the operator's price when you book.
Overnight ferries with pet-friendly cabins
For most UK owners, a ferry is the best dog-friendly cruise available. You sail overnight, your dog stays in the room, and you drive off in France, Spain or the Netherlands the next day.
Brittany Ferries: best for France and Spain
Brittany Ferries has the most pet facilities of any UK operator. Depending on the route and ship, your dog can travel in a pet-friendly cabin with you, in an onboard kennel, or in your vehicle. Pet-friendly cabins run on Portsmouth–Caen, Plymouth–Roscoff and the Spain routes, though not every ship has them, so check your sailing when you book. The pet fee starts at £35 each way to France and £50 each way to Spain, on top of the cabin price.
Spain sailings have extra rules. On Pont-Aven, pets sailing to or from Spain must stay in a pet-friendly cabin, or dogs can use a kennel. Foot passengers can't bring pets on the Spain routes, so you'll need a car.
Pet cabins are popular, so book as early as you can. You can also expect to muzzle your dog: all dogs must wear one when moving between your car and your cabin or kennel, and in the exercise areas, and fines apply if you don't. If your dog isn't used to a muzzle, start practising well before you travel.
Heading to Spain? Our guide to travelling to Spain with your pet from the UK covers the AHC, and our Iberia pet policy guide explains Spain's Category 1 and 2 dangerous dog laws.
DFDS: best from the north of England
DFDS's overnight Newcastle–Amsterdam crossing has pet-friendly cabins that sleep up to 4 people and 2 medium-sized dogs. All the pet cabins are on Deck 4, and dogs have an outdoor area to relieve themselves during the crossing. It saves the long drive to Dover if you're coming from Scotland or northern England.
DFDS's Newhaven–Dieppe route is different. It has three wire-mesh kennels on the car deck, with no bedding supplied, so bring your own. The pet fee is £20 each way, whether your dog travels in your vehicle, a kennel, or a pet cabin. It's the UK–France route to choose if you're travelling without a car, because it accepts foot passengers with pets.
P&O Ferries and Stena Line: the North Sea
P&O's Hull–Rotterdam route has six dog-friendly cabins per ferry. Stena Line's Harwich–Hook of Holland service has pet-friendly cabins and a dog-walking area on board. Both work well if you're heading to the Netherlands, Germany, or further into northern Europe. For onward travel, see our Germany pet travel guide.
Irish Sea crossings
Dogs travel free on the Irish Sea routes run by Stena Line and Irish Ferries. Irish Ferries doesn't offer pet cabins, though it has kennels on some routes. The Republic of Ireland is in the EU, so the same AHC rules apply as for France.
Dog-friendly cruises in Europe
Hurtigruten: the Norwegian coast with your dog
Hurtigruten is the closest thing Europe has to a mainstream cruise that accepts dogs. Its Original ships along the Norwegian coast welcome pets in pet-friendly cabins, booked in advance through Hurtigruten's customer service centre, with a fee of 150 NOK per pet per night. Your dog stays in the cabin and can't move around the ship with you.
Two things to check before booking. Not every ship takes pets: MS Nordlys, MS Midnatsol and MS Kong Harald have no pet cabins, and Hurtigruten's Arctic and Antarctic expeditions don't allow dogs. And Norway has its own entry rules for dogs, including tapeworm treatment. Our Norwegian Air pet policy guide explains Norway's tapeworm requirement.
1AVista Reisen: river cruises built for dogs
If you want your dog in the cabin on a proper cruise, 1AVista Reisen runs dog-focused river cruises on the Rhine, Danube and Mosel, where dogs sleep in your cabin. The line generally allows one dog per cabin, with a maximum shoulder height of 50 cm. Its website is in German only. Our pet-friendly cruises guide covers what life on board looks like.
Queen Mary 2 from Southampton
Queen Mary 2 is the only ocean liner that takes pet dogs, and it sails from Southampton. Its kennels operate on transatlantic crossings to or from Southampton, New York or Hamburg, with room for 24 animals per voyage. From 2026 the kennels cost $1,300 (upper) or $1,500 (lower).
Your dog stays in the kennels on Deck 12, not in your cabin. Crossings sell out far ahead, and breed and size limits apply. Our pet-friendly cruises guide covers the kennels, booking, and restrictions in full.
Which route should you choose?
Paris or Normandy: Portsmouth–Caen with Brittany Ferries, or Newhaven–Dieppe with DFDS if you're a foot passenger.
Brittany and western France: Plymouth–Roscoff with Brittany Ferries.
Northern Spain: Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander, or Portsmouth to Bilbao, with Brittany Ferries. You'll need a car.
Netherlands, Belgium or Germany: Newcastle–Amsterdam (DFDS), Hull–Rotterdam (P&O) or Harwich–Hook of Holland (Stena).
