Assistance and Guide dogs are welcome in all public areas of our ports and ships, subject to the necessary certification and pet passport/animal health documentation.

All assistance dogs must have the necessary accreditation and pet passport/animal health certificate documentation when checking in at the Port. They must also wear the correct jacket and harness at all times when travelling, and are allowed to remain with their owner in the passenger areas for the duration of the voyage. For sailings where foot passengers are permitted, passengers with an assistance / guide dog are permitted to walk their dog through the terminal building and onto the ship.

We accept assistance dogs who are recognised by the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and International Guide Dogs Federation (IDGF) programmes. These programmes ensure Assistance dogs are specifically trained to assist and support people with a disability, whilst also being fully trained to work in a variety of environments and are accustomed to public access and interacting with many different types of people.

Where they are not recognised as an assistance dog by ADI or the IGDF, evidence/accreditation must be provided by a qualified dog trainer to prove that they have passed an assistance dog public access certification test in accordance with the requirements set out by ADI in order to be accepted as an assistance dog on our ships. 

If travelling with an Assistance / Guide Dog, please contact us at disabilityofficer@irishferries.com at least 2 working days in advance of travel so that our Teams on-board can be notified and will be ready to offer special assistance if required.   

The pet passport / animal health certificate etc requirements for entry for assistance dogs are the same as all other pets.  Please consult the detail of these requirements by route:

• Britain - France
• Ireland - Britain
• Ireland - France

Emotional Support Animals

Emotional support animals who do not meet the requirement of having assistance dog public access certification in accordance with the requirements set out by ADI can travel with us, however they will have to follow the same rules set out for our regular pets, and will not have access to the passenger areas on board.   The access for un-certified emotional support animals is therefore as follows:

• Stay in vehicle during crossing (Ireland-UK & Dover - Calais)
• Stay in the Pet Den area on-board if reserved in advance (Dover-Calais)
• Stay in Kennels during crossing (Ireland-UK & Ireland-France)

On our Dover Calais route Irish Ferries welcomes pets travelling with motorists (cars, vans, motorhomes, etc) or with motorcyclists if booked into the Pet Den area.  Pets must be declared at the time of booking and meet the required entry guidelines for pets. A maximum of 5 pets is accepted on a single motorist booking. Check in time with pets is 90 minutes before departure to allow for pet passport processing. 

On our Dover Calais route, you will select to book you pets to either:

• stay in your vehicle for the duration of the crossing. We recommend that they have space along with food, water, some toys, and ideally a window of your vehicle left slightly open.  

OR

• access the Pet Den area on-board, if available at the time time of booking.  Pets must stay within the dedicated Pet Den area and be accompanied by an adult and always kept on a leash (with use of a muzzle if there is a risk of biting). Owners must clean up after their pets.  (Note: motorcyclists travelling with pets, must select the Pet Den area).  The Pet Den area is a dedicated lounge/area inside with seating for owners, and with access to an outdoor walkway.

Pets travelling from one country to another need to have the following: 

1. Microchip: Pets must be microchipped before or at the same time as their rabies vaccination.  The microchip number on the animal must correspond with the number on the passport presented, and should comply with ISO standards 11784 & 11785. Clearly legible tattoos are also accepted if applied before 3rd July 2011. 

2. Documentation: A valid EU Pet Passport or GB Animal Health Certificate is required.  A current EU pet passport issued in Great Britain will not be valid for travel to the EU, and a GB Animal Health Certificate (AHC) will be required for each entry into the EU. Pet owners are however advised to retain any prior GB-issued EU pet passport, as it may contain important information about vaccinations, treatments, etc. EU pet passports issued by Northern Ireland remain valid for EU travel. 

3. Rabies: All dogs, cats, and ferrets must have a current Rabies vaccination administered by a registered Veterinary Practitioner at least 21 days prior to arrival in the destination country and entered into the EU Pet Passport (Section IV. Vaccination Against Rabies).

4. Tapeworm (applies to dogs only): Tapeworm treatment must be administered by a registered Veterinary Practitioner between 24 - 120 hours (1 - 5 days) prior to arrival in the destination country and entered into the EU Pet Passport (Section VII. Echinococcus Treatment) or Animal Health Certificate.   

Officially recognised guide, hearing and assistance dogs with the requisite paperwork, are allowed to accompany you onboard.  The pet passport / animal health certificate etc requirements for entry for assistance dogs are the same as all other dogs.

Check the relevant authority's website for full details of the requirements:

• French Government regulations for entry to France with a pet (in French)
• UK Government regulations for entry to Britain with a pet (in English)

Pets are welcome on our ships, but must be declared at the time of booking and meet the required entry guidelines for pets. A maximum of 5 pets is accepted on a single booking. 

On our Irish Sea routes, you will select to book you pets to either:

• stay in your vehicle for the duration of the crossing. We recommend that they have space along with food, water, some toys, and ideally a window of your vehicle left slightly open.  
• stay in a kennel for the duration of the crossing. To make your pet comfortable, we suggest that you bring a comfort blanket or bedding as well as a water bowl.
  
• access the Pet Den area on-board, if available at the time time of booking. The Pet Den area is a dedicated lounge/area inside with seating for owners, and with access to an outdoor walkway. Pets must stay within the dedicated Pet Den area and be accompanied by an adult and always kept on a leash (with use of a muzzle if there is a risk of biting). Owners must clean up after their pets.  
• On the James Joyce only - stay in a Pet Cabin if booked, for the duration of the crossing. To make your pet comfortable, we suggest that you bring a comfort blanket or bedding as well as a water bowl.

