MS King Seaways Cruise Ship Overview and Accommodations

The MS King Seaways is a popular cruise ship that offers a unique and memorable experience for its passengers. It has a gross tonnage of 22,900 tons and a length of 180 meters.

The ship has a capacity for over 1,500 passengers and offers a range of onboard amenities, including a restaurant, bar, and lounge areas. It also features a variety of cabin types to suit different needs and budgets.

Cabin options range from comfortable inside cabins to luxurious suites with ocean views.

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MS King Seaways is a sturdy cruise ferry with a rich history. The ship was built in 1987 by Schichau Seebeckwerft AG in Bremerhaven, Germany.

King Seaways is a cruiseferry, also known as a Ro-Pax ship, which means it combines the features of a cruise ship and a passenger ferry. It's a large vessel, measuring 162 meters in length and 28 meters in width.

The ship's engines are powered by MAK-Caterpillar, producing 19.9 MW of power or 26,686 horsepower. This allows King Seaways to reach a top speed of 21 knots, or 39 kilometers per hour.

Consider reading: MS Nordic Ferry

King Seaways has a gross tonnage of 31,788 gross registered tonnes (GRT) and a displacement of 4,160 deadweight tonnes (DWT). The ship's electrical system runs on 220 V AC.

Here's a breakdown of the ship's capacity:

The ship's top-deck is a Heli Deck with a helipad, used in emergency situations.

MS King Seaways offers a range of accommodations to suit different needs and preferences.

All cabins are air-conditioned and feature en-suite bathrooms, with bed linens, towels, and toiletries provided by the ferry company. They also come equipped with bedding, bathroom amenities, large mirrors, LCD TVs (except in standard and economy cabins), writing desks, clothes storage, and European plug points.

You can choose from a variety of cabin types, including Commodore-class premium outside cabins, double bed cabins, standard cabins with bunk beds, sea-view cabins, economy cabins, and accessible cabins for passengers with disabilities. Some staterooms are wheelchair-accessible and adapted for disabled passengers.

Here's a breakdown of the different cabin types:

On a King Seaways cruise ferry, you'll find a total of 522 cabins with 1686 berths. All staterooms are air-conditioned and come with en-suite bathrooms.

The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries, and all cabins offer bedding, bathroom amenities, and large mirrors as complimentary amenities.

You can choose from various cabin categories, including Commodore-class, Double Bed, Standard, Seaview, Economy, and Accessible cabins.

Commodore-class cabins are premium outside cabins with mini-bars, hairdryers, and double beds. They also offer room service and a complimentary hot buffet breakfast.

Commodore De Luxe cabins come with exclusive access to the Commodore Deluxe Lounge, where you can enjoy unlimited snacks and beverages, Wi-Fi Internet, and other amenities.

Accessible cabins are designed for passengers with disabilities, featuring linoleum flooring, fixed twin beds, and larger bathrooms.

If you're traveling with a pet, you'll need to book a whole cabin (quad occupancy) and transport your pet in a cage. Dogs are not allowed in public areas, except for registered assistance dogs.

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Here's a breakdown of the different cabin categories:

The King Seaways ship offers a wide range of facilities, dining options, and entertainment venues to keep you entertained throughout your journey.

You'll find two cinemas on Deck 1, perfect for catching the latest movies.

The ship has a kennel on Deck 5, so you can bring your furry friend along for the ride.

Deck 7 is home to the Observation Lounge, where you can take in the views and get information about your journey.

The 7 Seas Buffet Restaurant on Deck 7 offers a variety of hot and cold dishes, as well as desserts and soft drinks.

The Explorer's Restaurant on Deck 8 is a steakhouse that offers an all-you-can-eat buffet with international dishes.

The Blue Riband Restaurant on Deck 8 is a la carte, and the Lounge Bar is the perfect spot to grab a drink and relax.

Latitude Cafe on Deck 8 serves a range of beverages, cocktails, coffee drinks, and light snacks.

The Children's Play Room, also known as the "Kidz Club", is an indoor playground on Deck 8 with a ball pool, large HDTV, and kids' art tables.

The Sports Bar on Deck 9 has large HDTVs for watching live sports and musical programs.

The Amusement Games and Casino on Deck 9 offer a range of activities, including blackjack and roulette.

The Columbus Night Club/Disco Bar Lounge on Deck 9 is the perfect spot to dance the night away.

The Smoking Areas on Deck 9 provide a designated space for smokers.

