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

Does the gas valve have to be shut off during the crossing?

Accepted Answer

Yes, without exception. Every ferry operator requires the main valve of your gas system to be closed the moment you drive onto the ship, and to stay closed until you drive off. Color Line checks this as you board, TT-Line explicitly prohibits the use of a gas fridge on board, and Smyril Line requires all gas appliances to be switched off and the bottles to stay in the vehicle. So switch your fridge over to 12V in good time, or accept that it will be off for a few hours: a properly pre-cooled fridge will handle a crossing of 6 to 8 hours without any trouble.

Question 3

Can I travel with an LPG system or a fixed gas tank?

Accepted Answer

Draw a distinction between gas as a fuel and gas for cooking and heating. LeShuttle (Eurotunnel) carries no vehicle that runs on LPG, not even as a second fuel; other dual-fuel combinations such as petrol-electric are fine. On the ferry it is different: Irish Ferries and Brittany Ferries carry LPG, LNG and CNG-powered vehicles without any fuss, provided it is a factory-fitted system and the valve is shut off. A refillable gas tank or refillable bottle (Gaslow, Alugas, Safefill) counts as domestic gas and may also go through the tunnel: up to 47 kg, filled to less than 80%, and you must be able to demonstrate that at the gas check.

Question 4

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 5

How do I book a pet-friendly cabin, and why do they sell out so fast?

Accepted Answer

Ships only have a handful of them: Irish Ferries has 5 pet-friendly cabins on the James Joyce (Dublin-Holyhead), P&O has 6 dog cabins per ship on Hull-Rotterdam, and Brittany Ferries has a limited number on the Spain ships Galicia, Salamanca and Santona. You select them while booking, but for DFDS IJmuiden-Newcastle you even have to phone. For summer sailings and the Spain and Ireland routes they are often gone months in advance, so book the cabin before you plan the rest of your trip. Budget around 35 to 50 euros or pounds per animal each way, on top of the cabin fare.

Question 6

What paperwork and treatments does my dog need for England and Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Your dog must be microchipped before the rabies vaccination, and you may only travel 21 full days after that vaccination. On top of that, a tapeworm treatment (echinococcus) administered by a vet is compulsory: a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 120 hours (5 days) before arrival in Great Britain, and the same requirement applies to Ireland. The vet has to sign that off in your EU pet passport, which is accepted without question on entry to the UK. Schedule that worming treatment tightly into your itinerary: too early is just as wrong as too late, and the ferry operator is entitled to refuse your dog at check-in.

Question 7

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 8

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 9

Can I sleep in my motorhome during the crossing?

Accepted Answer

No. On practically every European ferry the vehicle deck is locked as soon as the ship is under way, and you may not stay there or return to it. Finnlines states in so many words that spending the night in the motorhome is not possible for safety reasons, TT-Line that the vehicle deck is closed during the crossing, and Smyril Line that you must take everything you need en route up to your cabin beforehand. The reason is fire safety: on a closed ro-ro deck nobody can be evacuated quickly and an incipient fire is almost impossible to reach. So always count on a cabin, a reclining seat or a deck passage.

Question 10

Does camping on board still exist on the boat to Greece in 2026?

Accepted Answer

No, classic camping on board on the Italy-Greece routes is a thing of the past. Attica Group scrapped the option at ANEK Lines and Superfast Ferries from the 2025 season on all Greece routes, including the 220V hook-up on deck. Grimaldi and Minoan are not offering it in 2026 either; Minoan's Camping All Inclusive is listed as suspended. So book a cabin, an aircraft-style seat or a deck passage on Ancona, Bari, Brindisi and Venice. Some booking sites still show the option because of old copy, so always check it with the ferry operator itself before you count on it.

Question 11

What should I take out of my motorhome before leaving it on the vehicle deck?

