Press Release

Date: 19 April 2018

DFDS are introducing a new range of pet-friendly perks and products on their ferry services from Dover to both Calais and Dunkirk this summer to ensure furry family members have the best possible journey.

With summer being the peak period for pet travel to the Continent, the ferry operator will be giving away 1,000 Furry Pet Travel Kits that include a pop-up water bowl or travel bottle, a bottle of fresh water, tasty treats and a pet-travel checklist for owners to ensure their pet is safe and ready for departure.

The new pet travel measures were launched at an event attended by a number of canine DFDS ambassadors sporting branded high-viz jackets at the Port of Dover yesterday. A number of competitions were also held to give passengers the chance to win free future pet travel.

The new measures include a dedicated webpage with easy-to-access information on travelling on ferries with pets, a pre-travel text message service that links passengers to the pre-travel checklist online and free window ventilation guards that will ensure airflow while the pet remains in the vehicle during the journey. The window ventilation guards will be offered on-board the car deck at embarkation and then collected at disembarkation.

Steve Garner, Customer Experience Manager at DFDS said “At DFDS we are always looking for new initiatives to improve the products and services we offer to enhance the customer experience for our valuable guests, certainly not forgetting our furry pet travellers too, it is absolutely essential we prepare and support our customers prior and during travel, we do hope the new additions to our pet travel service will fulfil this.

‘We could not let this go without a celebration and we brought together our customers, employees and some furry friends to celebrate at the Port of Dover yesterday, along with celebrations by our colleagues in Calais and Dunkirk too, there is nothing better than sharing new ideas and services, and seeing our guests delight at the same time, so much fun was had.

We are looking forward to welcoming all our passengers and furry guests on-board our cross channel services over the summer season.”

Throughout the summer, check-in staff will be loaded with tasty snacks and treats ready to hand out to all feline and canine friends. Passengers will also spot a number of dedicated ‘Pet Pals’ on hand, patrolling the lanes, to answer any customer queries and a local vet will also be available to provide first-aid to any poorly pets.

Once on-board, passengers are able to visit their pet throughout the voyage so long as they are escorted by a crew member to the car deck.

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For further press information, please contact: Katie Raby / Stuart Fyfe Rooster PR T : +44 (0)20 3440 8930 E : DFDS@rooster.co.uk www.rooster.co.uk

About DFDS:

DFDS is Northern Europe’s largest integrated shipping and logistics company, with a network of around 30 routes and 50 freight and passenger ships.

DFDS prides itself on offering world-class facilities and services and the widest choice of ferry routes into northern Europe.

In the UK, the company operates passenger ferry services on routes from Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk, Newcastle to Amsterdam and Newhaven to Dieppe.

DFDS has been named ‘Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for eight years running (2012-2019), as well as the ‘World’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for the last seven years (2011-18).

DFDS currently operates up to 54 sailings a day between Dover and France on its Dover-Dunkirk and Dover-Calais routes. DFDS also offers two daily sailings between Newcastle and Amsterdam. In addition, the DFDS network includes a passenger and freight service between Newhaven to Dieppe, which has four daily sailings and is operated by Transmanche Ferries.

For further information about DFDS, or to find out about the latest sailing times, fares and offers across all routes from the UK, click here.