FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Can I book several vehicles on one ticket?
No, it's one vehicle per ticket. You would need to book a ticket per vehicle.
Travelling with a bicycle
Dover to Calais/Dunkirk & Dieppe/Newhaven On our UK – France routes we are only able to accept 1 passenger per bicycle, therefore this means you can’t turn up with a suitcase, pet or even another person in your basket.
How do I know which category my car belongs to?
Please make sure you know the height and length of your vehicle including any extra bike racks or roof boxes, and choose the vehicle type and size that matches. Vehicles declared incorrectly at the time of booking risk being refused boarding or may be subject to additional charges at the port.
Are passengers without a vehicle allowed on the ship?
On our Dover - Calais/Dunkirk routes we are unable to accept foot passengers due to operational reasons. In order to use this service, you must have a vehicle.
On Dieppe - Newhaven route you are allowed to travel as a foot passenger or with a vehicle.
Can I book tickets on the day of the departure?
Yes you can book a ticket at port on the day of departure. But for the best prices and in order to make sure there is availability we do advise to prebook.
What details do I need to provide when making a booking?
To make a booking with us, we will ask for the following details: Full name, address, email, telephone number and details of the passengers traveling.
When booking with us you will need to inform us of the full name and date of birth of all the individual passengers travelling on the booking. All names must be in accordance with each individual’s passport. It is always the passenger’s responsibility to supply us with the correct name and date of birth.
Please ensure you make us aware at the time of booking if you require any additional assistance or are travelling with reduced mobility
Are there any Addtional Fees?
The products which can be booked through our website can also be booked by phone through our customer service.
When booking by phone or in person, you must pay a service fee of;
£5 / 7.50€ on the Dover-Dunkirk and Calais routes
17.50€ on the Rosslare – Dunkirk route
No service fee will be charged when booking our Newhaven-Dieppe route.
Is there age restrictions / do you offer unaccompanied minor service?
Unfortunately, we do not offer an unaccompanied minor service due to security regulations. A parent or guardian must accompany people under the age of 18 years. Young people between the ages of 16 years and 17 years can travel alone on a ferry crossing if the parent or custodial parent has given written permission for it. Failure to produce this letter at check-in may result in refusal of travel.
Traveling as a foot passenger
Dover to Calais/Dunkirk
On our Dover - Calais/Dunkirk routes we are unable to accept foot passengers on these routes. To use this service, you must have a vehicle.
Dieppe – Newhaven
On Dieppe - Newhaven route you are allowed to travel as a foot passenger. Below is some useful information you will need to be aware if in preparation of your journey with us.
- Check-in time; 90 minutes before departure.
- All luggage must be labelled and must not be left unattended on board our ships.
- Luggage larger than cabin baggage (56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm) must be placed in the luggage trolley. Please note that the trolley will be inaccessible for the entire journey.
- If you have a transport connection, it is important to consider the time required to collect your luggage and pass through the Immigration Controls. (For a problem-free journey, it is recommended that you allow a minimum of 45 minutes after the ship's arrival time).
- If you are travelling with your pet, please present at the Terminal with the necessary documents, for more information : Pet Travel | DFDS. A DFDS employee will accompany you and your pet to the kennels in which your pet will travel (reservation only by telephone on 03 305 878 787)
- If you are carrying a bicycle, it must be dismantled, stored in a bag and placed in the luggage trolley (otherwise, boarding will take place at the motorised vehicle counters and you will be charged the difference in fare).
Paying For Your Booking
Payment of journeys and other products must be made when you book unless otherwise noted. The confirmation advice is only valid in combination with the credit or debit card used for payment and, therefore, you must bring that credit or debit card with you to check-in.
The booking is only binding with DFDS when payment has been received. You can pay with selected credit / debit cards and online payment methods.
Can I reserve a ticket and pay for it later?
You can't reserve DFDS tickets as we work with a flexible price system so you would have to pay at time of booking.
My payment didn't go through, what happened?
We only accept certain payment types, please make sure you are using one of these when making your booking. If the issue persists please contact your bank for further details.
Changing Your Reservation
You have the opportunity to change certain types of bookings via our website, or by telephoning us direct.
The rules for changes made by you may vary depending on the travel category as categorised in the booking terms and in any event subject to availability. Should changes to the booking reduce the value of the booking then the original cost is still valid.
