stena line travelling with baby

Travel by ferry with Stena Line

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Overnight ferry and long drive with little kids - what are your top tips?

EldonAve · 27/07/2010 17:19

We are taking the overnight ferry to Denmark and then driving with DC 5y, 3y and 3mths Not done a ferry or a big drive with kids before so looking for any advice on what to take/ not take etc

alcohol and then some more

Overnight ferry is fab - as long as you've booked a cabin! You can also prebook a travel cot for the 3m old. Definitely get them to stretch their legs, eat, use the loo whilst waiting in the very long queue to board - no point being cooped up in the car. They each need a toy that will genuinely entertain. Once the meal is over and they've had a quick play they'll be more than ready for sleep I'd have thought. Some friends swear by those dual DVD players you strap to the back of headrests.

Watching with interest as we're driving to italy in a few weeks with a nearly 3 year old and a 9 month old.

We have a cabin but you can't book a travel cot so we will probably cosleep or force the older 2 to share a bunk Should I expect them to get travel sick on the boat?

Mine didn't get seasick on the ferry, in fact we went up on deck and it certainly blew away the cobwebs! They did feel queasy on the seacat which we took on the outward journey but it was very crowded, a rough crossing and lots of ppl were ill - lovely! If you're early like we were checking in to the cabins we were just offered a travel cot when they saw ds - but did hear another family complaining about the lack of them when we went back after dinner.

Definitely the DVD players for the car. They have been fantastic for us on long trips.

I've just done a 24 hour ferry with my three children and it was great. Very relaxing in comparison to all the time we spent in the car! We had a cabin for four and a travel cot but we didn't use the travel cot. If you can, get a cabin with a window. Regarding the car journey, my dd1 gets travel sick which means that we can't use portable DVDs or colouring books in the car. We did have several CDs of stories and music to keep us all entertained. And leave yourself loads of time - we ended up with a day's delay due to a flat tyre - fortunately we planned loads of time and got to the boat on time.

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belgo - did you book the cot or take your own? what will we need overnight? I assume you can't access the car once you are on board

no you cannot access your car once on board. We went with Brittany ferries and the cot came with the cabin. I took a small suitcase packed with: pjs and toothbrushes; nappies and wipes; towel (but towels were provided anyway) sling to carry ds (a big pram is a bit of a hassle when you have to wait for the lift - so much easier to carry the baby and use the stairs) one spare pair of clothes for everyone. Colouring books and a small game. There was a boat on board so we took swimming stuff, and used it. Plenty of water to drink and a few snacks. We took bread - enough for one meal as it can get expensive buying several meals on the boat. I am a minimalist when it comes to packing; there were people carrying far more stuff then us. Most things you can probably buy on board if you forget.

oh and the camera!

Err don't take the kids (on the ferry not the holiday). I drive out with the car loaded to the brim. Family follows on by ryanair/easy jet. As I only need a single cabin on the boat the cost of the flights is only slightly more than the money saved ny having one person on the ferry. I have a nice peaceful journey, the kids have a nice short journey and we can take much more away with us.

I consider the ferry to be part of the holiday - my children love travelling on the boat! Saves on the carbon footprint, not to mention the cost, of flights as well.

DadInsteadofMum - we looked at that option but DH didn't fancy taking the freight boat

As a single parent your option wouldn't work for me Dadinsteadofmum!! I regularly take my 2 dc abroad on ferries - recently done Duinrell (NL) with Stena Line and agree with an outside cabin being the best option - depending on cost though as my dc loved lookin out the window!! Stena Line had tvs in the cabin which was fab!! We love the ferry and it is part of our holiday. For hte drive my dd is usually tavel sick but is fine with the in car dvd. The DVDs are essential!!! And DS's - mine are plugged in electronically for he whole journey but it is far less stressful for me and them!!

Leslaki - I am also a single parent, we holiday with another family and they all fly over together.

not sure if the cabins have tv - I think we can pay for DVDs but the selection was a bit duff

quick bump for any further advice

give them travel sickness pills regardless of whether they have been ill before - they will be a bit more sleepy and being seasick is miserable, esp if you're not expecting it.

we have one of these travel cots. it is light enough and portable enough to actually consider taking it travelling. we have also been known to pack the individual components separately and use a thermarest instead of the mattress that comes with it (which is obviously not recommended, but we risked it) to make it even smaller and lighter, but we go on holiday using rucksacks and trains, it's possibly less necessary if you are going by car.

