DFDS Kiel Terminal

We took the ferry from Kiel to Lithuania. Even the loading took several hours. Information was not shared. We were traveling with a six-month-old baby. The supposed priority boarding for vehicles with a small child was not carried out that day. Again, no information or explanation.

But the real disaster was the arrival in Lithuania. We arrived at the port more than 45 minutes late. There was not a single (!!!) announcement about the delayed arrival until we arrived. Hundreds of passengers were waiting in the corridors, as we had been told in advance that the car deck would be opened at least 30 minutes before departure. In addition, passengers were asked to leave their cabins up to one hour before docking so that the cabins could be cleaned. It was unbelievably warm, an unacceptable situation, especially for the children. Even old people and pets had to struggle with the heat, noise and constant standing.

A lot of things about the crossing went really well: the ship was new and attractively designed, the cabin was huge and clean, the food on board was tasty and extensive, the whole atmosphere on board was friendly and relaxed. We said to each other several times during the trip that this was one of the most relaxed ways to start a few days of vacation that we could imagine.

Nevertheless, there is reason for a point deduction and a grim look towards DFDS. There were four of us as foot passengers and we tried to find out in advance what time we would be where and how we would get smoothly from the terminal to the hotel at our destination. Unfortunately, the information we received from the DFDS website or from employees in the terminal and on board turned out to be unusable. This can spoil the joy of traveling, especially if several people rely on the information shared.

To make it more specific what information is meant:

– When does the bus in Kiel leave from the terminal to the ship? We checked in quite early, around 5:30 p.m., and were told that the bus to the ship would make its first trip that evening at 8:30 p.m. So at that time we joined the queue at the exit – and then we waited. The bus was in sight but didn’t move an inch. There were no announcements, no information, older fellow travelers or families with children rightly became restless and unbearable at some point. The whole atmosphere was unnecessarily tense even before the trip began. At 9:30 p.m., an hour before departure, the exit door opened for the first time and someone in a safety vest explained that he could now take the first eight passengers (of around 50) with him. When it was our turn, the friendly mini-shuttle driver explained to us that the regular bus was simply too big for the Aura Seaways. He was sorry for the delay, but he was not personally responsible for it.

– how do we get from the terminal to the hotel in Kleipeda? The DFDS website specifically says: “You can book taxi services on board at the ship’s reception or at the passenger check-in counter at the terminal.” A taxi booking could not be made upon request at the ship’s reception. Instead, reference was made to the arrivals terminal – it would definitely work there. When we arrived at reception after the ship docked and then went to the car deck, the bus had already driven to the terminal. Together with other people waiting, we wandered around for a bit before the bus came back. When we arrived at the terminal building around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday evening, we found it completely deserted, not a single counter was open. Some taxis waiting in front of the building had probably already picked up the faster passengers, other travelers were waiting to be picked up or had already called a taxi themselves with more local knowledge. We were the last passengers left and ultimately it was thanks to the kind help of the Lithuanian couple waiting in front of us that we got a taxi that evening.