Accepted Answer

Everything you need during the crossing, because you will not get back to it. Pack a small bag with passports and tickets, medication, phone and power bank, wash bag, a warm layer and, on overnight ferries, your bedding; on the two-day routes to Spain, Morocco or the Canary Islands, a bag for two days. Do not leave valuables in sight, lock or secure all lockers and the fridge, and put the handbrake on (in gear, 1 or P). Close roof vents and windows: on a deck with a sea breeze and manoeuvring lorries there is more draught than you would think.

Question 12

Do I need a UK ETA if I am taking the motorhome to England?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Since 2 April 2025, Dutch, Belgian and German nationals also need an Electronic Travel Authorisation for Great Britain, and in 2026 it costs 20 pounds per person (up from the earlier 10 and 16 pounds). Everyone in the motorhome needs one, including babies and children; the ETA is linked to your passport, is valid for multiple trips for around two years or until your passport expires, and each visit may last up to 6 months. Apply through the official GOV.UK app or website, not via commercial intermediary sites that charge more. For Ireland you do not need an ETA, not even if you sail across the Irish Sea.

Question 13

Which ferry to England is cheapest with a motorhome?

Accepted Answer

On ticket price alone, Dunkirk-Dover with DFDS nearly always wins (around 100 to 260 euros one way for a motorhome up to 7 m with 2 people), followed by Calais-Dover and Dieppe-Newhaven. But factor in the drive: from Utrecht it is a good 300 km to Calais or Dunkirk, which soon costs 60 to 90 euros in diesel plus toll. Hook of Holland-Harwich with Stena (daytime sailing around 150 to 300 euros) saves you some 400 driving kilometres and is often the cheapest overall solution for the central Netherlands. IJmuiden-Newcastle (350 to 650 euros including the compulsory cabin) is the most expensive per ticket, but replaces 800 driving kilometres and a hotel night if you are heading for northern England or Scotland.

Question 14

How far in advance should I book, and when is it cheapest?

Accepted Answer

Ferry prices are dynamic: the fuller the ship, the more expensive. The early-booking window of January to March usually yields 20 to 40 per cent off for the summer, and that is when Finnlines, TT-Line, DFDS and Color Line publish their motorhome packages. For space that is scarce by definition you need to be even earlier: Smyril Line to Iceland is often sold out for the summer as early as the winter, and the same goes for pet-friendly cabins and spaces for high vehicles on the Kiel-Oslo and Stockholm-Helsinki cruise ferries. Last minute is only a realistic option on high-frequency routes (Calais, Dunkirk, Algeciras, Puttgarden). Note: the cheapest early-booking fares are often neither changeable nor refundable.

Question 15

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 16

Is the ferry cheaper than driving on?

Accepted Answer

On short crossings rarely, on long crossings often yes. Reckon on around 12 to 14 litres of diesel per 100 km for a motorhome (roughly 20 euros per 100 km including toll), plus 25 to 40 euros per overnight stay en route. Travemünde-Helsinki with Finnlines costs 711 to 968 euros for a motorhome plus 2 people including a cabin, but replaces 2,100 km of driving and 3 to 4 days of driving through Poland and the Baltic states: that overland route soon costs you 450 to 600 euros in diesel, tolls and campsites, plus four days of your holiday. Ancona-Patras, Karlshamn-Klaipeda and Sète-Tanger Med work out the same way. On Kiel-Oslo or Hook-Harwich you are instead paying a premium for comfort and time saved.

Question 17

What does a ferry to England with the motorhome cost in total?

Accepted Answer

For a return in high season with a motorhome up to 7 m and 2 people, reckon on roughly 200 to 520 euros via Dunkirk-Dover, 300 to 600 euros via Hook of Holland-Harwich (daytime sailing), 500 to 1,040 euros via Eurotunnel and 700 to 1,300 euros via IJmuiden-Newcastle including the compulsory cabins. On top of that: 2 x 20 pounds UK ETA, possibly 15 to 25 euros per dog each way, and the diesel to your departure port. Outside the school holidays all these amounts are 30 to 50 per cent lower. Always compare the total price including cabin and pet, because the from-prices on comparison sites are for cars without height.