I have read the ferry co website further and it appears travel cots are banned so I guess we'll be cosleeping

Is it the Harwich-Esbjerg ferry you're doing? We go on it twice a year to visit my parents etc in England, have been doing so for the past couple of years now, DS is now 3. Next time we go (December) we'll have a 3 month old as well. We have one of the dvd players that go on the back of the headrests in the car, which is fab, certainly saves our sanity in the car, and also on the ferry as it also plugs in (they use danish plugs on board so remember your adaptors for anything electrical), so DS can watch his dvds there as well. We always pay for the tv in the cabin, the films aren't bad at all, they have ones for adults and kids (and have had Happy Feet every single time we went!) We don't bother with the food on board, dinner is expensive and we found it quite stressful, it is nice food though. We take a picnic on board so we can eat in the cabin. If you do eat on board you need to book, don't forget they use danish time on board so all tables bookings will be in that. We also don't have breakfast any more, we take a multipack of cereal,some long life milk and some juice (and plastic bowls and cups, and cutlery) as we found breakfast expensive for what it was, and I suffer from sea sickness so it's always a bit hit and miss as to whether I'll be able to go down for breakfast at all! DS gets his own suitcase when we go which he can fill with whatever toys he likes, there's quite a bit of room in the cabins for them to play on the floor. They do offer travel cots, but we've never used them as we co slept anyway- bit of a squish as they're only single beds but it's only for 1 night. They also do a kids club sort of thing, there's a treasure hunt, which your 5YO will definitely be able to do, it's in English and Danish. We always enjoy our trips over, the staff are fantastic and can't do enough to help you, and everyone on board can speak English and Danish so never a problem getting someone to help you if you need it. Sorry this is so long, hope some of it was helpful! Hope you enjoy your trip

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Thanks for the tips but we are already here! It was indeed the Esberg ferry and it was fine Can I ask you a question about Denmark? Will any shops be open on Sunday or anywhere where we can get our "pant" deposit back on beers etc?

We had a cabin with a tv (this was Brittany Ferries to Spain though) It cost a bit more but it was worth it as we couldn't go and wander about with DS too late at night and we would have gone stir crazy without it.

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Travel by ferry with Stena Line

Looking for the best deal on ferry and hotel? At Sembo, you can save up to 20% on your ferry ticket when you book a ferry and hotel at the same time. Sembo is wholly owned by Stena Line and has a large selection of hotels and holiday accommodation throughout Europe.

Click here to go directly to the Sembo site and book your break today!

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Ferry to Belfast and Cairnryan

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Stena Line – Ferry travel with kids

Departing Dublin Port Pic Credit: The MammaFairy Blog

Long before kids arrived into the Mamma Fairy house we used to travel quite a bit to Holyhead from Dublin. My sister attended University in Bangor in North Wales so we loved popping over for the weekend.  We hadn’t taken the kids on a ferry so there was mega excitement when I told them Stena Line were very kindly taking us and our car to Wales. One of the things that stresses me most about holidays is the airport, the volume of people, the queues, getting myself and the kids through security! The stress levels until we are sitting at the gate are usually pretty high!! Having taken our car on the ferry many times I knew what to expect! Much less stress – literally drive on drive off!

Our Ferry journey with kids

Boarding time!! Pic Credit: The MammaFairy Blog

We were on the 8.10 Stena Adventurer heading over from Dublin to Holyhead on a lovely bright Friday morning in June. Being a Dublin resident I knew how bad Dublin traffic could be so we allowed ourselves extra time just to be sure and I am very glad we did. An incident at Port Tunnel saw the tunnel temporarily closed so thankfully we had time to go the alternative route. Check in closed 30 mins before departure but my advice is to get there early especially if you are travelling in peak work day traffic.