Tax Free Sea Shops are duty-free priced boutiques on Decks 7 and 9, offering a range of products, including luxury-brand perfumes and cosmetics.

The Sky Bar on Deck 10 has an outdoor terrace seating area and sundeck.

The Commodore Deluxe Lounge on Deck 10 is an exclusive bar lounge for Commodore-Class passengers.

The Mermaid Bar on Deck 12 is an outside deck bar.

The Reserved Seating Lounge has comfortable Pullman seats and large HDTVs.

The MS King Seaways operates a range of routes, primarily connecting the UK and Norway.

The ferry's base port is located in Newcastle, where it offers daily sailings to IJmuiden in the Netherlands.

King Seaways has a large ferry with lots of public space inside.

The ship has a great choice of dining venues, bars, lounges, and entertainment.

You can expect to find a variety of options to suit your taste and preferences.

The ferry comfort is also a notable aspect of the King Seaways experience.

It's worth noting that the ferry comfort is a key feature of the ship.

King Seaways has a great selection of dining venues, including bars and lounges.

The ferry food and drink options are also impressive, with many choices to choose from.

Here's a quick rundown of the main features you can expect to find on the ship:

Car decks are designed to accommodate a variety of vehicles, including trucks, cars, caravans, motorhomes, motorcycles, and bicycles, all without baggage restrictions.

If you're a disabled passenger or require specific assistance, head to the ship's Information Desk, which is open 24 hours a day.

To ensure the safety of all vehicles, make sure to apply the handbrake and place your vehicle in park or 1st gear position, and switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, and headlights.

Don't forget to lock your vehicle and take only valuables and essential hand baggage with you.

Before leaving the car deck, take note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway.

Access to the ship's vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is strictly prohibited.

Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in cabins and passenger lounges, is not allowed.

Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.

To avoid air pollution, don't start the engine until you're instructed to do so.

In 2006, the Val de Loire was renamed MS King of Scandinavia and began serving on DFDS Seaways' Newcastle - IJmuiden route, running parallel to MS Queen of Scandinavia.

The King of Scandinavia was refitted between 2 and 11 March 2006, in IJmuiden, the Netherlands, to prepare for her new service.

Between 2006 and 2011, the MS King of Scandinavia operated on the Newcastle - IJmuiden route, which allowed for the transportation of caravans due to the equal capacity and layout of her and the MS Queen of Scandinavia.

On 22 February 2008, the King of Scandinavia broke free from her moorings at North Shields during high winds, drifting across the River Tyne and colliding with an oil rig moored on the opposite bank.

In January 2011, the King of Scandinavia made its final voyage from Newcastle to IJmuiden without passengers, heading to Denmark for docking.

It sailed back to IJmuiden on January 29th with a fresh new paint job and a name change to King Seaways.

The ship underwent a significant rebranding in 2019, repainting its funnel with the new name DFDS Seaways and simplifying the logo.

Around the same time, the restaurants and facilities on board were also rebranded to match the new name.

In January 2022, the logo on the funnel was replaced with the brand name DFDS after some testing in 2019.

Safety is a top priority on MS King Seaways. The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art navigation systems, including a bridge that offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding waters.

The ship's crew is highly trained and experienced, with many having worked on the vessel for years. They are responsible for ensuring the safe passage of passengers and cargo.

In the unlikely event of an emergency, the ship is equipped with a comprehensive emergency response plan, which includes regular drills and training exercises for all crew members.

A fire broke out on the King Seaways ferry on December 28, 2013, in a cabin at around 10:45pm GMT.

The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes, but not before four crew members and two passengers had to be winched off the ship by RAF helicopters.

The six people were taken to Scarborough Hospital by RAF helicopter and were not thought to be in a serious condition.

The 30,000-tonne ship returned to Newcastle Ferry Port at around 4am and passengers were kept on board until 9am while police investigated.

A 26-year-old man from Sunderland was arrested on suspicion of arson after the fire alert, and a 28-year-old man from Sunderland was also arrested on suspicion of affray.

RAF helicopters from Leconfield and Boulmer were scrambled to the vessel, along with two RNLI lifeboats from Bridlington and Filey.

Accessibility is a top priority for many travelers, and King Seaways takes it seriously.

The King Seaways is wheelchair friendly, which means you can easily navigate the ship with mobility aids.

All decks are accessible via elevators, except for deck 5, so you can enjoy the views from any level.

Special arrangements can be made for passengers with disabilities, but only if you notify them beforehand.

There are 4 specially adapted disabled cabins with sea views and 2 with interior views, so you can choose the one that suits you best.