Changes in the route, date, time, passenger numbers or vehicle type for non-promotional fares will result in any increase in price from the original fare and the fare applicable on the day you make the amendment being charged plus an amendment fee.
How much does it cost to change the date and how do I do it?
For Dover - Calais/ Dunkirk route amendments can be made online on My Booking page. This will show you any amendment fees and difference in fare price, before confirming the change.
On Dieppe - Newhaven route please contact us: +44 33 058 787 87 or newhaven-dieppe@dfds.com
Will I receive a refund if I cancel?
Please see the T&C you agreed to when making the booking. Any refund to which you are entitled under the cancellation policy must be made in writing within three months of the date of your cancellation.
I'm trying to amend my booking online, but I can't do it. What do I do?
If you are unable to make the amendment online please check that the change meets our teams and conditions.
If you question is about Dover - Calais/Dunkirk route you can contact us on +44 871 574 7223 or dover.pax@dfds.com (Calls cost 13p per minute plus your telephone company's access charge.)
On Dieppe - Newhaven route please contact us: +44 33 058 787 87 or newhaven-dieppe@dfds.com
What kind of ID/documentation do I need to travel?
UK citizens: Passport
EU/Schengen countries: Passport
FR citizens : Passport
Other countries: Passport and valid visa for the country you are entering
It is your own responsibility to make sure you follow the government rules around travel. DFDS aren't liable if you get refused travel.
Information for entering France
Information for entering the UK
Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
Do I need to bring my booking confirmation?
You can either bring your booking confirmation or have your booking number ready for the check-in staff.
What is the baggage allowance?
There is no weight limit of your baggage when travelling by ferry with DFDS. You do however need to be able to safely handle everything yourself.
Driving in London
If travelling to the UK and planning to drive in London, please be aware of Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) where a fee is charged if you’re driving certain types of heavily polluting vehicles. To find out more information and check your vehicle, please click here. Please note: owners of non-UK registered vehicles must register with Transport for London before driving in ULEZ zones.
What's the address of the terminal?
Dover:
Eastern Docks, Dover
Kent
CT16 1JA
United Kingdom
Dunkerque:
Port 5670 Terminal Car Ferry
Route de la Maison Blanche
F-59279 Loon-Plage
Dunkerque
France
Calais:
Terminal Car Ferry
Gare Maritime Est F-62100
Calais
France
Dieppe:
Ferry Terminal 7
Quai Gaston Lalitte
76200 Dieppe
France
Newhaven:
Newhaven Ferry Port, Rail Approach
Newhaven, East Sussex
BN9 0DF
All port addresses can be found on our terminals page.
When do I need to check-in?
Dover - Calais/Dunkirk Check in typically closes 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time (GMT). However, in high season and during the holidays, check in closes 120 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time (GMT). Check in will close promptly, therefore, we advise customers to allow plenty of time prior to departure to pass through all controls.
Dieppe - Newhaven closes 90 minutes before departure.
Please check your booking confirmation for check-in and boarding times. Please be aware of traffic and high volumes in peak season.
What happens if I am running late?
Please contact to check-in and we can amend your booking so you don't lose your ticket. Normally we would try to get you on the next available sailing.
Where can I find information about travel updates?
You can find travel updates on our travel updates page and Twitter page.
What forms of payment are accepted on the ferry?
Cash is accepted in GBP and EUR, and only on the Dover - Calais/Dunkirk route there is a currency exchange onboard where you can change any currency. Most major credit cards are accepted onboard including MasterCard and Visa. Ferries on Dieppe - Newhaven route do not have currency exchange.
Is there an ATM onboard?
We don't have an ATM onboard. You can pay by card, please see payment types available.
Can I stay in the car during the crossing?
Due to health and safety reasons you will not be able to stay in the vehicle as the car deck has to be locked during the crossing. Please make sure you get all of your needed luggage out of your vehicle as you will not be able to return to it during the crossing.
Can I bring my suitcase onboard?
For Dover - Calais/Dunkirk route please leave your baggage in your vehicle and bring only needed items. On Dieppe - Newhaven foot passengers must leave big baggage pieces in the trolly next to shuttle bus and if you are travelling with vehicle please leave your baggage in the vehicle and bring only needed items.
Is smoking allowed?
Smoking is prohibited onboard unless you are in a designated area on the outside deck. There will be signs onboard to show you where you can and can't smoke. You can also ask our crew for further details.
Are there medical facilities onboard?