Check in was smooth, we had our boarding passes printed off, we were told which number queue to join and there we were in line to board the Stena Line Adventurer. The absolute squeals out of the kids as we drove onto the boat!!! Once we boarded we were guided into position,  we parked up and took the hyper gang up to the passenger decks. Another tip is to make sure you take everything you need with you as you can’t return to your vehicle when the ferry departs until the ferry docks again.

Good bye Dublin Pic Credit: The MammaFairy Blog

I think one of the first thing you will notice is just how big the ferry is! We had taken the Superfast ferry in the past and the Adventurer is noticeably bigger.  On board the Adventurer there are:

• En-suite cabins available from €30, might be handy if you have very young kids, for us with older (hyper with excitement) kids it really wasn’t necessary for the short 3 hour crossing. I believe the cabins go up to 4 berth which could be very handy for families.
• A Hygge Lounge which is a relaxing, peaceful environment if you want a total chill in a large comfy reclining chair as you gaze over the Irish Sea. The cost is €9 per person but you must be over 16 years. If we didn’t have the kids id be in there in a heartbeat. Right up my street!!!
• There was a restaurant, bar and coffee dock on each passenger deck serving hot and cold snacks and the usual beers and spirits. It was really busy initially on both legs of our trip but the staff were very efficient and the waiting time was short and a lot less busy once the initial rush was finished.
• There is also the Stena Plus Lounge where for €20 you can avail of complimentary drinks, snacks, newspapers & magazines as well as free wifi, waiter service and comfy seating. We didn’t do it this trip but in the pre kids days we always frequented the lounge, it is really good value and nice and relaxing, a good option for the 3 hours ferry. The was a ‘Family Meal Deal’ on board 2 adults and 2 kids for £23 really good value and you can pay in either € or £.
• For kids there really is plenty to do; located on each passenger deck is a small play space, for older kids there is “Teen Town” with some arcade games. Much to the kids excitement there is a cinema with free entry. This is a really good option to pass an hour or so especially with younger kids.

Our crossing

Our ship departed on time, boarding was smooth, the sail itself was smooth and the disembarkation was efficient.  What more could you ask for?! To keep the kids entertained I took sketch pads and their trusty twistables! While there is plenty on board to keep them entertained the play centres can get busy so worth having a few of their favourites to keep them occupied.  We took some of their own snacks with us while we ordered coffees, toast and scrambled egg to go with them. Thumbs up for Stena’s scrambled egg.

As our trip was so short I had done lots of research before hand to maximise the time we had in North Wales. Full blog post on our activities but for now a very sneak peak…..

Day 1 -We drove to the picturesque town of Llanberis were we stayed on night after our journey on the Snowdon Mountain Railway. We reached the top of Snowdown Mountain literally surrounded by clouds which they kids thought was “epic” the last bit  is a little steep but oh so worth it. Be warned even in summer it can get cold up there so our trusty Reima winter gear  came in useful again.

Day 2 –  We drove further into Snowdonia to Llechwedd near Blaenau Ffestiniog. Llechwedd is an old slate mine where you can go 50o metres below ground into a deep mine.  I’ll keep you in suspense a little longer for my full review but suffice to say this place left a lasting impression on both us and the kids. Rich our guide a 7th generation miner himself was what made this tour for us. His unique insights, his respect for the heritage of the area and the contribution to mining brought a tear to my eye more than once.

Day 3 – Before heading back to Holyhead we spent a day and night in Llandudno, an old school sea side holiday resort.  While here we also took a quick visit to the Copper mines for a unique self guided tour of 4000 year old mines!!!  We loved our chilled out day here, kids will forever remember playing football at the beach at 10pm then running back to the b&b soaked, tired but happy.

Mamma F top tips:

Having taken the ferry a number of times both with and without kids I thought id compile a list of tips for people who may be booking for the first time and are unsure as to what to expect:

• There is no currency exchange on board. Not a major issue as they take card
• Remember where you parked your car!!! Take a note or photograph both the colour of the stair case (red or green -denoting the side of the ship) and the floor number. We were stuck behind a car where it appeared the owner must not have remembered where they parked and the crew were quick to assist our line in passing around the vehicle. Therefore ensure you note both!
• Take some of their favourite little toys if or when the novelty wears off.  We love colouring books and sketch pads.  A quick trip to Dealz or €2 shop and I picked up a few of them for trips like this.

