Stena Line Harwich to Hook of Holland Ferry With A Dog

We really enjoyed the ferry crossing from Harwich to the Hook of Holland with the dog on the overnight trip. Travelling out of the UK with a dog has limited options. The Stena Line ferry was the most convenient. We had pre-booked the Stena Line night ferry with a 30% discount for InterRail pass holders.

The crossing we chose was from Harwich in Essex to Hook of Holland rather than the ferry to France. Booking a cabin was compulsory, as was a kennel for the dog on this journey. To keep this as cheap as possible, we chose the double-bunk-bed cabin option.

Departing From Harwich Ferry Port

After an interesting journey to Harwich by train and fuelling up, we headed to the Harwich ferry port. Check-in and customs were painless. We showed tickets, passports, and the pet passport, which was a legal requirement to travel. After the formalities, we navigated a walkway onto the ferry and were directed the correct way to board with a dog.

Stena Line Kennels

First port of call was the secure kennel deck, where we put the puppy into his home for the night. We made his quarters comfy with his trusty bed, a blanket, his toy Chip-Monkey, and a bowl of water. The kennels were clean, and Stena Line provided blankets, bowls and some good instructions to help canine travellers.

There was also a deck to walk the dogs on the next level down. This was small but served the purpose for toilet breaks, including “Midnight Potty Club”. They provided bins and poo bags for free, and the area was spotless.

The Stena Line Cabin

The cabin was fine for our needs, spotless, had a fantastic shower and was pitch black when the lights were off. I had a fantastic night’s sleep and missed my departure from the UK. I was that comfortable. They dedicated one of the TV stations to the CCTV feed from the kennels, where we watched to check on the sleeping dog, who seemed relaxed.

In the morning, I woke early and took a fantastic, high-pressure hot shower. I then had a wander on deck to see the coast of Holland. There were lots of announcements for breakfasts and the shop. Seems handy for those who need an extra alarm in the morning; for others, it may be irritating.

Departing the boat at Hook of Holland in The Netherlands

When the ferry had landed at Hook of Holland, they made announcements on how to exit. We collected the dog from his home for the night. He said goodbye to his new buddies, including a boxer and a Chihuahua. We disembarked again down a long walkway.

We successfully navigated our way out of the UK to enjoy the upcoming month of travel. The first Interrail stop was The Hague.