Côte D’Opale

In the early hours of 9 July, Côte d’Opale arrived at Dunkirk Port. Over the weekend she sailed into her future home, Calais Port, and on Monday 12 July arrived in Dover Port. Her to-ing and fro-ing is for berthing trials to ensure she fits comfortably into her new homes, where she will sail regularly to and from next month.

Over the coming weeks, Côte d’Opale will receive hundreds of deliveries to make sure she is well stocked for crew and passengers for her first sailing next month. The shelves in the Duty Free shop will be stacked full of perfumes, cosmetics and alcohol for passengers to peruse. The restaurants and cafes will be well stocked with delectable delights for those sailing onboard and car decks will be swept, prepped and ready to welcome hundreds of cars, lorries and bikes onboard for their journey between England and France.

Until then, our crew are getting everything prepared in order to welcome passengers onboard in a matter of weeks, with perhaps a few opportunities to capture some great sunset shots.

The countdown is on…we can’t wait!

Following the handover of the Côte d’Opale last month, she is on her way to Dover ready for berthing trials in a matter of weeks.

After a scheduled stop in Singapore to refuel and restock, she once again set sail under the trusted hands of Captain Poisson.

Most recently she has stopped in Galle, Sri Lanka. She will then sail through the Suez Canal and more scheduled stops will take place in Port Said and Malta, before she arrives to the shores of Dover later this summer.

En route, she has seen stunning sunsets, and beautiful seas. Take a look at some of the shots captured by our crew!

Inside, her shiny new interior is waiting for customers to enjoy! Our Ship Guide sets out exactly what you can find onboard, as well as a handy deck map to see where everything is. Take a look below. We can’t wait to welcome you onboard.

On Monday 17 May the Côte d'Opale was delivered to us six weeks ahead of schedule. We have signed a long-term charter agreement with Stena RoRo and the 216-metre-long ferry will become the longest ferry operating on the English Channel.  

To mark the delivery, a ceremony with representatives from Stena RoRo, DFDS and the shipyard was held on site and the ferry will soon embark on her maiden voyage to Europe where she will set sail on the Dover – Calais route this summer. 

The large capacity of the Côte d'Opale means energy consumption per trailer transported will be significantly decreased compared to Calais Seaways which she is replacing. Take a look at our infographic to see how they compare.

The bow and stern are specially designed to fit the quayside facilities in both ports, and in addition, it is equipped with a third bow thruster to facilitate the many daily manoeuvres in port.  

We can’t wait to welcome the Côte d'Opale to our Dover – Calais route in a matter of months. See you onboard!

The Côte D’Opale is coming together nicely and she will soon be heading out for sea trials later this month. The finishing touches will take place in June and July before her inaugural sailing this summer. However, for a sneak peek of the interior of the ship, take a look at our interactive 360 tour of the ship below.

As Chinese New Year fell on our production yard in Weihai, those working on the Côte d'Opale got a well-deserved rest. Their hard work means the ship is almost 90% complete.

As one of the largest ships on the channel, the Côte d'Opale is well equipped for post-covid travel.

Passengers will receive an inclusive meal on every crossing in restaurants set up for socially distanced dining. For light bites, the Lighthouse Café will offer sandwiches, bean-to-cup coffee and too good to resist cakes! French dishes such as Magret de Canard and Tartiflette will be available in our 7 Seas restaurant, as well as classic options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For an exclusive experience, the Premium Lounge is a relaxing space with complimentary refreshments, prosecco and stunning sea views.

Our Road Kings Lounge will give drivers a filling meal and a place to rest. Premium facilities also include hot showers and a quiet lounge for drivers to sleep while they sail.

With sea-views, spacious seating and delicious dishes, you’ll be wanting to travel on the Côte d'Opale again!

Building started in May 2019 and there is just 15% of the build left until she is ready! Three hundred people are working on the ship to prepare her for the sea trials in May, after which the Côte D’Opale will be ready to welcome you onboard. Her 214 metres length and the capacity for 1000 passengers, will make her our longest ferry on the Channel.

The Côte D’Opale will have the largest retail space of our channel ships stretching 1,100 square metres in an open plan concept. A large atrium with a skylight will be the centrepiece of the retail experience onboard. There will be separate ‘wings’ for each product category including perfume & cosmetics, wine & spirits and technology. Duty Free will add more excitement, with huge savings on premium products available onboard.

With shopping and dining experiences to rival large shopping centres or airports, the ship will offer more space, more choice, and a unique travel experience for our valued customers.

See how our ship is shaping up and how our retail area onboard will look!