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
Company replied
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
Great
21K reviews
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Replied to 98% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 48 hours
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smooth crossing
smooth crossing, clean beds, shower was a bit naff, as was the entertainment. I like the slowness of the ferry which helps me get into the holiday, I travelled with my bicycle and I would like to see a huge discount for foot and bicycle passengers.
26 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon Ruth
We're happy you enjoyed the smooth crossing between Newcastle and Amsterdam, clean beds and that the ferry's pace suits you. We appreciate your feedback regarding the shower and entertainment; we'll consider this. Thank you for suggesting bicycle passenger discounts.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Getting on and off was so swift
Getting on and off was so speedy.
And the seats were comfy and staff were polite
26 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Dear Sam,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
We’re pleased to hear that boarding and disembarkation were quick and efficient, and that you found the seats comfortable. It’s also great to know our staff made a positive impression with their polite service.
We really appreciate you taking the time to leave a review and hope to welcome you onboard with DFDS again soon.
Kind Regards,
Hayleigh (Customer Interaction Shift Leader)
Ferry was cancelled so I arrived late…
Ferry was cancelled so I arrived late and tired missing my planned evening
25 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Dear Andrew,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
We’re very sorry to hear that your ferry was cancelled and that this resulted in a late and tiring arrival, causing you to miss your planned evening. We understand how disappointing and frustrating this must have been, and we sincerely apologise for the disruption to your journey.
Service cancellations are never taken lightly, and they are sometimes necessary due to factors such as weather or operational safety, but we recognise the impact this can have on our customers’ plans. Your feedback is important to us and will be shared with the relevant teams.
If you haven’t already done so, our Customer Services team would be happy to look into your journey and discuss this further with you. You can contact them via our website.
Thank you again for your feedback, and we hope we have the opportunity to provide you with a smoother experience in the future.
Kind Regards,
Hayleigh (Customer Interaction Shift Leader)
Reply from DFDS
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for your 100% review!
We’re delighted to hear that you found our staff extremely helpful and friendly, and that you were pleased with the clean and tidy facilities onboard. Your feedback means a lot to our teams, who work hard to provide a comfortable and welcoming experience for our guests.
We really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and hope to welcome you onboard with DFDS again soon.
Kind Regards,
Hayleigh (Customer Interaction Shift Leader)
Too old and very dirty some staircase…
Too old and very dirty some staircase from the car park to a restaurant horrible dirty
26 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon
We appreciate your feedback on your Karlsham-Klaipeda journey and are sorry the facilities did not meet your expectations. We will address the cleanliness and maintenance issues you raised.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Great Crossing but 3 hour Delay at Port
Whilst we enjoyed the ferry crossing we no longer feel that the city break is a viable trip. Despite docking at 10.15 we didnt get into Amsterdam until 13.10 leaving us little over 2 hours to explore Amsterdam. It took over 60 minutes to get off the boat and through passport control onto the bus at 11.30. Unfortunately despite paying for a transfer the bus was still at the terminal 45 mins later due to there being too many people to get on the bus. The coach driver had no idea what to do so we spoke to the DFDS desk who arranged a taxi for us. We then got off the bus at 12.15 believing that a taxi would be quicker however shortly after doing this the bus then drove off. The taxi didn’t arrive for 30 minutes so we didn’t get into Amsterdam until 13.10. We were the last people to leave the terminal despite paying for a transfer.
This is not ideal with a 3 year old.
I also don’t appreciate being advised by DFDS Amsterdam staff that this is all the fault of “Brexit” when you are still selling the trip a considerable period post Brexit. I could understand if the crossing was delayed however the boat arrived on time.
We thoroughly enjoyed the crossing, in particular the food and entertainment however the 3 hour wait at the port was not worth it to just have little over 2 hours in Amsterdam.
