By Dan Walsh
From Friday, September 26th, Victoria Seaways will replace Optima Seaways on the Rosslare-Dunkirk route, bringing more capacity and offering both passengers and freight customers greater space and comfort on every crossing.
Victoria Seaways features upgraded facilities, with increased cabin numbers, additional freight lane metres, and improved amenities on board, making it a reliable and attractive choice for hauliers, families, and leisure travellers alike.
Director of Commercial Business Units with Iarnród Éireann, Glenn Carr said; “This boost in capacity on the Rosslare – Dunkirk route demonstrates the latent demand there is from both business and leisure travellers on this key route and I look forward to the service going from strength to strength.”
The introduction of the vessel responds to a sustained period of growth in demand from both freight traffic and tourist passengers and further reinforces DFDS’s long-term commitment to supporting Ireland’s freight economy and passenger connectivity with continental Europe.
Since its launch in 2021, the Rosslare–Dunkirk corridor has established itself as one of Ireland’s important direct gateways to Europe.
The service has been strongly embraced by freight hauliers for its reliability and efficiency, while passenger volumes continue to rise as more Irish travellers take advantage of direct access into Northeast France and onward European destinations. At the same time, the route provides European visitors with a seamless gateway into Ireland.
The Rosslare–Dunkirk service has quickly become a cornerstone of Ireland’s direct European connectivity, reducing reliance on the UK Landbridge, strengthening supply chain resilience, and unlocking new opportunities for leisure tourism.
The route enables travellers to bring vehicles including cars, caravans, and campers, facilitating seamless exploration of continental Europe.
To mark this expansion, DFDS is introducing an early booking offer. From October 1st to March 2nd, passengers can benefit from 15% off best available fares. Full details and booking information are available at dfds.com.
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