As a family with 5 and 7 year old we have taken this journey a number times. The journey is always relaxing with extremely streamlined boarding. My major gripe is that there is no adequate food you ca... See more
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Unfortunately Dunkirk border control is a joke - diversions signs fallen on the ground to get there, 5 border stops (the first one hadn't got a clue about needing a share code for an EU passport to UK... See more
Fabulous buffet in Explorers Kitchen. Huge choice and all delicious. A huge improvement could be made if guests were informed which deck their buffet booking was made for - lots of guests (including... See more
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Service on board was excellent, we liked the buffet style diner, well organized Our return ship had a room with a faulty airco, was quickly handled by the guest service What we did not like was the... See more
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Company details
About DFDS
Written by the company
Your Gateway to Europe
Explore Europe with DFDS, the world’s leading ferry operator. Whether you’re planning a road trip across France, a mini cruise to Amsterdam, or a city break in Bruges, DFDS offers a range of travel options to suit your needs.
- Ferry crossings from the UK to France and Holland starting from just £35pp.
- Special autumn mini cruise discounts of up to 50% off – perfect for your next getaway!
- Duty-free shopping with up to 50% savings on premium products.
- Tailor-made European city break packages with handpicked hotels.
- Experience the freedom of the open road with DFDS's exclusive caravan and motorhome offers. Enjoy up to 20% off on selected routes and explore Europe at your own pace.
Exceptional Customer Service
At DFDS, we are committed to providing you with the best travel experience. Our customer service team is readily available to assist you with any queries or concerns. Whether you're checking your booking, preparing for your trip, or traveling with pets, our resources are designed to ensure your journey is seamless.
- Explore our comprehensive FAQs for quick answers.
- Stay informed with Live Travel Updates and navigate with ease.
- Receive dedicated assistance for passengers with reduced mobility, ensuring a comfortable voyage for everyone.
Your satisfaction is our priority. Reach out to our team for any assistance you need.
Contact info
DFDS House, Marmorvej 18,, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
- dfds.com
4.2
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21K reviews
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Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon Mikhail
We're delighted you had a pleasant journey between Dover and Dunkirk and found our staff attentive. Thank you for your feedback!
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
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Epic Return Crossing with DFDS – The Only Way to Travel
I recently did the Dover to Dunkirk round-trip with DFDS and upgraded to the Premium Lounge—it was an absolutely epic experience from start to finish!
If you are on the fence about upgrading, just do it. The lounge completely transforms the ferry crossing into a relaxing luxury experience. It is super quiet, incredibly spacious, and the perfect escape from the busier main decks. They greet you with a glass of prosecco on arrival, and the free-flowing hot food rolls, fresh pastries, snacks, and premium drinks mean you are sorted for the entire journey. The seating is massive and comfy, and having dedicated, quiet bathrooms is a huge plus.
To top off a brilliant trip, the DFDS staff on our return leg were absolute legends and managed to get us onto an earlier ferry back to Dover. Seamless, stress-free service that saved us hours of waiting around.
Top-tier customer service and an amazing onboard vibe. We will never do a standard ferry crossing again. 10/10 highly recommend!
May 21, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon MFry
We are so pleased to hear you had such an epic experience on your Dover to Dunkirk round-trip with us! It is wonderful to know that upgrading to the Premium Lounge enhanced your journey so significantly, making it a relaxing and luxurious escape. We are also delighted that our staff could assist you in catching an earlier ferry, ensuring a seamless and stress-free return. Thank you for your fantastic feedback and high recommendation!
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Reply from DFDS
Good morning Tony
We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed our clean vessel and friendly staff on your Dover-Dunkirk journey. Thank you for your kind words.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Reply from DFDS
Good morning Peter
We are so happy you enjoyed your experience on your Dover-Dunkirk-Calais journey. Thank you for your kind words!
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Very helpful and pleasant staff
Very helpful and pleasant staff. Good food and ferries on time.
May 26, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good morning Dave
We're delighted you enjoyed our helpful staff, delicious food, and punctual ferries between Dover and Dunkirk. Thank you for your kind words.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
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I travel with DFDS very often
I travel with DFDS very often; they offer flexible timetables, which means you don’t have to worry if you’re running late, as you can simply take the next one, and vice versa if you arrive early. The ferries are clean and the crew are friendly.
May 26, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon
Thank you for your wonderful feedback on your Dover-Calais journey! We are so pleased to hear that our flexible timetables and friendly crew make your frequent travels with us enjoyable. We appreciate you highlighting the cleanliness of our ferries.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
The ship was lovely the staff friendly…
The ship was lovely the staff friendly and good choices of food/drinks very clear instructions on how to board etc.
the traffic in Dover was sooo busy and we qued for 4 hours. So missed our booked time. But when we finally got to the front of que they put us on the next ship no questions asked.
May 26, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon Sara
We appreciate your feedback on your Dover-Dunkirk-Calais journey and are glad to hear you enjoyed the ship, staff, and food choices. We understand the frustration caused by the traffic and missed sailing, and we are pleased we could accommodate you on the next departure.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Return trip with motorcycle.
Return trip with motorcycle.
Very efficient at both check in booths for the trip. All the crew on board were very helpful and polite, on both of the crossings. The staff in the premium lounge were great. A good sailing experience both ways. Thank you.
On the return trip, we were boarded at the back of the trucks, which makes it unpleasant disembarking, cannot see past trucks, and a while breathing in lots of diesel fumes. There were only 3 motorcycles, so it would have been easy to get us off first if we’d been loaded at the front. I appreciate loading is crucial, but possibly a thought for the future. Many thanks.
Graham.
