FAQs

I'll be driving a rental car so won’t know my vehicle make or registration until I pick it up, can I still book online?
Yes you can. When making your booking and entering your journey details simply select the I do not know vehicle registration box. Once you have picked up your vehicle and know your registration, please update your booking with the details. Please see the question below for important information regarding rental cars on Cook Strait ferries.

Can I take my rental car on the ferry?
We carry most vehicles including rental cars. Please note that some rental car companies allow the vehicle to travel onboard and some do not, depending on their individual policies. A full guide on who does and doesn’t allow their vehicles onboard can be found here.

Companies that do not allow their vehicles to travel onboard are Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Thrifty, so they have depots in both Wellington and Picton for you to drop off and/or pick up their vehicles. If hiring from one of these companies you should book yourself on us as a foot passenger.

Other rental car hire companies may allow the vehicle to cross on us so that you can simply drive on and drive off at the other end - retaining the same vehicle throughout your journey.. However ensure you double-check with your rental car provider BEFORE you make your ferry booking with us.

Can I drop my rental vehicle off at your ferry terminal and then collect one from your ferry terminal on the other side?
This all depends on the company you are hiring the vehicle with but many do allow this if pre-arranged. Please make these arrangements with your rental company directly. You can view a range of different rental car company policies here.

Bookings

Can I pay the cost of my trip in instalments?
Bluebridge partners with Afterpay so you can spread the cost over four equal fortnightly payments instead of having to pay it all upfront in one go. You pay the first 25% when you book and then pay the rest off in three equal payments, every two weeks. There’s no additional fees when you pay on time and it’s free to join. Simply select Afterpay as your payment option when you book and follow the prompts.

The sailing I want to travel on is all sold-out, what are my options?
As cancellations occur, the availability on our website will update in real-time so be sure to keep checking back to see if space has become available on your preferred sailing. Please note we do not operate a waitlist facility.

I booked online but don’t think I received my e-ticket, can I please have one?
Please email Bluebridge.Bookings@straitnz.co.nz with your booking reference (if known) in the subject line.

I think I may have accidentally double booked myself on your ferry. How do I organise a cancellation and refund for the duplicate booking?
Please email Bluebridge.Bookings@straitnz.co.nz with your booking references in the subject line (if known) along with a contact number and we’ll do our best to process your refund immediately. Please note that we do not store your credit card details so to process the refund we will need to be able to get in contact with you first.

I need to change my sailing dates/times, how do I do this?
Please click on this LINK to change your booking, use your booking reference and the new sailing information so you can amend your booking if possible. In case of any help, please email Bluebridge.Bookings@straitnz.co.nz.

I think the height of my campervan/motorhome is incorrect on my booking, will that be a problem?
No this is not an issue for your booking with us. So long as the length of the motorhome/campervan is correct in your booking there won't be any problems when you check-in.

Why is the 8.45pm departure from Wellington so restricted by space?
This is a dedicated freight sailing so space is restricted to only a few non-freight customers due to the laws that govern the shipment of dangerous goods at sea. Limited food and beverage services are available on this sailing but you'll still be able to grab a bite to eat and enjoy our free movies plus free Wi-Fi.

I think I left something on board the ferry/in your terminal. Who do I contact about Lost & Found?
Please send a clear description of the item you have misplaced and where you think you left it, along with your full name and booking reference to Bluebridge.Bookings@straitnz.co.nz

Private cabins

Private cabins are all sold-out online, does that mean I can’t have one?
We suggest that upon boarding you enquire with a member of our friendly crew at the reception desk in case there have been some last minute cancellations.

Can I board early for the 2am Wellington to Picton night sailing? Do you still offer the sleeper service?
Night sailings are still available on all weekdays from Wellington to Picton. Final check in is by 1am, you’ll board soon after that, set sail at 2am, and arrive in Picton at 5.45am. If early boarding is available we’ll email or TXT you the day before. Sorry, we can’t guarantee it will be available as it depends on what time the ship arrives in Wellington and operational requirements. To take advantage of early boarding you must pre-book a private cabin.

