Crossing guide
What the Jersey to Portsmouth crossing is like
The return usually leaves St Helier in the evening and arrives in Portsmouth around 06:00. DFDS quotes approximately 9 hours for the crossing, and Portsmouth International Port describes it as around 10 hours on the return, with timings shaped by Jersey’s tides and berth slots. Sailings run about six days a week. An early-morning arrival puts you on the M275 before the rush builds.
Leaving Jersey
Sailings leave from the Elizabeth Terminal in St Helier, which Ports of Jersey opens from 6am until the last passenger ship has gone. Ports of Jersey asks car passengers to check in at least an hour before sailing and foot passengers at least 45 minutes before. It also says dogs other than assistance dogs travel in a container if you are on foot, or in your car if you drive.
Arriving in Portsmouth
The overnight ship arrives at Portsmouth International Port early in the morning, with the M275 leading straight onto the motorway network. As a crossing within the British Islands there is no pet-document check to plan around, though disembarkation still takes time.
Vessels
Ships commonly used on this route
Stena Vinga
Typical route vessel; assignment is not guaranteed. Check your booking for the ship actually operating.
DFDS names Stena Vinga for Portsmouth–Jersey. DFDS has announced it is buying the ship and will rename it, so the name on your booking may change.
Dogs aboard
Travelling with a dog on DFDS
On the night crossing your dog can stay in the car, but a pet-friendly cabin means it sleeps beside you. DFDS’s pet cabins here have two berths, a sea view and space for up to two pets. Because Jersey and Great Britain are both in the British Islands, there is no pet-document check to time around the Portsmouth arrival.
- Documents
- The Government of Jersey says there are no official health requirements for pet dogs travelling between Jersey and the UK: no pet passport, certificate or vaccinations. GOV.UK likewise says no pet passport or health certificate is needed to enter Great Britain from the Channel Islands.
- Microchip
- A dog going from Jersey to the UK for more than 30 days must be microchipped and registered, and a pet that originally came from abroad must have entered the UK legally. Jersey also restricts some dog types, so check its banned-dog list before booking.
- Booking
- Add each pet when booking — free of charge on the Jersey routes, DFDS says — and choose the car, a pet cabin or the pre-booked pet lounge. Ports of Jersey asks car passengers to check in at least an hour before sailing.
- On board
- At the Elizabeth Terminal, Ports of Jersey says dogs other than assistance dogs travel in a container if you are on foot or in your car if you drive.
Carrier and border rules change. Confirm every item with DFDS, the official sources below and your vet before you travel.
Cabin alerts
What SailSoon watches on this route
DFDS 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 DFDS.
- Pet-friendly cabins
- Cabins DFDS 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.
- Not monitored
- Kennels, seats, shared berths, deck options and the full fare. Check those directly with DFDS.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ferry from Jersey to Portsmouth?
DFDS quotes approximately 9 hours; the port describes the return as about 10 hours. Most sailings leave St Helier in the evening and arrive in Portsmouth early the next morning.
Which ships sail from Jersey to Portsmouth?
Stena Vinga is the usual ship for this crossing. DFDS names Stena Vinga for Portsmouth–Jersey. DFDS has announced it is buying the ship and will rename it, so the name on your booking may change. The ship on your booking is the one whose cabins and pet facilities apply.
Can I take my dog on the Jersey to Portsmouth ferry?
Yes: in the car, in a pet-friendly cabin or in the dog-friendly lounge. No pet passport or animal health certificate is needed between Jersey and Great Britain.
What paperwork does my dog need for Portsmouth?
No pet passport or animal health certificate is needed between Great Britain and Jersey in either direction, according to the Government of Jersey and GOV.UK. A dog staying in the UK for more than 30 days must be microchipped and registered, and Jersey restricts some dog types. Check the official guidance before you travel, as rules change.
Does SailSoon alert me to kennels on this route?
No. On DFDS we watch pet-friendly, premium and standard cabins only. Kennel space is not monitored, so check and book kennels directly with DFDS.
Sources
Where these facts come from
- DFDS: Portsmouth to Jersey (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: Jersey to Portsmouth (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: on board Portsmouth–Jersey (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: acquisition of Stena Vinga (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- Ports of Jersey: terminals (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- Portsmouth International Port: operators and sailings (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- DFDS: travelling with pets (reviewed 2026-09-11)
- GOV.UK: which pet travel document you need (reviewed 2026-09-11)
Member alerts
Get told when a Jersey to Portsmouth 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 DFDS’s booking system.
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