Policies and Procedures
Travellers Section
Travellers Section

Frequently Asked Pet Questions—Traveling with Marine Atlantic

Should I leave my pet in the vehicle?
In most cases, leaving your pet in the vehicle is the least stressful option for your pet.  Your vehicle is familiar and smells of home and family.  During the voyage, the vehicle decks are quiet and calm without much "action" that might stimulate, excite or stress your pet.  After loading of the vessel is complete it is likely that your pet will relax and rest. 

Should I reserve a kennel space?
If you feel that your pet is not capable of controlling its bladder or bowels for the duration of the voyage, or might re-decorate your vehicle's interior, the kennel service area might be the best choice. 

Pets must be carried to and from the kennel service area inside your travel kennel.  If your pet is too large to be carried inside the travel kennel, it must be muzzled and on-leash to and from the kennel area.  It is your responsibility to care for and maintain control of your pet at all times.

Our staff will provide directions to the kennel service area once you are onboard and you may visit your pet at your convenience. 

How often should I visit my pet in the kennel service area?
It is recommended that you keep visits to a minimum.  As a guide, recommended visitation is one to two times during the Port aux Basques/North Sydney crossing, which is 6 to 8 hours in duration or 2 to 3 times for the Argentia/North Sydney ferry crossing which is 14 to 17 hours in duration. This will provide your pet with an opportunity to relax and sleep.  Visiting a pet too often can actually result in the pet becoming excited and worried, resulting in a stressful voyage.  

Also keep in mind that there will likely be other pets in the kennel area and each time you enter the area they will be affected by your presence as well.

What should I do if my pet is not accustomed to travelling in a kennel?
If your pet is not accustomed to being confined in a travel kennel, your voyage with Marine Atlantic should not be the first time.  It is recommended you spend time prior to the voyage making sure your pet is "kennel trained" if you are planning to use the kennel service area option.

Why must I muzzle and leash my dog on the way to the kennel service area?
On your way to the kennel service area you will encounter hundreds of people, most of who are strangers and may act in unexpected ways toward your dog.

When dogs are placed into new situations they may react unpredictably.  The most even-tempered pet can become frightened and bite.  Therefore it is necessary to protect you, your dog and our passengers and crew by making a dog bite impossible through the use of a muzzle and leash control. It is your responsibility to provide your own muzzle and leash.  Failure to muzzle your dog may result in your reservation being cancelled.

Does Marine Atlantic sell any pet products on site?
Muzzles and leashes are available for sale in the terminal at a cost of $20 each.

How should I feed and water my pet in preparation for our voyage?
In order to minimize any urgent need for your pet to eliminate during the voyage, you should control excessive eating/drinking immediately prior to your trip.  If you wish to provide water for your pet to drink during the voyage, ice is a great way to provide refreshment along with preventing major spills that might make your pet uncomfortable.  Ice also requires the animal to lick slowly rather than gulping water.  Some travel kennels include snap-on plastic dishes for water and food - simply fill both sides of the dish with water and place in your freezer overnight. 

How long can a dog "hold it" and still be comfortable?
Each pet is different.  In general, a dog that is moving around actively can go about 4 to 5 hours in between toileting.  If a dog is resting and calm this period greatly increases (such as overnight, or 8 plus hours).  During your sailing, your dog will either be in your vehicle in a quiet area of the ship without any outside stimulus that might excite him to be restless, or he will be in his travel kennel in the kennel service area.  Both options provide a restful atmosphere that should allow the pet to simply relax and sleep, thereby not needing to toilet as often as if he were having an active day.

What about cats? 
For cats, a small litter box set up in the floorboard of your vehicle or inside their travel kennel will allow them to freely relieve themselves whenever necessary.  If using the kennel service area, bring along a towel to drape over the crate to prevent other pets from looking in on your cat, and to prevent your cat from having to deal with constantly looking at another pet.

What about other Pets?
If you are traveling with a pet other than a cat or dog and have special requirements, please inform our reservations agents and they will refer you to someone from our Passenger Services department who can provide some suggestions.

What happens to my pet during an emergency?
While effort will be made by our crew to set free your pet in the event of an emergency, passengers will be our crews’ first concern.  Pets can not be accommodated in our life saving evacuation systems.

I have a service animal, where can I take my service animal to relieve themselves?
There are pet relief centers in each of the kennel service areas onboard of the vessels.  Once onboard the vessel, a member of our staff will direct you to this location.  Please clean up your dogs waste when finished.

I have booked a cabin may I take my pet to my room?
We do not allow pets into cabins as there are many passengers who travel with us who are allergic to pets.  Additionally, pets can become excited over the environment that they are in and potentially could relieve themselves accidently. 

Pet owners who take their pets into cabins are subject to a $150 cleaning charge applied automatically to the credit card on file with your reservation.

This is not applicable to certified service animals; however certification documents must be carried with you.

I have a miniature horse, what accommodations are available?
A miniature horse would be considered the same as a dog or cat and fall under the same restrictions.

I am blind and I have a miniature horse as a guide animal is this acceptable to your pet policy?
If your miniature horse is a certified service animal and proper certification documents are provided then your service animal would not be treated any differently to that of other certified service animals.