Ferry luggage rules: what you can carry and what stays in the car

Ferries have no baggage weight limit and no checked luggage, which is the single biggest advantage over flying; you carry what you bring and it travels in the car or beside you. The rules that do exist concern what is prohibited, not how much you can take.

That said, foot passengers must physically move everything themselves, which is a practical limit that catches people who pack as though they were flying.

The basic rules

Luggage travels in the vehicle for car passengers, and it stays there during the crossing. You cannot access it at sea.

Foot passengers carry their bags into the passenger areas and keep them with them.

There is no weight limit, no size limit and no charge for luggage on any route.

The limit is space in the car and the strength of your arms on a ramp.

What stays in the car

Suitcases, holdalls, cool boxes, sports equipment and anything you do not need during the crossing.

Anything valuable should not stay in the car, because the deck is unattended and the operator’s liability is limited.

Medication, documents and electronics come with you. So does anything a child might need at short notice.

If the crossing is overnight, take a small bag with what you need for the cabin and leave the rest.

Prohibited items

Weapons, ammunition, fireworks and CS gas are prohibited. So are flares, except in a boat’s own safety kit.

Fuel in containers is limited, usually to five litres in an approved container. Petrol cans are often refused outright.

Drugs subject to control are prohibited, and customs officers can search vehicles.

Plants, soil and some foodstuffs are restricted at the border rather than by the operator.

Alcohol and tobacco

You can carry alcohol in the car, subject to the customs allowance of the destination country.

Alcohol bought in the on-board shop cannot usually be consumed on board. It is sealed until arrival.

Some operators restrict the amount of alcohol carried by foot passengers, particularly on party routes.

Customs allowances are lower than most people assume. Check before filling the boot.

Food and cool boxes

Bringing your own food is allowed and sensible. Ferry food is expensive and the queues are long.

A cool box works for a short crossing but not for a 16-hour one, because it stays in the car.

Dairy and meat cannot enter the EU from the UK, so a cool box of British produce will be confiscated at Calais.

Food that can cross without restriction: bread, fruit, vegetables, biscuits, chocolate and sealed snacks.

Sports equipment

Bicycles are carried free or for a small charge and are loaded separately. Book them with the ticket.

Surfboards, kayaks and golf bags are usually accepted and sometimes charged. Declare them at booking.

Dinghies and small boats need a trailer booking and are treated as freight on some routes.

Anything that does not fit inside the vehicle needs to be declared, or it becomes a gate problem.

Foot passenger luggage in practice

There is no baggage handling, no trolley service and no porter. You carry it up the gangway.

A wheeled case is fine on the quay and awkward on the ramp. A rucksack is easier everywhere except a long walk.

Two bags per person is the practical limit for an adult. More than that needs a car.

At large ports, trolleys are available in the terminal and must be returned before boarding.

Luggage on overnight crossings

Cabins are small. A large suitcase takes up most of the floor, so soft bags are better.

There is often a luggage rack in the corridor or a storage area near the stairs.

Take a small bag into the cabin and leave the rest in the car if you have one.

Foot passengers should pack for the cabin, not for the trip, in the bag they carry up.

Prams, pushchairs and car seats

Pushchairs must be folded and stored. They are not allowed in the aisles or the lounges.

Car seats stay in the vehicle. They are not needed on board and take up space.

A sling is more practical than a pushchair on a ferry, particularly on stairs.

If you need a pushchair at the far end, keep it in the car and carry the child on board.

Pets and their equipment

Pet carriers, bedding, bowls and food all travel with you or in the car.

If the animal is in a kennel, the ship provides water but not bedding. Bring a familiar blanket.

Pet food is allowed across borders in sealed packaging, subject to the destination’s rules.

Do not leave an animal in a car with the windows closed, whatever the weather. The decks are ventilated but the car is not.

What not to pack

Anything valuable that you cannot carry: jewellery, laptops left in the boot, cash in a suitcase.

Anything illegal in the destination country, including some medicines that are prescription-only at home.

Anything that will be confiscated at the border: fresh food, plants, soil and unpasteurised dairy.

Anything you would not want inspected by customs, because vehicles are searched at random.

Insurance and liability

The operator’s liability for luggage in a vehicle is limited, often to a few hundred pounds.

Home insurance may cover luggage in transit. Check the policy rather than assuming.

Travel insurance usually covers luggage and delays, with an excess.

Photograph valuables before travel. A claim without evidence is a slow claim.

Packing for a ferry trip

Pack the crossing bag separately: documents, medication, snacks, entertainment and a change of clothes.

Keep that bag in the passenger compartment, not the boot.

Pack the car so that the boot can be opened at the border without unloading everything.

Label the bags with a name and a phone number. Bags do go missing on crowded sailings.

Luggage for a motorhome or caravan

There are no luggage rules at all inside a motorhome, because everything stays in the vehicle.

The constraint is weight and loading, not space. Check the axle limits before filling every cupboard.

Awnings, chairs and outdoor equipment must be secured before boarding. Loose items on a deck are a hazard.

If you are towing, pack the caravan so the weight sits over the axle rather than at the ends.

Luggage on a bicycle

Bicycle touring luggage is usually two panniers and a handlebar bag, and it all comes off the bike for the crossing.

Take the panniers with you. The bike storage area is not secure and the deck is unattended.

A dry bag for the ferry bag is worth having, because the deck is wet and the storage is open.

Bikes cross free on most routes, and there is no charge for touring luggage, so a fully loaded tourer pays the same as a commuter with a rucksack.

Losing a bag

Bags are lost less often than on aircraft, but it happens on crowded sailings when people take the wrong case.

Report it to the crew before disembarking. They can check the lounges and the vehicle deck.

Label bags with a name and a phone number. It turns a lost bag into a phone call rather than a claim.

Most misplaced bags turn up within an hour, usually in the lounge where the owner was sitting rather than on the deck.

If the bag contains documents or medication, tell the crew immediately. They will make announcements, and most passengers hand a found bag in at reception.

If the bag is gone, report it to the operator’s customer service within 24 hours. After that, the trail is cold.

What to check before you travel

The destination’s customs allowances and prohibited items, which differ from the UK’s.

Whether your sports equipment needs a separate booking.

Whether the operator restricts alcohol for foot passengers on your route.

Whether your insurance covers luggage in a vehicle on a ferry deck.