Direct Ferries News

Save up to 25% on Ferries to Ireland

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Irish Ferries is offering up to 25% off their sailings in March, April, May and June.

Fares are from £79/€89 each way for a car and driver when you travel mid-week (Monday to Thursday) on cruise ferry departures between Holyhead and Dublin and between Pembroke and Rosslare.

Holyhead to Dublin travellers can opt for the shorter crossing time offered by the Dublin Swift for a £10 each way supplement!

Book your ferry ticket by 27th February to avoid missing out on this discount!

Please note: Must be booked a minimum of 7 days in advance of travel date and by 27th February 2012. New bookings only. Limited availability. Credit/Debit card charges apply. Terms and conditions apply.

P&O Ferries Dover Calais from £30 each way

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Dover Calais ferry operator P&O Ferries are celebrating the arrival of their brand new vessel - Spirit of France with some fantastic special offer fares!

Travel on the new Spirit of France or sister ship Spirit of Britain from just £30 each way off peak (08/02 - 29/03, 16/04 - 31/05, 11/06 - 19/07 & 03/09 - 13/12) or £39 each way at peak (30/03 – 15/04, 01/06 – 10/06 & 20/07 – 02/09) when you travel by car with up to 9 passengers.

Book by 14th February to get the best fares on the channels biggest ferries!

Please note: Subject to restricted space, sailings and dates. Price shown is only valid for travel on the Spirit of France or the Spirit of Britain. Book by the 14th February with all travel to be completed by the 13th December. P&O Ferries reserve the right to withdraw or amend the offer at any time without notice.

Dover Calais launch offer from £29 each way

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMT

To celebrate the arrival of their new Dover Calais ferry service, DFDS Seaways and LD Lines have announced a fantastic launch offer!

Travel from just £29 each way in low season (17/02 – 29/03; 16/04 – 31/05; 11/06 – 19/07; 03/09 – 13/12) and £39 each way in high season (30/03 - 15/04; 01/06 - 10/06; 20/07 - 02/09) by car carrying up to 4 people.

Space is limited so book by 14th February from our Dover Calais page to travel at the lowest prices and be among the first to experience this new service!

Please note: Offer only valid when you click on the Dover Calais link from this page. Originating departure must be from Dover. Price based on passenger vehicles under 2.4m high and less than 5m in length carrying up to 4 people. Supplements apply for longer vehicles and additional passengers. Offer is subject to availability and valid for new online bookings only.

New Dover Calais ferry service launched!

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMT

DFDS Seaways and LD Lines are to start a new Dover Calais ferry service from February 17th.

The companies have been considering running new ships on the route since the collapse of SeaFrance. Initially the route will be operated by the Norman Spirit, and they say a further ferry will be added as soon as a suitable ship can be made ready.

In a statement they said: "We are confident that our customers and the many people and freight companies that travel between France and Dover will benefit from the flexibility we can now offer with both a northern leg on Dover Dunkirk and a southern leg on Dover Calais.

"We therefore look very much forward to being able to welcome passengers as well as freight customers to our new Calais-Dover service, and, in cooperation with our new employees as well as our staff in Dover and Dunkerque, we look forward to providing an attractive and efficient customer service and a sustainable workplace."

There will be five crossings a day until a second ferry is ready. The service is now bookable across the Direct Ferries network. For more information or to make a booking, please visit our Dover Calais ferry page.

Swansea Cork ferry service to close

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMT

The Swansea-Cork ferry service is to close with the loss of 78 jobs.

Sailings were suspended in November due to rising fuel costs but backers hoped to resume services in March.

The owners, West Cork Tourism Co-operative Society, said state aid rules and "red tape" prevented them relaunching the Fastnet Line service despite pledges of financial support.

The Welsh government said it was disappointing news but felt the rescue plan was not "commercially viable".

Dover Dunkirk Ferries from just £9.50 each way

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:30:00 GMT

Take advantage of some new short break fares from DFDS Seaways and travel to the continent via Dunkirk from just £9.50 each way!