Foot passengers can also travel with pets, but must transport the pet in a rigid pet carrier they can carry themselves to the ship, before proceeding to the pet area booked (kennel, Pet Den or Pet Cabin) for the duration of the crossing.  

Pets travelling from one country to another need to have the following: 

1. Microchip: Pets must be microchipped before or at the same time as their rabies vaccination.  The microchip number on the animal must correspond with the number on the passport presented, and should comply with ISO standards 11784 & 11785. Clearly legible tattoos are also accepted if applied before 3rd July 2011. 

2. Documentation: A valid EU Pet Passport or GB Animal Health Certificate with vaccination history is required. 

A current EU pet passport issued in Great Britain will not be valid for travel to the EU, and a GB Animal Health Certificate (AHC) will be required for each entry into the EU. Pet owners are however advised to retain any prior GB-issued EU pet passport, as it may contain important information about vaccinations, treatments, etc. EU pet passports issued by Northern Ireland remain valid for EU travel.

3. Rabies: All dogs, cats, and ferrets must have a current Rabies vaccination administered by a registered Veterinary Practitioner at least 21 days prior to arrival in the destination country and entered into the EU Pet Passport (Section IV. Vaccination Against Rabies).

4. Tapeworm (applies to dogs only): Tapeworm treatment must be administered by a registered Veterinary Practitioner between 24 - 120 hours (1 - 5 days) prior to arrival in the destination country and entered into the EU Pet Passport (Section VII. Echinococcus Treatment) or Animal Health Certificate.

Officially recognised guide, hearing and assistance dogs with the requisite paperwork, are allowed to accompany you onboard. The pet passport / animal health certificate etc requirements for entry for assistance dogs are the same as all other dogs.

Check the relevant authority's website for full details of the requirements:

• Irish Government regulations for entry to Ireland with a pet
• UK Government regulations for entry to Britain with a pet

Kennel Facilities on Irish Sea

Each ship has FREE kennel facilities which are situated on the car deck. Please note that you may not be parked beside the kennels. The kennel sizes are:

• Dublin Swift: A mix of small, medium and large kennels up to 84cm high x 120cm wide x 88cm deep
• Ulysses: A mix of small, medium and large kennels up to 96cm high, 96cm wide and 85cm deep.

Pets are welcome on our ships, but must be declared at the time of booking and meet the required entry guidelines for pets. A maximum of 5 pets is accepted on a single booking. On our Dublin Cherbourg routes, pets must stay in their pre-booked kennel (1 pet per kennel) for the crossing, and you will be able to visit them at allocated times accompanied by a crew member, and take them on a short walk. 

Check in time with pets is 2 hours before departure to allow for pet passport processing. Foot passengers need to transport their pet in a rigid enclosed pet carrier that they are able to carry themselves, before transferring their pet to the reserved kennel.  To make your pet comfortable, we suggest that you bring a comfort blanket or bedding as well as a water bowl.  

Pets travelling from one country to the other need to have the following:

1. Microchip: Pets must be microchipped before or at the same time as their rabies vaccination.  The microchip number on the animal must correspond with the number on the passport presented, and should comply with ISO standards 11784 & 11785. Clearly legible tattoos are also accepted if applied before 3rd July 2011.

2. Documentation: A valid EU Pet Passport or GB Animal Health Certificate is required. 

A current EU pet passport issued in Great Britain will not be valid for travel to the EU, and a GB Animal Health Certificate (AHC) will be required for each entry into the EU. Pet owners are however advised to retain any prior GB-issued EU pet passport, as it may contain important information about vaccinations, treatments, etc. EU pet passports issued by Northern Ireland remain valid for EU travel.

3. Rabies: All dogs, cats, and ferrets must have a current Rabies vaccination administered by a registered Veterinary Practitioner at least 21 days prior to arrival in the destination country and entered into the EU Pet Passport (Section IV. Vaccination Against Rabies). 

4. Tapeworm: (applies to dogs only). Tapeworm treatment must be administered by a registered Veterinary Practitioner between 24 - 120 hours (1 - 5 days) prior to arrival in the destination country and entered into the EU Pet Passport (Section VII. Echinococcus Treatment) or Animal Health Certificate.  

Officially recognised guide, hearing and assistance dogs with the requisite paperwork, are allowed to accompany you onboard. The pet passport / animal health certificate etc requirements for entry for assistance pets are the same as all other pets.

Check the relevant authority’s websites for full details of the requirements:

French Regulations

Irish Regulations

and if travelling from Northern Ireland to France, refer to the UK Government Regulations.

Kennel facilities onboard:

W.B. Yeats:  The dog kennels are situated on car deck 5, whilst the cat-boxes are situated on car deck 4. The dimensions of the kennels are:

Small kennel:     51 cm high x 75 cm wide x 95 cm deep
Medium kennel: 70 cm high x 75 cm wide x 95 cm deep
Large kennel: 100 cm high x 75 cm wide x 95 cm deep

Cat Box:              50 cm high x 80 cm wide x 97 cm deep

Kennel Visiting times:

 W.B. Yeats:

18:00

20:00

 22:00

07:30