Some of our on board creations: Pic Credit: The MammaFairy Blog

• The queue for the toilets is naturally very busy as you come into land so if you are travelling with kids it is worth keeping an eye on the time and popping in before the rush.
• Likewise are it comes close to time to disembark, keep an listen for the announcements, particularly if you travelling with your car as car passengers are called to their vehicles first.
• I was a little worried about the kids being seasick!! It was so smooth you would hardly have known you were moving, the fast ferry probably does require some sea legs so if you are travelling with  young kids the larger Adventurer is a good option.
• Book early for the best deal – do sign up to be the first to hear about the latest deal or offers. For example the current offer is Kids Go Free (note: Economy or Flexi motorist fares on any Irish Sea routes up until January 5.) which offers families the opportunity to save on trips across the Irish Sea via the Belfast – Cairnryan, Belfast – Liverpool, Dublin – Holyhead and Rosslare – Fishguard routes.  In other words children up to 15 years of age  travel free when booked online . Brilliant deal. We are looking at the Belfast – Cairnryan trip before the summer is out!

Yeah Lifestyle has some great local days out posts in the surrounding areas of Cheshire, Staffordshire and Manchester so worth checking out if you plan on visiting from Holyhead.

Note: Massive thanks to Stena Line for supporting our trip. All view are mine or the boys where appropriate.

Mamma Fairy

You might also like, planning a short hop to the british isles here’s what to see, 10 famous attractions to visit in europe with your kids, top tips when travelling by car with children.

We have only taken a ferry once before when we drove to Disneyland Paris. I do agree that it is far less stressful than any of the airports I’ve been to. #CTWM

Ferries really have come on since I last used one! Lots to do these days! #CTWM

Some great tips thank you. I’ve only ever taken ferries as a child or the Bangor to Dublin ferry when I was at Uni in Bangor 🙂 But, we’re heading to Holland on Stena Line in October with the kids it’s 8hrs have booked the 4 berth to head accross. #CTWM

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FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

What do i need to travel.

All passengers travelling will need to have the following in order to enter the port -

• Booking Reference Number 
• High-visibility vest or jacket 
• Any other paperwork relevant to your journey 

Any drivers entering port to deliver or collect unaccompanied units will also be denied access to port if they do not have Photo ID and a high-visibility vest or jacket.

Can I ship trade vehicles?

We offer shipment of trade cars and other vehicles on our Irish Sea routes between Belfast and Liverpool. Please be aware of the following -

• Trade cars are shipped on a “first available” basis on the loading officer's discretion. Confirmation for a particular sailing is not a guarantee that this is when the vehicle will be shipped. It may be up to a week after delivery before shipment
• Do not plan to collect a trade vehicle until you have confirmed with us that this vehicle has shipped
• Cars can only be collected or delivered in Belfast 09:00-16:00 Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays)
• Cars can only be delivered in Liverpool 06:00-15:00 Monday-Friday and 06:00-12:00 Saturday. Delivery is unavailable on a Sunday. Collection is available in Liverpool 24 hours a day
• All trade cars must have a valid GMR added to their booking before arriving at port. Cars which are dropped off without a valid GMR will not be accepted. 
• All persons delivering or collecting trade vehicles must have photo ID, high-visibility vest or jacket and a booking reference

Is my Stena Line ferry ticket refundable?

Yes, ferry tickets can be refunded if we are notified prior to certain booking deadlines. View late handling cut off times.

Please contact our booking team during business hours and before the cut-off times at [email protected] or call +44 (0) 1772 368 221 to make any necessary changes to your booking.

What is classed as non-standard cargo onboard a Stena Line vessel?

Non-standard cargo includes hazardous goods, abnormal loads and human remains. If you are shipping any of these, visit our vehicle dimensions page , contact our booking team at [email protected] or call +44 (0) 1772 368 221 for more information.

Can I book a single cabin for my journey?

Cabins can be upgraded at Guest Services onboard the Stena Line vessel (subject to availability). An additional charge will apply.

Can I take pets and animals on Stena Line ferry bookings?

