Dover Seaways ferry

MS Dover Seaways ferry is a Ro-Ro passenger vessel operated by the Denmark-based company DFDS SEAWAYS. The ship has a max capacity of 1000 passengers and 250 cars (or 120 trucks/trailers). The vessel was launched in 2006 and currently operates on the England-France ferry route Dover-Dunkerque (Dunkirk) (English Channel crossing time 2 hours).

Shipboard facilities, dining, and entertainment

Onboard Dover Seaways, passengers will find a family-friendly restaurant that offers healthy food at affordable prices. Guests can alternatively go to the ship's liquor-licensed bistro and dine in a comfortable seating area with premium, freshly cooked dishes. Fast food is offered at Food Express. Ship's salon is an elegant bar lounge for relaxation and watching the latest news and sporting competitions on the large TVs. The salon serves hot and cold drinks, wines and spirits by the glass, light snacks. The coffee house Costa Coffee is also in that area.

Dover Seaways is not a "cruise ferry" as it has no passenger staterooms (only crew cabins), which means it can't provide overnight passenger stays on board. The ship has 7 elevators (passenger lifts) connecting garage decks (lower freight and car decks) up to the passenger decks. All staff and crew cabins are on a separate crew-only deck, that also houses offices, storage rooms, dayroom (dining), mess hall (crew bar lounge), laundry.

As facilities, the Dover Seaways ship offers:

• A La Carte Restaurant 7 Seas offers a la carte-priced menu with a wide selection of starters, main courses, gourmet desserts, premium wines. Kids menu ("Happy Pirate") is also available.
• Horizon Restaurant / Food Express / Snack Bar / Self-Service Restaurant (Deck 6) offers hot dishes, cold appetizers, desserts, soft drinks.
• Lighthouse Cafe (Deck 7) serves beverages, cocktails, coffee, light snacks, sweets, fresh fruits, premium ice-cream. It is fitted with large HDTVs (satellite reception) for watching live sporting and musical programs.
• Road Kings area (Deck 7) consists of showers, restaurant and bar lounge exclusively dedicated to truck drivers.
• Premium Lounge (fka Sea View Lounge, Deck 7) is a reserved seating lounge providing complimentary coffees, teas, cold drinks, snacks, newspapers. The 24-hour open Premium Lounge is available for all ages. Seat prices start from GBP 12 pp (one way) and include complimentary beverages (wine by the glass), gourmet snacks and pastries. Premium Lounge's menu is a la carte and offers hot and cold beverages and hot food.
• La Veranda Restaurant (Deck 7) is an aft-located dining venue with panoramic windows and outdoor seating.
• Costa Coffee house is also available.
• Little Nippers / Children's Play Room (Deck 6) is an indoor playground for kids. The lounge is specially designed and fitted with ball pool, large TV (for watching cartoons), kids art tables (for drawing).
• Tax-Free Sea Shop (Deck 6) is a duty-free priced boutique / convenience store selling special occasion gifts and souvenirs, alcohol (brand spirits, wines), tobaccos, luxury-brand perfumes and cosmetics, jewelry, watches, sunglasses, leather goods, confectionery, fashion clothing and accessories, toys, electronics and gadgets, gourmet sweets, handmade teas and spices. Special offers (shopping promotions) are offered on each ferry crossing. Payments can be made in cash or via bank cards (VISA, MasterCard, EuroCard). Among the premium brands represented onboard are Versace, Elizabeth Arden, Tommy Hilfiger, Moschino, Paco Rabanne, Carolina Herrera, Hugo Boss, Gucci, L'Oreal, DKNY, Givenchy, Dolce-Gabbana, Face Inc.
• Wi-Fi service, Bureau de Change (purser, ATM) next to Information Desk / Reception (Deck 6).
• Relax Lounge (added during drydock 2020) is fitted with luxury recliners (airplane-type chairs). Relax Lounge seat pricing depends on availability (starts from GBP 6 pp / one way) and is inclusive of RITUALS Karma (cosmetics gift set). Relax Lounge is kids-free as children under 16 yo are not permitted.
• Passengers with reduced mobility are served by 3 elevators (sized 1 m X 1,4 m, lift access to parking areas), wider entrance doors (width 0,9 m), 2 wheelchair-accessible public toilets (decks 6 and 7).

The ship's top-deck is Heli Deck with a helipad (helicopter landing area used in cases of emergency).

All onboard emergency instructions are displayed at the ship's assembly stations (aka muster stations). Life jackets are issued at the assembly stations. In case of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is forbidden.

Car decks

The ship has 3 garage decks - lower (Deck 3, for wheeled freight), middle (Deck 4, for mixed vehicles) and upper (Deck 5, for passenger cars only). D-Class DFDS ships are designed with separate garage decks (for wheeled freight and cars), which greatly reduces roll-on and roll-off times.

Follows a list of car decks related safety procedures:

• Disabled passengers or those requiring specific assistance should visit the ship's Information Desk (open 24-hours).
• Apply handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear position. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be switched off. Lock the vehicle.
• From your vehicle take only valuables and essential hand baggage.
• Make a note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
• Access to the ship's vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is prohibited.
• Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in cabins and passenger lounges is forbidden.
• Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.
• In order to avoid air pollution, don't start the engine until instructed.

The shipowner DFDS Seaways (fleet, 1866-founded, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark) is a Danish shipping company that operates passenger and freight ferry services in Northern Europe.