Just received a note of a new loyalty program DFDS are launching.
4 Likes
Will this be in addition to or instead of the over 60’s discount?
Good question
Visitors passing through Dieppe port can hardly miss seeing what appears to be major construction work underway. Based on the information board (see photo) this is the long anticipated (ie delayed!) project to implement the EES (Entry/Exit System). Unlike at St Pancras, Dover and Folkestone where French border officials are present on UK soil, there apparently will be no French border officials stationed at Newhaven, hence building the enhanced EES facilities at Dieppe. Scheduled to kick off in October…
1 Like
I don’t think anyone knows - least of all DFDS. At the moment they are asking “would be be interested in joining a frequent travellers’ club, offering a wide variety of discounts and benefits?”
Could be anything from a free coffee to 50% fare discounts!
So for those travelling from UK who don’t meet the criteria for entry into the EU have to be literally ferried back to UK.
In that situation would there be a holding pen for both travellers and their mode of transport in no mans land at tgw ferry port.
Haven’t had a mail about it. Just booked our Christmas trip and no mention either!!
Barbed wire compound, guard towers with searchlights and machine guns, Alsatian dogs roaming loose.
Or it might be a tastefully decorated lounge with free coffee and croissants. 
It would be interesting to hear from anybody with practical experience of being denied entry to France at Dieppe, under Schengen rules. I looked into this week’s guest publication, the EU’s border guard handbook, to see what they advise. The screenshot shows they’re supposed to stop you landing., In practice (since French checks are made as you leave the port area) there must already be provision for a holding pen on land at Dieppe, since the substance of the current rules will not change post EES. Strangely there was no mention on the information panel of the construction of any dungeon to hold Brits in whilst they’re waiting to be deported immediately on the next available sailing! The border rules place the onus on DFDS to return them to the UK, and for fines to be levied on DFDS.
Won’t they simply reroute them to the departure lanes to travel back on the same ferry they arrived on? After having sold them a ticket presumably.
But once the system has kicked in, I am thinking it should be possible to pre check the 90/180 situation of British passport holders when they process the advance passenger information.
Couldnt do in case they escape into France. Sort of reverse of what happens now with UK and small boats
1 Like
Well I don’t think so because the departure lanes are the seaward side of the border. They wouldn’t allow them over the border to go and sit in the deoarture lounge or wander off into France would they
1 Like
Ah yes, and probably wont be too many falling foul of the regs
Maybe a light touch
2 Likes
They’ve obviously been taking lessons from post-Brexit UK Customs & Excise on how not to check things coming into the country… 
Does that still work? I used it a few years back but then used the tunnel until recently, when I switched back to ferry after the tunnel fares shot up and the end of the carnet system. It was much easier with a dog but now ferries are almost half the price (used to be the other way around). I used Dieppe route a few times recently but forgot about the discount (it is clunky to have to ring and book, mind).
It does still work, I used it the other day. Nearly 300€ on tunnel, 165€ on boat
I agree with @Carl. The discount is very much available.Also if you go for 5 days or less, and are 60+ it only cost 114€ return with a car this month. They are also super helpful on the phone, so it’s not too much of a pain to call rather than book online. Booking phone lines are available in both English and French.
Really?
Really. I’d much rather do it online - no accents to negotiate, easy entry of data, simple.