Introduced in 2021 Cote D'Opale is the first brand new vessel for #DFDS, her fleet mates being inherited from the former Norfolk Line and My Ferry Link / SeaFrance companies.
Such a momentous occasion, a spectacular fireworks display drew crowds of thousands to Dover's waterfront to celebrate Cote D'Opale's maiden voyage and her first arrival into the Port of Dover with fare paying passengers.
Here is a video A2B via Sea filmed LIVE for Facebook so I could show all the followers of my page who live far away.
Arguably lacking any 'head turning' looks externally other than her vast length and clean sleek lines, internally her facilities genuinely have the wow factor and a crossing aboard
Cote D'Opale will not disappoint!
For those persons reading this blog who are not shipping enthusiasts, Cote D'Opale is one of a number of so called E-Flexers; a template design who's interior can be amended with ease to suit the route the vessel is due to operate.
As an example, this ship plies the English channel between the Port of Dover and Calais which takes around 90min, where as her 'relatives' operate on longer routes of between 8hrs and even overnight voyages which requires cabin accommodation for their passengers.
As such, Cote D'Opale is unique as the space allocated to cabin accommodation on her 'sister ships' is used here to provide larger facilities to ensure passengers are served quickly and efficiently as the voyage is so short, hence the title of this blog 'the black sheep in the family'.
Grab a cuppa, curl up and allow #a2bviasea to take you aboard for a look around.
DFDS operates from Dover's Eastern Docks Ferry Terminal located at the end of the A2/M2 and A20/M20 therefore, whichever route benefits you the terminal is well positioned.
Here is a short video from A2B via Sea's Youtube channel showing how to find your ferry in the Port of Dover. You can see Cote D'Opale in the foreground - look at her size! Enjoy!
Taking my vehicle aboard I took advantage of DFDS Priority Boarding.
Being one of the first to embark (commercial vehicles and oversized vehicles going first as they are parked on the lower deck), my vehicle was the first tourist car to board. Driving up the berth ramp and onto the vessel at the stern the shire size of Cote D'Opale could be seen - her vehicle deck lanes laid out before me like a motorway!
Directed by numerous personnel I drove the full length of the vessel and parked right at the front of the ship having the added benefit of enabling me to be the first to disembark in Calais.
I would highly recommend Priority Boarding. Not only are you one of the first to board enabling you to grab the best seat in your favourite lounge, or the first to be served in the dining room, if you are travelling with children or perhaps youngsters in a buggy, you can safely escort your family across to the elevator and up to the passenger deck without fear of being overwhelmed by crowds of passengers.
Welcome aboard!
All passenger amenities are located on a single deck, Deck 8, which can be accessed by a series of stairwells from the vehicle decks or if you'd prefer, an elevator. This means navigation of the facilities is very easy and if you have walking difficulties you will not have an issue.
Commercial Drivers have their own deck - not just a dining room tucked away in a corner of the passenger dining room, but a whole deck for themselves.
This is located on Deck 7.
Although tourist passengers are not permitted in this area which is known as Road Kings, I have taken a selection of photographs for your perusal. We will come back to this later.
For regular readers of my blogs you will know I tend to start my tours at one end of the vessel and take you through the ship to the other. However, with Cote D'Opale I'm going to mix things up a little.......
Deck 8 consists of three 'zones' with the dining room at the front of the ship and a lounge/café at the stern (with an exterior deck right at the back) however, amid ships is the shopping centre and it is here we start our tour.
A little unusual starting the tour in the middle of the ship in a modest shop you may think? Well, this is far more than a mear shop......!
This shopping MALL is vast!
This mall is currently the largest duty free retail space of any ship serving routes on the channel and offers 1100 square metres of floor space dedicated to wines, beers, spirits, tobacco, gifts, confectionary products, souvenirs, travel accessories, cosmetics, luxury items and more!
Unlike vessels which have operated on the Straight of Dover prior, this mall is not tucked away behind glass walls and doors, this mall is vastly open plan and DFDS actively encourage passengers to wander through at their leisure enroute to other facilities fore and aft.
Not too dissimilar to a high street shopping complex, a magnificent clear glazed skylight in a recessed void floods the area with natural light - colour changing mood lighting and florescent tubes create another wow factor with the colours reflecting off the glass and adjacent walls both day and night.
Below the skylights are two faux trees with circular seating benches around their trunks enabling passengers to pause and rest before continuing with their shopping spree. Are we really on a ferry?!
Either side of of the skylight and the central plaza - as I like to call it, are numerous individual shops so, if you are looking for something specific it will be easy to find and being open plan these 'mini outlets' seemlessly flow into each other making this shop a destination in its self and all too easy to treat yourself - I simply had to purchase a pair of designer sunglasses!
All this shopping has made me hungry.
As the mall is in the centre of the ship we need to walk towards the forward end to go to the onboard restaurant.