May 22, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon GF
We're glad you enjoyed your sailing experience between Dover and Calais and appreciate your kind words about our crew and premium lounge staff. We understand your feedback regarding the motorcycle boarding position and the discomfort experienced with the diesel fumes. We will certainly consider your suggestion for future loading procedures to improve the disembarkation process for motorcycles. Thank you for sharing your valuable insights.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
The booking process is simple and easy…
The booking process is simple and easy to navigate.
Staff at the check in are friendly and efficient.
The loading staff are quick and efficient.
The facilities on board are good.
The on board staff are always cheerful, friendly and helpful.
Duty free is always well stocked.
Only downside is the food in the restaurants is expensive.
May 23, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon
Thank you for your wonderful feedback on your Calais - Dover journey! We are delighted to hear that you found our booking process simple and our staff friendly and efficient. We appreciate your comments regarding the onboard facilities and the well-stocked duty-free. We have noted your feedback about the restaurant pricing.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
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Reply from DFDS
Good morning John
We are delighted you had a smooth check-in and voyage on your Calais - Dover journey. Thank you for your positive feedback.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Very efficient service with great staff
The rapid boarding is great and very well organised. Good information provided on board.
May 25, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good morning
We're delighted to hear that our rapid boarding process was well-organized and that you found the onboard information helpful. We appreciate your positive feedback on your Newcastle-Amsterdam journey!
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
They let me go couple hours before my…
They let me go couple hours before my departing time. Super serving
May 25, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon Zibi
We appreciate your feedback on your Calais - Dover journey. We are glad we could accommodate your departure time.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Staff were friendly and helpful
Staff were friendly and helpful. Ferry was clean and punctual. Food was good and plentiful but as is often the case an excess of salt is used in some dishes.
May have been tempted by some of clothing offers in shop had there been much in medium sizes.
May 25, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon Dado
We're so glad you enjoyed your journey with our friendly staff and punctual ferry between Newcastle and Amsterdam. We appreciate your feedback regarding the food and clothing sizes; we'll certainly take this into consideration.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
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What a great trip we had
What a great trip we had! the staff from check in to return were lovely. all happy to do what they can to make your trip a memorable one.
the ship is comfortable and clean and has everything you want and more. we had an inside cabin with bunk beds… very comfortable to sleep on but difficult for anyone over 4ft to get in and out of! we will pay more for a double next time.
we were a little disappointed with the food though. it wasnt really bad, but it was the same both nights and was very expensive for what it was.
the only really bad thing was the ridiculously long time it took to get through customs when we arrived.. this isn’t the fault of DFDS it’s the will new EU customs rules where they insist on taking your fingerprints and photo when you leave the boat and again when you get back! total of about 3hrs queuing coupled with 45 mins transfer each way to Amsterdam has a huge effect on your time there and puts a bit of a downer on it. that said this bit is not the fault of DFDS and as i said i am not marking them down for that however, i do think that of the measures remain they will need to rethink their timings for the “mini cruise” to ensure its survival, maybe earlier sailing out to get there first thing or leaving later so folk have more time on shore. we will go again, but we will do an extra night and stay in Amsterdam.
all in all a great trip thanks to everyone on the Princess!
May 25, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon
We are so glad to hear you had a great trip and enjoyed the staff's service and the ship's comfort on your Newcastle - Amsterdam journey. We appreciate your valuable feedback regarding the cabin, food, and customs process. We are actively reviewing our timings for the mini-cruise to enhance the experience.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
First time sailing with DFDS had always…
First time sailing with DFDS had always been loyal to p&o, all I can say is, I wish I’d sailed with DFDS from the very beginning, the customer service ais on a completely different level and am now kicking myself for not trying them sooner
May 25, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon Tin
We are so happy to hear you enjoyed your first sailing with us between Dunkirk and Dover and found our customer service exceptional! Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We look forward to welcoming you aboard again soon.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon
We appreciate your kind words about our prices and services on your Dover-Dunkirk journey. Thank you for your feedback.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon Gediminas
We're delighted you found our staff helpful and facilities clean and comfortable. Thank you for your feedback on your Kiel-Klaipeda journey!
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
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Long waiting times - good food
The boarding in IJmuiden took really long.
The boarding in Newcastle, again took really long and then getting off the ferry and on the road back home in IJmuiden also. All three times we stood in line in our car for more that 70minutes. And nobody updates passengers on why.
We have been visiting the uk for 14 years now, usually 2 /3 times a year and this was the first return trip Ijmuiden-newcastle. All the other trips from rotterdam and duinkerken/ calais never have(had) these waiting-times of sitting in your car.
The food buffet in the restaurant was very good. It has lots of choice. breakfast was also very good, so that was nice.
May 24, 2026
Reply from DFDS
God morning Irene
We appreciate you sharing your recent experience with us on your Amsterdam - Newcastle journey. We are concerned to hear about the significant delays you encountered during boarding and disembarkation in both IJmuiden and Newcastle. We understand how frustrating it is to wait without updates, especially after such a long journey. We are looking into this to understand what caused these prolonged waiting times. We are glad to know you enjoyed the food buffet and breakfast.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
I am totally disappointed the way it…
I am totally disappointed the way it takes longer to be checked, I have done my best to be there on time unfortunately, we missed our ferry.
May 24, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good morning Wilson
We are truly sorry to hear about the delay you experienced on your Dunkirk-Dover journey and that you missed your ferry. We understand your frustration.
Please be advised that the new EES system is being handled by Border Force and is out of DFDSs control.
Thank you for your understanding.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
First time on a mini cruise and loved…
First time on a mini cruise and loved it. Very impressed with Dfds
May 16, 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon
We're so glad you loved your first mini-cruise between Newcastle and Amsterdam with us and were very impressed! Thank you for your kind words.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
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