A cruise with your dog in the cabin: Hurtigruten in Norway, or 1AVista Reisen on the Rhine, Danube or Mosel.
The USA: Queen Mary 2 from Southampton.
Greek islands: Travel to Greece, then use local ferries. Our Greece pet travel guide covers island ferries.
Paperwork: leaving Great Britain for the EU
Crossing by sea doesn't change the border rules. These requirements come from the Pet Holiday Club rules base for a dog travelling from Great Britain to France, in the order you'll need to deal with them.
1. Restrictions that stop the trip. Dogs under 16 weeks old cannot enter France, even if they've had a rabies vaccination. Non-commercial travel normally covers up to 5 pets. Your dog must travel with you, or with someone you've authorised in writing, as long as your own journey is within 5 days of your dog's.
2. Medical requirements.
An ISO 11784/11785-compliant 15-digit microchip implanted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination.
A rabies vaccination given after the microchip, when your dog is at least 12 weeks old. A primary vaccination is valid for one year only, even if a three-year vaccine is used.
3. Documents.
An Animal Health Certificate (AHC), signed by an official veterinarian. Your dog must enter the EU within 10 days of it being issued, and the AHC can only be issued at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination. Time it against your sailing date. An AHC typically costs between £90 and £350 per pet, depending on the vet.
A non-commercial declaration is attached to the AHC.
At the time of writing, UK residents can't use EU pet passports and need a new AHC for each trip into the EU. Our article on the UK pet passport rule changes explains what changed on 22 April 2026, and How Much Is a Pet Passport in 2026? covers the costs.
4. Travel day. Book your dog's place with the ferry operator when you book your own ticket. Pet cabins and kennels are limited and must be booked in advance.
5. Arrival. Your dog's microchip and documents may be checked at the port. If the microchip can't be read or doesn't match the documents, entry can be refused.
Paperwork: coming back into Great Britain
The return trip has its own rules, and one catches many owners out.
Tapeworm treatment. Every dog entering Great Britain must have tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) treatment given by a vet, with praziquantel or an equivalent, no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before entry. That means finding a vet in France, Spain, or the Netherlands during your trip and timing the appointment against your return sailing. This is a hard requirement: miss the window and your dog can't enter.
Age and pregnancy. Dogs under 6 months old cannot be brought into Great Britain, and a dog more than 42 days pregnant is restricted from entering (Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025).
Documents. Your GB-issued AHC covers onward travel within the EU and re-entry into Great Britain for up to 6 months, as long as your dog's rabies vaccination stays valid.
Approved route. Your dog must enter Great Britain on an approved route with an approved travel company. The major ferry operators are on GOV.UK's approved list, but check your route before booking.
For the full picture on leaving and returning, see The 2026 United Kingdom Pet Travel Blueprint.
Tips for the crossing
Book the pet cabin first. Pet cabins sell out long before standard cabins. If none are left, try another date before settling for a kennel.
Practise with the muzzle if you are sailing with Brittany Ferries.
Pack bedding if your dog will be in a kennel, since not every operator provides it.
Bring food and water in sealed containers, plus a harness and lead.
Carry original documents in the bag you'll keep with you at the port.
Book the return tapeworm vet before you leave home.
Build a checklist for your crossing
Pet Holiday Club builds a checklist for your exact route, including the tapeworm window for your return sailing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there dog-friendly cruises from the UK?
Yes. Cunard's Queen Mary 2 sails from Southampton to New York and Hamburg, with kennels for dogs. For most owners, overnight ferries with pet cabins to France, Spain, or the Netherlands are the more practical option.
Are there dog-friendly cruises in Europe?
Yes. Hurtigruten's Norwegian coastal ships have pet-friendly cabins, and 1AVista Reisen runs dog-friendly river cruises on the Rhine, Danube, and Mosel, where dogs sleep in your cabin.
Which ferries let my dog stay in the cabin?
Brittany Ferries (routes to France and Spain), DFDS (Newcastle–Amsterdam), P&O Ferries (Hull–Rotterdam) and Stena Line (Harwich–Hook of Holland) all offer pet-friendly cabins on selected ships.
Do I need a pet passport to take my dog on a ferry to France?
UK residents currently need an Animal Health Certificate for each trip to the EU. Since 22 April 2026, EU pet passports can't be used by UK residents.
How long is an AHC valid for?
Your dog must enter the EU within 10 days of the AHC being issued. After that, it covers onward EU travel and your return to Great Britain for up to 6 months, provided the rabies vaccination remains valid.
Does my dog need tapeworm treatment to come back to the UK?
Yes. A vet must treat your dog 24 to 120 hours before you enter Great Britain.
Can I take my dog on a ferry as a foot passenger?
Yes, on DFDS's Newhaven–Dieppe route. You can't on Brittany Ferries' Spain routes.
