Ferry operators compared
Gas rules, pet policies, vehicle dimensions and flexibility for every operator that carries motorhomes — side by side.
All operators: 40 / 40
| All operators | Motorhome score | Gas bottles | Pets | Dimensions & fares | Operates in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SL
Stena LineMotorhome discount
8 routes
Strong point: The most motorhome- and caravan-friendly ferry operator in northern Europe: transparent size bands up to 12 m and 4 m, structural promotions where the motorhome pays the car fare and the caravan travels free, the dog may stay in the motorhome on Hoek van Holland–Harwich, and the thickest stack of club discounts. · Watch out for: Gas has to be declared 24 hrs in advance and even 72 hrs on Hoek van Holland–Harwich; pet-friendly cabins are limited and on Adventurer and Nordica the animal may not leave the cabin; no statement on LPG propulsion. |
5/5 | 3× / 47 kg | yes on Hoek van Holland–Harwich, up to 5 dogs per vehicle; on most Scandinavian and Baltic… | low car up to 4.70 m; low car up to 6.00 m; high car up to 6.00 m; motorhome, campervan, m… | Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania |
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TL
TT-LineMotorhome discount
3 routes
Strong point: The best genuine motorhome package in Europe: 15 to 20% off plus a halved or fully waived length surcharge, stackable with 10% Camping Key Europe. On board, the most dog-friendly regime in the Baltic and, at 60 litres, the most generous reserve fuel rule. · Watch out for: The animal is not allowed to stay in the vehicle and pet-friendly cabins are limited, after which an ordinary cabin costs €33 extra; no published gas bottle limit and the electrical hook-up is not confirmed. |
5/5 | The main valve of the gas system must stay shut for the whole crossing and the gas locker… | NO, the vehicle deck is locked during the crossing | length surcharge from 6 m; declare the length including everything mounted on the vehicle | Germany, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania |
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FI
FinnlinesMotorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: The only ferry operator offering a genuine electrical hook-up on the vehicle deck in 2026 for your motorhome fridge, reservable when you book. On top of that the most generous height allowance at 4.40 m, a transparent motorhome package with published seasonal prices, a 20% return discount and 5% Star Club. · Watch out for: Sleeping in the motorhome is expressly forbidden and the vehicle deck is closed for the whole trip; the animal may not stay in the vehicle and a pet-friendly cabin is compulsory; SPECIAL fares cannot be amended. |
5/5 | Gas bottles must be shut off before boarding and the gas locker should carry a warning sti… | NO, animals may not stay in the vehicle | the motorhome package applies up to 8 m; combinations up to 12 m can be booked online, any… | Germany, Finland, Sweden, Poland, BE |
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DF
DFDSMotorhome discount
8 routes
Strong point: The widest choice of motorhome routes of any ferry operator, clear gas rules of 3 bottles and 47 kg, LPG propulsion permitted where Eurotunnel bans it, and regular genuine motorhome promotions with a free caravan or the car fare. · Watch out for: No electricity on the vehicle deck, the dog is not allowed to stay in the vehicle on IJmuiden–Newcastle and the pet-friendly cabins there can only be booked by telephone; jerrycans are banned outright. |
4/5 | 3× / 47 kg | yes on the short Channel routes; NOT on IJmuiden–Newcastle | motorhome promotion up to 12.00 m, anything longer counts as freight | Netherlands, Great Britain, France, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Sweden, Spain, Morocco |
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BF
Brittany FerriesMotorhome discount
8 routes
Strong point: The only ferry operator with direct long-distance routes to northern Spain and south-west Ireland, saving you 1,300 to 1,700 driving kilometres; new ships with plenty of pet-friendly and family cabins. · Watch out for: On the Spain routes the vehicle deck is closed for two days, prices are high, and Portsmouth–Le Havre and Poole–Cherbourg will disappear at the end of 2026. |
4/5 | 3× / 47 kg | yes on the short Channel routes from ±£35; NOT on the Spain routes, because the vehicle de… | fare bands by metre of length, to be declared including bike rack and tow bar | France, Great Britain, Spain, Ireland |
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IF
Irish FerriesMotorhome discount
4 routes
Strong point: The clearest and most motorhome-specific size table of any ferry operator, with separate bands at 2.25 m in height and at 8 and 12 m in length, and the only major operator that expressly permits LPG, LNG and CNG propulsion. The Pet Den with its own walking area is unique. · Watch out for: Fares on the France routes are high, the Dublin Swift fast craft is not suitable for tall motorhomes, and the exact pet fares are not published. |
4/5 | 3× / 47 kg | yes on certain Irish Sea sailings and on Dover–Calais, provided there is ventilation and f… | motorhome or campervan under 8 m in two height bands, 8 to 12 m with its own motorhome far… | Ireland, Great Britain, France |
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FL
Fjord LineMotorhome discount
3 routes
Strong point: Motorhome-friendly in practice: Fjord Line supplies the gas seals itself at check-in, permits LPG propulsion, has pet-friendly cabins and lets the animal stay in the vehicle, and the motorhome promotion is bookable until the end of 2027. · Watch out for: No published bottle or kg limit for gas, no public size table, and the FSTR only sails for part of the year and is sensitive to wind. |
4/5 | The gas tank or bottle must be properly shut off before boarding. The fact that Fjord Line… | yes on MS Stavangerfjord and MS Bergensfjord; on the HSC Fjord FSTR fast craft the animal… | declare when booking; motorhome promotions usually apply up to 6 m | Norway, Denmark, Sweden |
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SC
ScandlinesMotorhome discount
2 routes
Strong point: Pets travel free and without a reservation, the dog may simply stay in the motorhome, and the Camper-Ticket scraps the entire length surcharge outside the peak, which saves up to €120 per crossing. Very high frequency. · Watch out for: No published gas rules, no dog toilet on board, and you are not allowed to visit your dog in the vehicle during the crossing. |
4/5 | Scandlines publishes no explicit bottle or kg limit. On these short routes of 45 minutes a… | yes | car up to 6 m is the basic class; the length surcharge on the standard ticket is €30 for 6… | Germany, Denmark |
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DG
Destination GotlandMotorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: The most transparent motorhome fare in Scandinavia, with three fixed length bands including up to 5 people, crystal-clear gas rules, and a rarity: a supervised slot to visit your dog in the motorhome during the crossing. · Watch out for: No bottle or kg limit published, no genuine pet-friendly cabins, and July is a good deal dearer because of dynamic pricing. |
4/5 | The clearest gas rules on the Swedish routes: the main valve must be shut for the whole cr… | YES, and exceptionally so: you may visit the animal once during the crossing | a husbil (motorhome) under 6 m costs SEK 1,350, 6 to 9 m also SEK 1,350 and over 9 m SEK 1… | Sweden |
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GG
GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci)Motorhome discount
7 routes
Strong point: The key ferry operator for the Sète–Morocco shortcut, which saves Dutch motorhome travellers roughly 1,250 to 1,450 driving kilometres each way, and also one of the most pet-friendly in the Mediterranean with late check-out, its own outdoor area and, from summer 2026, access to restaurant zones and shops. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules, no motorhome package or ticket discount for club members, the animal may not stay in the vehicle, and the Morocco routes are extremely busy during the Marhaba period. |
4/5 | GNV publishes no motorhome-specific bottle or kg limit. The practice is 2 to 3 bottles, ma… | NO, animals explicitly cannot stay in the vehicle during the crossing | fare per metre of length | Italy, Spain, Morocco, Tunisia, France |
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CF
Corsica Ferries (Corsica-Sardinia Ferries)Motorhome discount
3 routes
Strong point: The most pet-friendly ferry operator in the Mediterranean: animals are allowed in the public areas and the restaurants, cabins have antibacterial flooring and every ship has a Pet Hygiene Zone, from €9.90 or €17. On top of that, clear gas rules and the best loyalty programme. · Watch out for: The animal is expressly not allowed to stay in the vehicle, LPG propulsion is banned on the fast craft, and motorhomes over 7 m pay a €100 to €150 surcharge per crossing. |
4/5 | 3× / 47 kg | NO, expressly forbidden to leave the animal in the vehicle during the crossing | motorhomes over 7 m pay a surcharge of €100 to €150 per crossing; trailers and racks over… | France, Italy, Spain |
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LM
La MéridionaleMotorhome discount
2 routes
Strong point: Pets are allowed in the cabin, which is rare, LPG propulsion is permitted with a safety valve, and on Marseille–Tanger Med you can cancel free of charge up to 4 days before departure, an excellent fallback if Sète is fully booked. · Watch out for: Low frequency to Morocco at around 2 sailings a week, no published pet fares and no motorhome package. |
4/5 | 3× / 47 kg | NO | the fare is calculated on the total length including the tow bar, with 7 m as the pivotal… | France, Italy, Morocco |
