Dover cruise port guide

England · Ships call at Dover, England

Ships dock at the Western Docks, which have two cruise terminals; Terminal 1 is in the old Dover Marine railway station. Dover town center is a 20 to 30 minute walk, and Dover Priory station is about 5 minutes by taxi. Gatwick is about 80 miles away and Heathrow about 104.

Getting to the ship in Dover

Ships leave from Dover Cruise Terminal, Western Docks, Dover. Check your cruise documents for Terminal 1 or 2. (Source: Adventour Begins)

Airports

LGW · London Gatwick Airport
About 80 miles to the port, 81 minutes by car. (Source: Airports Taxi Transfers)
LHR · London Heathrow Airport
About 104 miles to the port, 105 minutes by car. (Source: Airports Taxi Transfers)

Rideshare, taxi and transit

Dover Priory, the main station for cruise passengers, is about 5 minutes from the terminals by taxi. (Source: Adventour Begins)
Taxis usually wait outside the cruise terminals when ships are in port. (Source: Adventour Begins)

Parking

Cruise & Passenger Services runs the terminal parking, over 1,000 covered spaces at £16 a day. Book on the CPS website or on 0345 071 3939. (Source: Cruise Mummy)
If your cruise includes free parking, you still need to book a space with the voucher code. (Source: Cruise Mummy)

Prices and drive times were checked in October 2026 and change. Allow extra time on busy sailing days.

What cruisers do in Dover

What cruisers do the day before boarding or after getting off, collected in October 2026. Each item links to where it came from.

Dover Castle
Above the town. A shuttle, taxi or tour is easier than the uphill walk.
On your own
Source: Adventour Begins
White Cliffs of Dover
The cliffs above the Western Docks, best reached by taxi or tour.
On your own
Source: Adventour Begins
Canterbury
An easy trip on your own by train from Dover Priory.
On your own
Source: Adventour Begins
Leeds Castle
Further away, so a transfer or excursion is the safer choice.
Book ahead
Source: Adventour Begins

Tours you can book

Picked from Viator by reviews and how well each tour fits a port day. Affiliate links — these help keep our site free by earning us a commission at no extra cost to you.

Tours via Viator. Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews. Booking through our links keeps this site free at no cost to you.

Ships calling here soon

Updated daily from cruise line schedules.

Von Kiel in die Dominikanischen Republik

AIDA Cruises · AIDAbella

Oct 25, 202627 nights

Von Kiel nach Barbados

AIDA Cruises · AIDAbella

Oct 25, 202621 nights

Ocean Cruises from Hamburg

Costa Cruises · Costa Favolosa

Nov 8, 202624 nights

Ocean Cruises from Hamburg

Costa Cruises · Costa Favolosa

Nov 8, 202622 nights

Ocean Cruises from Hamburg

Costa Cruises · Costa Favolosa

Nov 8, 202610 nights

Ocean Cruises from Hamburg

Costa Cruises · Costa Favolosa

Nov 8, 202618 nights

Browse all cruises →

Dover cruise FAQ

What is the best time to cruise to Dover?

The best months to visit Dover by cruise ship are June, July, August. During these months you can expect the driest weather and the most comfortable temperatures for port excursions.

What are the top things to do in Dover?

Cruisers most often mention: Dover Castle; White Cliffs of Dover; Canterbury; Leeds Castle.

Which cruise lines stop at Dover?

Dover is a regular port of call for many cruise lines. The ships-calling list above has the next sailings for live departure dates, or search all itineraries that include Dover.

Just a knot longer

Hang tight. We're checking the weather.

Getting to the ship in Dover

Ships leave from Dover Cruise Terminal, Western Docks, Dover. Check your cruise documents for Terminal 1 or 2. (Source: Adventour Begins)

Airports

LGW · London Gatwick Airport
About 80 miles to the port, 81 minutes by car. (Source: Airports Taxi Transfers)

LHR · London Heathrow Airport
About 104 miles to the port, 105 minutes by car. (Source: Airports Taxi Transfers)

Rideshare, taxi and transit

Dover Priory, the main station for cruise passengers, is about 5 minutes from the terminals by taxi. (Source: Adventour Begins)

Taxis usually wait outside the cruise terminals when ships are in port. (Source: Adventour Begins)

Parking

Cruise & Passenger Services runs the terminal parking, over 1,000 covered spaces at £16 a day. Book on the CPS website or on 0345 071 3939. (Source: Cruise Mummy)

If your cruise includes free parking, you still need to book a space with the voucher code. (Source: Cruise Mummy)

Prices and drive times were checked in October 2026 and change. Allow extra time on busy sailing days.

What cruisers do in Dover

What cruisers do the day before boarding or after getting off, collected in October 2026. Each item links to where it came from.

Dover Castle

Above the town. A shuttle, taxi or tour is easier than the uphill walk.

On your own

Source: Adventour Begins

White Cliffs of Dover

The cliffs above the Western Docks, best reached by taxi or tour.

On your own

Source: Adventour Begins

Canterbury

An easy trip on your own by train from Dover Priory.

On your own

Source: Adventour Begins

Leeds Castle

Further away, so a transfer or excursion is the safer choice.

Book ahead

Source: Adventour Begins

Tours you can book

Picked from Viator by reviews and how well each tour fits a port day. Affiliate links — these help keep our site free by earning us a commission at no extra cost to you.

Tours via Viator. Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews. Booking through our links keeps this site free at no cost to you.

Dover cruise FAQ

What is the best time to cruise to Dover?

The best months to visit Dover by cruise ship are June, July, August. During these months you can expect the driest weather and the most comfortable temperatures for port excursions.

What are the top things to do in Dover?

Cruisers most often mention: Dover Castle; White Cliffs of Dover; Canterbury; Leeds Castle.

Which cruise lines stop at Dover?

Dover is a regular port of call for many cruise lines. The ships-calling list above has the next sailings for live departure dates, or search all itineraries that include Dover.