Across the Fehmarn Belt with a motorhome or caravan

The Vogelfluglinie is the standard route for campers heading to Denmark and Sweden: a 45-minute crossing instead of the overland route via Jutland, with a departure every 30 minutes during the day. Motorhomes, camper vans and cars with caravans or trailers travel on every departure; the ferries also take oversized vehicles up to around 25 metres long and 4.70 metres high. All that matters is that you state your vehicle correctly when you book.

Which vehicle class applies?

Tickets are sold per vehicle, and all occupants are included. The price depends on the total length:

• Camper vans up to 6 metres are booked like a car and use the blue lane at the port.
• Motorhomes over 6 metres and cars with caravans or trailers are booked with their actual total length; at the port they use the staffed yellow lane.
• Roof boxes add to the vehicle height, while rear racks and drawbars count towards the length; both belong in your booking details.

When you book, you select your vehicle's length and, if needed, its height.

What does the crossing cost?

There is no fixed motorhome flat rate: the amount depends on the vehicle length, the ticket type (Low Price, Standard, Flex), demand and when you book. As a guide, use the "from" prices for car fares on the Tickets & prices page; the exact amount for your vehicle only appears in the booking step. The route's rules of thumb apply here too: online is considerably cheaper than at the port, and booking early is cheaper than booking late.

How to measure correctly

Measure from the frontmost to the rearmost point of the vehicle, including a tow bar with a rack fitted, bike rack, rear ladder and spare wheel. For a car with caravan, measure from the front bumper of the towing car to the rear of the caravan, including the drawbar. If in doubt, round up: a length stated too short will be spotted in the check-in lane at the latest and may mean paying the difference at the port price; Scandlines' conditions of carriage are binding.

Check-in and lanes

Motorhomes over six metres and cars with caravans or trailers always use the yellow lane at check-in: a member of staff checks your booking and directs you to the waiting lane. Check-in closes 15 minutes before departure and opens two hours beforehand; with a larger vehicle, 30 to 45 minutes to spare is the more relaxed choice, especially in the school holidays.

For the time on board: secure your vehicle and leave the car deck. Switch off the fridge and heating and turn off gas bottles for the crossing; here too, the ferry operator's conditions of carriage are binding. The deck stays closed for the 45 minutes, so take everything you need upstairs with you.

On board and arrival

Upstairs you'll find the Food Express, Scandlines Coffee and the on-board shop, which is plenty for the short crossing. In Rødbyhavn you drive straight onto the E47: Copenhagen is about two hours away, and motorhome pitches and campsites on Lolland and Falster are right on the route.

On to Sweden

For campers heading to Sweden, Scandlines combines the ferry with the Øresund Bridge or with the Helsingør-Helsingborg crossing in one booking. Which combination is better when is compared on the To Sweden via Fehmarn page; the "from" prices for the combination tickets are on the Tickets & prices page.