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BA
BaleàriaMotorhome discount
6 routes
Strong point: The only ferry operator with a genuine, priced motorhome offer on the Morocco corridor, with a return from €99 to €188 per person, the highest frequency on Algeciras–Tanger Med with up to 12 sailings a day and an open return, and three pet options including the unique Pet Friendly Seat. · Watch out for: No published gas rules, no public size table, and large motorhomes are not always accepted on the fast catamarans to Tanger Ville. |
4/5 | Baleària publishes no motorhome-specific bottle or kg limit. Spanish practice is 2 to 3 bo… | not published as a standard option | fare per metre of length | Spain, Morocco, Italy, France |
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FO
Fred. Olsen ExpressMotorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: The best pet arrangement in southern Europe in terms of price and choice, with Pet Carrier from €2, Pet Rooms with camera monitoring from €3 and Pet Sofa in the cabin from €7, plus the most generous booking conditions: all fares amendable and refundable free of charge within a year. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules for motorhomes, a tight check-in window, and a high entry price for the mainland route with a return from €1,295 for residents. |
4/5 | No published motorhome gas rules. NOT VERIFIED. | permitted but entirely at your own risk; Fred. Olsen states explicitly that leaving animal… | declare the total length, including any trailer or caravan | Spain |
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C&
Caronte & TouristMotorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: Completely transparent motorhome fares, valid from 1 to 31 August 2026: one way €61.70, same-day return €65.40, return within 3 days €77.80 and return within 90 days €105.70, covering up to 5 people with €2.50 per extra person. No reservation needed, 24/7. · Watch out for: Motorhomes over 9 m fall into the freight fare, prices have risen by up to 45% in four years, and the night fare only applies outside the peak period of 15 July to 15 September. |
4/5 | On a crossing of 20 to 30 minutes the usual rule of main valve shut applies; there are no… | yes | a motorhome up to 9 m falls within the motorhome fare; motorhomes over 9 m pay the commerc… | Italy |
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SL
Star LinesMotorhome discount
0 routes
Strong point: The only ferry operator still offering genuine camping on board in 2026: sleeping in your own motorhome on deck, with 220V, a shower and a toilet on board and your pet simply with you, exactly what Anek and Superfast scrapped in 2025. · Watch out for: Only one route, only from 1 April to 31 October, only for registered motorhomes and caravans, no plugs on board, cooking banned, and the captain can withdraw access in bad weather. |
4/5 | With camping on board the gas bottles must be switched off; gas hobs and electric hotplate… | YES, with camping on board the pet may stay in the vehicle | only officially registered motorhomes and caravans are eligible; cars, vans and minibuses… | Italy, AL |
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PF
P&O FerriesMotorhome discount
3 routes
Strong point: Hull–Rotterdam is a comfortable overnight ferry with a standard cabin included in the fare, 6 dog cabins per ship and kennels in three sizes; on Dover–Calais the Pet Lounge at £12 is one of the best dog facilities on the Channel. · Watch out for: The strictest gas rule on the Irish Sea with 3 bottles of 11.2 kg, no published size or fare bands for motorhomes, no statement on LPG and no motorhome package. |
3/5 | 3× / 47 kg | yes on Dover–Calais and Cairnryan–Larne; NOT on Hull–Rotterdam | — | Great Britain, Netherlands, France, Ireland |
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EL
Eurotunnel Le ShuttleMotorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: The fastest crossing at 35 minutes, you stay with your motorhome, no seasickness and the pet simply stays with you: the most pet-friendly crossing of the Channel, with four departures an hour, 24/7. · Watch out for: LPG propulsion is banned outright, the compulsory gas check takes time, motorhomes over 1.85 m pay a good deal more, and the gas rule of a maximum 80% fill that you must be able to prove is the strictest in Europe. |
3/5 | 50 kg | yes, the animal stays with you in the motorhome for the whole 35 minutes | the price rises with the length | France, Great Britain |
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CL
Color LineMotorhome discount
3 routes
Strong point: The only ferry operator where the dog may stay in your own vehicle on every route, and on Kiel–Oslo even with three supervised visiting slots on the vehicle deck; Hirtshals–Kristiansand is the shortest and cheapest corridor to Norway. · Watch out for: No pet-friendly cabins, so the animal can never come into the cabin; hefty rebooking fees of €86.10 on Kiel–Oslo; no published gas bottle limit; and on Kiel–Oslo a cabin is compulsory. |
3/5 | Color Line publishes no bottle or kg limit, but states explicitly that the gas supply in a… | yes, on every route the dog may stay in your own vehicle | declare both length and height including a roof rack, plus the total length including the… | Norway, Germany, Denmark, Sweden |
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TS
Tallink SiljaMotorhome discount
3 routes
Strong point: On MyStar and Megastar the animal may stay in the vehicle free of charge, there are pet-friendly cabins on all the large ships for a transparent surcharge of €15 to €16, and up to 20% Camping Key Europe discount is substantial. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules for motorhomes, no motorhome package, and on the overnight cruise ferries the compulsory cabin makes a motorhome crossing expensive. |
3/5 | Tallink publishes no motorhome-specific gas rules and refers vehicle questions to customer… | only on MyStar and Megastar (Helsinki–Tallinn), free of charge there, with the caveat that… | — | Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia |
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VL
Viking LineMotorhome discount
3 routes
Strong point: The daytime crossing Stockholm–Turku with Viking Glory is often the cheapest way for motorhomes to travel between Sweden and Finland because no cabin is needed. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules, the animal may only stay in the vehicle on one route and only in the winter period, and on the Viking Cinderella animals are not allowed at all. |
3/5 | No public motorhome gas rules found; assume main valve shut. NOT VERIFIED. | in principle no, with one exception: on Helsinki–Tallinn the animal may stay in the vehicl… | — | Finland, Sweden, Estonia, AX |
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ÖM
Öresundslinjen (Molslinjen)Motorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: Every 20 minutes and 24/7, the dog may stay in the motorhome, rapid chargers on board for electric motorhomes, and often cheaper than the Øresund Bridge for vehicles over 6 m. · Watch out for: No published motorhome fare table or gas rules, and motorhomes over 6 m fall into a considerably higher class. |
3/5 | No published motorhome gas rules; on a 20-minute crossing the practice is main valve shut.… | yes | car up to 6 m is the basic class; motorhomes over 6 m fall into a higher class and motorho… | Denmark, Sweden |
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BM
Bornholmslinjen (Molslinjen)Motorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: The animal may stay in the motorhome and this is even recommended; a short, high-frequency link to a popular motorhome island. · Watch out for: Motorhomes always fall outside the cheap promotional fares because those stop at 1.95 m in height, and there are no published gas rules. |
3/5 | No motorhome gas rules in the general conditions. NOT VERIFIED, ring them for specific mot… | yes, the ferry operator actively recommends it | three seasonal fares in 2026, exact motorhome thresholds not publicly specified | Denmark, Sweden, Germany |
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GL
Grimaldi LinesMotorhome discount
7 routes
Strong point: A large network of island and long-distance routes to Sardinia, Sicily, Greece, Spain and Tunisia, with a clear early-booking window of 20% off until April and several Italian motorhome club agreements. · Watch out for: No camping on board, no electricity on deck, no published gas bottle limit and no publicly accessible conditions for the motorhome offer. |
3/5 | Grimaldi publishes no motorhome-specific bottle or kg limit. Mediterranean practice is 2 t… | NO, no access to the vehicle deck during the crossing | fare per metre of length; motorhome vehicle fare from ±€195 excluding passengers on the Gr… | Italy, Greece, Spain, Tunisia, Morocco |
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SF
Superfast Ferries / ANEK Lines (Attica Group)Motorhome discount
3 routes
Strong point: The fastest and most frequent link between Italy and Greece, with the highest ADAC discount of up to 15% and the Seasmiles programme; the new Superfast V on Venice considerably shortens the approach drive from the Netherlands. · Watch out for: Scrapping camping on board from 2025 has cost motorhomes their cheapest and most practical option; there is now no electricity on deck and no motorhome package. |
3/5 | No published bottle or kg limit; main valve shut and fridge off in the hold. NOT VERIFIED. | NO, pets have no access to the vehicle decks during the crossing | fare per metre of length | Greece, Italy |
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ML
Minoan LinesMotorhome discount
3 routes
