Ferry Portsmouth to Santander + dog

[RedAngel19]

Hi there, has anyone done this with a dog? The ferry only has 22 pet friendly cabins so they are always booked. Whilst we don't like the idea of kennels, we'd consider it if we could stay most of the time with the dog and perhaps stay in the exercise area? Then put dog in the kennels for 2-3 hours at a time tops except when asleep for the night (dog crate trained).

However, the journey is almost 24 hours and it says on the website that you can visit your dog only twice during the day. For me, that is nowhere near enough! Is that really true? Has anyone done this and can advise? If it really is only two visits, then we won't do it and will find another route to Spain (to see family, not really a holiday as such).

Thanks!

Not a chance would I do that.

Get a house/ dog sitter- not as stressful as being cooped up for 24 hours on a noisy ferry!

Friends drives his 3 dogs and 2 cats down, says it’s way better than the ferry.

I couldn’t. My dog would be really stressed and unhappy, so I would be too. Then I’d probably spend the whole trip feeling guilty and worrying about the return journey.

I would drive via France and go that way.

Try the St Malo route to see if they have dog friendly cabins? I wouldn't do 22 hours with the dog in kennels

I think the information about visiting twice is for a different ferry, not the Santander route.

Irrespective of how many times you can visit, spending most of your time in the dog exercise area would be pretty grim imo.

We've done an overnight ferry with a pet friendly cabin but given our pup wouldn't toilet onboard I'd be wary of a longer journey even if I had a cabin. I'd far rather take a leisurely drive and find a pet friendly hotel to break the journey.

Thanks everyone. You've confirmed my reservations about the ferry. I've never done it so thought the exercise area might be big enough that I can book the kennel and stay outside with my dog most of the time with him. Clearly that isn't going to work.

We will look into driving over a couple of days and take the tunnel. Or we'll try to find someone who will take our dog and who we are happy to leave her with.

Thanks all.

Definitely take the tunnel