DFDS Schedules 2026

DFDS is northern Europe's largest ferry operator, and for passengers that means two very different things: short, high-frequency Channel crossings between France and England, and long overnight routes across the North Sea and the Baltic.

The passenger network

DFDS runs ten scheduled passenger routes:

• Channel — Calais–Dover, Dunkirk–Dover and Dieppe–Newhaven.
• North Sea — Amsterdam (IJmuiden)–Newcastle, an overnight crossing with cabins.
• Ireland — Rosslare–Dunkirk, the long direct link that skips the UK land bridge.
• Baltic — Klaipeda–Kiel, Klaipeda–Karlshamn and Kapellskär–Paldiski.
• Channel Islands — Portsmouth–Jersey and Poole–Jersey, plus Jersey–St Malo.

Crossing times

Calais–Dover takes 100 minutes and is the shortest route DFDS operates, with up to 30 crossings a day. Dunkirk–Dover takes 2 hours and is the quieter alternative, useful if you are heading for the A16 rather than central Calais. Dieppe–Newhaven is about 4 hours and lands you much further west, which saves driving if you are going to Normandy or south-west England.

One thing that confuses first-timers: the timetable shows local time at each end, and France and the UK are an hour apart. A Calais departure at 10:30 shows an 11:10 arrival — that is 100 minutes of sailing, not 40.

Check-in closes early

These are drive-on routes and the cut-offs are strict. On the Channel crossings check-in closes one hour before departure; on Dieppe–Newhaven it is 45 minutes. Miss it and you are waiting for the next sailing, which on Dunkirk–Dover can be two hours later.

On the Baltic routes tickets can be bought online until five hours before departure — after that you deal with the terminal directly.

Dieppe–Newhaven times shift with the tides, so check the schedule for your specific date rather than assuming a fixed daily pattern.

Travelling with a vehicle

The Channel routes are built around cars, campervans and freight: fares are quoted per vehicle including passengers — Calais–Dover starts around €114 one way for a car with up to five people — and there are no baggage restrictions, which is the practical advantage over flying. Pets are carried on most routes, with conditions.