Crossing guide
What the Hull to Rotterdam crossing is like
P&O describes the overnight crossing from Hull as taking approximately 11 hours 30 minutes, and its timetable shows one sailing every night, leaving Hull in the evening and reaching Europoort around 09:00 local time. The Netherlands is an hour ahead, so the clock makes the trip look longer than it is. Dinner, a cabin night and breakfast are the natural rhythm of the voyage.
Leaving Hull
P&O’s Rotterdam ships leave from Terminal 1 at King George Dock on Hedon Road, east of Hull city centre. P&O asks passengers to check in at least 90 minutes before departure, and pet owners go through an extra pet check-in, so arrive early. Pets must be booked in advance; they cannot be added at the port.
Arriving in Rotterdam
You land at Europoort, well west of Rotterdam city, which P&O puts about a 30-minute drive away. Drivers reach the Dutch motorways quickly. Foot passengers with a dog cannot use P&O’s coach transfers into Rotterdam or Amsterdam, so book other transport before you sail.
Vessels
Ships commonly used on this route
Pride of Hull
Typical route vessel; assignment is not guaranteed. Check your booking for the ship actually operating.
Pride of Rotterdam
Typical route vessel; assignment is not guaranteed. Check your booking for the ship actually operating.
P&O names Pride of Hull and Pride of Rotterdam for the route; the two alternate.
Dogs aboard
Travelling with a dog on P&O Ferries
Sailing out of Hull, the dog either shares one of P&O’s six pet-friendly cabins per ship with you or goes into a kennel on deck 7, near the cabins and the dog exercise area. P&O allows two small dogs or one medium or large dog per pet cabin, first come, first served, and kennels come in three sizes by weight.
- Documents
- GOV.UK says pets living in England, Scotland or Wales need an animal health certificate from a vet to enter the EU, and cannot use a pet passport issued there. The certificate must be used to enter the EU within 10 days of issue.
- Rabies and microchip
- Microchip the dog before, or at the same time as, its rabies vaccination, then wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination before travelling.
- Booking
- Book the pet cabin or kennel in advance — P&O says pets cannot be booked at the port — and arrive for the extra pet check-in, with general check-in at least 90 minutes before departure. Priority upgrades are not available with pets.
- On board
- Pets are only allowed in the pet-friendly cabins, kennels and dog exercise areas, apart from registered guide and hearing dogs.
Carrier and border rules change. Confirm every item with P&O Ferries, the official sources below and your vet before you travel.
Cabin alerts
What SailSoon watches on this route
P&O Ferries monitoring currently covers the next 180 days. Dates further ahead are checked on a rotating schedule. Checks are made for two adults travelling with a car, so other party sizes or foot passengers may see different results. Prices we show are for the cabin or option only, not the full fare, and nothing is reserved for you: book and confirm the total price and pet terms with P&O Ferries.
- Pet-friendly cabins
- Cabins P&O Ferries marks as pet-friendly, when it offers them on the sailing. Check the pet rules and any pet charge on the booking page.
- Premium cabins
- The operator’s premium or deluxe cabin categories, including pet-friendly premium cabins where they exist.
- Standard cabins
- Ordinary private cabins for at least two people, inside or with a window.
- Kennels
- Onboard kennels, when P&O Ferries returns kennel space for the sailing.
- Not monitored
- Seats, shared berths, deck options and the full fare. Check those directly with P&O Ferries.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from Hull to Rotterdam?
P&O puts it at approximately 11 hours 30 minutes. Sailings leave Hull in the evening and arrive at Europoort around 09:00 Dutch time the next morning; check the timetable for your night.
Which ships sail from Hull to Rotterdam?
Pride of Hull and Pride of Rotterdam are the usual ships for this crossing. P&O names Pride of Hull and Pride of Rotterdam for the route; the two alternate. The ship on your booking is the one whose cabins and pet facilities apply.
Can I take my dog on the Hull to Rotterdam ferry?
Yes, in a pet-friendly cabin or an onboard kennel booked in advance. P&O does not allow pets to stay in vehicles on Hull–Rotterdam, and foot passengers’ pets cannot use P&O coach transfers.
What paperwork does my dog need for Rotterdam?
GOV.UK says a dog living in Great Britain needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old and an animal health certificate from a vet, used to enter the EU within 10 days of issue. A pet passport issued in Great Britain cannot be used. Check the official guidance before you travel, as rules change.
Does SailSoon alert me to kennels on this route?
Yes. For P&O we watch kennels as well as pet-friendly, premium and standard cabins. Our P&O search includes one small dog, so kennel results reflect space for a small dog; confirm the right kennel size when you book.
Sources
Where these facts come from
- P&O Ferries: Hull to Rotterdam (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- P&O Ferries: Hull to Rotterdam timetables (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- P&O Ferries: dog-friendly cabins, Hull–Rotterdam (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- P&O Ferries: on board Hull–Rotterdam (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- P&O Ferries: ports (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- P&O Ferries: travelling with a pet (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- GOV.UK: taking your pet dog abroad (reviewed 2026-09-11)
Member alerts
Get told when a Hull to Rotterdam cabin appears
Create a free account, then set the dates and cabin types you need on this route. We email you when a matching cabin shows up in P&O Ferries’s booking system.
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