Check-in time

Check-in commences 2.5 hours prior to departure. To ensure your sailing leaves on time you must check-in at least 45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. This allows for completion of check-in and security procedures. Arrival after this time will not allow you to travel and may result in forfeiting the fare paid.

Please ensure you check your ticket for the day, date and departure time of the sailing on which you are booked.

The gates for vehicles open 2.5 hours prior to departure. Boarding commences 1.5 hours prior to departure. There is limited council parking available prior to checking-in at Port Melbourne.

Identification needed for check-in

Photo identification is required to check-in (eg drivers license). If photo identification is not available then three forms of identification with your name on it is required (eg credit card, medicare card etc).

Luggage restrictions

Your cabin contains bed linen, towels and soap. We recommend taking an overnight bag on board the ship with personal toiletries, medications and clothing. If you are traveling with an infant and have reserved a cot you will need to also bring linen for the cot. For the rest of your holiday luggage, you are only restricted if you are not travelling with a vehicle.

If you are travelling without a vehicle, you are restricted to placing two items only on the baggage trolley.

If you are travelling with a vehicle, lock all your luggage inside the car taking only an overnight bag on board the ship. For security reasons there is no access to vehicles during the voyage.

Obtaining your cabin key

When you present your e-ticket you will receive a boarding pass and a ship directory with your cabin number and key card/s.

How to drive your vehicle on board

• All passengers are to proceed to the vehicle check-in booths where you will be checked-in and each passenger provided with a boarding pass, cabin key and ship directory.
• All passengers travelling with the vehicle are to remain in the vehicle for boarding via the vehicle deck.
• Once you have parked your vehicle, place in park/gear and engage the park brake. Please note the deck number and position of the vehicle within the deck so that you can easily find your car on arrival.
• On arrival, announcements will be made regarding disembarkation and you will be called to your vehicle by deck numbers. When disembarking please do not start you engine until told to do so.
• All passengers travelling with a vehicle may disembark the vessel with the driver.

Spirit of Tasmania also carries freight and due to different loadings each day, short delays may occur when loading your vehicle. However, we endeavour to keep these to a minimum.

Disembarkation

On arrival, announcements will be made regarding disembarkation. Passengers travelling without a vehicle may disembark via the escalator approximately 10 minutes after the ship docks. All passengers travelling with a vehicle are required to disembark the vessel with the driver. Off-loading of vehicles may take up to one hour from ship docking. When disembarking, please do not start your engine until instructed to do so.

Quarantine laws in Tasmania

Both vehicles and luggage are subject to inspection by Department of Agriculture Inspectors at the Tasmanian terminal. Any fruit, vegetables or plant matter must be declared or you could face severe penalties. Exemption Certificates are available from your local Department of Agriculture. Contact Quarantine Tasmania for further information on 03 6233 3352.