We walk forward, either along the port side corridor past the ships' information desk, or down the starboard side corridor - both of which take us into the 7Seas Restaurant.
Below - port side corridor with the information desk
Below - starboard side corridor
Passing some magnificent murals and nautical art (which I am desperate to find the artist as they would look great in my home!) we enter the servery of the dining room.
Large, clean and spacious, the servery is designed to allow for a large throughput of passengers to prevent queues and congestion which is just what is needed on a short channel crossing which attracts large passenger numbers - you don't want to be queuing when you could be eating, drinking and shopping!
Meals are well presented and separate chiller units offer cold drinks and deserts whilst separate stations offer hot beverage machines.
Dining room seating can be found on the forward, port and starboard sides, all with large glass windows offering spectacular vistas, whatever the weather.
Looking for a light snack or a smaller affair? Well, at the stern of the deck at the other side of the shopping mall is the Lighthouse Café.
This comfortable informal facility with its candy coloured décor and adjacent Pirates Club children's playroom, offers a contemporary coffee shop ambience with hot and cold beverages and some wonderfully delicious cakes.
I personally love the large overhead illuminated panel as you enter this facility as it is a nod to the skylight within the shopping mall next door.
Seating is in the form of high stools, sofas, chairs with individual side tables and localised benches. And, did you spot the children's high chairs? Well done DFDS, no person is left out, not even babies and toddlers.
The Lighthouse Café design allows various seating areas to be closed off depending on the number of passengers aboard.
Finally, tucked away along the starboard side corridor off the Lighthouse Café is the Premium Lounge. Its location allows peace and privacy which I thoroughly enjoyed as sometimes it is nice to just relax in a peaceful environment.
Accessed by a key code entry system, one is met by a well presented courteous and friendly member of staff who will show you to a seat of your choice and offer you a complimentary glass of Prosecco! It was a tad early, even for me (!) so I settled for a very good coffee.
Hot and cold beverages, Danish pastries and macaroons are all complimentary - it is such a treat to sit in an oversized chair watching the passing scenery through the large circular windows, or 'channel hopping' - a remote control allows passengers to change the station on the wall mounted flat screen TV.
Alternatively catch up on work in this peaceful environment - many power sockets are available though don't forget your 2 pin adaptor if you are likely to need to charge your device.
A great feature is an allergens list is readily available for your perusal. It can be seen in the photograph below in a folder on the shelf.
Direct access to the ships' exterior deck (starboard side) can be obtained from the Premium Lounge. For 'other passengers' exterior deck access is from the adjacent corridor.
This deck presently offers no seating however, the ship is still new and this may be addressed in forthcoming refits.
A smoking area can be found on the port side.
So, having arrived at the Port of Calais, as we proceed back down to the vehicle deck.
On the way back let's pop into Road Kings, the commercial drivers area, on Deck 7.
Accessed via the forward stair well we arrive at the main fore/aft corridor.
Upon entry we pass a reception desk on our left then to our right hand side we find the large servery with a range of well presented dishes.
In fact, other than the décor this area differs very little to the passenger dining room directly above.
Just like the 7Seas Restaurant, Road Kings offers a large dining room with wonderful views over the channel.
A surprise feature, I discovered by having a sneaky peak behind a closed door, was a very welcoming reclining seat lounge and beyond that, a couple of beds where the commercial drivers can really relax and get their head down for a snooze. Well done DFDS - everyone catered for!
Arriving at the Port of Calais I must admit I became very anxious and nervous as I would be driving through the 'new port' - a MASSIVE complex constructed to the east of the older port on land once occupied by the Hoverport.
This would be my first time driving through the terminal enroute to the town centre and being first off Cote D'Opale having booked Priority Boarding in Dover, I would have no vehicles to follow.
Well....it was EASY! Literally just follow the overhead signage. There are many overhead roadways which rise and fall allowing traffic to flow beneath so keep to the speed limit which is difficult as the wide roads are the smoothest I've ever driven on. So, if you have never taken your car on a ferry make a booking today!
Final thoughts....
The whole DFDS experience was wonderful.
The DFDS operation was seamless from checking in at the Port of Dover to embarkation to enjoying the full range of facilities aboard the flagship Cote D'Opale, which really is a pleasurable way to cross the channel.
In fact, the crossing was too short - by the time I had a shopping spree in the mall, a hearty meal in the dining room, a stroll on deck and time in the Premium Lounge I had arrived in Calais and called down to the vehicle deck to collect my car.
Thank goodness for Priority Boarding in Dover as that actually gave me an extra 30min aboard and with all the facilities being open as loading commences it was time well used!
Here is my vlog of this trip which I filmed for YouTube channel A2B via sea on TV. Why not take a look and [virtually] come aboard and see this fantastic ship through my eyes.
Don't forget to subscribe to further videos using the link below; lots more footage in the DFDS playlist for you to enjoy!