Crossing guide
What the Portsmouth to Jersey crossing is like
DFDS gives the Portsmouth to Jersey crossing as approximately 9 hours, adding that the actual passage time varies with the tides in Jersey and berth availability. The ship usually leaves Portsmouth in the morning and reaches St Helier in the early evening, around six days a week. A cabin is a daytime base rather than a bed, and with a dog it is somewhere quiet to spend a long sailing.
Leaving Portsmouth
DFDS’s Jersey sailings use Portsmouth International Port on George Byng Way, the same port as the cross-Channel ferries. The timetable closes check-in one hour before departure. Foot passengers with a pet check in inside the terminal, and DFDS asks that the pet travels in a suitable carrier.
Arriving in Jersey
The ship docks at the Elizabeth Terminal in St Helier, close to the town centre. DFDS says passage times vary with Jersey’s tides and berth slots, so avoid planning a tight evening connection on the island.
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
Going out to the island your dog can stay in the car for the crossing — you cannot stay with it — or join you in a pet-friendly cabin. DFDS’s pet cabins on this route are two-berth sea-view cabins for up to two pets, and the pet lounge has its own outdoor area but limited, pre-booked space.
- 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 the pet to the booking; DFDS says adding it is free on the Jersey routes. Book a pet-friendly cabin or pet-lounge seat in advance, and if pet cabins are gone, do not book another type, or DFDS may reject the booking.
- On board
- Foot passengers with a pet check in inside the Portsmouth terminal, and DFDS asks that the pet travels in a suitable carrier. Jersey restricts certain dog types, so check before you book.
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 Portsmouth to Jersey?
Approximately 9 hours, according to DFDS, but the passage varies with Jersey’s tides and berth slots. Sailings from Portsmouth usually leave in the morning.
Which ships sail from Portsmouth to Jersey?
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 Portsmouth to Jersey ferry?
Yes. Dogs may stay in the vehicle during the sailing, or travel in a pet-friendly cabin or the dog-friendly lounge. Foot passengers can bring a pet too, using a cabin or the lounge.
What paperwork does my dog need for Jersey?
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)
- Government of Jersey: pets travelling between Jersey and the UK (reviewed 2026-09-11)
Member alerts
Get told when a Portsmouth to Jersey 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.
Already a member? Set an alert for Portsmouth to Jersey.