Question 18

Can I take an electric motorhome or van on the ferry, and can I charge on board?

Accepted Answer

Carrying one is fine: electric vehicles are accepted on all ferries that carry vehicles, according to the UK trade body Discover Ferries. Charging on board is the exception. Brittany Ferries states explicitly that it is currently not possible to charge your electric or hybrid vehicle on board, and Smyril Line bans charging of electric cars, caravans and motorhomes altogether and also wants you to declare your EV when booking. TT-Line does have charging points on the Green Ships Nils Holgersson and Peter Pan (Travemünde-Trelleborg), and LeShuttle has large charging areas at the terminal on both sides: four 210 kW EVBox rapid chargers plus a 50 kW charger in Folkestone and Calais, and Tesla Superchargers in Calais as well. So plan your charging stops before and after the boat, not on it.

Question 19

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.

Question 20

Can I carry a jerrycan of diesel or petrol?

Accepted Answer

The rules vary widely here, so check per ferry operator. Stena Line allows a maximum of 5 litres in an approved plastic or metal jerrycan free of wear or leaks. DFDS bans jerrycans entirely, full or empty, and P&O allows no fuel containers at all. Irish Ferries prohibits spare cans in passenger vehicles. TT-Line, by contrast, is generous: up to 60 litres of spare fuel per vehicle. So count on having to set off with a full tank on the Channel and Ireland routes.

Question 21

Can I have my Dutch gas bottle refilled or exchanged along the way?

Accepted Answer

Exchanging is almost never possible: every country has its own bottle system and connection (Calor in the UK, Butagaz and Primagaz in France, Cepsa and Repsol in Spain, Butagaz and Tissir in Morocco), and you will not get your Dutch bottle swapped there. Topping up loose bottles at the LPG pump is not permitted in most EU countries. The practical solution for anyone travelling far is a refillable tank or refillable bottle with a set of country adapters (Italian, Spanish, French and UK filler nipples plus DISH), so you can fill up at any LPG station. Also always carry a spare 30 mbar pressure regulator.

Question 22

How do I sort out gas if I take the motorhome to Morocco?

Accepted Answer

You cannot fill or exchange European bottles in Morocco, and LPG filling points for fixed gas tanks are virtually non-existent there. So set off with two full bottles and buy a Moroccan butane bottle locally: the blue 3, 6 or 12 kg bottles from Butagaz or Tissir are available everywhere and cost the equivalent of a few euros. You will need an adapter and a 30 mbar pressure regulator to go with it, which you can buy in Morocco itself or beforehand in Europe. Bear in mind that you have to hand that Moroccan bottle back in or leave it behind on your return, because most ferries will only accept undamaged, correctly marked bottles.

Question 23

What is a kennel on board, and can I visit my dog during the crossing?

Accepted Answer

Kennels are ventilated pens on or beside the vehicle deck where your dog spends the crossing. Cost: around 22 pounds with P&O on Hull-Rotterdam and Stena on the North Sea, 15 pounds on Liverpool-Belfast, 20 pounds with DFDS on Newhaven-Dieppe and 15 euros with Color Line on Denmark-Norway (a maximum of 7 kennels on board). Visits are usually possible, but supervised and at set times: on Color Line Kiel-Oslo, for example, three sessions of 15 minutes (17:00, 20:30 and 07:15), and Stena lets you watch via Kennel Cam. Book ahead, because the number of places is small.

Question 24

What do I need in order to return from Morocco or Tunisia with my dog?

Accepted Answer

Morocco and Tunisia are not on the EU list of equivalent third countries, so for the return journey a rabies antibody titre test (titration) is compulsory on top of the microchip, a valid vaccination and an animal health certificate. The timing is crucial: the blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after the vaccination, and if you only have the blood taken in Morocco, a waiting period of 3 months then applies before you may re-enter the EU. So have the test done in the Netherlands, well before departure — that way the waiting period does not apply. Since 2026 the country list runs via Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, and on your return you must also enter via a designated Travellers Point of Entry.

