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Hull - Rotterdam
Rotterdam - Hull
Dover - Calais
Calais - Dover
Cairnryan - Larne
Larne - Cairnryan
Number of Passengers
Please enter the number of passengers, if you have more than 9 passengers Click here
Dover To Calais
Adult 16+
Infant 0-3
Child 4-15
Pets
Calais To Dover
Adult 16+
Infant 0-3
Child 4-15
Pets
Number of Passengers
Please enter the number of passengers, if you have more than 9 passengers Click here
Hull To Rotterdam
Adult 16+
Infant 0-1
Toddler 2-3
Child 4-15
Small dog
Large dog
Extra large dog
Small Pet
Other pet
Rotterdam To Hull
Adult 16+
Infant 0-1
Toddler 2-3
Child 4-15
Small dog
Large dog
Extra large dog
Small Pet
Other pet
Number of Passengers
Please enter the number of passengers, if you have more than 9 passengers Click here
Cairnryan To Larne
Adult 16-59
Infant 0-3
Child 4-15
Student 16-25
Senior 60+
Pet Staying in Car
Larne To Cairnryan
Adult 16-59
Infant 0-3
Child 4-15
Student 16-25
Senior 60+
Pet Staying in Car
Vehicle Details
Please select your vehicle type. Please note: Vehicles of any type carrying commercial goods must be booked on our freight website. Please include roof boxes and bikes in your vehicles total height.
Dover To Calais
Travelling By
Vehicle Type
Standard
Standard: <4.7m length; <1.8m height. Enter length if 4.7m or greater.
Standard Van
Standard Van: <7m length, <2.30m height. If length is 7m or greater, contact our Freight team
Standard Minibus
Standard Minibus: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Standard Motorhome
Standard Motorhome: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Calais To Dover
Travelling By
Vehicle Type
Standard
Standard: <4.7m length; <1.8m height. Enter length if 4.7m or greater.
Standard Van
Standard Van: <7m length, <2.30m height. If length is 7m or greater, contact our Freight team
Standard Minibus
Standard Minibus: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Standard Motorhome
Standard Motorhome: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Vehicle Details
Please select your vehicle type. Please note: Vehicles of any type carrying commercial goods must be booked on our freight website. Please include roof boxes and bikes in your vehicles total height.
Hull To Rotterdam
Travelling By
Vehicle Type
Standard
Standard: <4.7m length; <1.8 height. Enter length if 4.7m or greater.
Standard Van
Standard Van: <7m length, <2.30m height. If length is 7m or greater, contact our Freight team
Standard Minibus
Standard Minibus: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Standard Motorhome
Standard Motorhome: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Rotterdam To Hull
Travelling By
Vehicle Type
Standard
Standard: <4.7m length; <1.8 height. Enter length if 4.7m or greater.
Standard Van
Standard Van: <7m length, <2.30m height. If length is 7m or greater, contact our Freight team
Standard Minibus
Standard Minibus: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Standard Motorhome
Standard Motorhome: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Vehicle Details
Please select your vehicle type. Please note: Vehicles of any type carrying commercial goods must be booked on our freight website. Please include roof boxes and bikes in your vehicles total height.
Cairnryan To Larne
Travelling By
Vehicle Type
Standard
Standard: <4.7m length; <1.8 height. Enter length if 4.7m or greater.
Standard Van
Standard Van: <7m length, <2.30m height. If length is 7m or greater, contact our Freight team
Standard Minibus
Standard Minibus: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Standard Motorhome
Standard Motorhome: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Larne To Cairnryan
Travelling By
Vehicle Type
Standard
Standard: <4.7m length; <1.8 height. Enter length if 4.7m or greater.
Standard Van
Standard Van: <7m length, <2.30m height. If length is 7m or greater, contact our Freight team
Standard Minibus
Standard Minibus: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Standard Motorhome
Standard Motorhome: <6m length; <2.3m height. Enter length if 6.0m or greater.
Departure time
Returning time
Day trip
From: Dover
To: Calais
 
 
Day trip
 
Day trip
Family packing car for holiday

Why P&O Ferries is Perfect for Family Travel?

We know how important your family holiday is, so we make getting there part of the adventure. From the moment you check in, you'll experience a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere with flexible travel options designed around your needs.

Travelling with children doesn't have to be stressful. Our ships are designed with families in mind, offering dedicated play areas for younger children, onboard arcades for older kids and teenagers, seasonal entertainment during peak periods, and plenty of family-friendly dining options with children's menus and spacious seating. It all adds up to a smoother, more enjoyable family travel experience from start to finish.

Whether you're packing the car for a summer holiday, bringing the family pet, or travelling with bikes, camping equipment, or a motorhome, ferry travel gives you the flexibility to bring everything you need for a memorable family holiday.

family hiking with dog

Stress-Free Family Travel

Family travel in Europe is easier when everyone can stay together. Unlike flying, ferry travel gives families the freedom to move around, enjoy more space, and start their holiday before they even reach their destination.

When planning your family travel, whether that includes grandparents or pets, our ships are designed to make every crossing comfortable. Relax in our lounges, enjoy delicious meals together, let the children play, or simply take a walk on deck and enjoy the sea air.

With flexible seating, family-friendly dining, and dedicated onboard facilities, the journey becomes part of the holiday itself. Our destination guides also help families discover some of the best places to visit in Europe, from beaches and historic cities to theme parks and outdoor adventures.

