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 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.

Which ferry to England is cheapest with a motorhome?

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.

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

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.

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

IJmuiden – Newcastle

IJmuiden (Felison Terminal) (NL) → Newcastle (North Shields) (GB)

Year-round
Overnight ferry

Key facts

Ferry operators

DFDS

Crossing time

16¾ hrs

Frequency

daily, departure 17:30 (overnight ferry), arrival ±09:15

Season

year-round

Price indication

€350–650 one-way high season (motorhome ≤7 m + 2 people, inside cabin mandatory); low season from ±€200 — indication

Pets

Dogs may NOT stay in the vehicle: onboard kennel or pet-friendly cabin (limited number, reserve by phone), ±€35 per animal per one-way trip plus cabin surcharge

Saves ±800 driving kilometres

Via the ferry: 16¾ hrs; €350–650 one-way high season (motorhome ≤7 m + 2 people, inside cabin mandatory); low season from ±€200 — indication
Overland: 10 hrs; ±950 km

Overland alternative: via Calais/Eurotunnel and ±590 km through England to Newcastle (plus Channel crossing)

Saves ±800 driving kilometres towards northern England/Scotland; you sleep en route and start rested

Ferry or drive on? Do the maths

Departure port & check-in

Check-in closes 90 min before departure: for the standard 17:30 sailing you therefore need to be through check-in by 16:00 at the latest. There is no separate motorhome lane; you drive onto the site via Sluisplein and staff direct you to the right lane. When booking, give the exact height and length including bike rack, roof box, air-conditioning unit and tow bar - if there is any doubt it will be measured at check-in. Border and passport control takes place in IJmuiden at check-in, not on arrival in Newcastle. In summer and around school holidays, being there by 15:00 is more realistic than 16:00.

Facilities at the terminal

Fresh water

No drinking water point in or beside the terminal; you can fill up at Camping De Duindoorn (for a fee).
Chemical toilet

No disposal at the terminal; free cassette and grey water disposal at Camping De Duindoorn.
Showers

No showers in the terminal; there are showers at Camping De Duindoorn (€1.25) and on board in your cabin.
Fuel

Not known
Gas & LPG

Not known
Groceries

Not known

Where to spend the night before departure

DFDS Felison Terminal car park
Car park

Distance to terminal

±0 km

Price per night

±€7 per 24 hrs

Overnight: check in advance

Intended as long-stay parking for passengers leaving their vehicle behind. DFDS nowhere documents whether you may sleep in your motorhome there - check in advance. The terminal has toilets, free wifi, a cash machine and charging points.
Camping De Duindoorn, Badweg 40, IJmuiden
Campsite

Distance to terminal

±3 km

Price per night

from ±€28 per night (2 people); shower €1.25; water and 6A electricity payable

Overnight stays allowed

The only genuinely legal option within walking or cycling distance of the terminal. Free emptying of grey water and cassette. Season roughly 1 April - 30 September, limited reception hours. In the dunes, ±2 km from the centre of IJmuiden.
Car park at Kennemerboulevard 318, IJmuiden aan Zee
Car park

Distance to terminal

±3 km

Price per night

±€9 per 24 hrs

No overnight stays

Once popular with motorhomes, but recent reports on park4night indicate that overnight stays are no longer permitted (daytime parking only). Unsuitable for large motorhomes.

Practical tip

Take the A9/A22 towards Velsen and follow the DFDS/Felison Terminal signs - do not put 'IJmuiden' alone into your sat nav. Places to eat close by at Kop van de Haven. The fridge has to come off gas before you drive onto the vehicle deck; the deck is closed during the crossing, so take out everything you need. A cabin is compulsory and included in the price.

Arrival & first stop

First motorhome stop after arrival

Old Hartley Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, Whitley Bay NE26 4RL
Campsite

Distance to terminal

±9 km

Price per night

Not known

Overnight: check in advance

The nearest fully equipped motorhome site: motorhome service point and showers refurbished in 2024. Considerably cheaper for members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

Fuel, gas & LPG

LPG (autogas) is scarce in the UK and you need a British bayonet adapter; gas bottles are exchanged through Calor, which is not compatible with continental bottles. Better to fill up in the Netherlands before you leave.

Watch out on arrival

The boat docks around 09:00, so you drive straight into the morning rush hour. Drive on the left. The Newcastle and Gateshead Clean Air Zone does NOT apply to cars and motorhomes - motor caravans are among the local exemptions; only taxis, vans, minibuses, buses and lorries pay. The terminal sits on the A19; the A19 includes the Tyne Tunnel, tolled through number-plate recognition.

Practical tip

From the terminal it is only a few kilometres to Whitley Bay and the coast; if you are heading for Scotland or the Lake District, the A19/A1 lets you avoid the centre of Newcastle entirely.

Border, documents & rules

Dutch nationals need a UK ETA: £20, valid for multiple trips over two years or until the passport expires. Apply through the UK ETA app; approval usually takes minutes, but allow at least three working days. British and Irish citizens are exempt. On leaving the Schengen area the EES has applied since 12 October 2025 (fingerprints and a photo on first crossing).

Motorhome tips

Cabin mandatory; state exact length/height incl. bike rack; gas bottles max 3 / 47 kg, turned off and declared; book months ahead for high season

Frequently asked questions

Sources:dfds.com ferrygogo.nl eta-uk.nl ijmuiden-newcastle.com campercontact.com park4night.com portoftyne.co.uk caravanclub.co.uk rac.co.uk homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk

IJmuiden – Newcastle

16¾ hrs€350–650 one-way high season (motorhome ≤7 m + 2 people, inside cabin mandatory); low season from ±€200 — indication

IJmuiden – Newcastle

Key facts

Departure port & check-in

Facilities at the terminal

Where to spend the night before departure

DFDS Felison Terminal car park

Camping De Duindoorn, Badweg 40, IJmuiden

Car park at Kennemerboulevard 318, IJmuiden aan Zee

Arrival & first stop

First motorhome stop after arrival

Old Hartley Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, Whitley Bay NE26 4RL

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

Which ferry to England is cheapest with a motorhome?

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

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

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