my first crossing on board "CALAIS SEAWAYS"

"CALAIS SEAWAYS" is now operated by DFDS on the Dover to Calais route, sailed many times on this ship with previous owners, this was my very first trip on the ship as the CALAIS SEAWAYS, recently sailed on her as the NORMAN SPIRIT both on the Dover/Calais route and roughly about two years ago on the Portsmouth to Le Havre service, when the ship was operated by LD LINES, she is still registered at Le Havre, and is still a well maintained cruise ferry, the passenger layout remains the same with very little alterations, quite possibly the biggest change as far as passenger facilities is concerned is the creation of the new driver's club, a very generous area for truck drivers, what it is now can be seen above on photos 4 and 5 and the former bar when the ship was the NORMAN SPIRIT photo number 6, some areas are still closed for passengers, the company has been upgrading the ship while at sea, in an attempt to generate more income particularly at this time of the year when this route becomes really busy. Please check for other posts of the CALAIS SEAWAYS and NORMAN SPIRIT, using the "search this blog" gadget. Photos 6.7.2013

Back on board "DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS"

3.2.2013 I was back on board "DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS" for another crossing from Dover to Dunkerque, this new cruise ferry came into service in November of 2005, I have sailed  her many times since December 2005, she was of course the first of the new trio of super ferries operated by NORFOLK LINE, the other being the DOVER and DELFT SEAWAYS, they are now operated by DFDS. Since they came into service few changes to the passenger facilities occurred, the most evident was the introduction of a BRASSERIE style Restaurant called "LA VERANDA" and a small childrens play area, photographed above. Please check the "search blog" gadget for other posts of this new trio of ships, photos above the ship leaving Dunkerque in June of 2011 and interiors of the ship, 3.2.2013

M.V. "DEAL SEAWAYS" is the new ship employed on the Dover/Calais service by DFDS/LD LINES joint venture

                          BARFLEUR departing Poole in June last year

                           Truck-Drivers lounge on board BARFLEUR

The BRITTANY FERRIES "BARFLEUR" is the new ship chartered by DFDS/LD LINES joint venture on their new Dover/Calais route, the newly formed group has been looking for some time for a second vessel to join the "NORMAN SPIRIT" on this service. "BARFLEUR" was laid-up in France due to lack of profits on the Poole/Cherbourg route, operated by BF. The 20.133 GRT ship built in FINLAND by KVAERNER MASA-YARDS and completed in 1992 has been re-named "DEAL SEAWAYS", the ship has capacity for 1212 passengers and 370 vehicles, she is on charter for the moment, I have sailed many times on the "BARFLEUR" with BF and I am really looking forward to see the ship with the new DFDS livery, she is a very comfortable ship, no doubt a plus for the new firm on this new service, "DEAL SEAWAYS" started her new role on the 27.4.2012

"DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS" arriving Dover

 A very foggy end of the day at Dover last thursday, "DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS" from DFDS is seen here at the end of her crossing from Dunkirk. The ship was built by SAMSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES in South Korea in 2005, she is 35923 GRT has a top speed of 25 knots, the ship has capacity for 780 passengers, 200 cars and 120 trailers.

Photos taken on the 1st of March 2012

"DOVER SEAWAYS" at Dover

Captured here on the 12th of February from on board "SPIRIT OF FRANCE" is the DFDS ferry "DOVER SEAWAYS", the ship was ready for sea for another crossing to Dunkirk which takes two hours, with the liquidation of SEAFRANCE, DFDS has been for a brief spell tough the only competition for P & O FERRIES on this short cross channel route Calais and Dunkirk served from Dover, the Calais crossing takes 90 minutes, both operators have been particulary busy, LD LINES has now joined the competition with daily crossings to Calais, NORMAN SPIRIT the only vessel at the moment, but reports indicate that she will soon be joined by a second ferry

