wajones2
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2013
Here is some info from our Iceland/Norway FB page about Dover:We're thinking about the 2020 BI cruise and your comments are all swaying me to the "do it!" side...the transportation to and from may need to be worked out...I am directionally challenged I would love to stay in Dover for a night...any recommendations for Dover (I apologize if this was already discussed)...
Dover.
Trains from St Pancras and Victoria are recommended, pre book on Trainline, or SouthEastern, takes circa an hour, check for engineering work. St Pancras is high speed trains in the Eurostar tracks that also carry trains to Europe through the channel tunnel.
Dover cruise port is a taxi ride from Dover Priory station, the route has through a commercial dock on a windy road and not recommended to walk. I have done it without cruise luggage, I have been at the port taking photos of the Magic and seem people end their cruise walking along this busy port road with children and luggage and others walking to embarkation. Do Not do this! Get a cheap taxi.
Do not consider national express coaches from London, too slow, too many stops, and the ferry port causes over crowding. It's for students etc.
To port use:-
Train.
Or private pre booked taxi if you have a family.
DCL coaches from airports Heathrow and Gatwick or DCL hotels, typically very expensive.
Not coach, unless it is one that includes say visits to Leeds castle, ( in Kent), or Canterbury.
Car rental/ hire.
This is an option, roads in Kent are great, we have the motorway M20 and M2, there is a rental drop off at the start of the cruise pier road, I think it's Enterprise. It means dropping luggage and family at port then going to drop it off and a walk back.
Drilling outside London is fine, but care, driving in the city and west end is an art form. Congestion, we have a weekday congestion charge, driving is slow and hard, public transport quicker and less stressful. Parking charges high, and fines for bad parking. If drilling avoiding London, say airport to port via Kent it's an option, but not recommended through central London.
Note Dover cruise port is small, do not arrive too early, PATs will be from 11.30, do not get there before -10.30, they are strict, you will not save a lot on boarding cards. When in it moves quick but there us in,y a small cafe in there. Limited seating. It's not port Canaveral.
Dover itself has the great castle, and the white cliffs walk, there is not a lot else there, and I do not recommend a hotel stay there, unless your coming from Europe and it fits with your route in by ferry. Stay in London, travel down in the morning. Do not stay in Dover, if you want to stay in Kent, book a hotel in Canterbury. Far better.
Dover centre a night doesn't have a lot, and recently was voted the UK worst town. It is not that, but it's a very busy commercial port, with many people in transit in varied wars from Europe. Castle and cliffs are nice, not a lot more there than that.
https://www.whitecliffscountry.org.uk/Home.aspx
This is just a starter, an quick overview, an orientation let's say, written frankly as a local. Tourists do make mistakes.