A new ferry service connecting Poole with the Channel Islands launched today (Thursday 17 April 2025). The route provides a regular daily return between the south coast port and Jersey during peak times, with the aim to grow tourism between the two destinations.
High-speed ferry, Levante Jet, departed from Poole at 07.45 this morning. The ship can carry up to 675 passengers and will make the round-trip to Jersey once a day at peak times. Crossings take approximately four-and-a-half hours.
Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and is a popular holiday destination, attracting more than 235,000 visitors by sea every year. It is an island packed with adventure, with stunning coastal scenery, fascinating history and a vibrant cultural scene.
Spring and early summer are the perfect time to visit Jersey and this year the island is gearing up for a spectacular celebration on 9 May to mark the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, when German forces occupying the island during World War Two surrendered. Among the events commemorating this historic milestone are vibrant parades, music festivals and a service of remembrance.
Chris Parker, route director at DFDS, said: “We’re committed to running a reliable, frequent service for holidaymakers travelling from the UK to the Channel Islands and for those living on the island of Jersey. We’ve launched our services today with a schedule that delivers capacity when it’s most needed and we have the flexibility to add extra sailings where there is demand for more services.
“Our high-speed ferry has had a £1.5m upgrade before starting on the route. We’ve invested to refurbish the passenger accommodation, restaurant and onboard shop so that we can provide travellers with the excellent onboard facilities they would expect from a new service. As the new operator, we’re listening to travellers and local people, taking onboard the feedback that we’re receiving, and looking at where we can improve the service as the routes bed-in. We have a long-term investment strategy that will ensure that we continue to develop the routes for many years to come by investing in new ships and optimising our schedules.”
DFDS was selected as the preferred bidder to provide ferry services to Jersey as part of a competitive tender carried out in 2024 and culminating in the award of the contract last December. It will provide freight and passenger services connecting the island with the UK and France over the next 20 years.
Fares for ferry crossings from Poole to Jersey start from £188 each way for a car and two people. For more information or to book visit www.dfds.com.
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About DFDS:
DFDS provides ferry and transport services in and around Europe, generating annual revenues of EUR 2.3 bn.
To over 10,000 freight customers we deliver high performance and superior reliability through ferry & port terminal services, and transport and logistics solutions. DFDS delivers high reliability to more than 10,000 freight customers through ferry and port terminal services and transport and logistics solutions.
For more than five million passengers, it provides safe overnight and short sea ferry services.
Our 12,700 employees are located on ships and in in offices across 20 countries. DFDS was founded in 1866, is headquartered in Copenhagen, and listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen.
In the UK, DFDS operates passenger ferry services on routes from Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk, Newcastle to Amsterdam and Newhaven to Dieppe.
DFDS has been named ‘Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for 12 years running (2012-2023), as well as the ‘World’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for the last 12 years (2011-22).
DFDS currently operates up to 54 sailings a day between Dover and Calais and Dunkirk. DFDS also offers two daily sailings between Newcastle and Amsterdam. In addition, the UK network includes a passenger and freight service between Newhaven and Dieppe, which has four daily sailings and is owned by Transmanche Ferries.
For further information about DFDS, or to find out about the latest sailing times, fares and offers across all routes from the UK, visit www.dfds.com.
In the UK, DFDS operates passenger ferry services on routes from Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk, Newcastle to Amsterdam and Newhaven to Dieppe.
DFDS has been named ‘Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for 12 years running (2012-2023), as well as the ‘World’s Leading Ferry Operator’ for the last 12 years (2011-22).
DFDS currently operates up to 54 sailings a day between Dover and Calais and Dunkirk. DFDS also offers two daily sailings between Newcastle and Amsterdam. In addition, the UK network includes a passenger and freight service between Newhaven and Dieppe, which has four daily sailings and is owned by Transmanche Ferries.
For further information about DFDS, or to find out about the latest sailing times, fares and offers across all routes from the UK, visit www.dfds.com.