Travelling with pets

For the purposes of the accommodation on our vessels, we class domestic cats and dogs as pets. Horses, cows, sheep, poultry, other agricultural animals and any animals that would ordinarily require transport in a dedicated livestock trailer or vehicle must be booked via our Reservations team.

You must inform us if you intend to bring a pet on board our vessels other than in a vehicle on the car decks. In order to ensure all passengers have a safe and enjoyable crossing we have a maximum number of pets allowed per crossing. Plase see our pages about travelling with pets for ways to book and how to make your journey more comfortable for you, your pet and your fellow travellers.

Before travelling with your pet on board our vessels please be aware there are legal requirements in place on some of our routes. Pets Travelling to Northern Ireland and EU Countries (including Ireland) require an Animal Health Certificate from your vet every time you travel. A Microchip A valid Rabies Vaccination Tapeworm treatment for dogs if you’re travelling directly to the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland If you intend to re-enter the UK directly from the EU, your dog must have tapeworm treatment administered whilst abroad. The treatment must be done more than 24 but less than 120 hours before scheduled arrival time in the UK and must be entered correctly on the pet passport/AHC. These requirements also apply to assistance dogs. It is your responsibility to ensure that all of the entry conditions are met. It is important that you check the EU regulations to the Pet Travel Scheme by visiting www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad A Pet Passport is not currently required when travelling to/from England to Isle of Man. However, it is important that pets are fit and healthy to travel, especially when making use of the pet lounges where other pets are likely to be present.

Just like at home, it is your responsibility to ensure you clean up after your pet. Failure to comply can result in a specialist cleaning fee of £100 per pet being applied.

You are welcome to leave your pet within your vehicle when travelling on any of our vessels. This is free of charge. Please ensure your pet is provided with adequate water, ventilation and food. Ordinarily, you will not be allowed to return to the car deck once the vessel has sailed.

Pets that are aggressive or are in any other way struggle with socialising with other animals should wear a muzzle. Owners of pets that have difficulties socialising should consider booking a private cabin or transporting their animal in their vehicle in order to reduce stress for their pets and other animals who may be travelling. Our staff and crew have the right to refuse any animal deemed dangerous to other animals or passengers, they can also order you to return your animal to your vehicle if they consider that course of action to be in the best interests of safety.

There is no charge for guide dogs or assistance dogs travelling on Isle of Man Steam Packet Vessels. All guide and assistance dogs must have the appropriate paperwork when travelling. The dogs are allowed to remain with their owner on the passenger decks for the duration of the voyage if they are an officially registered working dog. When on the passenger decks they must wear a guide dog harness or jacket at all times. For travel on Steam Packet vessels an assistance dog is defined as one which has been specifically trained to assist a disabled person and certified by an organisation that is a full member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), the accrediting bodies for assistance dog organisations worldwide. Emotional support animals that are not recognised as assistance dogs by the above organisations are not allowed to travel in the public areas and must only be taken in dedicated pet-friendly areas.