Steven, Newcastle
30 March 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon Steven
We appreciate your feedback and are sorry to hear about the issues you experienced with the transfer and the limited time in Amsterdam, especially with a young child. We'll investigate the transportation delays and the information provided regarding Brexit. We're glad you enjoyed the crossing itself.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Great experience
A pleasant way to travel from Newcastle to Amsterdam - much more relaxing than flying and great value for money. We got a lovely sunny day so watching the sun set over over dinner was lovely - we got a window seat at the North Sea Bistro and the food was amazing, much better than the food served by the larger cruise companies that we've previously tried. The room is cosy and has everything you need, including a comfortable bed and good shower pressure. Our bedding was stained when we arrived but the staff dealt with this very professionally and immediately sorted it for us, and offered us drinks to make up for it.
A few things that could be improved. The bus transfer between Newcastle port and city centre does not have any dedicated space for luggage, so people were either struggling trying to balance suitcases on their laps or blocking seats with their cases. However, the bus transfer between Amsterdam port and city centre did have a luggage store in the bottom of the bus, so this was a lot better. As for the ship, you have to really watch your step, as there seems to be a step up in almost every doorway, so this can definitely be a trip hazard if you're not expecting it. They make quite a lot of announcements over the speakers in the morning, starting around 2hrs before the ship docks, so be prepared for an early wake up call.
20 April 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from DFDS
Good morning Ana
We're glad you enjoyed the Newcastle to Amsterdam trip, the sunset dinner, and the North Sea Bistro. We appreciate your feedback regarding the bus transfer in Newcastle, the ship's steps, and the morning announcements. We will review these areas for potential improvements.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Boarding was quick and straightforward
Boarding was quick and straightforward. Pet cabin near pet exercise deck.Like leaving from cabin straight to car deck when called. Buffer dinner good value and very enjoyable.
25 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good morning Heather
We're happy to hear that boarding on the Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry was quick and straightforward for you. It's great that you and your pet enjoyed the convenient cabin location and the buffet dinner. Thank you for your positive feedback!
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
The check in person at Calais put one…
The check in person at Calais put one person on the card, while it was blatant that she saw two passports and two persons in the car. As a result, customs asked us to go through the check in again.
We saw the same person again and as my wife tried to ask a question, the person said : “let me deal with your problem first”. No word of apology, and dare I say, it her problem too, and perhaps her overlooking.
Needless to say, no word of apology and we missed the scheduled boat.
I need to say that we arrived 90 minutes prior to sailing time, and check in was really slow
25 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good morning Michael
We appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We regret to learn about the check-in issues you experienced in Calais, resulting in a missed sailing. We'll review this situation to improve our service and prevent similar problems in the future. Thank you for your feedback.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Booking easy boarding easy plenty of…
Booking easy boarding easy plenty of room on the ship.
24 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good morning David
We're glad you found the booking and boarding process for your Dover-Calais journey easy, and that there was plenty of room onboard. Thank you for your positive feedback!
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Very relaxing way to start and finish…
Very relaxing way to start and finish our holiday. It was our first time in a Commodore Cabin - travelling with my elderly parents and we really appreciated the extra space and the luxury of having free minibar, wifi and complimentary breakfast. Smooth crossings both ways and all staff on board were friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this way to travel across to Europe.
23 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good afternoon
We're happy you found our service between Newcastle and Amsterdam a relaxing start and end to your holiday. It's great to hear you appreciated the Commodore Cabin's extra space and amenities while traveling with your parents. We're glad you enjoyed smooth crossings and our staff's friendliness. Thank you for your recommendation!
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Reply from DFDS
Good morning Nigel
We're so glad you had a pleasant experience with our excellent staff and nice cabin on your Newcastle- Amsterdam journey. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback with us!
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
We would happily travel again with DFDS
For both journeys we arrived early as we had relatively easy journeys to the ports and were put on an earlier sailing both times. Boarding and disembarking were very easy although as they were pretty quiet that time of the day it probably helped! The staff we interacted with on board were very helpful too. Overall the facilities were very clean and so were all areas we went into. The only negative was the choice for those not wishing to have a breakfast that was not cooked. My husband did enjoy his cooked breakfast though. Plenty of choice for drinks and a well stocked duty free shop.
