DFDS’s pet policy has been reviewed and the company will now allow dogs to remain in vehicles on its slower ferry to the UK following complaints from Islanders.
Customers – who have been able to book ferry journeys online since Friday – previously had to book a pet cabin on the Stena Vinga.
Charges for bikes have also been removed by the Danish operator and caravans can now be booked online as part of a raft of changes which DFDS says reflects “its continued commitment to work with the community”.
The Danish firm said those who had already been charged for bringing a bike onto the ferry would be refunded – and those who had booked a pet cabin could request a refund. The incoming ferry operator said it was also working with the Kennel Club of Jersey “to establish a set of guidelines for passengers wishing to bring their pets on board, with the welfare of animals as the highest priority”.
And DFDS said it was adjusting its 10% introductory discount on UK-to-Jersey and Jersey-to-France routes, which are available until midnight on 27 March, to “benefit” customers only booking a return journey from UK ports.
The shipping firm also said it would be releasing day-trip pricing and offers to and from France “shortly”.
Islanders’ concerns about DFDS services were raised in the States yesterday by Deputy Hilary Jeune, who quizzed Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel on the terms of the ferry firm’s contract. Deputy Morel clarified that the terms of sale were not part of the contract and that DFDS had been asked to address the concerns.
He said that while change was often met with challenges or negativity, DFDS’s long-term investment in Jersey’s ferry service, including new vessels and increased service reliability, remained the key focus.
“We are here creating a ferry service that is going to be resilient and reliable for the next 20 years, and, most importantly, get £300 million of investments in our fleet, which will be paid for by DFDS and not by the Government of Jersey,” the minister said.
“So we are getting new vessels, and we are going to have a more resilient and reliable service.”
Responding to pricing concerns, Deputy Morel said that fares were “very similar” to those under the previous operator, Condor Ferries, and that price increases would now be controlled by Retail Price Index caps.
And he said that complaints about day-trip pricing to France were premature, as DFDS had yet to introduce its discounted day-trip fares to St Malo.
“One of the main areas that people are complaining about was day trips to France,” said Deputy Morel.
“The reality is, DFDS have not loaded on their day-trip prices yet.
“So Islanders should refrain from buying day trips to France at the moment because they will get special prices in the future.”
