Sailing With Stena Line: Liverpool – Belfast with A Dog

Travel is always a joy. Adventures that include our four legged friends? Even better.

We sailed from Liverpool – Belfast with a Dog on the overnight crossing. Yep, the Little Wolf became a salty old sea dog for the night.

Here’s all you need to know about sailing aboard Stena Line with a canine companion. Be sure to read to the end for details of a beautiful and historic location right by the port, perfect for a pre-embarkation leg stretch.

Pre-emBARKation. See what I did there? Moving on…

Booking Stena Line: Liverpool – Belfast with A Dog

Details of Stena Line sailings can be found here, but as our sailing was booked by my husbands employer as part of a relocation package, we simply called up and added the dog to the booking.

Booking a dog at the time of initial booking can be done at the “Stena Plus & Onboard Extras” stage of the booking process.

Check in is straight forward at the port of Liverpool, located across the river in Birkenhead. No extra time is required to check in and board with a dog.

If you are crossing the Irish sea and intend to remain in Northern Ireland you will not need paperwork such as a pet passport or health certificate. All checks are currently suspended under the Windsor Framework.

This could change at any time and I would urge all pet owners to check current regulations prior to travel

Liverpool-Belfast: On-board options for your dog

Onboard the overnight sailing, there are two options for your dog. The first being to book an onboard kennel available in three sizes. Measure your pet carefully; the kennel sizes are as follows:

• Large kennels: 97 cm x 94 cm x 100 cm (h x w x d)
• Medium kennels: 64 cm x 108 cm x 100 cm (h x w x d)
• Small kennels: 65 cm x 50 cm x 100 cm (h x w x d)

Having a big dog, even the biggest kennel was too small. So, option two: the pet cabin.

Pet cabins are designed for both pets and their humans, allowing you to stay together for the the entire crossing. Expect an adapted 2 or 4 berth standard cabin with pet- friendly vinyl flooring and in cabin ‘pee pads’ if needed.

For humans the cabins come with comfortable bunks and an ensuite bathroom with shower, plus towels and shower gel provided.

Pet cabins are located in a specific pet-friendly area of the ship, with direct access to an outdoors pet deck supplied with poo bags, bins and drinking water. Walkies at sea are a breeze and in-cabin accidents shouldn’t be an issue.

Dogs cannot leave the pet zone once the ship is at sea but can access the pet deck throughout the sailing. You’ll need a fixed, short lead to walk from vehicle to cabin.

Birkenhead Park: Pre Sailing Walks

Although our onboard experience with Stena was great, the terminal has no facilities for dogs to sniff or exercise unless you want to do loops of an uninspiring concrete car park.

Timings of an evening sailing mean there is time to find a nicer walk locally, and we found an absolute beauty. Birkenhead Park. Almost 140 acres of of pretty corners, wildlife and historical features offers plenty of room to play and walk.

There’s lots to see here for the history and nature loving human too; Birkenhead Park dates back to 1847 and was the first purpose built, publicly funded park in Great Britain.

The park can also claim an American connection. American  engineer and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted visited the park twice and was inspired by the democratic ideals behind the design. He wove this inspiration into the design of Central Park in New York.

The Little Wolf enjoyed exploring the Roman Boathouse, a quirky structure designed in Roman style complete with an impressive pebble mosaic floor.

From Italian inspiration to Swiss; a short wander brings you to the Swiss Bridge. One of the park’s original structures, inspired by Swiss medieval covered bridges such as those found in Lucerne.

Whichever route you explore by, the original Grand Entrance is not to be missed. Three arched entrances including one for carriages, Ionic columns and a lodge to either side. She really is a beauty.

Birkenhead Park is a beautiful and interesting place, well worth making time for when you’re in the area. Canine companion optional but highly recommended.

If you enjoyed this post, you might like to try this one next: 6 Things To Know Visiting Bushy Park, London.

Helen x