Travelling with pets on the Holyhead–Dublin route

When we travel, we often like to bring our beloved companions along. But how does this work on the Holyhead–Dublin ferry route? Which animals are allowed on board, and what do you need to prepare?

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries allow passengers to bring pets on their crossings. Officially, “pets” refer to dogs, cats, and ferrets. Other animals are subject to different regulations, and you should contact the ferry operator directly for guidance.

All pets must meet customs and veterinary requirements, which we’ll cover further below. But first, let’s take a look at the onboard facilities and options available.

How you can travel with your pet?

In practice, most travellers bringing pets will be accompanied by a dog, though the same rules generally apply to cats and ferrets.

Both Irish Ferries and Stena Line offer several options for pet travel on this relatively short crossing:

1) Leave your pet in the car

You may leave your pet in your vehicle for the duration of the sailing.
However, please note that access to the car deck is not permitted during the voyage.

2) Use the onboard kennels

Both operators provide kennel facilities near the car deck where your pet can stay during the crossing.

3) Access the Pet Lounge

On ferries Ulysses and James Joyce, there is a dedicated lounge area for pet owners, known as the Pet Lounge or Pet Den. You can also access an outdoor deck area to exercise your pet during the trip.

4) Pet-friendly cabins

For extra comfort, you can book a pet-friendly cabin on certain sailings (available on both Irish Ferries and Stena Line). Pets must always remain in the cabin, although some vessels provide an outdoor pet exercise area for short walks.

If you have a preference for one of these options, please note that it may not be available on your specific sailing. The different types of vessels offer varying facilities, which you can see in the overview below.

Company	Ship	Pet Lounge	Kennels	Outdoor Area	Pet-friendly Cabin
Stena Line	Stena Estrid	✖	✔	✔	✔
Stena Line	Stena Adventurer	✖	✔	✖	✔
Irish Ferries	Ulysses	✔	✔	✔	✖
Irish Ferries	James Joyce	✔	✔	✔	✔
Irish Ferries	Dublin Swift	✖	✔	✖	✖

General guidelines for pets

Ferry operators aim to keep pets and general passengers separate for hygiene and safety reasons. Pets are not permitted in public passenger areas such as restaurants, lounges, or shops (except in designated Pet Areas).

Rules to follow

An adult must always be responsible for the animal.
Keep your pet on a lead or in a secure carrier at all times.
If your pet is of a restricted breed or may pose a risk of biting, it must wear a muzzle.
Always clean up after your pet and be considerate of other passengers.
Follow the operator's website and crew’s instructions regarding rules and where pets are allowed on board.

Customs requirements for pets

A valid microchip
An EU or UK pet passport or official animal health certificate
A valid rabies vaccination (administered at least 21 days before travel)
Tapeworm treatment for dogs travelling from Great Britain to Ireland, administered by a vet 1–5 days before entry.
Authorities strictly enforce these requirements, and pets may be denied boarding if documentation is incomplete.

Route	Microchip	Pet Passport / Documents	Rabies Vaccination	Tapeworm Treatment (Dogs only)
Ireland → Britain	Required	Required	Required	Not required
Britain → Ireland	Required	Required	Required	Required

Assistance dogs and emotional support animals

Assistance dogs (such as guide dogs or service dogs) are fully permitted to travel on all Irish Ferries and Stena Line routes. They may accompany their owner in all passenger areas and do not need to stay in kennels or vehicles. Proper identification and certification must be shown when boarding.

Emotional support animals, however, are not officially recognised under UK or Irish law. They are treated as regular pets, meaning they must follow the standard pet travel rules (kennel, car, or pet-friendly cabin).