Travel any time from Dover to Dunkirk up to 3rd May 2012 (excluding between 30th March and 14th April) for the following durations by car with up to 9 passengers or motorbike with rider/pillion:

• Daytrips - from just £9.50 each way
• Overnight trips (return by 23:59 the following day) - from just £12.50 each way
• Up to 5 days abroad (travel 08:00 - 18:00) - from just £19.50 each way

This deal expires 29th March 2012, but could be withdrawn at any time so book your ticket now to guarantee your space at the best price!

Please note: Offer is subject to availability. Valid for return crossings only and where first leg departs Dover. Prices based on a standard vehicle (under 2.4m high and 5m long). Supplements apply for extra passengers and larger/over height vehicles. Not available on day of departure. £2.50 administration fee applies to bookings under £50. Telephone booking fee applies.

Portsmouth Le Havre from £46 each way

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:30:00 GMT

Take the ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre with LD Lines from just £46 each way.

This special offer price is valid when you return within 5 days of departure and travel by car with an additional passenger.

This is a limited availability offer and won't be around for long so book now to avoid missing out!

Please note: Subject to availability, terms and conditions, and may be withdrawn at any time. Fare based on or standard car (1,85m x 5m).

Ireland France Ferries from €89 each way

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:30:00 GMT

Travel between Ireland and France by ferry from just €89 each way with Celtic Link Ferries on their Rosslare Cherbourg ferry route.

This low season fare is valid for travel from 19th February to 10th June and from 21st August to the end of 2012 when you travel by car.

Find out what it's like onboard the new Celtic Horizon ferry before you travel by visiting our onboard guide!

Book now for the largest choice of crossings at the lowest prices!

Please note: Subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. €89 each way fare is based on 1 person travelling by car. Supplements apply for cabin accommodation and additional passengers.

Up to 60 hours in France by car from £99 return

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:30:00 GMT

Take advantage of a great new short stay fare from Brittany Ferries and enjoy up to 60 hours in France from just £99 return when you travel by car with an additional passenger.

Sail direct to Brittany or Normandy from Portsmouth or Plymouth via Caen, St Malo or Roscoff up to 25th March 2012.

This short stay offer expires on 12th February so book now to avoid missing out!

Please note: Subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. £10 each way supplement applies to travel Friday ex UK and Saturday ex France. Excludes sailings from the UK on 10th February and from France between 17 - 19 February. Price based on a standard car (5m x 1.83m high) and two passengers. Additional supplements apply for extra passengers, pets and larger/over height vehicles.

Up to 25% off Ferries to Ireland - sale ends 23rd Jan!

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:30:00 GMT

Book a ferry to Ireland travelling with Irish Ferries and get up to 25% off when you book your ticket by midnight, Monday 23rd January.

Travel from Holyhead to Dublin or from Pembroke to Rosslare on cruise ferry departures (Ulysses or Isle of Isnishmore, not on Dublin Swift sailings) up to 31st March from just £99 each way by car with 2 passengers and take the kids free too!

This sale ends midnight, Monday 23rd January, so book now to avoid missing out!

Please note: Subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. 25% discount is based on equivalent standard fare of £135 when travelling with 2 adults and 2 children. Must be booked min. of 24 hours in advance of travel date.

P&O Ferries to take delivery of second £150 million ship

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:30:00 GMT

P&O Ferries is set to take delivery of the Spirit of France - the second of their super ferries for use on the popular Dover Calais route.

The Spirit of France can hold up to 2,000 passengers and is one of the largest ferries ever built for the Dover Strait and will join the Spirit of Britain which came in to service last year.

P&O Ferries will collect the vessel during a handover ceremony at the STX shipyard in Rauma, Finland, on 24th January before starting its 1,400-mile voyage to Dover under the command of Captain Steve Johnson.

After undergoing stringent berthing trials in Dover and Calais, the Spirit of France will enter service on the Channel some time in February.