Can I take my suitcase up to my cabin?
We ask that you only take one small bag, no more than 7kgs up to your cabin. There are a quite a few stairs when you board, so for safety and comfort to yourself and other passengers all large items must be checked in at the terminal. For more information about checked in luggage please click here.

My Bluebridge
I forgot to register online for ‘My Bluebridge’ at the time of booking, can I do this retrospectively?
Yes you can. Please contact our team on 0800 844 844 to create your account.

I would like to change my sailing date/time, but can’t seem to find where I do this in ‘My Bluebridge’
Unfortunately you currently cannot amend your own booking via the ‘My Bluebridge’ area. Please email Bluebridge.Bookings@straitnz.co.nz with your booking reference and the new sailing information so we can amend your booking if possible. Please be sure to check the availability on our website first to speed things up.

Discounts

I’m a member of the NZMCA can I still book online and receive my discount?
You sure can, simply enter the special NZMCA promo code on the price & availability screen when making a booking on our website. Hint: you can find out what this is by logging in to the secure NZMCA member's only area. Please remember that you must present your New Zealand Motor Caravan Association Inc. membership card along with photo identification upon check-in otherwise you will be required to pay the full fare amount.

I'm a senior citizen, am I entitled to a discount with you?
Discounted Super Sail and Flexi Sail fares are available all year round to customers who are over 60 years of age, OR who hold a Super Gold Card, a New Zealand Seniors Card or a Grey Power Card. A valid membership card or a valid proof of age document such as a driver’s license or passport is required at time of check-in.

I’m a student, am I entitled to a discount with you?
We don’t offer a specific year-round student discount. The best available rate you’re going to be able to find is called our Saver Sail fare. If you're a card holder of one of these partner organisations then there may be a promo code that applies to you. See our partners here. Alternatively make sure you're signed up to our emails so you're among the first to learn about deals when they surface. You can find the sign up form for this on our homepage.

I'm a TOP 10 Holiday Park Club Member, am I eligible for a discount with your company?
No, sorry we currently do not have a discount with TOP 10 Holiday Parks.

I'm a singer/entertainer/band member and would like to play for my passage across Cook Strait, can I do this?
Unfortunately no. Space on board our current operational fleet is very limited so there isn’t a suitable area in which this activity could take place without impacting on our operation unfortunately.

Travelling with Pets

Can I take my pet with me?
Yes, you’re welcome to bring your cat, dog or other small pet with you. Pets must either stay in your vehicle or in one of our vehicle deck kennels ($15 one way) for the duration of the sailing.

Do I need to let Bluebridge know I have a pet in the car?
Yes. Please let us know when you’re travelling with a pet so we can help you keep your animal safe and happy.

Important: Please read our hints and tips for keeping your pet safe at travelling with pets

What about service dogs?
Certified service dogs are able to accompany their owner into all passenger areas. Please let us know prior to departure that you’re travelling with a service dog and ensure you have certification tags or documents handy.

What about larger pets?
Horses and other livestock need to be booked through our freight office. Please call 0800 162 322 or email  Freight.Wellington@straitnz.co.nz for more information.

Affiliated Resellers of Bluebridge

How do I become an agent or reseller of Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry services?
Please visit this section of website which is full of information including our Affiliate Reseller application process.

We're sure you'll agree that having the ability to offer a choice of New Zealand travel product enhances your customers’ experience and increases the profitability of your business.   If you are interested in becoming an agency of Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries, email us at Bluebridge.Sales@straitnz.co.nz and we’ll send you an affiliate application form.

Once our team has processed your application successfully, we will be in touch with your account information, as well as your website login details so you can start to make bookings on behalf of your customers.

If you have any questions or would like more information about becoming an agent, please don't hesitate to email our sales team.

What currency are the prices displayed on our website?
All prices on our website are in New Zealand dollars.