Dieppe, the closest sea port to Paris, is home to twin vessels Seven Sisters and
Cote D'Albatre.
Bright yellow coloured hulls with pristine white-washed superstructure, both ships operate the short four hour hop to Newhaven in the UK.
A collaboration between DFDS and Transmanche Ferries, being the sole operator of both ports you are assured of personal attention and comprehensive knowledge of the ships and local attractions from the professional, polite, friendly and courteous members of staff.
Starting in the British port of Newhaven, the ferry terminal is easily accessible for those travelling on foot and by vehicle; the later can be accessed from the London M25 orbital in around an hour.
A long stay car park is located within the grounds of the terminal for those intending to travel to France on foot but, as always, your vehicle is left at your own risk.
Should you be touring Europe on foot, the railway station in Newhaven is just around the corner.
The façade of the 'boxy', temporary looking, portacabin style ferry terminal actually hides a very comfortable, bright and spacious facility for ferry passengers.
Inside, the foot passenger check-in is smart and uncluttered; the immaculately dressed personnel are friendly and professional.
An adjacent open plan lounge is subdivided into zones allowing those passengers with children to utilise a family area whilst those wishing to sit in a comfortable chair reading the local publicity material for both Newhaven and Dieppe can relax with a coffee from the vending machine.
WC amenities are available
If you are travelling in a vehicle with your four legged fury friend a water bowl is available - how good is that!
The Dieppe ferry terminal offers a similar level of comfort but is located further from the town.
Shortly prior to sailing passengers are called forward for embarkation; the border force officers being very friendly and making conversation with the passengers as their luggage is being screened.
At both ports a courtesy bus transports foot passengers to the ship, a journey of around five minutes.
In Newhaven foot passengers disembark on the berth and walk the last few meters onto the ships' vehicle deck. You'll walk beneath the raised bow visor which is highly impressive and effectively displays the vibrant sunshine yellow paint of the ships' hull hence the title of this blog 'The Sunshine Fleet too Normandy'.
Embarkation can be a hive of activity so if you're travelling with children keep a close eye on them and mind any potential trip hazards.
In the French port of Dieppe the ship berths stern first showing to good effect the quadruple vehicle lanes permitting swift and seamless disembarkation / embarkation.
Once aboard a flight of stars gives access to the ships' passenger decks though, if you have walking difficulties an elevator is available from the vehicle deck.
Embarking in Dieppe? Well, an escalator is available giving access to a small hall at the ships stern - how good is that!
Both Seven Sisters and Cote D'Albatre are exceptionally easy to navigate as their passenger facilities are located on a single deck which extends to double height at the stern.
Let's go for a wonder
The ships' information desk is located amidship forward on the main deck and is staffed 24/7 by highly courteous personnel dressed in formal attire of crisp white shirt, tie and shoulder epaulets which exudes professionalism putting the passenger at ease should they have a query.
The dark wooden façade of the reception contrasts beautifully against the chalk white surrounding walls; splashes of green from the glazed blocks creating a nautical tone.
Direct access to the passenger cabins is obtained from here.
Cabins are located at the forward end of the main deck and although not mandatory on overnight sailings, hiring a cabin will enable passengers a private space to relax, freshen up and stow luggage.
A typical four berth cabin offers a table & chair and an ensuite bathroom with shower and WC.
A range of cabin accommodation is available including accessible cabins with adapted ensuite washroom, business cabins with a sofa and hot beverage machine and a highly spacious family cabin with a TV.
Alternatively if you are travelling on a budget you cannot beat having a reclining seat within a carpeted & quiet area of the ship - these are free of charge and don't need to be pre-booked.
Located at the stern of the upper deck internal lighting is dimmed during overnight sailings; their louvre style surrounding walls allow ambient lighting from the adjacent corridor to filter through which is great if you wake during the night and are disorientated plus, if you are a solo traveller you may feel more secure in the knowledge other passengers and crew are nearby.
These seats offer plenty of legroom plus the angle of recline permits a good resting position.
The reclining seats are very comfortable and of good quality; each offering USB-C charging points for small electrical devices.
Both Cote D'Albatre and Seven Sisters offer a single dining room where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served buffet style from the servery.
Located amidships on the main deck the modest servery proudly displays an array of meal options plus dedicated chiller units offer salads, cold beverages and alcohol.
Long queues can develop at the till during peak time, primarily at breakfast owing to the location of the hot beverage machine therefore top tip, arrive early.
During my round trip voyage I sampled both an evening meal and breakfast - for the sake of this blog, of course -, both of which were very tasty.
