Question 1

How many gas bottles am I allowed to carry on the ferry?

Accepted Answer

The rule of thumb on virtually every North Sea, Channel and Irish Sea route is: a maximum of 3 bottles with a combined weight of up to 47 kg. That is literally how Stena Line, Brittany Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries and Smyril Line word it. P&O Ferries differs: on the North Sea and Channel routes only the 47 kg of gas per vehicle limit applies, but on the Irish Sea routes it is a maximum of 3 bottles of no more than 11.2 kg each. LeShuttle (Eurotunnel) applies 47 kg per bottle or tank, which must also be filled to less than 80%. Two standard 11 kg bottles therefore stay comfortably within the margin everywhere.

Question 2

Can my dog stay in the motorhome during the crossing?

Accepted Answer

That varies by ferry operator and route, and it is the single biggest pitfall. On the short Channel crossings it is allowed: P&O and DFDS Calais/Dunkirk-Dover (around 15 to 19 euros per animal), Stena Line Hook of Holland-Harwich (around 19 euros) and Color Line Denmark-Norway (9 euros). It is explicitly not allowed on DFDS IJmuiden-Newcastle, Brittany Ferries to Spain, TT-Line, Finnlines, Smyril Line and Go Nordic Cruiseline: there the vehicle deck is locked and your dog has to go into a kennel on board or a pet-friendly cabin. In the Eurotunnel your dog simply stays with you in the motorhome, which is what makes that route so popular with dog owners (around 25 euros per animal).

Question 3

How do the height and length classes work, and what will I pay as a motorhome?

Accepted Answer

Ferry operators price on length and height, not on weight. Stena Line uses a separate motorhome or campervan category up to 12 m long, 4 m high and 2.6 m wide, provided your vehicle is genuinely registered as a motorhome; cars sit in classes up to 2 m or up to 3 m high. Irish Ferries works with three motorhome classes: up to 2.25 m high and shorter than 8 m, higher than 2.25 m and shorter than 8 m, and 8 to 12 m (at which point height no longer matters). With LeShuttle anything over 1.85 m automatically falls into the more expensive single-deck carriage, and on most Channel ferries the surcharge also starts at around 1.85 m. A motorhome that is 7 m long and 3 m high therefore quickly costs two to three times a car fare.

Question 4

Does my bike rack or roof box count towards the measurements?

Accepted Answer

Yes, always. Stena Line puts it bluntly: what counts is the total height and length including every conceivable accessory such as roof boxes and bikes. A bike rack on the back adds some 40 to 60 cm to the length of your motorhome, and it is precisely those centimetres that can push you over the 6, 7 or 8 metre threshold. Color Line warns that an incorrect declaration can lead to refusal of boarding plus a surcharge at check-in. Measure your motorhome once in road-ready trim with everything fitted, and note the dimensions on your phone.

Question 5

Can I cancel or rebook my ferry ticket?

Accepted Answer

That depends entirely on your fare. Stena Line works with three types: Economy is non-refundable and changes cost a fee plus the price difference; Flexi refunds 100 per cent (less charges) up to 24 hours before departure and 50 per cent up to 2 hours before departure, with no change fee; Premium refunds almost everything up to 2 hours before departure. At Finnlines the early-booking motorhome packages are explicitly neither changeable nor refundable, whereas the standard fare is. La Méridionale lets you cancel free of charge on Marseille-Tanger Med up to 4 days before departure. So on an expensive crossing, work out whether the price difference for a flexible fare is smaller than the risk.

Question 6

Do I have to declare my gas bottles, and is it really checked?

Accepted Answer

Yes, declaring is compulsory and the checks genuinely exist. Stena Line wants you to report restricted items to the contact centre at least 24 hours before departure (72 hours on Hook of Holland-Harwich) and to declare them again at check-in. P&O asks for a declaration at the time of booking, Smyril Line and DFDS at check-in, and LeShuttle carries out a physical gas check at the terminal, so allow at least an extra hour there. If you declare nothing and it comes to light in a spot check, you can be refused without a refund and you have an insurance problem in the event of damage. Stena places the responsibility explicitly on the passenger and accepts no liability for refusal.

Liverpool (Birkenhead) – Belfast

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