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

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.

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

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.

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.

Ireland

Holyhead – Dublin

Holyhead (GB) → Dublin (IE)

Dog may stay in the vehicle
Year-round

Key facts

Ferry operators

Irish Ferries, Stena Line

Crossing time

3.4 hrs

Frequency

±8x per day in total (Irish Ferries up to 4–5x incl. the fast Dublin Swift service ±2 hrs; Stena ±4x)

Season

year-round

Price indication

€250–450 one-way high season (motorhome ≤7 m + 2 people) — indication

Pets

Free in the vehicle or kennel; Irish Ferries has 5 pet-friendly cabins (Dublin–Holyhead) and a Pet Den; Stena kennels/pet lounge

Reachable only by ferry

Overland alternative: no overland route GB→Ireland; this is the main artery of the UK landbridge (Calais/tunnel + Holyhead)

Core piece of the Ireland landbridge: Utrecht→Dublin = ±330 km NL→Calais + tunnel/ferry + ±570 km GB + 3.5 hrs ferry

Ferry or drive on? Do the maths

Departure port & check-in

Stena: vehicle check-in closes 30 min before departure, foot passengers 40 min. Irish Ferries on the Great Britain-Ireland routes: cars, vans and motorhomes 30 min before departure, coaches 1 hr, foot passengers and cyclists 40 min, with a pet 1 hr. So this is one corridor where you do not have to turn up hours in advance - but the A55 to Holyhead is one long single approach route, and an accident leaves you stuck.

Facilities at the terminal

Fresh water

No water filling point in the terminal; use Blackthorn Farm.
Chemical toilet

No disposal in the terminal; use the campsites on Holy Island.
Showers

No showers in the terminal; there are toilets, baby-changing facilities and a passenger lounge.
Fuel

Petrol stations in Holyhead along the A55.
Gas & LPG

British Calor bottles; LPG autogas is limited on Anglesey.
Groceries

Supermarkets in Holyhead a few minutes from the terminal.

Where to spend the night before departure

Long-stay parking at Holyhead Port
Car park

Distance to terminal

±0 km

Price per night

12 hrs £5; 1 day £10; 7 days £55; 14 days £99; first 20 min free (drop-off and pick-up only)

Overnight: check in advance

Intended for vehicles left behind; sleeping in the motorhome is not provided for. EV charging earns 2 hrs of free parking if you register via the QR code.
Long Stay Parking Stena Line Ferry, Turkey Shore Road, Holyhead LL65
Car park

Distance to terminal

±1 km

Price per night

£30 per 12 hrs

Overnight stays allowed

Listed on Campercontact as a motorhome spot (1 March - 31 October) close to the terminal with harbour views. Reviews contradict each other: one from 2022 reports that the spot has been withdrawn, one from 2024 confirms that it works. 2.4/5 - verify in advance.
Blackthorn Farm, Penrhos Feilw, Holy Island, Holyhead
Campsite

Distance to terminal

±5 km

Price per night

Not known

Overnight stays allowed

The best-known motorhome site near Holyhead, on Holy Island with views over the sea; often used for the night before the morning boat.

Practical tip

The terminal has free wifi, a cash machine, rail ticket sales and a duty free shop (daily 06:30-17:00 and 18:30-02:30). Driving times by car: 1 hr 40 from Chester, 2 hrs from Liverpool, 2 hrs 20 from Manchester, 3 hrs 15 from Birmingham - the whole A55 across north Wales.

Arrival & first stop

First motorhome stop after arrival

Apcoa car park at Dublin Port
Car park

Distance to terminal

±0 km

Price per night

€2 per hour, €9 per day, €50 per week

Overnight: check in advance

Short- and long-stay parking beside the terminal via the Apcoa app; clamping is enforced. Not an overnight spot for motorhomes.

Fuel, gas & LPG

LPG in Ireland is very limited; Irish Calor Kosangas bottles cannot be exchanged for British or continental ones.

Watch out on arrival

Alexandra Road is closed to port traffic until autumn 2026; everything runs via Promenade Road. You drive on the left in Wales and in Ireland alike, so there is no switching over. The M50 around Dublin has the barrier-free eFlow toll bridge: you have to pay it yourself afterwards, by 20:00 the following day, to avoid fines. Check the height limit of the Dublin Port Tunnel if your motorhome is tall.

Practical tip

From the port the Port Tunnel puts you on the M1 or M50 within minutes without having to go into the centre.

Border, documents & rules

Great Britain and Ireland together form the Common Travel Area, but for Dutch nationals the position is this: you need a UK ETA simply to be in the UK, and for Ireland a valid passport or ID card. There is no customs clearance, but there are identity checks on boarding. Mind the customs difference: the UK is outside the EU customs union and Ireland is inside it - so whatever you stock up on in the UK falls under import limits when you arrive in Ireland.

Motorhome tips

The fast Dublin Swift service is mainly for cars — tall/long motorhomes travel on the conventional ships (Ulysses/James Joyce/Stena Adventurer); fare category by height >2.25 m and length up to 8 m

Frequently asked questions

Sources:directferries.com irishferries.com stenalinetravel.com help.irishferries.com stenaline.co.uk campercontact.com blackthornfarm.co.uk

Holyhead – Dublin

3.4 hrs€250–450 one-way high season (motorhome ≤7 m + 2 people) — indication

Holyhead – Dublin

Key facts

Departure port & check-in

Facilities at the terminal

Where to spend the night before departure

Long-stay parking at Holyhead Port

Long Stay Parking Stena Line Ferry, Turkey Shore Road, Holyhead LL65

Blackthorn Farm, Penrhos Feilw, Holy Island, Holyhead

Arrival & first stop

First motorhome stop after arrival

Apcoa car park at Dublin Port

Border, documents & rules

Motorhome tips

Frequently asked questions

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

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

Can my dog stay in the motorhome during the crossing?

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

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?

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