Question 25

Can I take my dog to Norway, Iceland or the Faroe Islands?

Accepted Answer

To Norway it is straightforward: microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a tapeworm treatment (echinococcus) by a vet, and you declare your dog in the red customs channel on arrival. Color Line carries dogs on all Norway routes; on Kiel-Oslo your dog may not come into the cabin and you pay 58 euros in the car or 68 euros in a crate on the vehicle deck. To Iceland it is practically impossible: tourists' dogs and cats are not permitted and Smyril Line does not carry them. For the Faroe Islands an import permit is required, and in practice only for stays longer than three months.

Question 26

What happens if I declare dimensions that are too small?

Accepted Answer

Then you get measured at check-in and pay the difference, or you do not travel. Color Line states in so many words that an incorrect declaration can lead to refusal of carriage plus an additional charge at check-in, and Irish Ferries warns that incorrectly declared vehicles may be refused for lack of space. On a sold-out summer sailing there is simply no room left for a longer vehicle, and in a separate motorhome lane an oversized motorhome stands out immediately. What is more, paying the difference on the spot is always at the most expensive rate. So measure in road-ready trim, including bikes and roof box, and round up.

Question 27

When am I booked as freight rather than as a passenger?

Accepted Answer

It is the length, not the weight, that decides. With Irish Ferries a motorhome of 8 to 12 metres still falls under a (more expensive) passenger class, but above 12 metres you count as freight and have to book via irishferriesfreight.com. Stena Line carries motorhomes up to 12 metres long, 4 metres high and 2.6 metres wide as passenger vehicles, provided the vehicle really is registered as a motorhome; above that, or for commercial use or dangerous goods, you go as freight. TT-Line still charges passenger fares for combinations up to 17 metres. If you are near that threshold with a trailer or large motorhome, phone ahead: freight bookings have different check-in times and no standard cabin.

Question 28

Does anything change if my motorhome weighs more than 3.5 tonnes?

Accepted Answer

For the ferry usually not: ferry operators price on length and height, not on weight, so a 4.5 tonne motorhome of 7 metres pays the same as a 3.4 tonne one of 7 metres. Where it does matter is ashore: in Norway, motorhomes over 3,500 kg only pay the light toll rate (takstgruppe 1) if you have an AutoPASS-brik with an agreement, otherwise the heavy rate. The Danish Storebælt and Øresund tariffs also work with length classes from 6 to 10 metres, where a free Motorhome-agreement on the Storebælt brings the rate down from around 86 to around 42 euros. Sort out those registrations before you board.

Question 29

What if I miss my sailing because of a traffic jam or a breakdown?

Accepted Answer

The starting point is harsh: miss the boat and your ticket lapses, as booking platform ADAC Fähren puts it. In practice something can usually be arranged if you phone in advance: on high-frequency routes such as Calais-Dover, Dunkirk-Dover and Algeciras-Tanger Med, ferry operators will often put you on a later sailing for a small change fee or free of charge. On low-frequency routes (Smyril Line, Rosslare-Dunkirk, Sète-Tanger Med) missing it simply means days of waiting or booking again. So call the moment you know you will not make it, and on an expensive, infrequent sailing consider a flexible fare or cancellation insurance.

Question 30

Am I better off booking direct with the ferry operator or through a comparison site?

Accepted Answer

On price it usually makes little difference — comparison sites such as Direct Ferries, Ferryhopper and AFerry pull in the same fares — but on service it does. Motorhome-specific extras (pet-friendly cabin, exact vehicle dimensions, motorhome packages, gas declaration) are easier to arrange direct with the ferry operator, and if you need to change or cancel you are then dealing with the party that sails the ship rather than with an intermediary charging its own fees. Comparison sites are strong for quickly seeing which route and operator is cheapest on your date. Also check club discounts: ADAC members get a discount via adac-faehren.de, and ANWB and NKC regularly run offers on the North Sea and Scandinavia routes.

