On-board Amenities & Services

An increasing number of ferry companies are investing in making their journeys more disabled-friendly. While most big companies offer facilities for people with disabilities on their ferries, we recommend that you always contact our customer support team before you book your trip in order to get more detailed information about ferry and port accessibility.

It is important to note that port authorities and ferry companies are obligated to provide free assistance to all passengers and to ensure that they board, travel and disembark safely and comfortably. We should also mention that some ferry companies require that persons with disabilities make their booking either via phone or via email. If you have specific assistance requirements, you should inform the ferry company at least 48 hours before your departure. Ferryhopper also recommends that you book your cabin well in advance, as the number of cabins that are accessible to people with disabilities is limited.

Most ferry companies are pet-friendly and have adapted their ships according to the pet's needs. Depending on the ferry company, your pet can stay in a specially designed cabin (pet cabin), in a kennel, or in a pet area on deck.

The options also depend on the size of your pet. While you can usually carry a small pet (about 6-10kg) inside its carrier, larger animals (more than 10kg) may have to travel in a kennel or a pet-friendly cabin, if available.

As for the ticket cost, some ferry companies allow you to bring your pet on board for free while others apply an additional fee. Please note that pets must always have a ticket, even when they travel free of charge. See how to book your pet ticket below:

First, choose your destination and then click on the orange button “Continue”. The next page appearing on your screen is the “Tickets” page. Here, you can see if traveling with your pet (and/or your vehicle) is available for the ferry route selected.

When booking your ferry ticket, you will be asked to select the number of passengers, pets, and vehicles for this trip. If there is no additional cost for your pet ticket, the following note will appear on your screen: “Your pet can travel free of charge on this trip” as shown in the image below:

There might be an additional field for you to select the size of your pet, the travel options & the accompanying passenger.

Then, you can click on the green button "View prices" to check the total ticket cost.

When an error message appears, it means that there are no pet cabins available for this ferry trip. Therefore, you should select the "In kennel" option, as it will be probably the only available type of pet accommodation.

Please note that pet tickets usually sell out fast, so we advise you to book your trip as early as possible. You may also have to present a valid health certificate confirming that your pet is up-to-date with all required vaccinations. Also, make sure to have a muzzle for larger dogs to ensure that all passengers enjoy a safe and comfortable ferry journey.

If you're thinking of traveling with your pet by ferry in Spain, find more information about fares, pet-friendly cabins and required documentation on Ferryhopper.

You can choose your seat type but not the exact seat. While ferry companies do not provide the option to select your seat, they automatically assign adjacent seats to passengers in the same booking, provided that adjacent seats are available. This is how the booking system of the ferry operators works. Nonetheless, if you and your travel companions are not seated together, you can always ask the crew members for assistance and they will try to accommodate you.

Each ferry company has its own baggage allowance policy. We recommend that you read the baggage allowance policy of the ferry company you are traveling with to avoid excess baggage charges at the port.

One large piece of luggage per person is typically allowed on board. For ferry routes in Greece & North Europe, passengers are entitled to carry luggage up to 50 kilos. However, for most European companies luggage allowance is usually 20 kilos, except for Italy (9-10 kilos). If you wish to carry additional luggage or special sports equipment, please consider using the alternative cargo services available during boarding. In case you have selected high-speed ferries, we advise you to re-confirm this option with the ferry operator. Generally, ferry companies are not liable for theft or loss of luggage.

Please note that depending on the ferry and your ticket type, there may not be a specific compartment or other space to store your luggage during the trip, especially if you don’t have a specific seat assigned to you (e.g. if you have purchased a deck-lounge ticket). In this case, you can keep your bags next to where you are sitting. Please make sure that you don’t leave them unattended.

Most ferries that have a car deck for vehicles also carry bikes and you can take your bike on board. Regardless of whether you have to pay or not, you will probably be required to book a ticket for the bike.

If you are traveling to/in Spain, please note that some of the ferry companies that require a ticket for the bike are Balearia, Corsica Ferries, Fred Olsen, and others.