The dining room flanks the centrally positioned servery allowing plenty of space and a room filled with natural light owing to the windows on both sides of the ship.
The dining room is open plan to the main thoroughfare however, subtle divides do create some privacy for those eating.
Dedicated tables for those needing additional space for their wheelchair are provided - everyone is catered for.
Not relevant to us tourists but worth a mention non the less, commercial drivers have a dedicated area on the upper deck consisting of an open plan lounge and dining area.
Accessed through a rather industrial looking door within the passenger dining room, ascending a narrow staircase a private oasis of calm awaits where the hard working drivers can relax.
For added rest and relaxation the commercial drivers can utilise one of the couchettes within the 'Capsule Hotel'.
Having a sneaky peak thanks to the brilliant crewman who gave me a guided tour of the ship, I've got to say I was genuinely impressed; compact and cosy, each pod has a comfortable bed, light, hanging space and even an individual smoke detector - safety first!
These pods within the Capsule Hotel are an innovative way to allow more persons to sleep on a small ship where space is at a premium and although these pods are just for commercial drivers, I would happily spend the night in one and the kids, not that I have any, would undoubtedly love them.
As a side note I would love to see the crew trying to change the sheets in such a compact area - it would make for a great Instagram reel!
Back to the passenger areas and time for some shopping.
Having travelled the seas of Europe for over thirty years I have seen hundreds of shopping centres however, the facility aboard the DFDS / Transmanche ships on the Newhaven to Dieppe route is outstanding!
Positioned around an illuminated central column spanning two decks, curved shelving units filled with colourful wines and local produce are in abundance.
Bright, airy and spacious, chalk white, cooling grey and pine feature heavily creating a Scandinavian inspired refreshing décor - a real pleasure to browse.
Spotlights seemingly hover between the decks and mirror the spherical shape of the decorative tiled flooring and shelving units below.
A separate area featuring dark wooden fixtures and fittings and suspended ceiling houses the vast array of whiskeys.
Floor to ceiling shelving units encompass free standing displays.
A wide range of fragrances at duty free prices are available - why not treat yourself!
Circumnavigating the shopping centre you'll find a comfortable lounge with a wrap-around sofa facing a curved wall of windows lined by tables and tub chairs.
You'll notice the hard flooring which is evident throughout both Cote D'Albatre and Seven Sisters which permits easy access for those with walking difficulties or in a wheelchair.
A beautifully sculpted curved staircase with stainless steel handrails and glass balustrades permits access to the lounge and bar on the upper level
Spanning the width of the deck this lounge is spacious but at the same time cosy with a plentiful amount of tub chairs decorated in royal blue coloured fabric clustered around a small table; those adjacent to the windows afford the best panoramic views of the passing vistas.
Direct access to the exterior deck is obtained from here.
For those of you who like people watching, I unashamedly being one of them, you really cannot have a better seat than one adjacent to the atrium where the glazed balustrades permit uninterrupted views of the shop below.
But, spend a moment to have a good look around as the design of the atrium is truly impressive!
Smaller breakout seating areas are located within the eves adjacent to the aforementioned reclining seat lounges which are separated from the adjacent corridor by a full height wall.
Muted flat screen wall mounted TV's provide entertainment both day and night.
A conveniently located bar overlooking the atrium offers a good selection of reasonably priced alcoholic, non alcoholic and hot beverages.
Although no gaming machines were evident aboard, if travelling with younger passengers a playroom with colourful padded floors is located adjacent to the bar so parents can relax safe in the knowledge their children are close by.
However, those trying to sleep in the adjacent reclining seat lounge may get more peace and quiet if they sleep in the lounge on the opposite side of the ship.
Both Cote D'Albatre and Seven Sisters offer a good amount of exterior deck space to marvel at the passing vistas, namely the beautiful coastline named after the ships' namesake.
Some seating is provided but the main bonus are the full height glazed screens to protect passengers from cross winds.
The DFDS / Transmanche operation between Newhaven (UK) and Dieppe (FR) offer comfort, homely ambience, professional staff and a good range of facilities for the four hour English Channel voyage to the Normandy region of France.
Why not book to travel from Newhaven to Dieppe; European Cruises and Ferry Crossings | Passenger Ferries | DFDS
Why not [virtually] come aboard - here's my vlog.
Why not follow my European travel adventures on Instagram, my trademark mohawk is always coloured to depict the country / ship I'm visiting, in this case yellow to reflect the sunshine livery of these two vessels.