Question 31

Do I need a passport or will my ID card do?

Accepted Answer

For Great Britain and Ireland you need a valid passport; a Dutch identity card has not been accepted for the UK since Brexit. For Morocco and Tunisia a passport is compulsory that is still valid for at least 3 months after arrival. Within the EU and for Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands an ID card is sufficient, although on overnight ferries the operator often asks for a passport anyway. Also always bring vehicle registration documents parts I and II: on entry to Morocco and during insurance checks these really are asked for.

Question 32

What do EES and ETIAS mean for me as a motorhome traveller in 2026?

Accepted Answer

The EU Entry/Exit System is running in 2026 and records a facial image and fingerprints of non-EU travellers on entry to and exit from the Schengen area; Stena Line warns that this makes disembarkation slower for passengers and that car passengers may be asked to get out. For Dutch, Belgian and German nationals nothing changes on entry to the EU: EU citizens are not covered by it. If you are travelling with a non-EU partner or guest in the motorhome, allow for extra waiting time at Hook of Holland, Rotterdam and IJmuiden. ETIAS (the European travel authorisation for non-EU citizens) is not live yet and is expected at the end of 2026; in any case it does not apply to Ireland.

Question 33

Do I need a green card, and is my motorhome insured everywhere?

Accepted Answer

Within the EU, the EEA and the UK your number plate is sufficient proof of third-party cover; a green card is not compulsory there but is handy in the event of a collision. For Morocco and Tunisia you do need one, and then it comes down to one detail: whether the country code MA or TN respectively appears on your card and is not crossed out. Many Dutch policies do not cover Morocco as standard — ask your insurer for written confirmation in advance. If you have no MA cover, you buy border insurance on arrival for around 15 to 35 euros a month, but that is third-party only: comprehensive cover has to be arranged in the Netherlands beforehand.

Question 34

How does temporary import of my motorhome into Morocco (D16ter) work?

Accepted Answer

On arrival in Tanger Med, Nador or Ceuta you have your motorhome temporarily imported using customs form D16ter, these days registered digitally in the BADR system in the driver's name. Your vehicle may stay in Morocco for a maximum of 6 months per calendar year, spread over several visits. If the motorhome is not registered in your name (lease, hire, partner), you need a legalised power of attorney. The Dutch travel advice is explicit: your number plate is registered on arrival and you may only leave Morocco with the same vehicle you entered with — otherwise you risk fines or even detention. Leave drones at home: without an import permit a heavy fine or a prison sentence follows.

Question 35

How far in advance do I need to be at the port with the motorhome?

Accepted Answer

Rule of thumb: short Channel crossings 60 to 90 minutes, overnight ferries and long routes 2 hours, and intercontinental sailings to Morocco 3 to 4 hours. Concretely: DFDS IJmuiden opens check-in at 13:00 and closes it at 16:45 for a 17:30 departure — so 45 minutes before departure you will no longer get in. LeShuttle asks motorhomes to allow extra time for the compulsory gas check. On the Greece routes, check-in no later than 2 hours before departure is the norm, and during the Marhaba period (5 June to 15 September) to Morocco you can queue for hours in Sète and Algeciras. Motorhomes are also often given a separate lane, so follow the signs rather than the queue of cars.

Question 36

Do I have to book a cabin or can I manage with a seat?

Accepted Answer

On some routes a cabin is simply compulsory and included in the fare: Color Line Kiel-Oslo, Go Nordic Cruiseline Copenhagen- and Frederikshavn-Oslo, the Stockholm-Helsinki cruise ferries, the Finnlines motorhome package Travemünde-Helsinki (711 to 968 euros one way in 2026) and the overnight sailing Hook of Holland-Harwich. With TT-Line a reclining seat is also sufficient on overnight sailings. On the Greece routes and with Corsica Ferries you can save 100 to 200 euros with a deck passage or aircraft-style seat — perfectly doable on a summer night, less pleasant in March. Without a cabin one thing applies regardless: you sleep in the passenger area, never in your motorhome.