Whereas, if you have selected Trasmapi, Formentera Lines, Aquabus, or Líneas Romero for your trip, you can bring your bike on board, without having to book a ticket for it.

Please note that small catamarans or high-speed ferries may have stricter rules regarding bringing bikes on board. Make sure that you check the company’s rules for the specific route and ferry before booking.

It should be mentioned that Greek ferry companies also allow bicycles without a charge if there is enough garage availability.

We would like to assure you that baggage is very rarely lost, damaged or misplaced. In such an unlikely event, you should inform the ferry company as soon as possible. In case you are still on the ferry, please notify a member of the crew.

Kindly note that Ferryhopper is not liable for theft or loss of luggage and cannot act in such cases.

If you suffer from motion sickness, we suggest that you avoid traveling by small high-speed ferries and that you opt for an open-deck conventional ferry instead. This could make your journey more comfortable, as fresh air usually helps relieve seasickness symptoms. Moreover, large ferries generally provide a smoother ride in windy conditions. If it’s not windy, then one of the larger high-speed boats might also be a good option. However, it’s probably safer to choose an open-deck conventional ferry when possible, as it’s hard to predict what the weather will be like on the day of your trip.

The number of ferries providing access to the internet on board is gradually increasing. Some companies offer their Wi-Fi service for free, while others charge a fee. Usually, you can purchase Wi-Fi onboard by opening your device’s web browser and providing your credit card details. For more information, you can ask the crew members at the ferry reception.

During the booking process, you can check the Wi-Fi service availability for every vessel by clicking on "Trip details".

Alternatively, you can check our Ferry Operators' page, in order to check onboard facilities per company and vessel.

Please note that the bandwidth of these networks is often limited. You will, therefore, be able to access your emails for example, but it may be difficult to engage in online activities that require a large bandwidth. It is also worth noting that for most of your journey, you will likely have internet access on your mobile through 3G or 4G networks.

You are also welcome to bring your own food and drinks on board. Οn most ferries you will find a snack bar serving drinks, sandwiches, pastries, etc. On longer routes, the ferry usually has a self-service restaurant that operates during meal times. Food and drinks are not included in the ticket price.

Most ferry companies aim to accommodate all passengers, including those with disabilities or reduced mobility, ensuring equal access to their services. To ensure appropriate arrangements, passengers with reduced mobility are encouraged to inform the ferry company staff in advance.

Many vessels are equipped with specially designed cabins and accessible seating. In most cases, guide dogs for visually impaired passengers are allowed in passenger areas. Furthermore, some ferry companies have trained staff to assist with embarkation and disembarkation for people with reduced mobility.

Please note that Greek ferry companies often provide special discounts for passengers with disabilities over 80% and their assistants or companions, provided they have a valid Greek Certification Document issued by the relevant authority. These discounts apply only to Greek residents.

You can easily check the available discounts during the booking procedure in the "Trip Details" option. For more specific information about facilities and conditions for people with reduced mobility, please visit each ferry company's official website.

Pregnant women who are six months or further along in their pregnancy may be asked to present a medical certificate to travel. Those experiencing complications need to provide a certificate regardless of the pregnancy stage.

Furthermore, embarkation may be denied if birth is expected within some days of departure or occurred recently, with the ship's Master having the discretion to refuse embarkation for safety reasons. Therefore, pregnant passengers should always inform the ship's crew before boarding and check with the ferry company the current terms & conditions.

Generally, ships are categorized into cargo and passenger ships. Ferries fall into the passenger vessel category.

The main types of ferries are:

1. Conventional Passenger Vessel / Ro-Pax Vessel (carries both vehicles & passengers)

2. Highspeed Passenger Vessel / Ro-Pax Vessel (carries both vehicles & passengers)

3. Catamaran (small watercraft, for passengers only)

4. Trimaran (multihull boat, for passengers only)

5. Flying Dolphin (for passengers only)

Conventional vessels are slower but offer much more amenities such as garage, restaurants and bars, compared to the others (catamaran, trimaran, flying dolphins). Some ferry companies operate high-speed vessels that are quicker than conventional ferries.