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

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.

Can my dog stay in the motorhome during the crossing?

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).

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

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.

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

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.

Can I cancel or rebook my ferry ticket?

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.

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

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.

North Sea & Channel

Hoek van Holland – Harwich

Hoek van Holland (NL) → Harwich (Harwich International) (GB)

Dog may stay in the vehicle
Year-round
Overnight ferry

Key facts

Ferry operators

Stena Line

Crossing time

7 hrs

Frequency

2x per day: daytime sailing (±6.5–7 hrs) and overnight sailing (±8–9 hrs), 365 days

Season

year-round

Price indication

daytime sailing €150–300; overnight sailing incl. 2-berth cabin €250–450 one-way high season (motorhome ≤7 m + 2 people); high-season return can be €700+ — indication

Pets

Dogs may stay in the vehicle (±€19), or kennel (±€23) or pet-friendly cabin (limited number); dog-walking deck on board

Saves ±400 driving kilometres

Via the ferry: 7 hrs; daytime sailing €150–300; overnight sailing incl. 2-berth cabin €250–450 one-way high season (motorhome ≤7 m + 2 people); high-season return can be €700+ — indication
Overland: 6 hrs; ±550 km

Overland alternative: via Calais/Eurotunnel: ±330 km NL→Calais + crossing + ±220 km to Harwich/eastern England

Shortest route NL→London/eastern England: ±85 km driving in NL, then ±130 km Harwich→London; saves ±400 driving kilometres compared with Calais

Ferry or drive on? Do the maths

Departure port & check-in

Stena works with fixed check-in windows rather than an 'x hrs before departure' rule, and they close surprisingly early. Daytime sailing 14:15 (Mon-Sat): check-in opens 12:30, closes 13:30. Sunday 13:45: opens 12:15, closes 13:00. Overnight sailing 22:00: opens 18:45, closes 21:15. The same window applies to vehicles and foot passengers. So count on check-in closing well over an hour before departure - motorhomes turning up 'about an hour beforehand' miss the daytime ferry. In high season the window may open earlier.

Facilities at the terminal

Fresh water

Drinking water at Camping Hoek van Holland; not in the terminal.
Chemical toilet

Disposal at Camping Hoek van Holland; not in the terminal.
Showers

Showers at the campsite; the terminal has toilets only.
Fuel

Not known
Gas & LPG

Camping Hoek van Holland offers a gas service (brand not specified).
Groceries

Not known

Where to spend the night before departure

Stena Line terminal car park
Car park

Distance to terminal

±0 km

Price per night

short stay: first 30 min free, then €1.50 per 30 min (max €21.50 per day); long stay: €10 per day

Overnight: check in advance

Unsupervised areas next to the terminal building. Stena does not document whether an overnight stay in the vehicle is permitted. Pay by card or cash (euros only in the terminal).
Car park at Prins Willemweg, 3151 HH Hoek van Holland
Car park

Distance to terminal

±1.5 km

Price per night

free

No overnight stays

Large gravel area overlooking the Nieuwe Waterweg, with no height or length restriction, but explicitly daytime parking: recent reports mention police moving motorhomes on. The approach threads awkwardly between houses.
Camping Hoek van Holland (Wierstraat, 3151 VP)
Campsite

Distance to terminal

±2 km

Price per night

€12.50 without facilities up to ±€30-60 in high season; electricity ±€15 per night

Overnight stays allowed

Twelve facilities including drinking water, waste disposal, toilets, showers, laundry, a baker, wifi and a gas service. Open only 1 March - 31 October. Reviews complain about dated sanitary facilities and high prices (2.76/5), but it is the only legal spot within walking distance.

Practical tip

Hoek van Holland Haven metro station is right beside the terminal - handy for stocking up. Shut off the gas bottles and take the fridge off gas before you drive on; the vehicle deck is closed during the 6.5-8 hrs crossing. Stena regularly offers a motorhome discount on the daytime sailing (code CAMPER, motorhome at the car rate) on Hoek van Holland - Harwich.

Arrival & first stop

First motorhome stop after arrival

West Dock Road, Harwich CO12 4QA (waiting area beside the Stena check-in)
Car park

Distance to terminal

±0.3 km

Price per night

free

Overnight: check in advance

The best-known motorhome spot on this route: ±7-20 places right beside the vehicle check-in, free of charge, toilets in the terminal building (usually 2 hrs before and after sailings, sometimes all night), free wifi, vending machines, bins. No water or electricity. Not officially designated but tolerated in practice - ask the security guard. 4.28/5 from 50 reviews; complaints concern port noise between 03:00 and 04:00.
Dovercourt Holiday Park, Harwich
Campsite

Distance to terminal

Not known

Price per night

Not known

Overnight: check in advance

A regular holiday park in Dovercourt, close to the beach, suitable for motorhomes if you want comfort instead of port noise.
Brookcroft Certificated Location, Harwich
Campsite

Distance to terminal

Not known

Price per night

Not known

Overnight: check in advance

Small CL run by the Caravan and Motorhome Club (maximum 5 vans), members only; a quiet alternative close to the port.

Fuel, gas & LPG

LPG in Essex is limited; a British bayonet adapter is needed. Calor bottles cannot be exchanged for Dutch ones.

Watch out on arrival

Drive on the left from the terminal exit. You come straight onto the A120 towards Colchester and the A12; the A12/M25 gets you to London quickly, but driving into London means the ULEZ and the LEZ, under which older motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes can fall into the LEZ with high daily charges. Harwich International station is right beside the terminal (70 min to London).

Practical tip

From Harwich you are quickly into Suffolk and Norfolk without going anywhere near London. The port is reachable via M11 J8, M25 J28/A12 or the A14.

Border, documents & rules

A UK ETA is required for Dutch nationals (£20, valid two years). A passport is mandatory - an ID card is no longer enough. EES registration on leaving Schengen. Pets need an EU pet passport plus tapeworm treatment for the UK; declare them in advance.

Motorhome tips

Cabin only mandatory on the overnight sailing; regular caravan/motorhome deals on daytime sailings; gas bottles max 3 / 47 kg, valve closed, report to Stena 72 hours in advance

Frequently asked questions

Sources:engelandvaren.nl vertrekinfo.nl stenalinetravel.com engelandovertocht.nl park4night.com harwich.co.uk stenaline.nl

Hoek van Holland – Harwich

7 hrsdaytime sailing €150–300; overnight sailing incl. 2-berth cabin €250–450 one-way high season (motorhome ≤7 m + 2 people); high-season return can be €700+ — indication

Hoek van Holland – Harwich

Key facts

Departure port & check-in

Facilities at the terminal

Where to spend the night before departure

Stena Line terminal car park

Car park at Prins Willemweg, 3151 HH Hoek van Holland

Camping Hoek van Holland (Wierstraat, 3151 VP)

Arrival & first stop

First motorhome stop after arrival

West Dock Road, Harwich CO12 4QA (waiting area beside the Stena check-in)

Dovercourt Holiday Park, Harwich

Brookcroft Certificated Location, Harwich

Border, documents & rules

Motorhome tips

Frequently asked questions

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

Can my dog stay in the motorhome during the crossing?

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

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

Can I cancel or rebook my ferry ticket?

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

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