Ferry company
P&O Ferries
A profile of the British ferry company - routes to England, ships, check-in, pets and fares
- Under British flag since 1837, headquartered in Dover, owned by DP World since 2019
- Two routes to England, Calais - Dover in 90 minutes and the overnight Rotterdam - Hull ferry
- Check-in in Calais 60 minutes before departure with a vehicle, 90 minutes on foot; in Rotterdam 90 minutes with a pet
About P&O Ferries
Table of Contents
About P&O Ferries
P&O Ferries traces its history back to the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, founded in 1837, and says it has sailed under the British flag ever since. The present-day ferry company was formed in 2002 from the merger of P&O's Channel, Portsmouth and North Sea operations, with the P&O Irish Sea brand absorbed in 2010; earlier names included P&O European Ferries and European Ferries. Since 2019, P&O Ferries has belonged to the Dubai-based port operator DP World, and is headquartered in Dover. The company says it operates more than 20 ships on eight routes across the Channel, North Sea and Irish Sea, sails more than 30,000 crossings a year at peak times, and carries more than 10 million passengers and 1.6 million cars. P&O Ferries was the first British ferry company to support the Sunflower lanyard scheme for travellers with hidden disabilities.
Ships
On Calais - Dover, the two hybrid ferries P&O Pioneer and P&O Liberté operate, 230.5 metres long and, when they entered service in June 2023 and March 2024, the largest double-ended ferries in the world; they can sail in either direction without turning and are designed to cut CO2 emissions per crossing by 40 per cent. They are supported by the Spirit of Britain and the Spirit of France. Between Rotterdam and Hull, the sister ships Pride of Hull and Pride of Rotterdam have been in service since 2001, 215 metres long, with 546 cabins for 1,360 passengers, several restaurants, bars, a cinema, a casino and a show lounge across twelve decks, plus pet-friendly cabins.
Routes to England
P&O Ferries operates two of the routes compared on this page: Calais - Dover, the shortest Channel crossing at around 90 minutes and the only Dover route carrying foot passengers, and the overnight Rotterdam - Hull ferry from Europoort, with a cabin for every passenger and a morning arrival in Yorkshire; the Hull ferry port page covers the terminal and how to get there. The company also links Cairnryan in Scotland with Larne in Northern Ireland.
Check-in, vehicle and pet
On Calais - Dover, check-in for vehicles closes 60 minutes before departure; foot passengers, cyclists without a car, motorbikes, motorhomes and travellers with a pet should arrive 90 minutes beforehand, as dimensions and documents are checked. Foot passengers check in at the terminal and are taken to the ship, and back to the terminal at Dover, by shuttle bus; they leave the ship around 30 minutes after docking. On Rotterdam - Hull, 90 minutes also applies with a pet. A passport is required for everyone; see the entry requirements guide. Motorhomes and cars with trailers are classified by length and height, and gas cylinders up to 47 kilograms must be declared and turned off, details in the motorhome guide. On Calais - Dover, pets stay in the vehicle or travel in the pre-booked Pet Lounge with its own outside deck; on Rotterdam - Hull, the dog must go into one of six pet-friendly cabins per ship or a kennel on Deck 7, as staying in the vehicle is not possible there, and pets cannot travel on the transfer buses to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. More in the dogs and pets guide.
Tickets and fares
P&O Ferries offers Standard, non-refundable and changeable for a fee, with travel up to four hours before or after the booked time subject to availability; Standard Flexi, with free changes and cancellation for a fee; and Fully Flexi, fully refundable with a switch to any available departure. On Calais - Dover there are day trips and short breaks, while the North Sea route offers mini-cruises to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Prices are shown in the booking window, with a comparison of all England routes in the price overview.
FAQ P&O Ferries
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about P&O Ferries
Which routes does P&O Ferries run to England? +
Two: Calais - Dover across the Channel in around 90 minutes, and the overnight Rotterdam - Hull ferry from Europoort across the North Sea. There is also the Irish Sea route between Cairnryan and Larne.
Which ships does P&O Ferries operate? +
On Calais - Dover, the hybrid ferries P&O Pioneer and P&O Liberté, along with the Spirit of Britain and the Spirit of France; on Rotterdam - Hull, the sister ships Pride of Hull and Pride of Rotterdam.
When do I need to be at the port with P&O Ferries? +
On Calais - Dover, check-in for vehicles closes 60 minutes before departure, and for foot passengers, cyclists without a car, motorbikes, motorhomes and travellers with a pet, 90 minutes beforehand. On Rotterdam - Hull, 90 minutes applies with a pet. Departures are shown in the timetable.
Can I travel as a foot passenger with P&O Ferries? +
Yes, P&O Ferries is the only company that carries foot passengers on Calais - Dover; a shuttle bus takes you to the ship. Rotterdam - Hull can also be booked without a vehicle.
Does P&O Ferries carry pets? +
Yes. On Calais - Dover, the animal stays in your vehicle, or you book the Pet Lounge with its own outside deck; on Rotterdam - Hull the dog must go into a pet-friendly cabin or a kennel on Deck 7, as staying in the vehicle is not possible there. Foot passengers cannot bring a pet. More in the dogs and pets guide.
What fares does P&O Ferries offer? +
Standard, non-refundable and changeable for a fee; Standard Flexi, with free changes and cancellation for a fee; and Fully Flexi, fully refundable with a switch to any available departure. Prices are shown in the booking window, with a comparison in the price overview.