Stena Line's Kiel–Gothenburg route is the main direct ferry link between Germany and Sweden, and it's a genuinely useful option for driving in with a pet rather than flying. Stena Line's own customer guidance for this specific route is clear that pets are allowed, but travel requires a pre-booked pet cabin, with each sailing carrying only a limited number of them and a maximum of two pets per cabin.

The line states plainly on this route that a pet cannot stay in your vehicle during the crossing — the car deck isn't an option here the way it might be on some other European crossings. Your pet must be registered at check-in and taken to its cabin, and outside the cabin and a designated exercise area, pets aren't permitted in general passenger areas.

Because pet cabins are limited and the route doesn't guarantee one is still available close to departure, book the pet cabin at the same time as the ferry ticket itself rather than afterward. A microchip and valid EU pet passport or health certificate are required, and assistance dogs are treated differently from ordinary pets, travelling free with access to passenger decks when properly certified.