Ferry company DFDS has sought to reassure passengers that it will continue to operate services to both France and the Netherlands after the UK Government said people returning from both countries will have to go into quarantine for two weeks.

Amid reports of a scramble for places on the final ferries back to the UK before the new rule takes effect at 4am tomorrow morning (15 August), DFDS said it will continue to operate its services between Calais and Dunkirk, Newhaven and Newcastle and Amsterdam.

It has also introduced a travel guarantee so that anyone booking a ferry crossing from either Dover or Newcastle can rearrange their booking up to 24 hours before departure at no extra charge. This applies to all bookings up to the end of this year.

Some social distancing measures have been introduced on board, however. Face masks are compulsory on all routes from the UK to France. Crossings from Dover include a free meal, while on the Newcastle to Amsterdam route families are allowed to sit together in their own “bubble” provided the meal has been booked in advance online. Cleaning has been stepped up on all ships and hand sanitisers are provided at all contact points.

Kasper Moos, head of DFDS’s short routes and passenger business, said, “We continue to provide a safe and relaxing means to travel to and from the Continent.”