
This Christmas, our head of barketing, Peru, wanted to head back to the UK to visit some furmily in the Northeast of England. Since pets aren’t allowed to fly in-cabin to the UK on commercial flights, we opted for a scenic route: flying into Amsterdam and taking the overnight ferry from Rotterdam to Hull. Here’s how we made it happen:
Our Journey at a Glance:
Flight Path:Â Delta Airlines (non-code-share) BDA > ATL > AMS
Flight Costs (per human):Â $900+ return
Pet Fee:Â $200 each way
Veterinary Appointment for UK Health Certificate + Deworming:Â $235
Hotel in Amsterdam:Â Free IHG Anniversary Night
Taxi Costs (Amsterdam to Rotterdam):Â 110 Euros
Pet-Friendly Cabin (2 humans + 1 dog): £241
The Reality of Traveling with Pets to the UK
Since pets aren’t allowed in the cabin on flights to the UK, the ferry route is a pawsitive alternative. There are more ferry options if you have a car, but if you're a foot passenger there are less options. We took the one from Europort in Rotterdam to Hull. There are two ports in Rotterdam and they are a fair distance between them so be sure if you take a ferry you check which port you're going out of. So there’s prep work involved!
Prepping for the Journey
Vet Visit and Paperwork
Within five days of arriving in the UK, we booked an appointment with our vet to administer an approved deworming treatment and issue a UK Health Certificate. This needed approval from the Bermuda government veterinarian, which we got on Friday, December 20.
That evening, we received a pre-check email from P&O Ferries requesting Peru’s EU Pet Passport or UK Health Certificate. A small hiccup arose when the deworming treatment wasn’t noted in Peru’s EU Pet Passport (only in the UK Health Certificate).
Our vet should have put the tapeworm in the pet passport as per the instructions listed on the UK Government website here. The pages in the EU Pet Passport are clearly marked where a 'licensed veterinarian' or an 'Official Veterinarian' can input information.
Thankfully, P&O Ferries approved our pre-check, even without the passport update.
Amsterdam Stopover
We landed in Amsterdam and treated Peru (and ourselves) to a restful night at the pet-friendly Kimpton DeWitt Hotel. Peru enjoyed a doggie burger while we caught up on sleep after the long journey.
The next day, we fought off jet lag with a leisurely morning and checked out at 3 p.m. A pre-booked Uber Pet whisked us to Rotterdam in about 1.5 hours.
Boarding the Ferry
We arrived just before 5pm as instructed. They like to clear foot passengers with dogs earlier. They accepted the UK Health Certificate without needing Peru’s EU Pet Passport (which was only used for entry into the Netherlands).
Pet Cabin Perks
We booked flexible ferry tickets early in the summer, ensuring a pet-friendly cabin. These cabins feature hard-surface floors (easy cleanup) and are near the "activity deck"—also known to us as the poop deck.
Our cabin included:
Food and water bowls
Poop bags for any in-cabin accidents
Two single beds (which Peru alternated between, ever the fair pup)
A private bathroom (spacious for a ferry cabin, with a toilet and sink)
Wifi
Smooth Sailing
The ferry departed Rotterdam at 9 p.m. and arrived in Hull at 7 a.m. As the ship docked, we took Peru to the poop deck, where he did his business. Cleanup was a breeze with the provided supplies.
Arrival in the UK
Disembarking was straightforward. Immigration had a special paw-print sign leading pet parents to a dedicated line. Peru’s paperwork and microchip were checked promptly, and we were through in no time.
Thirty minutes later, Peru’s grandpawrents greeted us, and we were ready to kick off the pawlidays!
Our Pawspective
Four Paws Up!
The experience was seamless:
Booking:Â Easy and efficient
Communication:Â Clear at every step
Accommodation:Â Comfortable, well-equipped pet cabin
Journey:Â Smooth sailing (literally!) and with our pup the entire way.
Though we didn’t use the onboard restaurant much, the à la carte menu looked pawsitively delicious. Most importantly, P&O Ferries handled Peru’s paperwork with care, giving us confidence throughout the journey.
If you’re considering this route, we highly recommend it for a pawsitive and pet-friendly travel experience.
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