Cairnryan - Larne ferry with a dog?

[Kiltie]

Has anyone been on this ferry with a doggie?

The P&O site says that dogs have to stay in cars.

I'm wondering if I would be able to stay in the car as well.

I know I could call P&O to ask but I'd rather hear from people who had experience as passengers.

[cat220]

Kiltie said:

Has anyone been on this ferry with a doggie?

The P&O site says that dogs have to stay in cars.

I'm wondering if I would be able to stay in the car as well.

I know I could call P&O to ask but I'd rather hear from people who had experience as passengers.

Done this a few years ago and left the dog in the back of the car in her bed. Obviously with the car locked and the alarm not set. From memory I don't think you could stay in the car deck once at sea.

[Kiltie]

cat220 said:

Done this a few years ago and left the dog in the back of the car in her bed. Obviously with the car locked and the alarm not set. From memory I don't think you could stay in the car deck once at sea.

Thanks. That's what I reckoned but I wondered if the crew in charge of the car deck might be a bit felxible.

My doggie is still quite new so I'm not sure if she'll be ok on her own in that kind of environment (noisy and dark) for two hours.

The trip I'm thinking about isn't 'til April so still plenty of time for her to build her confidence.

[Corpulent Tosser]

I have never been on a ferry where they allowed anyone to stay in the car deck while underway, some will allow you to go to the car during the voyage accompanied by a crew member, to check on a pet or retreive something from your car.

I have though been on ferries where dogs were allowed in specific areas, Oban to Mull we had our dog on deck and in a small inside seated area, could be worth asking if they allow dogs to stay with owners.

You could always pretend she is your guide dog.

[Kiltie]

Corpulent Tosser said:

You could always pretend she is your guide dog.

... why, what have they given me?"

Yeah, I checked on the P&O site and they don't allow dogs in the passenger areas apart from "assistance dogs".

I wonder if the fact that this dog has kept me sane in the last three weeks would count.

[Jayyylo]

If you travel to Belfast with Stenaline I believe they have kennel area you can use. No-one in UK area will let you stay on the car deck.

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/FAQs/travelling-with-pe...

[McWigglebum4th]

Let the dog sleep in the car a few nights?

Then the car becomes a "safe" place

[Kiltie]

Jayyylo said:

If you travel to Belfast with Stenaline I believe they have kennel area you can use. No-one in UK area will let you stay on the car deck.

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/FAQs/travelling-with-pe...

Thanks, that's an idea.

[yellowbentines]

I took my dog in the Troon - Larne crossing in summer, definitely not allowed so stay on the car deck with your four legged friend.

I did that crossing as I think its the shortest and quickest, the crew at the port were very helpful in letting me drive on at the very last minute and turn around so I could be off first to minimise the time he was on board - easy on that boat as all vehicles come on and off at the rear.

Not that he seemed bothered, I sneaked up on the car on my return and he was sound asleep - and my dogs a 'barker' - dont worry about it too much, crack the windows open a little and leave some water and he'll be fine

Edited by yellowbentines on Sunday 1st February 17:42

[750turbo]

yellowbentines said:

I took my dog in the Troon - Larne crossing in summer, definitely not allowed so stay on the car deck with your four legged friend.

I did that crossing as I think its the shortest and quickest, the crew at the port were very helpful in letting me drive on at the very last minute and turn around so I could be off first to minimise the time he was on board - easy on that boat as all vehicles come on and off at the rear.

Not that he seemed bothered, I sneaked up on the car on my return and he was sound asleep - and my dogs a 'barker' - dont worry about it too much, crack the windows open a little and leave some water and he'll be fine

Edited by yellowbentines on Sunday 1st February 17:42

This takes 2 hours, and does not start till March though - There used to be a faster sailing from Cairnryan, not sure if this still running, took 1 hour from memory. When the weather was too bad to run this, you were dumped on the bigger ferry with all the HGVs.

[cat220]

Kiltie said:

Jayyylo said:

If you travel to Belfast with Stenaline I believe they have kennel area you can use. No-one in UK area will let you stay on the car deck.

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/FAQs/travelling-with-pe...

Thanks, that's an idea.

The only thing I'd say against that is that dogs will be happier in a familiar environment with their own bed etc. OP if your dog is 'new' then it might be worth taking her out with you in the car a run, if you go for dinner etc leave her in the car with her bed or whatever she is familiar with. Apologies if this comes across as obvious, just this is what we done with our dog and she's now fine in the car.

[Kiltie]

cat220 said:

Kiltie said:

Jayyylo said:

If you travel to Belfast with Stenaline I believe they have kennel area you can use. No-one in UK area will let you stay on the car deck.

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/FAQs/travelling-with-pe...

Thanks, that's an idea.

The only thing I'd say against that is that dogs will be happier in a familiar environment with their own bed etc. OP if your dog is 'new' then it might be worth taking her out with you in the car a run, if you go for dinner etc leave her in the car with her bed or whatever she is familiar with. Apologies if this comes across as obvious, just this is what we done with our dog and she's now fine in the car.

No, don't worry. That's exactly where we're aiming for - the back of the car being a safe place where nothing goes wrong.

She's only been with us for eight weeks though and we're not quite there yet.

If we take the trip, it's not going to be until April so plenty of time to build her confidence.

This is Breezer.

[kmm]

Had my dog on the ferry from Oban to mull, then on the bus and then on the ferry to iona. Had to stay outside with her. I was on ferry as a foot passenger.

[Kiltie]

750turbo said:

This takes 2 hours, and does not start till March though - There used to be a faster sailing from Cairnryan, not sure if this still running, took 1 hour from memory. When the weather was too bad to run this, you were dumped on the bigger ferry with all the HGVs.

The only Cairnryan - Larne crossing I could see (P&O) looked to be two hours.

Am I maybe not seeing a quicker one?

[Who me ?]

Kiltie- take it that Breezer is a rescue? lucky dog to such thoughtful an owner. I know where you're coming from, but if it's not too hot, perhaps she'll be happier in the car than outside. I've got a suspected dumped ex puppy farm rescued pedigree she Cairn, and she's far happier being left in the car than left outside any supermarket ,even if there's any of her doggy friends/owners around.

[Yanayaya]

Kiltie said:

Has anyone been on this ferry with a doggie?

The P&O site says that dogs have to stay in cars.

I'm wondering if I would be able to stay in the car as well.

I know I could call P&O to ask but I'd rather hear from people who had experience as passengers.

I went from Cairnryan to Larne last July and took my dog, we went to the upper decks be he had to stay in the car.

[Kiltie]

Who me said:

Kiltie- take it that Breezer is a rescue? lucky dog to such thoughtful an owner. I know where you're coming from, but if it's not too hot, perhaps she'll be happier in the car than outside. I've got a suspected dumped ex puppy farm rescued pedigree she Cairn, and she's far happier being left in the car than left outside any supermarket ,even if there's any of her doggy friends/owners around.

Thanks. Yes, she came from the SSPCA.

I remember, a long time ago, you talking about your doggie going for a holiday in her ancestral home.

[Kiltie]

Yanayaya said:

I went from Cairnryan to Larne last July and took my dog, we went to the upper decks be he had to stay in the car.

Allan - can you remember the approximate duration of the crossing?