Strong point: A clear and low pet fare of €25 per animal with a maximum of 2 per cabin, and comfortable overnight ferries to Crete and Greece with stackable early-booking discounts. · Watch out for: The Camping All Inclusive motorhome product is suspended, there is no camping on board or electricity on deck, and there are no published gas or size rules. |
3/5 | No published bottle or kg limit; the practice is main valve shut and fridge off in the gar… | NO | fare per metre of length | Greece, Italy |
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BS
Blue Star Ferries (Attica Group)Motorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: Motorhomes are perfectly welcome in the garage on the Greek domestic routes, there are genuine pet-friendly cabins and kennels for dogs and cats, and Blue Star is the backbone of the island network out of Piraeus. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules, no motorhome package, and motorhomes and larger animals do not fit on the hydrofoils in any case. |
3/5 | No published limit; main valve shut and fridge off. NOT VERIFIED. | NO, pets are not allowed on the vehicle decks during the crossing | motorhome vehicle fare ±€150 on Piraeus–Crete plus deck passage of ±€30 to €40 per person… | Greece |
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ML
Moby LinesMotorhome discount
3 routes
Strong point: A clear height threshold with a surcharge above 2.20 m and length calculated including the tow bar, up to three pets per cabin, and LPG propulsion permitted provided it is declared. · Watch out for: No published gas bottle limit, the animal may not stay in the vehicle, and August prices on the Sardinia routes are high. |
3/5 | No published bottle or kg limit for gas bottles, but there is a duty to declare. NOT VERIF… | NO | the length is calculated hors-tout, so including the tow bar | Italy, France |
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CL
Corsica LineaMotorhome discount
2 routes
Strong point: Comfortable overnight ferries from Marseille to various Corsican ports, including the quiet arrival ports of Propriano and Porto-Vecchio, and to Tunis; LPG propulsion permitted with a safety valve. · Watch out for: Dearer than Corsica Ferries, no motorhome package, the animal may not stay in the vehicle and the pet prices are not published. |
3/5 | 3× / 47 kg | NO | 7 m is the pivotal threshold for the fare | France, Tunisia, DZ |
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AT
Armas TrasmediterráneaMotorhome discount
3 routes
Strong point: One of the few ferry operators in southern Europe where the animal is officially allowed to stay in the vehicle under a waiver, a clear pet-friendly cabin fare from €25, and the only route that, besides Gran Canaria and Tenerife, also calls directly at Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Palma. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules, the brand is being absorbed into Baleària so policy may shift during 2026, and two nights at sea with no access to the motorhome. |
3/5 | No published motorhome gas rules. NOT VERIFIED. | YES, and unusually so: the animal may stay in the vehicle, but you have to sign a waiver a… | — | Spain, Morocco |
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IL
Ichnusa LinesMotorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: The only direct link between Corsica and Sardinia, which lets you tour both islands without sailing back via the mainland, with an explicit discount scheme for members of a motorhome club. · Watch out for: A small garage with a maximum of one motorhome per booking, no published size or gas rules, and nothing sails from November to mid-January. |
3/5 | No published gas rules for this 50-minute crossing. NOT VERIFIED. | — | a maximum of one motorhome per booking | France, Italy |
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EL
Eckerö LineMotorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: The pet travels at no extra charge and there is a dog sandpit on outside deck 6 of the MS Finlandia; a cheap short hop between Helsinki and Tallinn. · Watch out for: Barely any published motorhome rules, no electric vehicles on MS Finlandia, and Eckerö itself warns of extreme temperatures on the vehicle deck. |
2/5 | The conditions of carriage contain no specific rules for gas bottles in motorhomes or for… | yes, larger animals travel on the vehicle deck in the vehicle, but you have no access to t… | — | Finland, Estonia |
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SL
Smyril LineMotorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: The only way to take your own motorhome to the Faroe Islands and Iceland, with clear gas rules of 3 bottles and 47 kg and three well-defined height bands. · Watch out for: Pets are practically impossible here because of the Icelandic import ban and a €405 fine if the animal comes into the cabin; the cancellation and amendment fees are the highest of all the ferry operators researched and the deposit is at least €810. |
2/5 | 3× / 47 kg | NO | in the booking engine; trailers and non-standard vehicles via the booking office | Denmark, FO, Iceland |
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GN
Go Nordic CruiselineMotorhome discount
2 routes
Strong point: A comfortable overnight cruise with the cabin included in the fare, pet-friendly cabins with and without a sea view and an outdoor area for walking the dog. · Watch out for: The basic fare stops at 1.85 m in height so every motorhome pays a surcharge, the vehicle deck is locked for the whole voyage, €57 per animal is steep, and there are no published gas rules. |
2/5 | This ferry operator, the former DFDS Copenhagen–Oslo which has belonged to Gotlandsbolaget… | NO, the vehicle deck is locked during the voyage and you only get back to your vehicle sho… | length bands exist but are not publicly specified | Denmark, Norway |
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PB
POLSCA Baltic Ferries (Polferries / Unity Line)Motorhome discount
2 routes
Strong point: A cheap crossing between Poland and Sweden, 25% Camping Key Europe discount with Unity Line and, since July 2026, an extra route Gdańsk–Karlshamn. · Watch out for: The conditions of carriage prohibit flammable gases in pressure vessels with no motorhome exemption, pets are severely restricted, and the passenger vehicle definition stops at 3.5 tonnes and 10 m. |
2/5 | NOTE: the conditions of carriage for tickets bought from 30-3-2026 expressly prohibit dang… | NO, during the crossing passengers may not stay in the vehicle or on the vehicle decks | up to 10 m as a passenger vehicle | Poland, Sweden |
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VF
Ventouris FerriesMotorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: A budget option on Bari–Igoumenitsa with pet-friendly cabins and kennels, cheaper than the Attica ships on the same route. · Watch out for: Barely any published rules on gas, dimensions and pet prices, and no loyalty or motorhome scheme. |
2/5 | No published limit. NOT VERIFIED. | NO, no access to the vehicle decks during the crossing | — | Italy, Greece, AL |
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TG
Trasmed GLE (Grimaldi-groep)Motorhome discount
1 routes
Strong point: Extensive pet-friendly cabins with a welcome pack and free access to all the outside decks for the animal, plus a new ADAC partnership in 2026. · Watch out for: Large motorhomes and caravans are often turned away on the Balearics routes, which is the main thing to watch with this ferry operator; beyond that there are no published gas or size rules. |
2/5 | No published motorhome gas rules. NOT VERIFIED. | NO | — | Spain |
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AA
AML (Africa Morocco Link)Motorhome discount
2 routes
Strong point: High frequency on the shortest crossing to Africa, owned since April 2024 by CTM (51%) and Stena Line (49%), which has professionalised the operation. · Watch out for: Barely any public documentation on gas, dimensions or pets; for a large motorhome, Baleària or DFDS on Algeciras–Tanger Med is the more predictable choice. |
2/5 | AML publishes no motorhome-specific gas rules; on the short crossing of 1 to 1.5 hrs the p… | in practice yes, because on a crossing of 1 to 1.5 hrs animals generally stay in the vehic… | — | Spain, Morocco |
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IS
Inter ShippingMotorhome discount
2 routes
Strong point: Extra capacity and competition on the busiest crossing to Africa, which means tickets at agencies are sometimes keenly priced. · Watch out for: Virtually no public information on gas, dimensions, pets or cancellation conditions; as a motorhome traveller you are better off booking with Baleària or DFDS. |
2/5 | No public motorhome rules found at all. NOT VERIFIED; this is the least documented ferry o… | in practice yes on this short crossing | — | Spain, Morocco |
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C/
CTN / CotunavMotorhome discount
2 routes
Strong point: The shortest approach drive to Tunisia for Dutch and Belgian motorhome travellers, since Marseille is about 1,230 km from Utrecht, which means you skip the whole of Italy. · Watch out for: Little public documentation on motorhome rules, gas and pets; the vehicle may stay in Tunisia for a maximum of 3 months a year and you have to check that the country code TN appears on your green card. |
2/5 | No public motorhome gas rules found. NOT VERIFIED. | NO | — | Tunisia, France, Italy |
Stena Line
Strong point: The most motorhome- and caravan-friendly ferry operator in northern Europe: transparent size bands up to 12 m and 4 m, structural promotions where the motorhome pays the car fare and the caravan travels free, the dog may stay in the motorhome on Hoek van Holland–Harwich, and the thickest stack of club discounts. · Watch out for: Gas has to be declared 24 hrs in advance and even 72 hrs on Hoek van Holland–Harwich; pet-friendly cabins are limited and on Adventurer and Nordica the animal may not leave the cabin; no statement on LPG propulsion.
