FOR the first time in more than three months, the first ferry from the North-East to Amsterdam departed on Thursday.
DFDS has resumed daily sailings from North Shields after suspending the route towards the end of March.
The Northern Echo got the chance to have a sneak peek around King Seaways to see what social distancing measures were in place for passengers.
Since March, both the King Seaways and its sister ship, Princess Seaways have been berthed in Ijmuiden in the Netherlands.
It has been the longest period both ships have been unused since joining the DFDS fleet almost two decades ago.
Passengers will be required to wear face coverings when boarding and disembarking the ship in line with government guidance.
Wearing face coverings onboard is strongly encouraged but when dining, drinking in the bars, on deck and in their cabins, passengers can remove them.
When joining the ship, passengers will be urged to sanitise their hands and continue to keep at least 1m apart from other groups at all times.
Both the King Seaways and Princess Seaways will operate at 50 percent capacity to allow for social distancing measures, we were told.
There's normally a selection of venues when choosing somewhere to dine for the evening, but for now the 'Explorers Kitchen' remains open.
Tables have been spaced at least 1m apart with a one-way system operating at the buffet counter.
The firm said that it would reopen its North Sea Bistro on October 1.
A familiar sight, passengers entering the onboard shop will need to queue and follow a one-way system.
Only a limited of number of people will be able to browse the shop at any time, with a member of staff enforcing the rules at the entrance.
DFDS said both ferries offered extra space for passengers.
It said the majority of seating areas were already 'Covid Secure' as regulations require permanent tables and chairs to be at least 1m apart for wheelchairs.
The children's areas onboard have been closed due to concerns over social distancing on play equipment.
On shore, playgrounds are now allowed to reopen following the easing of lockdown restrictions on parks in May.
Extra cleaning in public areas will take place - with the cleaning team wearing enhanced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including gloves and a mask.
Customers will no longer be able to take their own food and drink onboard, something that was permitted before lockdown.
One of the 'Commodore' cabins on Deck 9 - which will temporarily see in-room drinks and condiments temporarily suspended.
Up on deck, the aptly named Sky Bar will reopen in time for the summer period and its two-day 'mini-cruises.'
The route between North Shields and Ijmuiden will operate everyday, with the King Seaways and Princess Seaways alternating between ports.
Speaking to The Echo, Robert Bately, Commercial Head at DFDS, said it was ‘great’ to be returning to the NorthEast as lockdown restrictions continued to ease.
He said: “It’s really good to be sailing again, it was really nice to leave Ijmuiden and to arrive in North Shields.
“We had people waving us off on both sides, so it’s a really good feeling.”
Mr Bately, who has worked for DFDS for around 16 years, said it was ‘understandable’ that passengers were nervous before sailing for the first time.
He said: “The coronavirus has been a global issue and everyone is quite aware of it – we have reduced drastically the capacity onboard, so we do have a lot of room for passengers.
“There’s an element of choice and free will onboard these ships, everyone who travels has a cabin, so they have their own safe space.
“If you want to limit your social interaction, you have that freedom. You can still travel, in a car, spend most of your time in your cabin, eat when you need to eat, get off the other side relatively un-socialised.
“However, we do have our onboard restaurant, shop and bars open for people to socialise and relax in safely if they wish, as well as plenty of space out on deck to get some fresh air.”
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