Question 37

What do I do with my fridge during the crossing?

Accepted Answer

Gas fridge off: TT-Line explicitly prohibits the use of gas fridges on board and everywhere the main valve has to be closed. A compressor fridge on 12V may keep running, provided your battery or solar panels can cope; on a closed, warm vehicle deck it draws more current than usual. Power hook-ups on the vehicle deck have not existed on the Greece routes since camping on board ended; only a few Baltic operators still offer sockets for refrigerated lorries. For crossings of up to around 8 hours the simplest approach is: get the fridge properly cold beforehand, keep the door shut and switch it off.

Question 38

Can I nip down to my motorhome while the ship is sailing?

Accepted Answer

Usually not: the vehicle deck is closed and only crew go there. There are two kinds of exception. First, supervised dog visits: DFDS, P&O, Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries let you go down with a member of staff to look after your dog, and Color Line has fixed 15-minute visiting times on Kiel-Oslo. Second, Tallink on MyStar and Megastar (Helsinki-Tallinn): there you can buy a paid garage ticket for a space on deck 7 where you can reach your vehicle during the voyage — but there too, staying in your car or on the vehicle deck is not permitted.

Question 39

What does it cost to take the motorhome to Iceland?

Accepted Answer

There is exactly one way: Smyril Line with the MS Norröna from Hirtshals (Denmark) via Tórshavn to Seyðisfjörður, around 47 hours at sea. In high season reckon on roughly 1,100 to 1,800 euros one way for a motorhome up to 7 metres with 2 people including a couchette or cabin, plus a 24 euro per person EU ETS surcharge; so a return quickly comes to 2,500 to 3,500 euros. On top of that: around 1,000 km of driving to Hirtshals and expensive Icelandic diesel. If you depart on a Saturday you automatically get a three-night stopover in the Faroe Islands. Book months ahead — summer sailings are often full as early as the winter.

Question 40

What does a motorhome trip to Morocco cost, and is Sète worth it?

Accepted Answer

Two routes dominate. Via Algeciras-Tanger Med you pay only 180 to 320 euros one way for a motorhome plus 2 people (1.5 hours at sea, 30 to 40 sailings a day), but you drive some 2,500 km to get there from Utrecht: 3 to 4 days, 400 to 500 euros of diesel, 100 to 150 euros of toll and 2 to 3 overnight stays. Via Sète-Tanger Med (GNV or Baleària, around 40 hours) you pay 700 to 1,200 euros in high season, but you only drive around 1,250 km. Financially it works out about the same; on comfort and holiday days the boat wins. Outside the peak, Sète drops to 450 to 600 euros and becomes the better deal on paper too.

Question 41

What is the cheapest way to get to Norway with the motorhome?

Accepted Answer

Since the collapse of Holland Norway Lines (September 2023) there is no longer a direct boat from the Netherlands. The cheapest route is to drive on to Hirtshals in Denmark (around 1,000 km) and cross from there: Color Line or Fjord Line to Kristiansand takes 3.25 hours and costs 100 to 350 euros one way, with motorhome offers from around 100 euros. If you want to start further north, Fjord Line will take you to Stavanger in 11 hours or to Bergen in 17 hours (275 to 600 euros). The most comfortable option is Color Line Kiel-Oslo: 20 hours with a compulsory cabin, 450 to 900 euros, but it does save 1,080 driving kilometres and a hotel night. Register your motorhome for AutoPASS tolls in advance.

Question 42

What if my motorhome is damaged on the vehicle deck?

Accepted Answer

Report it before you leave the port, because after that proving it is virtually impossible. Take photos of every side as you board and immediately after arrival, go straight to the purser or the terminal desk if there is damage, and have a written report drawn up with the ship and booking number. Ferry operators limit their liability heavily in their conditions of carriage (usually only where crew negligence can be demonstrated), so in practice it often goes through your own comprehensive insurance. Drive carefully yourself: damage most often happens on steep ramps and under low ceilings, and it is precisely motorhomes with a long rear overhang or a bike rack that catch there.