- A maximum of 3 bottles totalling 47 kg, explicitly stated for use in motorhomes and carava…
- yes on Hoek van Holland–Harwich, up to 5 dogs per vehicle; on most Scandinavian and Baltic…
- low car up to 4.70 m; low car up to 6.00 m; high car up to 6.00 m; motorhome, campervan, m…
TT-Line
Strong point: The best genuine motorhome package in Europe: 15 to 20% off plus a halved or fully waived length surcharge, stackable with 10% Camping Key Europe. On board, the most dog-friendly regime in the Baltic and, at 60 litres, the most generous reserve fuel rule. · Watch out for: The animal is not allowed to stay in the vehicle and pet-friendly cabins are limited, after which an ordinary cabin costs €33 extra; no published gas bottle limit and the electrical hook-up is not confirmed.
- The main valve of the gas system must stay shut for the whole crossing and the gas locker…
- NO, the vehicle deck is locked during the crossing
- length surcharge from 6 m; declare the length including everything mounted on the vehicle
Finnlines
Strong point: The only ferry operator offering a genuine electrical hook-up on the vehicle deck in 2026 for your motorhome fridge, reservable when you book. On top of that the most generous height allowance at 4.40 m, a transparent motorhome package with published seasonal prices, a 20% return discount and 5% Star Club. · Watch out for: Sleeping in the motorhome is expressly forbidden and the vehicle deck is closed for the whole trip; the animal may not stay in the vehicle and a pet-friendly cabin is compulsory; SPECIAL fares cannot be amended.
- Gas bottles must be shut off before boarding and the gas locker should carry a warning sti…
- NO, animals may not stay in the vehicle
- the motorhome package applies up to 8 m; combinations up to 12 m can be booked online, any…
DFDS
Strong point: The widest choice of motorhome routes of any ferry operator, clear gas rules of 3 bottles and 47 kg, LPG propulsion permitted where Eurotunnel bans it, and regular genuine motorhome promotions with a free caravan or the car fare. · Watch out for: No electricity on the vehicle deck, the dog is not allowed to stay in the vehicle on IJmuiden–Newcastle and the pet-friendly cabins there can only be booked by telephone; jerrycans are banned outright.
- Butane or propane only, for lighting, cooking or heating. Jerrycans are banned outright, i…
- yes on the short Channel routes; NOT on IJmuiden–Newcastle
- motorhome promotion up to 12.00 m, anything longer counts as freight
Brittany Ferries
Strong point: The only ferry operator with direct long-distance routes to northern Spain and south-west Ireland, saving you 1,300 to 1,700 driving kilometres; new ships with plenty of pet-friendly and family cabins. · Watch out for: On the Spain routes the vehicle deck is closed for two days, prices are high, and Portsmouth–Le Havre and Poole–Cherbourg will disappear at the end of 2026.
- A maximum of 3 butane or propane bottles totalling 47 kg, properly secured against the mov…
- yes on the short Channel routes from ±£35; NOT on the Spain routes, because the vehicle de…
- fare bands by metre of length, to be declared including bike rack and tow bar
Irish Ferries
Strong point: The clearest and most motorhome-specific size table of any ferry operator, with separate bands at 2.25 m in height and at 8 and 12 m in length, and the only major operator that expressly permits LPG, LNG and CNG propulsion. The Pet Den with its own walking area is unique. · Watch out for: Fares on the France routes are high, the Dublin Swift fast craft is not suitable for tall motorhomes, and the exact pet fares are not published.
- A maximum of 47 kg of gas per vehicle in no more than 3 butane or propane bottles. Reserve…
- yes on certain Irish Sea sailings and on Dover–Calais, provided there is ventilation and f…
- motorhome or campervan under 8 m in two height bands, 8 to 12 m with its own motorhome far…
Fjord Line
Strong point: Motorhome-friendly in practice: Fjord Line supplies the gas seals itself at check-in, permits LPG propulsion, has pet-friendly cabins and lets the animal stay in the vehicle, and the motorhome promotion is bookable until the end of 2027. · Watch out for: No published bottle or kg limit for gas, no public size table, and the FSTR only sails for part of the year and is sensitive to wind.
- The gas tank or bottle must be properly shut off before boarding. The fact that Fjord Line…
- yes on MS Stavangerfjord and MS Bergensfjord; on the HSC Fjord FSTR fast craft the animal…
- declare when booking; motorhome promotions usually apply up to 6 m
Scandlines
Strong point: Pets travel free and without a reservation, the dog may simply stay in the motorhome, and the Camper-Ticket scraps the entire length surcharge outside the peak, which saves up to €120 per crossing. Very high frequency. · Watch out for: No published gas rules, no dog toilet on board, and you are not allowed to visit your dog in the vehicle during the crossing.
- Scandlines publishes no explicit bottle or kg limit. On these short routes of 45 minutes a…
- yes
- car up to 6 m is the basic class; the length surcharge on the standard ticket is €30 for 6…
Destination Gotland
Strong point: The most transparent motorhome fare in Scandinavia, with three fixed length bands including up to 5 people, crystal-clear gas rules, and a rarity: a supervised slot to visit your dog in the motorhome during the crossing. · Watch out for: No bottle or kg limit published, no genuine pet-friendly cabins, and July is a good deal dearer because of dynamic pricing.
- The clearest gas rules on the Swedish routes: the main valve must be shut for the whole cr…
- YES, and exceptionally so: you may visit the animal once during the crossing
- a husbil (motorhome) under 6 m costs SEK 1,350, 6 to 9 m also SEK 1,350 and over 9 m SEK 1…
GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci)
Strong point: The key ferry operator for the Sète–Morocco shortcut, which saves Dutch motorhome travellers roughly 1,250 to 1,450 driving kilometres each way, and also one of the most pet-friendly in the Mediterranean with late check-out, its own outdoor area and, from summer 2026, access to restaurant zones and shops. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules, no motorhome package or ticket discount for club members, the animal may not stay in the vehicle, and the Morocco routes are extremely busy during the Marhaba period.
- GNV publishes no motorhome-specific bottle or kg limit. The practice is 2 to 3 bottles, ma…
- NO, animals explicitly cannot stay in the vehicle during the crossing
- fare per metre of length
Corsica Ferries (Corsica-Sardinia Ferries)
Strong point: The most pet-friendly ferry operator in the Mediterranean: animals are allowed in the public areas and the restaurants, cabins have antibacterial flooring and every ship has a Pet Hygiene Zone, from €9.90 or €17. On top of that, clear gas rules and the best loyalty programme. · Watch out for: The animal is expressly not allowed to stay in the vehicle, LPG propulsion is banned on the fast craft, and motorhomes over 7 m pay a €100 to €150 surcharge per crossing.
- A maximum of 3 bottles totalling 47 kg. This standard rests on the French decree of 20 Dec…
- NO, expressly forbidden to leave the animal in the vehicle during the crossing
- motorhomes over 7 m pay a surcharge of €100 to €150 per crossing; trailers and racks over…
La Méridionale
Strong point: Pets are allowed in the cabin, which is rare, LPG propulsion is permitted with a safety valve, and on Marseille–Tanger Med you can cancel free of charge up to 4 days before departure, an excellent fallback if Sète is fully booked. · Watch out for: Low frequency to Morocco at around 2 sailings a week, no published pet fares and no motorhome package.