"VAL DE LOIRE" once again remembered

 I was reading the January 2012 issue of the SHIPS MONTHLY, there is a special focus on the DFDS cruise ferry "KING SEAWAYS", all the wonderful memories of the ship as the "VAL DE LOIRE" came to mind once again, I have sailed 57 times on the BF cruise ferry, in the latter years that the ship served BF for me was like going home, I would always get the best table on the restaurant, visit the engine room, bridge and at the end of a 24 hour crossing I used to address the crew with a .... " see you next week " . Never sailed on "KING SEAWAYS" but knowing the reputation and quality of DFDS service, I am absolutely confident that the ship is in very good hands. My photos of the VAL DE LOIRE and a DFDS promoting postcard of the KING SEAWAYS with present livery, to travel on the ship from the UK to Ijmuiden in HOLLAND please visit www.dfds.co.uk and for other posts and photos of the VAL DE LOIRE please visit my BF blog, http://vmf-brittanyferries.blogspot.com

DISCOVER DUNKERQUE WITH DFDS

I have travelled many times from Dover to Dunkirk with NORFOLK LINE nowadays part of DFDS, all those years I just passed by without visiting Dunkirk, what a mistake, this is a beautiful city with several attractions to be discovered, but no doubt one of the joys of travel is to discover places previously overlooked, so next time just consider Dunkirk for a mini-cruise or stay for a couple of days, to help you program your trip and stay use the Norfolk Travel website
http://www.norfolklinetravel.com/

PO FERRIES "PRIDE OF BURGUNDY" AT SEA

This post includes photos of the PO FERRIES "PRIDE OF BURGUNDY" approaching Dover at the end of her crossing from Calais, all taken from the "DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS" on her way to Dunkerque, it was a very nice moment, the two ships saluted each other which is always a moment to savour

MV "DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS" AT SEA

Photos taken during my crossing to Dunkirk this last tuesday on board DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS

INSIDE DFDS "DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS"

the interiors of DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS are very comfortable decorated with bright colours and there is a sense of space, on board the vessel, there are several food options as well including a Bistro restaurant which was added recently but the levels of food needs improvement, not memorable indeed, the facilities for freight drivers are very good, still this is a ferry, actually a smart one, but not quite a cruise ferry, photos taken the 21st June

DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS LOADING AND READY FOR SEA

Tuesday the 21st June once again I was at Dover to cross the channel this time to Dunkerque with DFDS, the ship would be the DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS, it was also the beginning of summer with an expected increase in passenger numbers, photos with the ship loading, ready to leave berth and at sea with the PRIDE OF BURGUNDY still at distance

THE DOVER/DUNKERQUE DFDS FLEET

DFDS is operating the Dover/Dunkerque service with three new ferries built in South Korea by SAMSUNG SHIPYARDS, the first, DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS came into service in November 2005, the DELFT SEAWAYS and the DOVER SEAWAYS came into service during 2006, they were operated at the time by NORFOLK LINE, in July 2010 DFDS acquired NORFOLK LINE and the ships were renamed and painted with DFDS livery, they did look much nicer in my opinion with NORFOLK LINE colours, they all have approximately 36.000 GRT and a top speed of 25 knots, the crossing takes about two hours, the interiors are very modern with bright colours, this service is becoming very popular and is certainly a strong competitor to the Dover/Calais service operated by PO FERRIES and SEAFRANCE, I have sailed once again this week on the DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS and noted an increase in terms of passenger numbers using the service, photos included are all from the 21st June, all three ships in one day, great experience, DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS leaving Dunkerque, DELFT SEAWAYS at sea and the DOVER SEAWAYS arriving Dunkerque

GREAT MEMORIES OF THE "QUEEN OF SCANDINAVIA"

Ten years have now passed since my first and only trip on board NV QUEEN OF SCANDINAVIA, she was operating for DFDS on the Newcastle/Ijmuiden service, the ship was originally built for SILJA LINE as the FINLANDIA, from 1990 until 2008 she served DFDS, she is now operated by ST PETER LINE on the Helsinki/St Petersbourg route, the ship has 25.905 GT and a top speed of 22 knots, I remember ten years ago despite being 20 years old, she was extremely well preserved, this is indeed a very solid robust ship, few images taken on board the vessel in 2001