Taking the DFDS Ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo

Cheap tickets on the DFDS Copenhagen to Oslo car and passenger ferry make these daily boats a bargain deal when traveling between Denmark and Norway.

DFDS Copenhagen to Oslo Ferry boat seen from the Oslo Opera House.

The DFDS Seaways car and passenger ferry provides cheap transportation and day-trip deals for traveling from Copenhagen to Oslo. The best savings deals are for travel on weekdays, especially during the colder months of the year. The cheapest tickets are sold online directly by DFDS. The ferry boats have a variety of cabin types, many restaurants, and Jacuzzis.

The DFDS Copenhagen to Oslo Ferry

The daily DFDS ferry between Copenhagen and Oslo is a Scandinavian travel tradition. The boats sail daily between the capitals of Denmark and Norway to provide not only transportation for passengers, cars, and freight but also for tourists and leisure travelers.

The ferries sail daily at 14:15 from Copenhagen (Oslo) and arrive the next morning at 9:15 in Oslo (Copenhagen). En route, the ferry usually calls at Frederikshavn in Denmark — on days without this stop, the ferry departs from Copenhagen at 16:15.

These DFDS Seaways ferries can accommodate around 1850 passengers in more than 700 cabins and have space for more than 300 cars.

Buying Tickets for the DFDS Copenhagen-Oslo Ferry

The best prices for tickets on the Copenhagen-Oslo ferry are for buying online directly from DFDS Seaways. Ticket prices vary by demand making it worthwhile for travelers with flexibility to compare dates.

All ticket reservations have a booking fee with the fee charged for agency or telephone reservations higher than direct online reservations.

Tips for Saving on Copenhagen to Oslo Ferry Tickets

DFDS Pearl Seaways leaving Oslo with the Opera House and Barcode area in the back ground

Special savings deals are often advertised for traveling on the DFDS Copenhagen to Oslo ferries.

Prices vary by demand making it sensible to book well in advance for the busiest holiday periods, i.e. summer vacations, Easter, Christmas, and New Year.

Weekday crossings may be significantly cheaper than sailing over weekends (with an added bonus that the ship may be quieter too!)

Inside cabins on the lower decks are the cheapest. All cabins have private toilets with a shower.

Prices are per cabin so families and groups may save by booking multi-bed cabins – depending on the ship up to 5 berths per cabin are available. Booking two cabins with connecting doors are often significantly cheaper than booking the same two cabins separately.

Commodore Class cabins are more spacious and luxurious than Seaways Class but cost two to four times more than the cheaper cabins. An upgrade, immediately after departure, is significantly cheaper.

Mini Cruise deals often give spectacular savings. The best discount coupons are often only advertised in the local Danish and Norwegian media when booking a mini cruise may work out cheaper than buying a one-way ticket on the same dates. The best deals are usually for non-holiday periods early in the year.

Sign up for the DFDS newsletter – even if the occasional email will be in Danish / Norwegian it is easy enough to work out when a special deal or code is advertised.

A popular saving technique, especially when the boat is unlikely to be full, is to buy the cheapest category cabin and then upgrade at a discount price to a better category once onboard.

Time Frame of the Copenhagen to Oslo DFDS Ferry

DFDS Seaways has two car ferries that cruise every night in each direction on the Copenhagen-Oslo route. The basic time frame of the ferries is as follows:

12:15 – 14:00 – boarding is possible (same times in Copenhagen as Oslo). There is not much happening in the ferry terminal so don’t arrive too early!

The best scenic parts of the cruise are shortly after departure / before arrival. On the cruise from Copenhagen (from Oslo):

14:15 – Leaving Copenhagen is scenic with the shores of Denmark and Sweden along the Øresund sea straight visible for around 90 minutes.
16:00 (08:00) – Passing Helsingør / Helsingborg with the Kronborg (Hamlet’s Castle) usually very visible.
23:00 (0015) — Calling at Frederikshavn in northern Jutland
05:30 (20:20) – Entering Oslo fjord, best scenery the final two hours before arrival. Oslo fjord is not Norway’s most scenic but it is still a lovely way to arrive (depart).

Red and yellow houses on an island in Oslo Fjord

09:15 – Arrival in Oslo. Non-drivers may enjoy the view of the cityscape with the Opera House from the outer decks – no need to try and rush off the ship until after it has firmly docked.

Mini cruisers must disembark in Oslo (or Copenhagen in the reverse direction) but may go back on board any time from 12:00 onwards.

Eating and Drinking on the Copenhagen-Oslo Ferries

It is no secret that DFDS Seaways makes much of the profit on the Copenhagen to Oslo ferries from food and drink consumed on board. Some meals may be reserved at the time of booking at a discount. Scandinavian buffets are extensive and big eaters may well profit from the dinner or especially the breakfast buffet.

The Copenhagen-Oslo ferries have the following basic restaurant options:

Seven Seas Buffet
Marco Polo – upmarket Scandinavian
Explorers Steakhouse
Little Italy – pastas and pizzas, very popular with families
Espresso House – a coffee shop chain similar to Starbucks
Several bars – indoor and outdoor depending on weather and the cruise.

Restaurant reservations are a good idea on busy cruises or when planning to eat at a specific time. Avoid dining at 20:00 en route to Copenhagen – that is when the ferry leaves the fjord and the movement of the sea becomes a bit more noticeable for a while.

Scandinavian travelers often take their own picnic meals onto the boat but most travelers will spend at least some money on board. On the cheapest mini-cruise deals the amount spent on the first coffee may exceed the cabin and transportation price.

Prices in restaurants onboard the ferries are in line with Copenhagen prices so slightly cheaper than Oslo with alcohol significantly cheaper.

Entertainment on the Copenhagen-Oslo Ferries

The DFDS Seaways Copenhagen to Oslo ferries have a range of entertainment options, depending on the specific boat and sailing. All boats have a variety of bars, a nightclub, and a casino with the Crown Seaways also having a disco.

Admission is charged to the swimming pools, currently DKK50 per person (DKK25 for children 2-16). The indoor bubble zone is open year-round and has three pools, a Jacuzzi, and a mixed sauna (swimwear obligatory).

DFDS Copenhagen Oslo ferry pool in winter

On the Pearl Seaways, the admission fee includes use of the outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi (usually open May to September)

Day-spa treatments and massages are also available in the wellness area at the bubble zone.

Free wifi is available in some of the public areas but is patchy and very slow when demand is high. Be careful of roaming charges when the ship is far away from land and maritime rates apply.

Shopping on the Copenhagen-Oslo Ferries

The Copenhagen-Oslo ferries have duty-free shops that open shortly after the ships leave port. The duty-free shops sell the typical range of brand-name clothes, jewelry, perfumes, souvenirs, and food. Many articles are actually cheaper than in Copenhagen stores with bargains not restricted to the very extensive liquor section.

Sweets, chocolates, snacks, and alcohol in the duty-free shop are cheaper due to tax savings although on beer even duty-free shops struggle to compete with Denmark’s discount supermarkets.