- A maximum of 3 bottles totalling 47 kg in motorhomes, in line with the French decree of 20…
- NO
- the fare is calculated on the total length including the tow bar, with 7 m as the pivotal…
Baleària
Strong point: The only ferry operator with a genuine, priced motorhome offer on the Morocco corridor, with a return from €99 to €188 per person, the highest frequency on Algeciras–Tanger Med with up to 12 sailings a day and an open return, and three pet options including the unique Pet Friendly Seat. · Watch out for: No published gas rules, no public size table, and large motorhomes are not always accepted on the fast catamarans to Tanger Ville.
- Baleària publishes no motorhome-specific bottle or kg limit. Spanish practice is 2 to 3 bo…
- not published as a standard option
- fare per metre of length
Fred. Olsen Express
Strong point: The best pet arrangement in southern Europe in terms of price and choice, with Pet Carrier from €2, Pet Rooms with camera monitoring from €3 and Pet Sofa in the cabin from €7, plus the most generous booking conditions: all fares amendable and refundable free of charge within a year. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules for motorhomes, a tight check-in window, and a high entry price for the mainland route with a return from €1,295 for residents.
- No published motorhome gas rules. NOT VERIFIED.
- permitted but entirely at your own risk; Fred. Olsen states explicitly that leaving animal…
- declare the total length, including any trailer or caravan
Caronte & Tourist
Strong point: Completely transparent motorhome fares, valid from 1 to 31 August 2026: one way €61.70, same-day return €65.40, return within 3 days €77.80 and return within 90 days €105.70, covering up to 5 people with €2.50 per extra person. No reservation needed, 24/7. · Watch out for: Motorhomes over 9 m fall into the freight fare, prices have risen by up to 45% in four years, and the night fare only applies outside the peak period of 15 July to 15 September.
- On a crossing of 20 to 30 minutes the usual rule of main valve shut applies; there are no…
- yes
- a motorhome up to 9 m falls within the motorhome fare; motorhomes over 9 m pay the commerc…
Star Lines
Strong point: The only ferry operator still offering genuine camping on board in 2026: sleeping in your own motorhome on deck, with 220V, a shower and a toilet on board and your pet simply with you, exactly what Anek and Superfast scrapped in 2025. · Watch out for: Only one route, only from 1 April to 31 October, only for registered motorhomes and caravans, no plugs on board, cooking banned, and the captain can withdraw access in bad weather.
- With camping on board the gas bottles must be switched off; gas hobs and electric hotplate…
- YES, with camping on board the pet may stay in the vehicle
- only officially registered motorhomes and caravans are eligible; cars, vans and minibuses…
P&O Ferries
Strong point: Hull–Rotterdam is a comfortable overnight ferry with a standard cabin included in the fare, 6 dog cabins per ship and kennels in three sizes; on Dover–Calais the Pet Lounge at £12 is one of the best dog facilities on the Channel. · Watch out for: The strictest gas rule on the Irish Sea with 3 bottles of 11.2 kg, no published size or fare bands for motorhomes, no statement on LPG and no motorhome package.
- North Sea and Channel routes: a maximum of 47 kg of gas per vehicle excluding the weight o…
- yes on Dover–Calais and Cairnryan–Larne; NOT on Hull–Rotterdam
- —
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle
Strong point: The fastest crossing at 35 minutes, you stay with your motorhome, no seasickness and the pet simply stays with you: the most pet-friendly crossing of the Channel, with four departures an hour, 24/7. · Watch out for: LPG propulsion is banned outright, the compulsory gas check takes time, motorhomes over 1.85 m pay a good deal more, and the gas rule of a maximum 80% fill that you must be able to prove is the strictest in Europe.
- One bottle of up to 47 kg, or several bottles totalling a maximum of 50 kg. The bottles ma…
- yes, the animal stays with you in the motorhome for the whole 35 minutes
- the price rises with the length
Color Line
Strong point: The only ferry operator where the dog may stay in your own vehicle on every route, and on Kiel–Oslo even with three supervised visiting slots on the vehicle deck; Hirtshals–Kristiansand is the shortest and cheapest corridor to Norway. · Watch out for: No pet-friendly cabins, so the animal can never come into the cabin; hefty rebooking fees of €86.10 on Kiel–Oslo; no published gas bottle limit; and on Kiel–Oslo a cabin is compulsory.
- Color Line publishes no bottle or kg limit, but states explicitly that the gas supply in a…
- yes, on every route the dog may stay in your own vehicle
- declare both length and height including a roof rack, plus the total length including the…
Tallink Silja
Strong point: On MyStar and Megastar the animal may stay in the vehicle free of charge, there are pet-friendly cabins on all the large ships for a transparent surcharge of €15 to €16, and up to 20% Camping Key Europe discount is substantial. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules for motorhomes, no motorhome package, and on the overnight cruise ferries the compulsory cabin makes a motorhome crossing expensive.
- Tallink publishes no motorhome-specific gas rules and refers vehicle questions to customer…
- only on MyStar and Megastar (Helsinki–Tallinn), free of charge there, with the caveat that…
- —
Viking Line
Strong point: The daytime crossing Stockholm–Turku with Viking Glory is often the cheapest way for motorhomes to travel between Sweden and Finland because no cabin is needed. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules, the animal may only stay in the vehicle on one route and only in the winter period, and on the Viking Cinderella animals are not allowed at all.
- No public motorhome gas rules found; assume main valve shut. NOT VERIFIED.
- in principle no, with one exception: on Helsinki–Tallinn the animal may stay in the vehicl…
- —
Öresundslinjen (Molslinjen)
Strong point: Every 20 minutes and 24/7, the dog may stay in the motorhome, rapid chargers on board for electric motorhomes, and often cheaper than the Øresund Bridge for vehicles over 6 m. · Watch out for: No published motorhome fare table or gas rules, and motorhomes over 6 m fall into a considerably higher class.
- No published motorhome gas rules; on a 20-minute crossing the practice is main valve shut.…
- yes
- car up to 6 m is the basic class; motorhomes over 6 m fall into a higher class and motorho…
Bornholmslinjen (Molslinjen)
Strong point: The animal may stay in the motorhome and this is even recommended; a short, high-frequency link to a popular motorhome island. · Watch out for: Motorhomes always fall outside the cheap promotional fares because those stop at 1.95 m in height, and there are no published gas rules.
- No motorhome gas rules in the general conditions. NOT VERIFIED, ring them for specific mot…
- yes, the ferry operator actively recommends it
- three seasonal fares in 2026, exact motorhome thresholds not publicly specified
Grimaldi Lines
Strong point: A large network of island and long-distance routes to Sardinia, Sicily, Greece, Spain and Tunisia, with a clear early-booking window of 20% off until April and several Italian motorhome club agreements. · Watch out for: No camping on board, no electricity on deck, no published gas bottle limit and no publicly accessible conditions for the motorhome offer.
- Grimaldi publishes no motorhome-specific bottle or kg limit. Mediterranean practice is 2 t…
- NO, no access to the vehicle deck during the crossing
- fare per metre of length; motorhome vehicle fare from ±€195 excluding passengers on the Gr…
Superfast Ferries / ANEK Lines (Attica Group)
Strong point: The fastest and most frequent link between Italy and Greece, with the highest ADAC discount of up to 15% and the Seasmiles programme; the new Superfast V on Venice considerably shortens the approach drive from the Netherlands. · Watch out for: Scrapping camping on board from 2025 has cost motorhomes their cheapest and most practical option; there is now no electricity on deck and no motorhome package.
- No published bottle or kg limit; main valve shut and fridge off in the hold. NOT VERIFIED.
- NO, pets have no access to the vehicle decks during the crossing
- fare per metre of length
Minoan Lines
Strong point: A clear and low pet fare of €25 per animal with a maximum of 2 per cabin, and comfortable overnight ferries to Crete and Greece with stackable early-booking discounts. · Watch out for: The Camping All Inclusive motorhome product is suspended, there is no camping on board or electricity on deck, and there are no published gas or size rules.
- No published bottle or kg limit; the practice is main valve shut and fridge off in the gar…
- NO
- fare per metre of length
Blue Star Ferries (Attica Group)
Strong point: Motorhomes are perfectly welcome in the garage on the Greek domestic routes, there are genuine pet-friendly cabins and kennels for dogs and cats, and Blue Star is the backbone of the island network out of Piraeus. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules, no motorhome package, and motorhomes and larger animals do not fit on the hydrofoils in any case.