All our crew are first-aid trained. We do not have any medical facilities onboard so you need to make sure you are fit and well to travel. We do recommend that you have travel insurance in case of emergency.
Is there Wi-Fi onboard?
We do offer free Wi-Fi on board. Telenor Maritime on Dover - Calais/Dunkirk and Marlink on Dieppe - Newhaven is the service provider and you can access it via your phone when logging onto the Wi-Fi or in the Guest Service Centre onboard.
Please ensure you're using the correct settings on your phone and deactivate roaming, or there is a risk you’ll be invoiced to your phone bill.
Can I use my own data connection onboard?
Please be aware that the ships have a functioning satellite network Telenor Maritime, from which higher tariffs apply for making and receiving calls. Please contact your telephone company for a more detailed overview before using it.
Extra security on Dover - France vessels
As part of our commitment to your safety and security, Armed Police officers are patrolling our ferries on the Dover-France routes. If you see something that doesn’t feel right, please speak in confidence to an officer or member of the crew.
What is my Duty Free Allowance?
When purchasing Duty Free, there is a limit to the number of products you can bring back. Take a look at our handy infographic for clear information on how much Duty Free you can land. Your Allowance will vary depending on whether you are travelling to an EU country from the UK or returning to the UK from the EU.
https://www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain
https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/volume-and-value-based-customs-and-tax-allowances
Do you offer a range of food for different health and lifestyle requirements? (glutenfree/lactose/vegan)
We can offer a range of different meal options onboard. If you have any specific requests please let us know so we can advise the ship in advance.
Is there a lift on the ferry?
Yes, we do have lifts on our ferries. If you require to be parked near one, you must let us know at the time of booking.
Complaints Procedures
DFDS always listens to passenger feedback and we recognise that it is valuable in helping us in improving our services.
In the unlikely event that a problem cannot be resolved onboard or at the destination itself, and you feel that you have reason to complain, then you are welcome to contact our customer services by phone or in writing. We ask you to contact us within a reasonable time after discovering the problem and no later than 2 months after the journey took place or where the service should have been performed.
You can send your complaint to our customer service via email: uk.customercare@dfds.com
When submitting your complaint please write your booking confirmation number in the subject line of the email and advise us of your day and evening telephone numbers. In this way we are able to investigate the matter fully and get back to you as quickly as possible
Here at DFDS we know your furry friends are family, so why not bring them along for the adventure too? With our pet travel page, we’re confident you and your pet will find all the answers you're looking for.
As you may have heard in the media, several changes are coming to how the European Union and United Kingdom control their borders.
EES
The EU is introducing the European Entry Exit System (EES), an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of European countries. The date of commencement is to be confirmed. More details can be found on the official Entry/Exit System website.
ETIAS
In the future, most non-EU citizens will be required to have a travel authorisation (ETIAS) to enter most European countries. The date of commencement is yet to be confirmed. More details can be found on the official ETIAS website.
UK ETA
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation is a new requirement for people who do not need a visa to come to the UK. It gives you permission to travel to the UK, and it is electronically linked to your passport. It is currently due to come into force in November 2023. However, it is being introduced on a rolling basis, with EU citizens not currently expected to be affected until later in 2024. Full details can be found at the UK ETA website.
Please note that the new controls only affect our non-Schengen routes (i.e. UK routes and Rosslare – Dunkerque).
DFDS is fully preparing for the arrival of these new measures, cooperating with the relevant authorities to ensure that we continue to carry our passengers on their journeys without major disruption.
We will inform you of the travel requirements that will be applicable to you where those are known at the time of booking. We will contact you with details of any updated information after booking. However, please note that it is the responsibility of passengers to ensure that they are in permission of the correct documentation and completed relevant formalities.
DFDS ferry mobile app
The DFDS app is your ideal travel companion.
- View live departures and arrival times
- Access your booking pass
- Keep up to date with the latest travel announcements
- Follow your journey with your personalised itinerary
- Find information about onboard facilities
- Find directions to your DFDS terminals
Simply log into the app using your booking number to access these great features.
Championing the Seas!
After being crowned ‘Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator 2024’ at the World Travel Awards earlier this year, we are delighted to announce we are now in the running for the World title.
Our deepest gratitude goes out to our employees, passengers, and partners for their continuous support and loyalty. Without you all, this nomination would not be possible. Your journey is our passion.
Thank you for being part of our success story!