Orange lifeboat and the deck of the Delft Seaways leaving Dunkirk

On board the Dover to Dunkirk ferry

Two hours at sea on the Delft, Dunkerque or Dover Seaways, three sister ships with the same layout. Restaurant, café, shop, play area and an open deck from which you watch France, and on the way back the White Cliffs, come closer. Pets stay in the vehicle on this route. Here is what you find, what it costs and how to fill the time.

Updated 14 September 2026

The three ships

DFDS runs the route with the Delft Seaways, the Dunkerque Seaways and the Dover Seaways, built in 2005 and 2006 and refitted since. Each carries around 1,000 passengers and 250 cars. Which ship you get is not shown when you book, and it hardly matters: the layout is the same, car decks below, two passenger decks above, an open deck aft and around the funnel.

The Welcome on board sign and the stairs to the passenger decks — From the car deck the stairs and lifts go up to decks 7 and 8. Remember the deck and the colour at your car.

The DFDS funnel and lifeboats of the Delft Seaways under a blue sky — The open deck around the funnel: the place to watch the arrival.

What you find on board

Facility	What to expect
Restaurant and café	Self-service restaurant with hot meals, breakfast on the morning sailings, and a café with coffee, sandwiches and cakes. A hot meal is around £12 to £15.
Shop	Perfume, spirits, wine, tobacco, sweets and travel bits. Duty free for travellers between the UK and the EU, within the customs allowances.
Children	Soft play area for small children and an arcade with machines. Family seating by the restaurant.
Open deck	Aft and around the funnel, open for the whole crossing except in a storm. Bring a windproof layer.
Lounges	A quiet lounge with window seats, free. A Premium Lounge with drinks and snacks can be added when booking, subject to space.
Wifi	Free, but slow mid-Channel. Download what you want to watch beforehand.
Toilets, baby change	On both passenger decks. Accessible toilet by the lift.
Paying	Pounds and euros, cash and card. Prices are in pounds; pay in euros and DFDS converts at its own rate.

Seats and tables in the lounge of the Delft Seaways — The lounge: window seats, free, usually plenty of room outside the holidays.

Arcade machines on the Delft Seaways — The arcade, next to the soft play for the smallest.

Pets: they stay in the car

On Dover to Dunkirk dogs and cats stay in the vehicle for the crossing. The car deck closes after departure and you cannot go down during the crossing; DFDS crew patrol the deck and there is CCTV. So open the windows a crack beforehand, leave water, and walk the dog at the port before check-in; both Dover and Dunkirk have an exercise area by the lanes. For a dog that copes badly alone, the tunnel (35 minutes, you stay with the car) is the calmer choice; see Calais or Dunkirk.

The pet’s papers are checked at check-in: microchip, rabies jab, animal health certificate, and for the return to the UK the tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival. See check-in.

Dog exercise area at the Dunkirk ferry terminal — The exercise area at the Loon-Plage terminal: the last chance before two hours in the car.

How to fill the two hours

First quarter of an hour: upstairs and find a seatThe stairs and the restaurant are busiest at departure. Go straight to the open deck to watch Dover shrink behind the breakwater, and you have the pick of the tables afterwards.
Eat between 20 and 60 minutes after departureThat is when the restaurant queue is shortest. On sailings around mealtimes it is full for the first hour.
Clocks and phonesFrance is an hour ahead. Your phone usually switches mid-Channel; the arrival time on your ticket is French time. See ferry times.
Last half hour: the French coastFrom about 30 minutes before arrival you see the port cranes of Dunkirk from the open deck. Twenty minutes before arrival DFDS calls you to the cars; take the stairs, the lifts are full.
ArrivalWait in the car until the ramp opens, drive off on the right, and follow the signs to the A16. No further control: that was done in Dover. See Dunkirk port.

Lifeboat on the deck with the White Cliffs of Dover in view — On the way home: the last half hour, the cliffs from the open deck.

Cars waiting on the car deck for the ramp to open — Arrival: waiting in the car until the ramp opens.

Seasick?

The Strait of Dover is usually calm and the crossing lasts only two hours. In a westerly of force 6 or more you do feel the ship move. Sit midships and low, look at the horizon and eat lightly. The weather page shows wind and wave height by the hour.

Questions about being on board

Can I go to my car during the crossing?

No. The car deck is closed at sea. Take everything you need upstairs, including coats and medication.

Is there a cabin?

No, there are no cabins on a two-hour crossing. There are lounge seats, and for a supplement the Premium Lounge.

Can I pay in euros?

Yes, cash and card. Prices are in pounds; DFDS converts at its own rate. With a bank card you usually do better paying in pounds.

Is smoking allowed?

Only in the marked part of the open deck. Inside and on the car deck smoking is banned.