Family Travel in Europe

Whether you're planning your first family holiday abroad or returning to a favourite destination, family travel in Europe offers endless opportunities. France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Northern Ireland are filled with family-friendly attractions, beautiful beaches, castles, museums, nature reserves, and world-famous theme parks.

Travelling by ferry makes travel for families easier because you're free to pack everything you need without worrying about airline baggage restrictions. Bring the pushchair, travel cot, bikes, camping equipment, and all those little extras that make travelling with children much more comfortable.

Instead of rushing through busy airports, your family can relax on board, enjoy quality time together, and arrive refreshed, ready to start making unforgettable memories.

walking

Flexible Family Travel

Every family travels differently, which is why we offer flexible sailing options to suit your plans. Whether you're travelling with kids during the school holidays, taking toddlers on their first overseas adventure, or planning a multi-generational holiday, you can choose sailing times that work for your family.

On our overnight Hull to Rotterdam route, families can enjoy a relaxing night's sleep in one of our family cabins before waking up refreshed and ready to explore Europe. Travelling by ferry also means you can pack everything your family needs, from favourite toys and bedtime books to buggies, suitcases, and camping gear, making travel for family holidays easier than ever.

family on deck of Irish Sea P&O Ferry

Planning Family Travel in Europe

Planning family travel in Europe starts long before you arrive at the port. Choosing the right route, checking travel requirements, and preparing for travelling with children can help make every journey as smooth as possible.

Before you travel, remember to:

  • Check your departure port and arrival times.
  • Ensure every family member has the correct travel documents.
  • Allow plenty of time for check-in.
  • Pack entertainment, snacks, and comfort items for younger children.
  • Take advantage of our family-friendly facilities and onboard entertainment.

With a little planning, your ferry crossing becomes a relaxing part of your holiday rather than simply a way to reach your destination.

Family Travel FAQs

1 Can I travel while pregnant?

Yes, but some conditions apply depending on your route.

  • Irish Sea: A medical certificate is required if you're over 38 weeks pregnant. We may also request one earlier depending on individual circumstances.
  • North Sea: After 28 weeks, you'll need a medical certificate, and travel is not permitted beyond 34 weeks.
  • Dover to Calais: Travel is permitted up to 38 weeks without a doctor's note. After this, written consent from your GP is required.

If you're planning a family trip in Europe while pregnant, we recommend checking the latest travel guidance before booking.

2 Are baby changing facilities available onboard?

Yes. All of our ships have baby changing facilities onboard, and you'll also find baby changing facilities in our port terminals.

If you're travelling with children or babies, our crew will be happy to help you locate these facilities, ensuring your family's travel experience is as comfortable as possible.

3 What food is available for children onboard?

There's something for even the pickiest eaters. Our onboard restaurants offer children's menus, family meal deals, snacks, and favourites such as pizza, pasta, and fish and chips.

On our North Sea routes, The Kitchen buffet offers a wide range of international dishes, making it easy for families to find something everyone will enjoy while travelling with kids.

4 Do children need their own passports?

Yes. Every child, including babies, must have their own valid passport when travelling with the family in Europe.

Before travelling, always check the latest passport and entry requirements for your destination to ensure your family holiday gets off to a smooth start.

5 What accessibility facilities are available for children with disabilities?

We want every family to enjoy stress-free travel. Our ships include:

  • Accessible toilets and lifts
  • Wheelchair-friendly spaces
  • Hearing loops onboard and at UK ports
  • Support for the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme for hidden disabilities
  • Accessible cabins on our North Sea routes
  • Changing Places facilities on P&O Pioneer and P&O Liberté

If someone in your family has reduced mobility or additional accessibility needs, please let us know when booking so we can provide the support you need for comfortable family travel.

6 How can I make travelling with children easier?

Planning can make travelling with children much more enjoyable. Pack plenty of snacks, drinks, entertainment, and comfort items, especially for younger children. Dress everyone in comfortable layers, keep important travel documents within easy reach, and allow extra time for check-in.

One of the biggest advantages of travelling with kids by ferry is the freedom to move around. Children can enjoy play areas, seasonal entertainment, and open deck spaces while parents relax in family lounges or enjoy a meal together. Ferry travel also allows you to bring everything you need in your car, making travel for families more convenient than flying.

7 Why is ferry travel ideal for family travel in Europe?

Ferry travel offers more flexibility, more space, and less stress than many other forms of transport. Families can stay together throughout the journey, bring more luggage, enjoy onboard entertainment, and arrive feeling relaxed.

Whether you're heading to France, the Netherlands, or Northern Ireland, family travel in Europe by ferry gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace while making the journey part of the holiday.

8 Can I bring everything I need for travelling with kids?

Yes. One of the biggest benefits of ferry travel is being able to pack the car with everything your family needs. Bring buggies, travel cots, camping equipment, bikes, toys, suitcases, and all those extra essentials that make travelling with kids easier.

With fewer baggage restrictions than flying, travel for family holidays becomes simpler, more comfortable, and better suited to families of all sizes.

9 What are the benefits of travelling with children by ferry instead of flying?

Many families choose ferry travel because it offers a more relaxed start to their holiday. There's more room to move around, no seatbelt signs keeping children in one place, and plenty of family-friendly facilities onboard.

From children's play areas and entertainment to family dining and spacious lounges, ferry travel is designed to make travelling with children easier while helping everyone arrive refreshed and ready to explore Europe.