Making the most of Dover
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Dover Cruise terminal is roughly 75 miles from Central London. It is one of three cruise ports serving the London area; Southampton and Harwich are the others, at comparable distances from London.
Dover has two principal cruise terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, with the largest ships generally using Terminal 2.
The cruise terminals are disabled friendly, and disabled access taxis can often be found there.
Formerly a railway station, Dover Cruise Terminal remains readily recognizable as one. Car parking is available around the corner, helping make Dover a convenient departure port.
Hotels near the Cruise Terminal and a Map of Dover.
Dover is among the world’s premier seaports and is the UK’s leading cross channel port. Long considered England’s gateway, the town and surrounding area offer a rewarding day out, with history, splendour, medieval town centre buildings and the famous White Cliffs.
Getting around
When ships are in port, shuttles run to the town center and Dover Castle for 5 pounds; Euro and USD are accepted. Buses leave every 20 minutes from 8am to 18:00, with the final return from Market Square in the Town Centre. Every hour on the hour, a Market Square bus also takes passengers to the White Cliffs.
Both places deserve a visit: the town is quaint and Dover Castle truly magnificent. Entry includes all museums and costs Adults £18.30p, Concessions £16.50p and Children ( 5-15 years ).
Bus 15 or 15a runs to Canterbury about every 20 minutes. The bus station is across from Poundland and beside Marks and Spencer, only a few minutes’ walk from the shuttle drop-off.
Taxis can also provide tours.
Nearby places
Information on London.
If your time for London is limited, consider the following:
Tour and Explore lets you travel around London on a double-decker bus’s top deck, offering a birds eye view of famous attractions. With more than 80 stops, you can hop-off to explore or have lunch, then hop-on the next bus. Tickets remain valid for 24 hours after first hop-on. Buses operate 10am to 6pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and include a Free River Cruise.
Canterbury is closer and well worth visiting. Take bus nr. 15 or 15X from the port for the 30-minute journey. The stop is about 150 meters up Pencester Road from the shuttle drop-off. Buses run every half an hour and cost about 6 pounds return for all-day travel locally. Canterbury Cathedral.
Money
In the UK, use the pound (£), often referred to as quid. Scottish bank notes can be frowned upon elsewhere in the UK, so exchange them before leaving Scotland.
ATMs, also informally known as holes in the wall, are widely available and normally dispense £10 and £20 notes.
Most shops and restaurants accept Visa, Master card and Maestro cards.
Staying connected
Across the country, English is the spoken language, though some regional accents are heavy.
McDonalds in the town center provides very good free WiFi facilities, including special laptop tables.
The local emergency telephone number is 999; EU-wide 112 can also be used.
Opening Hours and
General shopping hours:
Small stores open 6 or 7 days a week from 10am - 6pm. Larger stores generally stay open until 9PM, and Hyper markets are often open 24/7.