- No published limit; main valve shut and fridge off. NOT VERIFIED.
- NO, pets are not allowed on the vehicle decks during the crossing
- motorhome vehicle fare ±€150 on Piraeus–Crete plus deck passage of ±€30 to €40 per person…
Moby Lines
Strong point: A clear height threshold with a surcharge above 2.20 m and length calculated including the tow bar, up to three pets per cabin, and LPG propulsion permitted provided it is declared. · Watch out for: No published gas bottle limit, the animal may not stay in the vehicle, and August prices on the Sardinia routes are high.
- No published bottle or kg limit for gas bottles, but there is a duty to declare. NOT VERIF…
- NO
- the length is calculated hors-tout, so including the tow bar
Corsica Linea
Strong point: Comfortable overnight ferries from Marseille to various Corsican ports, including the quiet arrival ports of Propriano and Porto-Vecchio, and to Tunis; LPG propulsion permitted with a safety valve. · Watch out for: Dearer than Corsica Ferries, no motorhome package, the animal may not stay in the vehicle and the pet prices are not published.
- Follows the French decree of 20-12-2016: a maximum of 3 butane or propane bottles totallin…
- NO
- 7 m is the pivotal threshold for the fare
Armas Trasmediterránea
Strong point: One of the few ferry operators in southern Europe where the animal is officially allowed to stay in the vehicle under a waiver, a clear pet-friendly cabin fare from €25, and the only route that, besides Gran Canaria and Tenerife, also calls directly at Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Palma. · Watch out for: No published gas or size rules, the brand is being absorbed into Baleària so policy may shift during 2026, and two nights at sea with no access to the motorhome.
- No published motorhome gas rules. NOT VERIFIED.
- YES, and unusually so: the animal may stay in the vehicle, but you have to sign a waiver a…
- —
Ichnusa Lines
Strong point: The only direct link between Corsica and Sardinia, which lets you tour both islands without sailing back via the mainland, with an explicit discount scheme for members of a motorhome club. · Watch out for: A small garage with a maximum of one motorhome per booking, no published size or gas rules, and nothing sails from November to mid-January.
- No published gas rules for this 50-minute crossing. NOT VERIFIED.
- —
- a maximum of one motorhome per booking
Eckerö Line
Strong point: The pet travels at no extra charge and there is a dog sandpit on outside deck 6 of the MS Finlandia; a cheap short hop between Helsinki and Tallinn. · Watch out for: Barely any published motorhome rules, no electric vehicles on MS Finlandia, and Eckerö itself warns of extreme temperatures on the vehicle deck.
- The conditions of carriage contain no specific rules for gas bottles in motorhomes or for…
- yes, larger animals travel on the vehicle deck in the vehicle, but you have no access to t…
- —
Smyril Line
Strong point: The only way to take your own motorhome to the Faroe Islands and Iceland, with clear gas rules of 3 bottles and 47 kg and three well-defined height bands. · Watch out for: Pets are practically impossible here because of the Icelandic import ban and a €405 fine if the animal comes into the cabin; the cancellation and amendment fees are the highest of all the ferry operators researched and the deposit is at least €810.
- Camping gas, propane and butane, is permitted up to a maximum of 3 bottles with a total we…
- NO
- in the booking engine; trailers and non-standard vehicles via the booking office
Go Nordic Cruiseline
Strong point: A comfortable overnight cruise with the cabin included in the fare, pet-friendly cabins with and without a sea view and an outdoor area for walking the dog. · Watch out for: The basic fare stops at 1.85 m in height so every motorhome pays a surcharge, the vehicle deck is locked for the whole voyage, €57 per animal is steep, and there are no published gas rules.
- This ferry operator, the former DFDS Copenhagen–Oslo which has belonged to Gotlandsbolaget…
- NO, the vehicle deck is locked during the voyage and you only get back to your vehicle sho…
- length bands exist but are not publicly specified
POLSCA Baltic Ferries (Polferries / Unity Line)
Strong point: A cheap crossing between Poland and Sweden, 25% Camping Key Europe discount with Unity Line and, since July 2026, an extra route Gdańsk–Karlshamn. · Watch out for: The conditions of carriage prohibit flammable gases in pressure vessels with no motorhome exemption, pets are severely restricted, and the passenger vehicle definition stops at 3.5 tonnes and 10 m.
- NOTE: the conditions of carriage for tickets bought from 30-3-2026 expressly prohibit dang…
- NO, during the crossing passengers may not stay in the vehicle or on the vehicle decks
- up to 10 m as a passenger vehicle
Ventouris Ferries
Strong point: A budget option on Bari–Igoumenitsa with pet-friendly cabins and kennels, cheaper than the Attica ships on the same route. · Watch out for: Barely any published rules on gas, dimensions and pet prices, and no loyalty or motorhome scheme.
- No published limit. NOT VERIFIED.
- NO, no access to the vehicle decks during the crossing
- —
Trasmed GLE (Grimaldi-groep)
Strong point: Extensive pet-friendly cabins with a welcome pack and free access to all the outside decks for the animal, plus a new ADAC partnership in 2026. · Watch out for: Large motorhomes and caravans are often turned away on the Balearics routes, which is the main thing to watch with this ferry operator; beyond that there are no published gas or size rules.
- No published motorhome gas rules. NOT VERIFIED.
- NO
- —
AML (Africa Morocco Link)
Strong point: High frequency on the shortest crossing to Africa, owned since April 2024 by CTM (51%) and Stena Line (49%), which has professionalised the operation. · Watch out for: Barely any public documentation on gas, dimensions or pets; for a large motorhome, Baleària or DFDS on Algeciras–Tanger Med is the more predictable choice.
- AML publishes no motorhome-specific gas rules; on the short crossing of 1 to 1.5 hrs the p…
- in practice yes, because on a crossing of 1 to 1.5 hrs animals generally stay in the vehic…
- —
Inter Shipping
Strong point: Extra capacity and competition on the busiest crossing to Africa, which means tickets at agencies are sometimes keenly priced. · Watch out for: Virtually no public information on gas, dimensions, pets or cancellation conditions; as a motorhome traveller you are better off booking with Baleària or DFDS.
- No public motorhome rules found at all. NOT VERIFIED; this is the least documented ferry o…
- in practice yes on this short crossing
- —
CTN / Cotunav
Strong point: The shortest approach drive to Tunisia for Dutch and Belgian motorhome travellers, since Marseille is about 1,230 km from Utrecht, which means you skip the whole of Italy. · Watch out for: Little public documentation on motorhome rules, gas and pets; the vehicle may stay in Tunisia for a maximum of 3 months a year and you have to check that the country code TN appears on your green card.
- No public motorhome gas rules found. NOT VERIFIED.
- NO
- —
What stands out in 2026
Strictest gas rules
- On paper POLSCA Baltic Ferries is the strictest: the conditions of carriage for tickets bought from 30-3-2026 prohibit technical and flammable gases in pressure vessels with no motorhome exemption; get written confirmation that you may bring your bottles. For anyone who wants certainty that gas is allowed, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle is by far the strictest: LPG propulsion is banned outright there (the only total ban in Europe), bottles may be no more than 80% full and you must be able to prove it at a compulsory gas check on the terminal. At sea, P&O Ferries is the strictest on the Irish Sea with 3 bottles of no more than 11.2 kg each, ±33.6 kg in total, against 47 kg elsewhere. Stena Line is the most awkward administratively: declare 24 hrs in advance, and on Hoek van Holland–Harwich even 72 hrs. DFDS and Irish Ferries ban jerrycans outright, including empty ones; Stena allows 5 litres.
Most lenient gas rules
- Irish Ferries is by far the most relaxed: 47 kg in a maximum of 3 bottles and, as the only major ferry operator, express permission for LPG, LNG and CNG propulsion, provided the installation is factory-approved and the valves are shut. Fjord Line is the most motorhome-friendly in practice: LPG permitted with approval documentation, and the operator supplies the safety seals itself at check-in. TT-Line has the most generous reserve fuel rule at 60 litres (Stena 5 litres, DFDS and Irish Ferries none at all). The French operators follow the decree of 20 December 2016 with 3 bottles and 47 kg; print that decree and keep it in your glovebox. Note that LPG propulsion is in fact banned at Corsica Ferries on the Corsica Express fast services. Many southern European and Scandinavian operators publish no limit at all: that is not leniency, it is a lack of clarity.
