{"id":1921,"date":"2026-02-09T13:55:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T12:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ibo.guide\/night-ferry-from-poland-to-sweden-with-a-dog-our-experience\/"},"modified":"2026-03-22T19:46:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T18:46:58","slug":"night-ferry-from-poland-to-sweden-with-a-dog-our-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ibo.guide\/en\/night-ferry-from-poland-to-sweden-with-a-dog-our-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Overnight ferry from Poland to Sweden with a dog: our experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Crossing from Poland to Sweden on an overnight ferry was the opening chapter of our summer loop through Scandinavia and the Baltics. We sailed with TT-Line from the port of \u015awinouj\u015bcie in Poland to Trelleborg in Sweden \u2014 and of course, with our dog Ibo.<\/p>\n\n

The plan was simple: board in the evening, grab a few hours of sleep, and wake up in Sweden. Reality turned out a little more eventful.<\/p>\n\n

Last-minute booking<\/h2>\n\n

Because the whole trip came together quite spontaneously, we booked the ferry at the last minute. Spaces on the ship were still available, but pet-friendly cabins were already sold out.<\/p>\n\n

We decided to chance it and figured we could manage a few hours in the shared areas of the ship. In hindsight, it wasn\u2019t an ideal plan.<\/p>\n\n

The drive to \u015awinouj\u015bcie<\/h2>\n\n

We set off from Bratislava around noon. After pushing through the Czech Republic and cruising the smooth Polish motorways, we rolled into the port of \u015awinouj\u015bcie in the evening.<\/p>\n\n

Everything is well signposted, so we quickly find the correct lane to queue in. Around us are plenty of cars, campervans and vans. There\u2019s about an hour to departure.<\/p>\n\n

Ibo peers out the window \u2014 time for a walk. Unfortunately, we\u2019re in an industrial part of the port with hardly any greenery. The soundtrack is noise, clatter and the constant screech of gulls. Ibo takes a moment to adjust. The never-ending gull calls keep him on alert, but after a few minutes we realise he\u2019s handling it better than we are. By the end of the walk he looks like he\u2019s got the place under control.<\/p>\n\n

We\u2019re not the only dog people here. Other travellers with dogs are making use of the open spaces, too. A nice bonus: public toilets nearby. We don\u2019t see any food options, but we\u2019re well prepared \u2014 Iva always packs us properly for trips like this.<\/p>\n\n

Boarding<\/h2>\n\n

When we bought tickets online, we were told self-check-in was available, but in the port it\u2019s a different story. There\u2019s no kiosk in sight, so we do what everyone else does \u2014 wait in line.<\/p>\n\n

The queue starts moving and cars begin to board. At the checkpoint we show our printed tickets and receive temporary TT-Line boarding passes with instructions on where to park.<\/p>\n\n

After parking we grab the basics for the night \u2014 two small sleeping bags, mats, water and a few snacks. We\u2019d eaten before boarding \u2014 after all, it\u2019s just past midnight. Sleep matters more than food right now.<\/p>\n\n

We leave Ibo in the car for the moment until things calm down. It\u2019s noisy and chaotic around us. When we\u2019re ready, we put him on the leash and head up the stairs into the belly of the ship.<\/p>\n\n

Finding a place for the night<\/h2>\n\n

The decks are surprisingly crowded. Progress is slow and it\u2019s busy everywhere. We meet other dog owners \u2014 cue the usual bout of mutual barking. A leash is essential here.<\/p>\n\n

We quickly realise most of the good spots in the public areas are taken. Families, solo travellers and anyone without a cabin have staked out benches, wall space and even the kids\u2019 corner.<\/p>\n\n

Finding a quiet place for the three of us feels almost impossible.<\/p>\n\n

Eventually, on one of the decks, I find a corridor at the end of a passage leading to the outside deck. It\u2019s away from the main flow, where we don\u2019t bother anyone and no one bothers us. Iva isn\u2019t thrilled with the choice, but admits it\u2019s calmer than elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n

The ship gets underway and the familiar rumble of the engines kicks in. Nothing new for Ibo. He knows these sounds from our ferry trips to the Croatian islands, though he\u2019s still alert and figuring out the new environment.<\/p>\n\n

Night in the corridor<\/h2>\n\n

Comfort is minimal, but at least no one disturbs us. Halfway through the crossing, another couple with a dog lies down at the far end of the corridor. There\u2019s tension for a moment, but fatigue wins and both dogs gradually settle.<\/p>\n\n

Before turning in we use the nearby deck for a quick walk. Near dawn we try again, but strong wind and the ship\u2019s motion make being outside unpleasant and even unsafe. The walk has to wait, which doesn\u2019t do much for our peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n

In the end we survive a short, intense night unscathed. We caught a bit of sleep, but it was far from pleasant \u2014 more like improvising our way through a few hours.<\/p>\n\n

Arrival in Sweden<\/h2>\n\n

The ferry did its job and delivered us safely to Trelleborg. A little stiff and sleep-deprived, we head back to the car and wait to disembark.<\/p>\n\n

Since we\u2019re travelling within the EU, nobody checks our documents \u2014 or Ibo\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n

After docking we drive to the first service station, give Ibo a proper walk and treat ourselves to breakfast. Another interesting day lies ahead, but it\u2019s going to be an easy one \u2014 the main goal is to catch up on sleep and feel human again.<\/p>\n\n

What we learned<\/h2>\n\n

This experience taught us that on overnight ferries it\u2019s worth booking a dog-friendly cabin, even if it\u2019s more expensive.<\/p>\n\n

We also noticed that nobody looked closely at whether we were travelling with a dog. In theory, you could book a regular cabin and sleep there with your dog. We\u2019ll leave that without comment.<\/p>\n\n

Either way \u2014 ferries work brilliantly as a way to get around. Just don\u2019t underestimate comfort, especially if you\u2019re travelling with a dog. Fatigue, the stress of finding a spot and the ship\u2019s nighttime bustle can sour the start of a trip more than you\u2019d expect.<\/p>\n\n

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Key facts about the \u015awinouj\u015bcie\u2013Trelleborg route<\/h2>\n\n