From booking with DFDS to actually sailing with them everything ran very smoothy. We would happily travel with them again.
21 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good morning Jacqs
We're happy to hear that you had a smooth travel experience between Dover-Dunkirk-Calais, from booking to sailing. It's great to know you appreciated the cleanliness, helpful staff, and smooth boarding. We appreciate your feedback regarding the breakfast options and will consider this for future improvements. We're glad you would travel with us again.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
First class service…
Priority boarding and lounge made the voyage special.
The waiter in the lounge was very attentive, first class service.
24 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good morning Nicholas
We're happy to hear that priority boarding and the lounge enhanced your voyage between Dover and Dunkirk! It's great to know the waiter's attentiveness made your experience first class. Thank you for your positive feedback.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Totally satisfactory. Fair value.
Embarkation process excellent, again.
Disembarkation ok.
All aspects of the crossing as expected. ✅
22 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good morning
We're happy to hear that the embarkation process between Newcastle and Amsterdam was excellent and the crossing met your expectations. We appreciate your feedback on the disembarkation.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Friendly and very helpful personnel.
24 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Good morning Francis
We appreciate you sharing your experience of your Dover-Dunkirk-Calais journey. We're so glad to hear that our personnel were friendly and helpful during your visit with us.
Monika
Customer Interaction Shift Leader
Excellent service
Excellent service all round, helpful and friendly staff. Easy to use app, smooth check in. We really enjoyed Club Lounge, food was excellent 👌. We enjoyed breakfast rolls on the outward journey and pizza on return, great value for money. All boats were clean and tidy.
23 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Dear Siobhan,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed excellent service throughout your journey and found our team helpful and friendly.
It’s great to know that the app and check-in process were smooth, and that you had such a positive experience in the Club Lounge. We’re especially pleased to hear you enjoyed the food — from the breakfast rolls on your outward journey to the pizza on your return — and that you felt it offered great value for money.
Thank you also for your kind comments about the cleanliness of our vessels. Your feedback means a lot to us, and we truly hope to welcome you back onboard again very soon.
Kind Regards,
Hayleigh (Customer Interaction Shift Leader)
Ferry Service
I think the Ferry service and staff are excellent, and DFDS are very flexible (so that bit would be 5 stars). However, I'm always disappointed with the food and beverage options and always wonder why you have to be at the top end of price.
21 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Hello Steve Baldry,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your journey with us on the Calais–Dover route.
We’re pleased to read your positive comments about our ferry service, our crew, and the flexibility we offer — this is appreciated and will be shared with the onboard team. At the same time, we’re sorry to hear that the food and beverage options did not meet your expectations. We understand your concerns regarding pricing, and feedback like yours is important as we continue to review and develop our onboard offering.
Thank you for travelling with DFDS.
Raphaela
Customer Interaction Specialist
Mainly good
The food was great, the cabin was fine and overall we had a good journey. However, please do something about the disembarking process as all that waiting and then shoving was not very pleasant.
17 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Hello SW,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your journey with us on the Amsterdam–Newcastle route.
We’re pleased to hear that you enjoyed the food on board and found the cabin comfortable, and that overall your journey was a good one. We’re sorry to learn, however, that the disembarkation process did not meet your expectations. We understand that delays and crowding at this stage of the crossing can be frustrating, and your comments have been noted and shared with the relevant teams for review.
Thank you for travelling with DFDS and for giving us constructive feedback.
Raphaela
Customer Interaction Specialist
Great value good service
23 April 2026
Reply from DFDS
Hello L Holness,
Thank you for your review of your journey with us on the Dover–Calais route.
We’re pleased to read your comments regarding the value and service on board. Your feedback is appreciated and helps us maintain our standards across the route.
Thank you for choosing DFDS.
Raphaela
Customer Interaction Specialist
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