Question 43

Can my sailing be cancelled because of wind, and what does that mean for a high motorhome?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Fast catamarans are the most sensitive: the Fjord Line FSTR on Hirtshals-Kristiansand and the Tarifa fast services to Tangier cancel regularly in strong winds, and CTN reports frequent cancellations on Marseille-Tunis with free rebooking. DFDS states explicitly on IJmuiden-Newcastle that the timetable may change because of weather conditions. For high vehicles it matters ashore as well: the Storebælt and Øresund bridges close to motorhomes, caravans and lorries first when it is stormy. On autumn and winter trips, build in a day of margin and book a fare you can rebook.

Question 44

Can I bring e-bikes and loose lithium batteries on the ferry?

Accepted Answer

E-bikes on the bike rack or in the garage of your motorhome are perfectly acceptable with all the major ferry operators; Discover Ferries confirms that e-bikes and certain classes of mobility scooter are also accepted on passenger services, although a mobility scooter often has to be approved in advance and policy on e-scooters differs by operator. Two hard points: charging on board is generally not allowed — TT-Line explicitly forbids charging batteries in the cabins because of fire risk — and damaged or defective lithium batteries fall under the IMDG code (UN3480/UN3481) and are refused. Do not carry loose spare batteries in your hand luggage but leave them in the vehicle, fitted and protected against short circuits. As of August 2026, no major European ferry operator had published specific state-of-charge limits (a maximum of 30 per cent, for example).

Question 45

Are solar panels, a roof box or a satellite dish a problem?

Accepted Answer

Not as items carried, but they do affect your dimensions and your margin. Everything on the roof counts towards the height you declare, so measure from the ground to the highest point including the dish or air conditioning unit. On the vehicle deck the clearances are sometimes tight and there are low beams, sprinkler pipes and ventilation ducts: a deployed dish or a poorly secured panel is then the first thing to go. Always fold a satellite dish down before boarding and check that roof vents are closed. Stena Line explicitly counts roof boxes and bikes towards the vehicle category, so do declare them.

Question 46

Can I take a trailer or bike trailer behind the motorhome?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but you pay by the metre and combination limits apply. TT-Line charges for trailers by the linear metre and applies passenger fares up to a combination of 17 metres; LeShuttle carries combinations up to 18 metres. Irish Ferries moves you across to freight above 12 metres. Declare the total length including the drawbar and any bike rack, and bear in mind that you cannot reverse while boarding or on narrow decks — ask the crew to guide you. On short, busy routes such as Bonifacio-Santa Teresa a long combination is also hard to manoeuvre in the port itself.

Question 47

How rough is the crossing, and what can I do about seasickness?

Accepted Answer

Most routes are calm, but three have a reputation for movement: the Bay of Biscay (Portsmouth-Santander and Rosslare-Bilbao), Smyril Line's North Atlantic route to the Faroe Islands and Iceland, and the North Sea during autumn storms. Take cinnarizine or a patch at least an hour before departure, book a cabin low down and amidships, and keep looking at the horizon rather than at your phone. Do not expect home-quality wifi: on board, internet is often slow and sometimes chargeable, and on the long Mediterranean routes it regularly drops out. Bring your own food if money is tight — a family eating on board three times soon runs up 100 euros.

Frequently asked questions about ferries with a motorhome

Lithium batteries & electric motorhomes

LeShuttle (Eurotunnel)

Brittany Ferries

Smyril Line (Hirtshals - Faroe Islands - Iceland)

TT-Line (Travemünde/Rostock - Trelleborg)

Discover Ferries (UK/Ireland trade association)

Öresundslinjen (Helsingør - Helsingborg)

Stena Line, P&O Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries

Persistent myths