DFDS’ route to Jersey departed at 7.45am on Thursday, Aril 17, the first of daily return journeys between the Channel Island.
High-speed ferry, Levante Jet, can carry up to 675 passengers and will make a round-trip to Jersey once a day at peak times. Crossings take around four-and-a-half hours.
Fares for ferry crossings from Poole to Jersey start from £188 each way for a car and two people.
Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and is a popular holiday destination, attracting more than 235,000 visitors by sea every year.
It is an island packed with adventure, with stunning coastal scenery, fascinating history and a vibrant cultural scene.
Chris Parker, route director at DFDS, said: “We’re committed to running a reliable, frequent service for holidaymakers travelling from the UK to the Channel Islands and for those living on the island of Jersey.
“We’ve launched our services today with a schedule that delivers capacity when it’s most needed and we have the flexibility to add extra sailings where there is demand for more services.”
He added: “We have a long-term investment strategy that will ensure that we continue to develop the routes for many years to come by investing in new ships and optimising our schedules.”
DFDS was selected as the preferred bidder to provide ferry services to Jersey by the Jersey government.
It took the contract from Brittany Ferries, parent company of Condor Ferries, and will be served over the next 20 years.
Captain Brian Murphy, chief executive of Poole Harbour Commissioners, said: “This important milestone reflects both our capacity to deliver excellent levels of service and our commitment to support high-quality ferry services for the benefit of passengers and local supply chains.”
Karen Baurdoux, Channel passenger director at DFDS, said: “A lot of hard work from many colleagues and stakeholders has gone into make this happen and it’s wonderful to welcome passengers in Poole as of today.
“We are grateful for the warm welcome we have received from the port and we look forward to working together.”