A spokesman for P&O Ferries said the combined cost of the two sister ships represented the largest investment it had ever made.

P&O Ferries currently operates 22 ships on routes connecting the UK with Northern Ireland, Ireland, Holland, Belgium and France carrying around nine million passengers annually.

£10 early booking discount on trips to France in 2012!

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:30:00 GMT

Planning a trip to the Continent this year? Book a Dover Dunkirk ferry crossing for travel during the main holiday periods, and we’ll give you £5 off each way, saving you £10 on return trips!

Offer is valid when you travel around Easter (30th March – 15th April), Whitsun (1st June – 10th June) or Summer (20th July – 2nd September) in a passenger vehicle with up to 3 additional passengers.

Book your ticket by 31 January 2012 from this link to get the discount!

Please note: Subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Offer is valid for both single and return bookings with the originating departure being from Dover. Valid for passenger vehicles (under 2.4m high and less than 5m in length) and up to 4 people. Supplements apply for longer vehicles and additional passengers. Online bookings only. Not valid for freight vehicles.

DFDS and LD plan new Dover Calais service

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:15:00 GMT

DFDS and LD Lines are planning to launch a new Dover Calais ferry service following the demise of Seafrance.

A French court yesterday placed Seafrance in liquidation (see story here: Seafrance goes into administration) resulting in the loss of more than 800 jobs.

DFDS Seaways and LD Lines, whose earlier bid to take over the ailing French-owned operator, was rejected by the French court, says it still wants to run a new service.

DFDS/LD said in December it would not be submitting a revised bid, but after the liquidation it has renewed its interest in providing a French-owned competitor to the remaining P&O Ferries service with the intention to hire 300 redundant workers.

In a statement, the joint venture said it was in a unique position to create a number of sustainable French jobs, including the deployment of French flagged ships.

"We can, therefore, confirm that we have continued to pursue opportunities to establish a new route between Dover and Calais.

"Our intention is to operate two ships under the French flag to be manned with French seafarers.

"To open a new route, and provide an attractive service for customers, we aim to hire about 300 staff and expect to be able to start the recruitment process soon."

10% discount on Ferries to Greece

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:30:00 GMT

If you're planning a trip to Greece this year then book now to take advantage of our 10% early booking discount!

This discount offer is valid for travel any time in 2012 on one way and return tickets when you travel with Anek Lines or Superfast Ferries on the following routes:

• Ancona - Patras
• Ancona - Igoumenitsa
• Bari - Corfu
• Bari - Patras
• Bari - Igoumenitsa

Book by 29th February 2012 to save!

Please Note: Subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time prior to end date. Discount applies on individual passengers plus vehicles up to 6 metres in length and 2 metres high. No refunds.

Seafrance goes into liquidation

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Dover Calais ferry operator Seafrance has been liquidated by a French court and told to cease activity.

The Tribunal de Commerce decided SeaFrance's future after a bailout by the French government was ruled illegal by the European Commission.

SeaFrance was placed in protective receivership by the administrator in the summer of 2010, which allowed it to maintain sailings until the end of 2011. The administrator however suspended all sailings in mid-November 2011, hours before rejecting the original offer by SCOP (co-operative of SeaFrance employees and unions) and a rival joint-venture bid by ferry firms DFDS and Louis Dreyfus (operator of LD Lines). DFDS and LD did not table an improved offer.

A spokeswoman for SeaFrance said: "SeaFrance is sad to announce that the Tribune de Commerce in Paris has made the decision to liquidate the company. Despite the best efforts of all parties, the court came to the difficult conclusion that none of the options available to it were financially viable. Provision has been made to guarantee that all customers with pre-existing bookings will receive refunds. They should call 0845 45 80 666."

Stena Europe crossings moved to Irish Ferries

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 GMT

The Stena Europe ferry operated on the Fishguard Rosslare route is going into dry dock from Sunday 22nd January to Thursday 2nd February.

