Pride of Kent ferry

MS Pride of Kent ferry (1992-built/2023-scrapped) was a Ro-Pax (cargo and passenger) vessel owned and operated by the UK company P&O FERRIES. The ship had a max capacity of 2000 passengers and 650 cars (or 120 lorries/semi-trailers/TEU containers).

Until 2023 (when the 31-year-old Pride of Kent was scrapped at Aliaga Yard in Turkey) she operated the UK-France route Dover-Calais (crossing time 1,5 hours). The last AIS data was received on October 23rd, at 7:35 UTC.

The vessel (IMO number 9015266) was Cyprus-flagged (MMSI 209512000) and registered in Limassol.

The sisterships Pride of Kent and Pride of Canterbury were replaced on the Dover-Calais route by two new ferries - the 2023-built P&O Pioneer and P&O Liberte.

Cabins

As cruise ferry, Pride of Kent has no cabins (passenger staterooms) due to the route's short crossing distance. Instead, the ship offers Reserved Seating Lounge (luxury Club-class bar lounge furnished with comfortable leather couches). Reserved seats are available for pre-booking. These deals are inclusive of complimentary beverages (champagne, tea, coffee, soft drinks) and newspapers.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

The main passenger-accessible facilities include:

• Brasserie (French restaurant serving gourmet food and fine wines), patisseries (coffee shops serving light snacks, pastries, hot and cold drinks)
• The Food Court (casual, buffet-style restaurant)
• Starbucks Coffee Bar
• The Lounge is the ship's main bar lounge with comfortable seating and served by its own bar (light snacks and beverages - tea, coffee, soft drinks). During summer months opens an outdoor/open-air alfresco bar.
• The vessel is divided (both vertically and horizontally) into 3 ventilation zones, with stairs assigned in different colors.
• Three lifts (passenger elevators) connect Main Deck with the car decks.

Since June 2006, the ship's interior is non-smoking, with smoking permitted only in designated parts of sun deck 9.

Shopping at the onboard shops offers a wide choice of brand products at discounted prices in comparison to UK high street prices. Up to 40% discounts are offered on luxury perfumes, skincare, cosmetics. Up to 30% discounts are offered on alcohol (spirits, wines, beers). The shops also sell bestseller books, newspapers, magazines, toys, games, Pride of Kent is considered to have the fleet's best onboard shop.

The ship has children-dedicated onboard areas, including playroom and movie room (for watching videos). During summer holidays' family breaks, the ferry company provides onboard kids entertainment programs with specially trained staff and supervised activities (painting, drawing, treasure hunts, arts, and crafts).

Car decks

The ferry has 6 passenger-accessible decks: Car Deck 3 and Car Deck 5 (cars and trucks/freight), Car Deck 6 (cars only), decks 7 and 8 (main passenger facilities), deck 9 (outside/sundeck area).

Follows a list of car decks-related safety procedures:

• All onboard emergency instructions are displayed in staterooms, on the TV screens and at the ship's assembly stations (aka muster stations). Life jackets are issued at the assembly stations. In case of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is forbidden.
• Disabled passengers or those requiring specific assistance should visit the ship's Information Desk (open 24-hours).
• Apply handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear position. Switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, headlights. Gas cylinders, if any, must be switched off. Lock the vehicle.
• From your vehicle take only valuables and essential hand baggage.
• Make a note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.
• Access to the ship's vehicle (cargo) decks during the voyage is prohibited.
• Smoking on vehicle decks, as well as in cabins and passenger lounges is forbidden.
• Wait for the onboard announcement before returning to your vehicle.

To avoid air pollution, don't start the engine until instructed.

The shipowner P&O Ferries (fleet, 2002-founded, headquartered in Dover England) is a UK ferry company operating on the shipping routes UK-France, UK-Ireland, UK-Holland (mini-cruises), UK-Belgium (mini-cruises) and Scotland-Northern Ireland.