Not all ferry routes allow pets and animals on board. Please contact our booking team at  [email protected]  or call +44 (0) 1772 368 221 for more information. 

Please note that shipment of animals including horses can be restricted by weather conditions. The final decision about whether animals will be allowed to travel will come down to the Captain of the vessel.

What is included in the price of my freight ferry booking with Stena Line?

Stena Line freight ferry bookings typically include

• A berth in a shared cabin (where applicable)
• Complimentary meals
• A separate freight drivers lounge onboard

Features vary depending on the ferry route.

Can I travel on the passenger service with my commercial van?

No. Commercial vehicles designed for the purpose of carrying goods for hire and reward or other commercial practices must be booked as freight with Stena Line. You may be fined if you book on a passenger service.

Do I need customs paperwork? What do I need to know?

If you are travelling between the United Kingdom and the European Union, you'll require customs documentation (or customs exemption documents) for your goods and voyage, such as export / transit / import declarations, safety and security declarations, and Port Passes (if applicable).

PLEASE NOTE

The type of customs documentation required depends on a variety of circumstances and may vary across trips. Please double-check with your customs agent or broker at all times.

What is a Port Pass?

Port Passes (known as GMR in the United Kingdom, PBN in Ireland, and Portbase in the Netherlands) are typically generated using reference numbers provided on received customs paperwork. The most typical instances include export/import or transit MRNs, as well as ATA carnets and NATO form 302.

• Port Passes are also required even for empty vehicles
• Unaccompanied empty vehicles are considered cargo by the Border Agents and are consequently subject to full customs procedures

Without the required reference numbers for customs documents, you will be unable to generate a Port Pass with the relevant authority, preventing admission to the port. Prior to a vehicle's arrival at a port, they ensure all customs procedures have been completed.

The Stena Line Port Pass Generator can help you with these procedures.

Do I need to make a customs declaration if I am travelling with tools?

Yes, you will always be required to present some type of customs documentation. If you are temporarily exporting over £1500 worth of tools from the United Kingdom, you must have an ATA Carnet. Below this threshold, an oral declaration might be permitted.

Oral declarations are not permitted for travel between the UK and EU across the North Sea. Additionally, obtaining an Irish PBN Port Pass by oral declaration might be rather difficult.

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Dublin – Holyhead

Travel with one of our two superferries to and from Dublin and Wales in comfort and style. Enjoy great fares and the best experience on the Irish Sea on-board the Stena Adventurer & Stena Estrid from Holyhead to Dublin Port in only 3 hours and 15 minutes.

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What identification documents do I need to travel?

The identification you require will vary by country and depending on your nationality. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all documentation needed to comply with the requirements of immigration, customs, health and other relevant regulations. A failure to produce the correct documention may result in you being fined for which you are liable.

Identification Documents at a Glance

Travelling Between England and The Netherlands:   Valid Passport with MRZ Code*.  Other passport holders should check with the relevant embassy regarding passport and visa requirements.

Travelling Between Britain and Ireland:   UK and Irish citizens travelling between Britain and Ireland do not need a passport to travel   but are advised to take the following as proof of identity. A valid Passport with MRZ code*, Photographic Driving License, Birth Certificate, European ID card with MRZ Code**, National ID card***, International Student Card, Health Insurance/Social Security Photographic ID Card, Photographic Bus/Train Pass or Work ID Card.

Travelling Between Ireland and France:  Valid Passport with MRZ Code* or European ID Card with MRZ Code**.  Other passport holders should check with the relevant embassy regarding passport and visa requirements.

Travelling Between Sweden and Denmark:   Valid  Passport with MRZ Code*. For travellers from outside the EU / EEA, a passport with MRZ code is the only valid ID document, even for children.

Travelling Between Sweden, Germany, Poland and Latvia:   Valid   Passport with MRZ Code*, or a National Identification Card of EU standard with an MRZ code. 

Vehicular Transport Travelling Between Sweden, Poland and Latvia:   When travelling with a vehicle, a valid vehicle technical passport (original) must be presented at check-in. If a trailer is reserved in the reservation, the technical passport (original) must also be presented for the trailer.

* Passport valid for at least 3 months.