Most pet-friendly
- Eurotunnel Le Shuttle: The animal stays with you in the motorhome for the whole 35 minutes, with no kennel and no separation. At the Pet Reception in Folkestone the microchip is scanned and there is a walking area. For motorhome travellers with a nervous or elderly dog, by far the calmest crossing of the Channel, at ±£22 to £25 per animal. Drawback: LPG motorhomes are not allowed in.
- Corsica Ferries: A deliberate no-kennels philosophy in which the animal always stays with its owner. Animals are allowed in the public areas and the restaurants, there are cabins with antibacterial flooring and every ship has a Pet Hygiene Zone. It is also remarkably cheap: small animals from €9.90, dogs from €17. Here the animal specifically may NOT be left behind in the vehicle.
- GNV: Pet-friendly cabins with daily disinfection, Late Check-Out until 15 minutes before berthing and their own outdoor area for supervised walks. New from summer 2026, animals are also allowed in designated zones within the dining outlets and in the shops, which matters on the Morocco crossings of 30 to 52 hrs.
- Fred. Olsen Express: The best value for money and the widest choice: Pet Carrier from €2, Pet Rooms from €3 as outside kennels with camera monitoring so you can watch your animal live, and Pet Sofa from €7 where the animal lies on a mattress beside you in the cabin. On the mainland route there are pet-friendly cabins for two animals of 30 kg.
- TT-Line: The most generous regime on board anywhere in the Baltic: dog toilets on the outside decks, dogs on a lead in ALL public areas and a designated dog zone in every restaurant. Pet-friendly cabins take a maximum of 2 animals; if they are full, the animal may travel in an ordinary cabin on six ships for €16 plus €17. Drawback: not in the vehicle.
Honourable mentions
- Scandlines (free, no reservation, the dog may stay in the motorhome, but no visits during the crossing and no dog toilet); Irish Ferries (Pet Den with its own walking area plus cabins and kennels with visiting slots); Stena Line (the dog may stay in the motorhome on Hoek van Holland–Harwich, up to 5 dogs, ±€21, plus cabins on three routes); Destination Gotland (animal in the vehicle and one supervised visiting slot, a rarity); Armas Trasmediterránea (animal officially allowed in the vehicle with a signed waiver); La Méridionale (animals in the cabin); Baleària (the unique Pet Friendly Seat for animals up to 8 kg). Worst: Smyril Line (dogs and cats practically impossible to take to Iceland, a €405 fine if the animal comes into the cabin) and POLSCA Baltic Ferries (only on designated ships in designated cabins).
Sleeping on board
- In 2026 there is exactly one route left in Europe where you may legally sleep in your own motorhome on deck: Star Lines on Brindisi (Italy) – Vlora/Valona (Albania), ±7.5 hrs, only from 1 April to 31 October. You pay the economy deck passage fare plus the vehicle fare, you get 220V sockets (but no plugs on board, so bring your own connector), access to showers and toilets, and your pet may stay with you in the vehicle. Conditions: only officially registered motorhomes and caravans, gas bottles off, both gas and electric hotplates banned, engine off, and at departure and arrival you have to leave the vehicle deck. The captain can withdraw access in bad weather. This is the result of a series of withdrawals: Attica Group (ANEK and Superfast) scrapped camping on board for good on all the Adriatic routes to Greece from 2025, including the 220V facility; Minoan Lines had scrapped it earlier still and its successor Camping All Inclusive is listed on the operator's own site as of August 2026 literally as THIS OFFER IS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED; Grimaldi does not offer it. In Scandinavia, the Baltic, the North Sea and the North Atlantic the phenomenon does not exist at all: the vehicle deck is locked everywhere as soon as the ship is under way, and Finnlines and DFDS even expressly forbid sleeping in the motorhome.
Power on the vehicle deck
- A surprising answer for 2026: Finnlines is the only major northern European ferry operator that offers motorhomes a genuine electrical hook-up on the vehicle deck. You reserve it when booking, leave a note on the windscreen so the deck officer knows power is needed, and bring your own extension lead. Star Lines also has 220V on Brindisi–Vlora, without plugs. None of the other operators researched offer it: DFDS says explicitly that a motorhome on board may not be connected to electricity or gas, and Attica scrapped the 220V facility along with camping on board in 2025. TT-Line does mention an electrical hook-up for motorhomes as an on-board service topic but without any details, so NOT CONFIRMED. The practical alternative everywhere else: turn the fridge up to its highest setting 24 hrs before departure and put frozen cool packs inside.
How far ahead should you book?
- Channel: High frequency, so you will always get across: 25 sailings a day with three ferry operators on Calais–Dover and 3 to 4 departures an hour at Eurotunnel. The price is fully dynamic: book for July and August by the spring at the latest and avoid Friday and Saturday departures, because a medium-sized motorhome costs around 1.3 times the car fare on a quiet Thursday and up to around 1.9 times on a peak weekend. At Eurotunnel, allow 1 to 2 hrs extra for the compulsory gas check.
- North Sea: Overnight ferries with a compulsory or standard cabin: 2 to 4 months ahead for July and August and the school holidays. Pet-friendly cabins are the bottleneck, because there are only a handful per ship (P&O has 6 per ship on Hull–Rotterdam) and they go first; at DFDS you even have to book them by telephone. Do not forget that every occupant has needed a UK ETA since 2 April 2025, at ±£16 per person.
- Ireland: The direct routes Rosslare–Dunkirk, Rosslare–Cherbourg and Dublin–Cherbourg have few sailings (2 to 6 a week) and limited cabin capacity: book 3 to 4 months ahead, and for Roscoff–Cork (2 sailings a week, only from late March to early November) earlier still. On the landbridge via Holyhead–Dublin you can book at shorter notice, but then you need a UK ETA and you pay for two crossings.
- Norway: Hirtshals–Kristiansand is the shortest corridor and the most flexible, with several sailings a day and two ferry operators. Kiel–Oslo and the Go Nordic routes have compulsory cabins and limited capacity for tall and long vehicles: book 3 to 6 months ahead for July and August. The Fjord Line motorhome promotion is already bookable up to the end of December 2027. Register your motorhome before arrival for the Norwegian tolls; an AutoPASS-brik gives around 20% off.
- Baltic and Finland: For the long routes such as Travemünde–Helsinki (30 hrs), Karlshamn–Klaipėda and Kiel–Klaipėda: 2 to 4 months ahead for the summer, mainly because the cheap SPECIAL early-booking fares and motorhome packages work with limited allocations. The short routes can often be booked at short notice, but booking online saves 30 to 50% at Scandlines. If you want the TT-Line motorhome return package or the length-surcharge offer, you have to book before 31 August 2026.
- Greece: 2 to 3 months ahead for July and August. Since camping on board was scrapped you are competing with every other motorhome traveller for cabins and aircraft-style seats, so the pressure on cheap accommodation has increased. The Grimaldi early-booking discount of 20% requires booking by April at the latest for travel from June to September. Getting off at Igoumenitsa rather than Patras saves 5 to 6 hrs of sailing and is usually cheaper.
- Morocco: Two very different regimes. On Algeciras–Tanger Med (30 to 40 sailings a day, 24/7) you buy an open return and, if need be, take the next boat; outside the peak you can even book the same day. On the long routes from southern France and Italy (Sète–Tanger Med 40 hrs, Genoa–Tanger Med 52 hrs) you have to book 1 to 2 months ahead, and longer during the Marhaba period. In 2026 Marhaba runs from 5 June to 15 September: avoid the southbound peak from late June to early July, the core peak from around 20 July to 25 August and the return peak from late August to early September. Be at the port 2 to 3 hrs before departure, and 4 hrs in Sète. La Méridionale lets you cancel free of charge up to 4 days before departure and is the best fallback if Sète is full.
- Iceland and the Faroe Islands: By far the longest booking lead time in Europe: summer sailings with Smyril Line are often sold out as early as the winter, so book 6 to 12 months ahead as soon as the timetable opens. Allow for a deposit of 25% with a minimum of €810 and for amendment fees of €27 to €162 per leg. Choose your departure day deliberately: Saturday automatically gives you three nights' free stopover in the Faroe Islands, Tuesday sails straight on to Iceland. You cannot take pets.