A space charter arrangement has been made with Irish Ferries who operate the Pembroke Rosslare ferry route in order to provide a continuous service for customers.

A replacement service will run between Pembroke and Rosslare Ports instead of Fishguard and Rosslare Ports utilising the Isle of Inishmore and Oscar Wilde cruise ferries.

The last sailing before the replacement service will be the 14.30 Fishguard – Rosslare on Sunday 22nd January while the first sailing after the replacement service will be the 09.00 Rosslare – Fishguard on Thursday 2nd February.

Condor Ferries to offer more sailings from Poole

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

There'll be an increase in the number of sailings from Poole ferry port to the Channel Islands in 2012.

Channel Island ferry operator Condor Ferries has announced that it is increasing the frequency of its fast ferry services and the popular day trip from Poole to Jersey and Guernsey will make a return.

Passengers travelling from the port will also be able to take advantage of connecting services to St Malo on the French coast via Jersey and Guernsey.

Alicia Andrews, sales and marketing director, said: "We have worked hard to ensure that our 2012 summer schedule allows our passengers even greater freedom when it comes to sailing times for trips to France and the Channel Islands next year."

"Our increased sailings from Poole demonstrates our commitment to the Dorset port and we are delighted to be able to resume the day trip service which gives passengers a taste of the Channel Islands plus genuine duty fee shopping onboard.

"We’ve also introduced a new connecting service from St Malo back to Poole which gives passengers the unique opportunity to cross the Channel, shop onboard for genuine duty free goods and cruise through the spectacular coastline of the Channel Islands on one trip."

Up to 25% discount on Ferries to Spain! Book by 23rd December

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Take advantage of a great value New Year offer from Brittany Ferries and save up to 25% on ferries to Spain.

This fantastic offer is valid on crossings from Portsmouth to Bilbao and Santander, on single or return fares and whether your journey begins in the UK or Spain.

Book before midday 23rd December for outbound travel (ex UK) between 10th January and 15th February and return travel (ex Spain) by 1st March.

Please note: New bookings only. Offer subject to availability from a limited and variable allocation and may be modified or withdrawn at any time.

Up to 50% discount on Cairnryan Belfast Ferries!

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Travel with your car and up to 3 additional passengers and get up to 50% discount when you go by ferry to Northern Ireland with Stena Line on their new Cairnryan Belfast ferry route!

This new ferry service features 2 new magnificent ships – Superfast VII and Superfast VIII. These new ferries are the largest and most luxurious ships ever to have sailed between Northern Ireland and Scotland and offer a new level of quality, comfort, service and ferry travel experience never seen before on the Irish Sea.

Don’t miss out on this early Christmas present! Simply book your ferry ticket by Christmas Eve for travel any time up to 29th February 2012!

Please note: Subject to availability and may be withdrawn any time prior to end date. Excludes travel from 19th December to 4th January (inclusive). Fares are from £80 each way and additional passengers £10 each way. ‘Up to 50%’ discount valid when compared to standard Car + 4 fare ranging from £151 to £171 each way. New online bookings only.

Irish Ferries extends free baggage policy

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Irish ferry operator Irish Ferries today announced that all bags will continue to be carried free of charge on their ferries between Britain and Ireland.

"Travellers on Irish Ferries may, as always, take as many bags as they can carry entirely free of charge," said head of passenger sales Declan Mescall. Thousands of travellers will be heading home to Ireland this Christmas by car, with a boot full of Christmas presents.
"This time last year airports all over the UK were closed due to snow and ice and we rescued many a stranded passenger," says Mescall. "While festive sailings are already very busy, our cruise-ferry Ulysses has room for 1,850 passengers and 1,300 cars, and she has never cancelled a sailing due to bad weather, so we’re ready whatever happens."

The last Christmas sailing from Holyhead to Dublin is at 14.10hrs, or from Pembroke to Rosslare at 14.45hrs on 24 December. Ferries resume operating on Tuesday 27 December.