P&O Ferry Mini Cruise From Hull
From Hull you can choose to take your car with you and spend a day exploring Holland or Belgium at leisure, or travel as a foot passenger and explore the beautiful cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam (in Holland) or Bruges (in Belgium) with inclusive city-centre coach transfers.
A 2 night minicruise includes two consecutive nights onboard accommodation in your own en suite cabin and a day ashore on the Continent. Foot passengers can upgrade to a 3 night minicruise and spend a night in their chosen city for just an additional £20 per person (does not include hotel accommodation).
P&O Ferry Mini Cruise From Portsmouth
The impressive Pride of Bilbao is the perfect ship on which to enjoy this 3 night round trip to Bilbao in Spain.
With live cabaret entertainment, restaraunts, bars, two cinemas and even a plunge pool and health spa there is plenty to do before relaxing for the evenings in your own en suite cabin.
With up to 4 hours ashore in Spain you can choose to book one of our three optional shore excursions from just £10 per person, allowing you to learn a little more about this beautiful area of Spain.
P&O Ferry Mini Cruise From Dover
From Dover you can enjoy the luxury of a 'Cruise à la Carte' minicruise, the convenience of a 'Car Park Shopper' minicruise or a combination of the two.
The non-landing Cruise à la Carte package allows you to sail out to Calais as a foot passenger in the ambience of the Club Lounge, then enjoy a three course meal in the exclusive onboard Langan's Brasserie on the return trip.
With Car Park Shopper you can drive on board, park your car, then 'shop till you drop' safe in the knowledge that everything you buy will be carried to you car ready for you to drive off back in Dover.
Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)
P&O Ferries will carry PETS on all services* from Dover to Calais and Hull to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge. The P&O Ferries service from Portsmouth to Bilbao does not take part in the Pet Travel Scheme due to the length of the sailing, as this would be unsuitable for any pet to travel.
*Subject to the qualifying criteria below.
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is the system that allows pet animals from certain countries to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet certain criteria. It also means that people in the UK who 'meet' these conditions can take their pets to these countries and bring them back without the need for quarantine.
The scheme: (PETS) only applies to domestic Cats and Dogs* including registered assisted dogs (i.e. guide dogs and hearing dogs.) It does not include any other animals like rabbits, guinea pigs or hamsters etc. The scheme is limited and only operates from certain countries and territories coming into the UK. It is against the law in Great Britain to possess certain types of dogs and meeting the requirements of PETS will not change that.
Under the scheme which is also know as PETS, animals can travel across Europe without the need to be placed into quarantine for 6 months on their return to the UK.
The DEFRA web site contains all the necessary information needed for anyone intending to travel with their cats or dogs. Animals cannot travel unaccompanied.
Joining PETS Passport Scheme
At least 6 months before the date of travel into the UK:
The dog or cat must be fitted with a microchip.
The animal must be vaccinated against rabies.
A blood test must be done to ensure that the above vaccination will offer sufficient protection against rabies.
An official PETS certificate can then be obtained from a government authorised vet and must be carried when travelling.
A declaration of residency form (PETS3) must be signed which states that the animal has not been outside any of the PETS qualifying countries in the 6 months before entry or re-entry to the UK.
24 to 48 hours before returning to the UK the animal must be treated for ticks and tapeworm and a vet?s certificate confirming this has been done obtained.
The certificate of health is no longer required for pets travelling from Hull.
However a certificate of health signed by a vet 24 hours before departure is recommended for entry into Belgium and Holland.
For animals travelling to Belgium a EXP26 rabies certificate is required and must have been issued at least 30 days before travel.
Dover - Calais
For animals under the pets passport scheme
Vehicle Drivers
All animals must remain in the vehicle at all times.
Foot and Coach Passengers
Regrettably Foot and Coach Passengers cannot take PETS on the Dover to Calais route. The only exceptions are guide and hearing dogs, which are carried free of charge in both directions, otherwise they will be subject to the same quarantine regulations as any other animal.
Check-in Times
Check-in is at least 60 minutes before departure for customers travelling with pets either from Dover or Calais. Please note that these times are the very latest check-in times for customers with animals. We would recommend you to check-in earlier wherever possible.
