Love your pets but love to travel? You no longer have to pick between the two. Earlier this year, Virgin announced it would become the first Australian airline to allow pets to fly in cabins on domestic flights. Now, the Spirit of Tasmania – the main ferry service between mainland Australia and Tasmania – is about to let passengers bring their furry and feathered friends along for the ride in their cabins next time they sail across the Bass Strait.
Currently, the Spirit of Tasmania welcomes pets – dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, ducks, you name it – on board any of their vessels. However, these beloved domestic companions are kept in kennels in a closed-off pet housing area that’s off-limits to passengers while the ship is sailing. Yep, that means no mid-trip cuddles.
Passengers can soon set sail with their pet by their side on the Spirit of Tasmania’s two newest ships, the IV and V, which will begin cruising between Geelong and Devonport in 2025. Guests will be able to choose between having their two- or four-legged friend bunk with them in one of 18 climate-controlled, pet-friendly cabins, or keeping them in a secure kennel area.
Similar to its current fleet, the kennel area will be separate from the vehicle decks and accessible only to crew and pet owners during the voyage. CCTV monitoring will also give pet owners peace of mind and new technology will allow them to visit their pets anytime they’re craving cuddles.
Travellers who opt to bunk with their pets will need to bring their own bedding and will be responsible for taking their pets for toileting duties (or to stretch their sea legs) in a designated outdoor area.
If Tassie is on the cards for 2025, we’d suggest bumping it up your bucket list. We’ve put together a little inspo for your next trip, including all the best things to do, places to stay and restaurants to eat at.
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