** A machine-readable zone (MRZ) is a code added to the personal data page of an identity document. It usually consists of 1-3 lines of letters and digits, which contain the personal information of the document holder.

*** Issued by an EU member State.

Please note:  Identification in digital form is not a valid form of identification when travelling with Stena Line.

Passengers under the age of 18 travelling without a parent/legal guardian must present a completed and printed power of attorney and valid ID. The authorisation can be downloaded in Danish or English.

Passenger Travel Documents on Routes Between England and The Netherlands

All EU citizens (including children and infants) travelling to/from England must hold a valid passport valid beyond the date of return.

All UK citizens (including children and infants) travelling to/from the Netherlands must hold a valid passport valid for 3 months after the date of return.

Other passport holders should check with the relevant embassy regarding passport and visa requirements.

Passenger Travel Documents on Routes Between Britain and Ireland

Irish and UK citizens travelling on our routes between Britain and Ireland do not need a passport to travel but are advised to take a form of proof of identity. A valid passport or Irish passport card, photographic driving license, International Student Card, government issued photographic ID card, health insurance/social security photographic ID card, photographic bus/train pass or work ID card with photo will usually suffice. A birth certificate will provide adequate proof of identity for children (17 years and under with no photographic identification) to travel on our sailings. Non UK/Irish citizens will require a valid passport and a visa where applicable. You should check with the relevant embassy before travelling regarding visa requirements.

Passengers who arrive at our ports in Britain or Ireland without current valid documentation may not be allowed to enter either Britain or Ireland.

Passenger Travel Documents on Routes Between Ireland and France

UK citizens travelling to/from Continental Europe must bring a valid passport. Remember that the name on the passport must match the name on the booking otherwise you may not be able to travel and your insurance may be invalid.

A passport for all UK citizens (including children and infants), valid for 3 months beyond the proposed date of return, is required for all trips to Continental Europe. We reserve the right to check and record details of such documentation and to refuse you permission to board if such documentation is not produced to our satisfaction. You will be required to reimburse us in full for any fines, repatriation or other removal costs, detention costs and all related expenses, which we may bear or incur by reason of your failure to produce such documentation to the relevant authorities.

It is important to have your passport close to hand for possible inspection when checking in, embarking the vessel, disembarking the vessel and when entering a country.

EU citizens in possession of an officially recognised European ID Card may use this or a valid Passport with MRZ code when travelling between Ireland and France. In some cases a visa may also be required. Remember that the name on your passport/European Union ID card must match the name on your booking otherwise you may not be able to travel and your insurance may be invalid. 

A passport/ European Union ID card for all EU citizens (including children and infants), valid beyond the date of return, is required for all trips to/from France.

For travellers from within the EU / EEA a valid passport with MRZ code or a National Identification Card of EU standard with an MRZ code and / or chip, issued by a national authority within the EU / EEA can be used. Nordic citizens may also use a driving license issued in a Nordic country.

This applies to all travellers but children aged under 18 years travelling with a parent/legal guardian are an exception and can travel on their parent/legal guardian's identification.

Please note:

• Identification in digital form is not a valid form of identification when travelling with Stena Line.
• Passengers under the age of 18 travelling without a parent/legal guardian must present a completed and printed power of attorney and valid ID. The authorisation can be downloaded in Danish or English .

For travellers from outside the EU / EEA, a passport with MRZ code is the only valid ID document, even for children.

Passenger Travel Documents on Routes Between Sweden, Germany, Poland and Latvia

On Stena Line routes between Germany & Sweden, Poland & Sweden, Latvia & Sweden and Germany & Latvia, a valid passport with MRZ code or a National Identification Card of EU standard with an MRZ code and / or chip, issued by a national authority within the EU / EEA can be used. This applies to all travellers, including children. 

The passport or ID Card must be presented at check-in. If you do not have a valid passport or ID card you will not be permitted to travel. 

Vehicle Travel Documents on Routes Between Sweden, Poland and Latvia

When travelling with a vehicle, a valid vehicle technical passport (original) must be presented at check-in. If a trailer is reserved in the reservation, the technical passport (original) must also be presented for the trailer.

The above rules are Stena Line's general rules for travelling with our ferries.

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