Ferry to Spain with a dog

lancashirelou
lancashirelou Forum Participant Posts: 21
edited February 2019 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

We're planning an Autumn trip to Spain with our van and this is the first year we are travelling with our dog.  I've been looking at the ferry crossings from Portsmouth and all dog-friendly cabins are already booked out.  I'm interested to know other people's experience of using the kennels on the ferries - especially the Brittany Cap Finestere.  Can you visit your dog in the kennel area and take them out of the kennel and exercise them?  Do they have to stay muzzled through the entire journey?

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  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2019 #2
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    edited February 2019 #3
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  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2019 #4

    did this trip April last year

    1. you can visit your dog in the kennel area and you can take them out of the kennel and exercise them, in fact weather permitting you can sit out on deck or under a canopy for the whole trip with your dog, you do not necessarily have to use the Kennel, but in the Autumn it could be cold during the night. If it should be adverse weather, and crossing the bay of Biscay can be a challenge, although we had 2 good crossings, then you have to put your dog into its kennel and the area is then sealed off and deemed to be out of bounds, but i think it would have to be very rough for this to happen.

    2. they do not have to stay muzzled, they only need to be muzzled on the short walk via a lift from the car deck to the dog friendly area.

    3. once you have parked your car on the car deck you do have to leave dog in the car for a short while, you are then instructed to go to a meeting point where you are escorted to the car deck to pick up your dog, this is only a short space of time.

    4. my only problem with this crossing is that it takes 24 hours and if the weather is not too good, it could be distressing for the dog if caged for long periods of time and the actual kennel area I do not think is that great, especially if you have one of the lower kennels, i think they are stacked 2 high ?,

    5. we are going again March 26th but going to use the Poole - Cherbourg crossing, it is only 5 hours and your dog has to stay in your car, which for our dog is more preferable, also less chance of adverse weather as you do not cross the Bay of Biscay . Only down side is that if you are going to Spain you have to drive down through France, but ferry much much cheaper and i think this saving will out weigh the total cost of diesel.

    but dont let me put you off, if your dog is used to being in a kennel, then it should be ok, but some other dogs may not like it and bark a lot which could also be distressing for your dog.

    i guess the bottom line is, how pampered is your pooch undecided

    Cap Finestere is quite old and due to be replaced, people call it CR**P Finestere, but we thought it was adequate, we had a double outside cabin which was fine and the food onboard was acceptable, or if you want to save money, take your own picnic, lots of vending machines where you can buy hot drinks if needed.Hope this helps 

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