Award-winning ferry operator, DFDS Seaways and Port of Tyne are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry route. Since the popular North Sea service began in 1995, the route has carried an estimated 10 million passengers.
Max Foster, DFDS Seaways Passenger Director, said: “We are really proud of the ferry service that we operate between Newcastle and Amsterdam. Over the last twenty years we have seen the popularity of this route increase dramatically and last year we hosted around 570,000 passengers.
“The route’s popularity is testament to the hard work and dedication of our ship and shore-side teams, who work tirelessly to provide all our guests with a fun, relaxing and comfortable way to travel to Continental Europe and to make their journey with us the perfect beginning and end of any European break.
“We also have a great working relationship with the Port of Tyne, enabling us to offer a smooth and easy transition through the port to our ships.”
Andrew Moffat, Port of Tyne Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Newcastle to Amsterdam route is an important gateway to North East England and a very significant driver for the region’s tourist economy.
“We are proud to have a long term relationship with DFDS. Whilst there have been passenger routes for almost 100 years, the Port of Tyne developed the International Passenger Terminal in the 1990s, and has continued to invest in it and passenger services. As a result, around £55m per year is added to the regional economy supporting many jobs in the tourism sector.”
Princess Seaways and King Seaways are the two sister ferries that operate a daily service on the route. In the 20 years since the service began, the ferries have sailed almost four million nautical miles – enough to circumnavigate the globe almost 200 times.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, passengers checking-in on the Newcastle-Amsterdam service today (Thursday 21st May), were offered a slice of a special anniversary cake which was created by the onboard Chef de Cuisine on Princess Seaways, Lasse Nielsen. The cake was officially cut by Max Foster and Andrew Moffat.
DFDS Seaways Newcastle to Amsterdam route provides an essential gateway to the local region and beyond. Statistics indicate that the route is used by a good mix of 39% UK traffic 34% Dutch and 22% German – with the catchment area extending from Scotland, the North East, North West, Yorkshire, Humberside and further afield.
Max Foster adds: “A key element of the route’s success has also been the passengers that we bring into the North East, particularly from The Netherlands and Germany. They are not only important to us, but also play a significant role in helping to boost the regional economy and that of Scotland.”
Other celebrations around the 20th anniversary include a special one day cruise from North Shields on Sunday May 24th, including a birthday afternoon tea and live entertainment on board from a Michael Jackson tribute act.
To view some of the most memorable events or share your own memories of the DFDS Seaways service over the last 20 years, visithttp://ferrygoodmemories.dfdsseaways.co.uk/