Coach Travel
Domestic Pets will not be accepted for carriage with customers travelling in coaches.
Hull - Rotterdam / Zeebrugge
For animals under the pets passport scheme
Vehicle Drivers
Drivers can take domestic PETS providing the animals remain in their vehicle at all times.
Coach Passengers
We regret that pets are not allowed to travel with passengers travelling by coach.
Where are Animals Kept Whilst On-Board?
Domestic pets can be carried in RSPCA approved carriers. Larger animals will have to be allocated a kennel i.e. cats and dogs. The Kennels are located in an air-conditioned area and are checked hourly during the crossing. The entrance door to the kennels is from car deck 7. The kennels have non-transparent sides so animals cannot see each other. Water is available, however owners should take their own bowls, food and blankets. There will be an opportunity for owner's to visit their animal by prior arrangement.
Check-in Times
We recommend that you check-in at least 3 hours before departure whether you are travelling from Hull or the continent. Please note that these times are the very latest check-in times for customers with animals. We would recommend you to check-in earlier wherever possible.
Information Applicable to All Routes:
(Excluding Spain and any sailings operated by the Pride of Bilbao)
Cost
The charge for the carriage of pets is £15 each way for each animal taken and must be paid at time of booking.
Coach travel
We regret that Coach Passengers are NOT permitted to take PETS on any of our routes.
European Countries Eligible for PETS
Pets resident in the UK can, having travelled to one or more of the countries below, return to the UK under PETS without quarantine provided they meet the rules of the Scheme. Pets that come from one of these countries and have been resident in any of them for at least six months can also enter the UK under the Scheme as long as they meet the necessary rules.
1 There are special requirements for all pets travelling from Cyprus and Malta.
2 Norway excludes Svalbard.
3 Portugal includes the Azores and Madeira.
4 Spain includes the Canary Islands, but excludes Ceuta and Melilla.
Non-European Countries Eligible for PETS
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) allow pet cats and dogs to enter England from certain Long Haul (i.e. non-European) countries and territories without having to go into quarantine. The same conditions apply to these animals as those brought in from European PETS countries. However, for some of the Long Haul countries there are additional conditions and documentary requirements.
Please visit the DEFRA website for more information.
or contact DEFRA at:
Pet Travel Scheme Helpline
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Area 201
1a Page Street,
London
SW1P 4PQ
Telephone: +44 (0) 870 241 1710
(Mon - Fri - 8.30am to 5pm GMT. If you cannot get through, please leave a message on the voice mail)
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7904 6206
E-mail: pets.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk (please enclose your postal address and a day time telephone number)
Quarantine Issues - Q&A
Q1. Do the quarantine regulations still apply?
A1. Yes. They continue to apply to cats and dogs and to animals of other rabies susceptible species that do not qualify for the Pet Travel Scheme. These animals will have to spend 6 months in quarantine. If in doubt, consult the PETS Helpline.
Q2. Can animals be released from quarantine early if they meet the PETS rules?
A2. Yes. Owners can apply for early release from the sixth month quarantine period for their animal but only if it meets all the rules of the Pet Travel Scheme
Q3. Which animals are subject to the quarantine rules?
A3. Virtually all mammals except farm livestock and horses are included. Ask at your local quarantine office, or ring the helpline if you are in doubt.
Quarantine Section
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Area 209, 1a Page Street,
London
SW1P 4PQ
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7904 6222
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7904 6834
E-mail: quarantine@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Please include your postal address and a daytime telephone number.
Disclaimer
P&O Ferries Ltd can not be held responsible or accountable in any way for any inaccuracies, inconsistencies or omissions in this guide to the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS.) The 'Scheme' is continuously evolving and was produced in good faith with the very latest information available at the time of inception. P&O Ferries would therefore strongly recommend you to contact the Department (for the) Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for the very latest advice and information. Please note that if the prevailing rules and regulations of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) laid down by DEFRA are not strictly adhered to at the time of travel could result in your animal being subject to a six month quarantine on entry into the United Kingdom. The carriage of all animals is undertaken at the owners' own risk.