- Canary Islands: The motorhome peaks run counter to the summer peak: outward in November and December, back in March and April. Book 3 to 6 months ahead, especially the cabins, because it is two nights at sea (31 to 37 hrs). Compare Huelva (Gran Canaria and Tenerife only) with Cádiz, which also calls at Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Palma. Fred. Olsen is the most flexible here: all fare levels amendable free of charge and refundable within a year.
- Mediterranean islands: August is extremely busy and expensive: book 3 to 4 months ahead. The early-booking discount at Moby and Grimaldi in January to March can be worth 30 to 40%. Villa San Giovanni–Messina to Sicily is the exception: no reservation needed, every 20 to 40 minutes, 24/7, with a transparent motorhome fare of €61.70 one way and €105.70 for a return within 90 days, covering 5 people. In the Balearics, watch out for the fact that Trasmed often turns large motorhomes away.
Best club discounts 2026
- For Dutch motorhome travellers: NKC members get up to 10% via Overtocht.nl, where the percentage varies by ferry operator and you quote your membership number when reserving; the NKC shop offered 10 to 20% with DFDS on IJmuiden–Newcastle, but that offer ran until December 2025 and the 2026 edition has not been confirmed. ANWB Ledenvoordeel offers ferry crossings without a fixed motorhome discount percentage. For German motorhome travellers ADAC is the strongest: up to 15% with Superfast, up to 10% with DFDS and Grimaldi, 7.5% with Tallink Silja, 5% with Color Line, 4% with Stena Line and 20% off in the shop with GNV; new from July/August 2026, Adria Ferries, P&O Ferries, TT-Line, Trasmed and the Eurotunnel car trains join that list. Camping Key Europe is the best card for the Baltic: 25% with Unity Line, up to 20% with Tallink Silja, 10% with TT-Line including both vehicle and cabin, up to 10% with Stena Line and 5% with Finnlines. For British motorhome travellers the Caravan and Motorhome Club delivers the most: 10% off Stena Economy vehicle fares plus a free Flexi upgrade, 50% off four Irish Sea routes on fixed days, and 9% on LeShuttle. In Italy there are motorhome club agreements at Grimaldi (Camper Club Italiano, PleinAir Club) and Ichnusa Lines explicitly gives a discount to members of Camperisti Italiani, ACI and FMI. The most important conclusion: an operator's own motorhome package is almost always worth more than a club discount. The TT-Line motorhome return package (15 to 20% plus half or all of the length surcharge waived), the Scandlines Camper-Ticket (the length surcharge of €30 to €120 is waived outside the peak) and the Stena caravan offer (caravan free) are each worth more than 4 to 10% members' discount, and at TT-Line Camping Key Europe is stackable on top.
What to know about terminals beforehand
Twelve things that most often catch motorhome travellers out at check-in.
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1
Check-in times vary enormously and '2 hrs beforehand' is no universal rule. Stena Hoek van Holland-Harwich works with fixed windows that close 45 to 60 min before departure, Irish Ferries and Stena close 30 min before departure on the Irish Sea, while DFDS Rosslare-Dunkirk demands 2 hrs, Color Line Kiel-Oslo 120 min, Eurotunnel 90 min because of the gas check, and GNV and Baleària on Sète-Tanger Med a full 3 hrs. Anyone comparing motorhome routes has to look up the real rule corridor by corridor.
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2
The best motorhome solutions for the night before are the free or cheap sites that sit literally next to the check-in: Rue du Petit Dena at DFDS Loon-Plage (free, 30 places, 24/7 toilets, 4.54/5), West Dock Road at Stena Harwich (free, tolerated), the aire on the Boulevard Maritime beside the Brittany Ferries terminal in Ouistreham (€13) and Trelleborgs Ställplatser right next to the TT-Line terminal (from 215 SEK). Where such a spot is missing - Europoort, Portsmouth, Barcelona, Palma, Dublin, Belfast - the night before departure is consistently the biggest bottleneck.
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3
The Netherlands and the United Kingdom are the strictest about simply sleeping in a car park. The park4night spots at Hoek van Holland (Prins Willemweg) and Europoort (Noordzeeweg) are explicitly daytime parking with active police enforcement, and Dover District Council permits sleeping in your vehicle only on Marine Parade and Waterloo Crescent for £13, and only between 18:00 and 08:00.
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4
Gas rules are the hardest blocker for motorhomes. Eurotunnel refuses LPG as a motor fuel outright, even with an empty tank, and requires a demonstrable level gauge and a maximum fill of 80% - without a gauge you are turned away. Smyril Line allows a maximum of 3 bottles totalling 47 kg. On virtually every ferry the fridge has to come off gas, every valve has to be shut off and the vehicle deck is closed during the crossing, so you have to take everything you need en route out of the motorhome beforehand.
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5
Height is not a detail but a separate procedure. In Travemünde, Finnlines sends everything over 3.80 metres to a separate harbour office instead of the usual check-in container; Eurotunnel puts everything over 1.85 metres in single-deck wagons; Corsica Ferries uses 2.40 metres in height and 7 metres in length as the threshold for the motorhome rate; and the multi-storey car park at Vuosaari in Helsinki has a 2.30 metre clearance. Measure including roof box, bike rack, air-conditioning unit and satellite dish.
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6
Border and customs requirements differ fundamentally from corridor to corridor. Every British route requires a UK ETA (£20, valid two years, through the UK ETA app); Norway has real import quotas (10 kilos of meat and cheese, one chosen alcohol combination, 6,000 NOK for stays longer than 24 hrs and only 3,000 NOK without alcohol below that); Iceland refuses frozen products altogether and admits no pets at all; and since 1 January 2019 Morocco has worked with a single digital temporary import declaration instead of the old D16ter.
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7
Toll and registration obligations on arrival are systematically underestimated. Norway charges through number-plate recognition with no barriers (AutoPASS, invoiced via EPC); failing to register in advance means, according to Color Line, a wait of two to six months plus extra costs, and motorhomes over 3,500 kg fall into the more expensive tariff group 2. In Ireland the M50 toll at Dublin likewise works without barriers and you have to pay it yourself afterwards.
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8
Low-emission zones work out differently for motorhomes from city to city. The Newcastle and Gateshead Clean Air Zone does not apply to cars and motorhomes - motor caravans are even among the local exemptions - but Portsmouth does have a Clean Air Zone your motorhome may have to pay for, and London has both the ULEZ and the LEZ, under which older heavy motorhomes can fall into the LEZ with high daily charges.
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9
In southern Europe the logic is reversed: the night before the boat is cheap and easy there (Livorno free at Parco del Mulino, Ancona €12, Sète €8-13, Calais €17.50 with full service), but the destination is strict. On Corsica your motorhome has to be empty of people at night and you may park for a maximum of seven consecutive days; Palma fines overnight stays in the city; and Greece has had a limit of 24 consecutive hrs in residential areas since 1999, on top of the uncertainty around law 5170/2025.
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10
Camping on board on the Italy-Greece routes is the one situation in which you may stay in your own motorhome, with a 220V hook-up on the open deck and no surcharge beyond the deck passage and the vehicle rate. But availability shifts from year to year and from operator to operator: in 2025 it was not offered on the Superfast and Bluestar ships. On every other corridor a cabin is compulsory on overnight sailings and sleeping on the vehicle deck is prohibited.
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11
Gas bottles and LPG are not interchangeable along the way. Dutch and German bottles cannot be exchanged in the UK (Calor) or Ireland (Kosangas), Scandinavia and Finland have systems of their own again, and in Morocco you get only Moroccan butane bottles with their own pressure regulator. A refillable tank needs country-specific adapters (ACME, Dish, Bayonet, EURO). So always fill and exchange before the crossing.
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12
Four ports are not where their name suggests, and it regularly costs motorhome travellers their boat: the DFDS terminal at 'Dunkirk' is in Loon-Plage, a good 20 km to the west; the P&O terminal at 'Rotterdam' is in Europoort, 37 km from the centre; the Finnlines terminal at 'Helsinki' is in Vuosaari, some 20 km from the centre; and the Skandinavienkai at Travemünde is on the opposite side of the Trave from the beach. Always use the exact terminal address in your sat nav.