P&O Ferries
One of Britain’s best-known ferry companies. For passengers, P&O Ferries sails three routes: the Dover–Calais short sea crossing, the overnight Hull–Rotterdam cruise-ferries and Cairnryan–Larne between Scotland and Northern Ireland. It carries foot passengers on all three.
P&O Ferries Routes
| Route | Crossing Time | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Dover → Calais | 1h 30m | Cars & foot passengers |
| Calais → Dover | 1h 30m | Cars & foot passengers |
| Cairnryan → Larne | 2h | Cars & foot passengers |
| Hull → Rotterdam (Europoort) | 11h – 12h | Cars & foot passengers |
P&O Ferries sailing patterns
- Dover → Calais
Dozens of sailings a day across three operators. P&O Ferries runs a minimum of 11 sailings a day (up to 15), crossing in about 1 hour 30 minutes. DFDS advertises up to 30 daily crossings (about 1 hour 40 minutes). Irish Ferries offers up to 20 sailings a day on Oscar Wilde and Isle of Inishmore (about 1 hour 30 minutes).
Only P&O Ferries carries foot passengers, on three sailings a day from Dover (09:45, 13:40 and 16:40 as of October 2026).
Source: P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries Dover–Calais route pages, checked 2026-10-15
- Calais → Dover
Many sailings a day across three operators. P&O Ferries runs up to 11 Calais–Dover sailings a day (about 90 minutes). DFDS advertises up to 30 daily Dover–Calais crossings (about 100 minutes). Irish Ferries offers up to 20 sailings a day on Oscar Wilde and Isle of Inishmore (about 1 hour 30 minutes).
Source: P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries route pages, checked 2026-10-15
- Cairnryan → Larne
P&O Ferries runs 6 daily crossings from Cairnryan to Larne, taking 2 hours.
Source: P&O Ferries Cairnryan–Larne route page, checked 2026-10-03
- Hull → Rotterdam (Europoort)
One overnight sailing every night: P&O Ferries leaves Hull at 20:30 Monday to Friday and 20:00 at weekends, taking about 11 hours 30 minutes.
Source: P&O Ferries Hull–Rotterdam route page, checked 2026-10-03
Vessels on these routes: P&O Pioneer, P&O Liberté, Spirit of Britain, European Causeway, European Highlander, Pride of Rotterdam, Pride of Hull
P&O Ferries Network Map
4 routes on FerryConnect, 4 international; 4 carry vehicles; 1 with overnight sailings.
Ports P&O Ferries Sails From
Onboard Passenger Amenities
🚗 Vehicle Regulations
Carries cars, vans, minibuses, motorhomes, caravans, trailers and motorbikes. Declare your vehicle’s length and height, including roof boxes and bikes, when booking; vehicles carrying commercial goods must be booked through P&O’s freight service.
🐕 Pet & Animal Travel Policy
Dover–Calais: pets stay in your vehicle unless you book the Pet Lounge, a paid upgrade for dogs travelling with a motor vehicle, with seating and an outdoor deck area; up to 5 dogs per booking. Cairnryan–Larne: pets travel free but must stay in the vehicle. Hull–Rotterdam: pets cannot stay in the vehicle; book an onboard kennel or one of six dog-friendly cabins per ship. Foot passengers cannot bring pets on Dover–Calais or Cairnryan–Larne (guide dogs excepted). Pets need a microchip, a rabies vaccination and an Animal Health Certificate for the EU.
P&O Club Lounge
The Club Lounge is a paid per-person upgrade on Dover–Calais and Cairnryan–Larne. On Dover–Calais it includes hot and cold food from a buffet, complimentary drinks and snacks, free WiFi, charging points, private restrooms and a private deck area. On Cairnryan–Larne it is a quieter lounge with complimentary hot and cold drinks and snacks, table service and a food menu at extra cost. Add it when you book, or later by amending your booking in your P&O account.
Dogs on P&O Ferries
Where your dog travels depends on the route. On Dover–Calais dogs stay in the car, or you can book the Pet Lounge: a dedicated lounge for dogs and their owners with seating, complimentary hot and cold drinks and an outdoor area, open only to passengers travelling with a motor vehicle. On Cairnryan–Larne pets travel free and stay in the vehicle. On the overnight Hull–Rotterdam crossing pets cannot stay in the vehicle: you book either an onboard kennel or one of the six dog-friendly cabins on each ship, allocated first come, first served.
Hull–Rotterdam overnight
Hull–Rotterdam is an overnight cruise-ferry crossing rather than a quick hop: you board in the evening, sleep in a cabin and arrive in the Netherlands in the morning. Every foot passenger needs a cabin, and coach transfers to Rotterdam or Amsterdam can be added when booking. It is P&O’s only passenger route from Hull.
P&O Ferries FAQs
What is included in the P&O Club Lounge?
On Dover–Calais: buffet food, complimentary drinks and snacks, free WiFi, charging points, private restrooms and a private deck area. On Cairnryan–Larne: complimentary hot and cold drinks and snacks, table service and a food menu at extra cost. It is a paid per-person upgrade; check P&O’s Club Lounge page for current prices.
Can I take my dog on P&O Ferries?
Yes. On Dover–Calais dogs stay in the vehicle unless you book the Pet Lounge; on Cairnryan–Larne pets stay in the vehicle; on Hull–Rotterdam they travel in a kennel or a dog-friendly cabin. Foot passengers cannot bring pets on Dover–Calais or Cairnryan–Larne, except guide dogs.
Does P&O take foot passengers from Dover to Calais?
Yes. P&O Ferries carries foot passengers on Dover–Calais. Check-in closes 90 minutes before departure and a shuttle bus takes you to the ship. DFDS does not accept foot passengers on its Dover–France routes.
Does P&O sail from Hull to Calais or Zeebrugge?
No. P&O Ferries’ only passenger route from Hull goes to Rotterdam. For Calais, the crossings leave from Dover.
Checked 2026-09-29 against: P&O Ferries: Club Lounge · P&O Ferries: Pet Lounge · P&O Ferries: travelling with a pet · P&O Ferries: travelling as a foot passenger · P&O Ferries: routes · DFDS: pet travel (foot passengers on Dover routes). Policies change; confirm with the operator before booking.