Port of Dover England
Hotels near Dover Cruise Terminal
Stay close to port, in town centre, train station, Marina, …
Hotel or Bed & Breakfast Stay
Dover is well known of being home to Britain’s oldest building, the solid Dover Castle, but is best known for the port’s legendary White Cliffs. The town is located on the English Channel at the Strait of Dover, which is the closest point between Great Britain and France.
Search your perfect Dover hotel (with free parking) or bed and breakfast deal and start your holiday now. Stay in town centre, which is nestled under the famous White Cliffs in the shadow of Dover Castle, near the cruise (Western Docks) and ferry terminals (Eastern Docks).
Without your own transport, some of best choices are the Premier Inn Central, Best Western Plus Marina and budget friendly County Hotel, all facing the Dover coastline.
Several budget friendly b&b’s are located directly opposite Priory railway station. Some provide a full English breakfast in the morning. The town centre is a short walk away, the ferry terminal and cruise ships 5 minutes by taxi. When driving to the port, you can consider to stay outside the town centre. Both Ramada and Premier Inn East are well priced.
When visiting London or spending a couple days in London to extend your cruise vacation, consider a hotel near St Pancras railway station. From here you can reach Dover Priory Railway Station in 1 hour by high speed train.
Other options include staying pre or post cruise in medieval Rye. When flying into or out of one of London’s airports, an airport-area hotel is close by. Many offer a free airport shuttle service.
Bestsellers
Permier Inn Dover Central - Eastern Ferry Terminal
Hotel offering cheap rates located close to the cruise and ferry terminals of Dover UK.
Wallett's Court Dover Spa Hotel
Peaceful hotel situated outside Dover’s town centre in the countryside. Perfect for a night stay when having a car.
Best Western Plus Dover Marina Hotel & Spa
Hotel located a 10-minute walk from Dover’s port, and 5 minutes’ walk from the town centre.
Dover
Dover Eastern and Western Docks
Cruise ships dock in Dover just off the A20 road at the Western docks, a mile from the town centre. Both terminal 1 and 2 are within close distance of several excellent hotels and b&b’s.
Dover is also the world’s busiest ferry port. Ferries dock at the Eastern Docks, on the other side of town.
Dover is one of 4 cruise ports within close distance of London. The others are Port of Southampton, Harwich and Tilbury (London Cruise Terminal). Itineraries from the port vary from cruises to the amazing Norwegian Fjords and Baltic Capitals, to the Mediterranean and even transatlantic to the Caribbean.
Cruise lines departing from the harbour include Fred Olsen, Saga Cruises, Holland America, and Carnival. Luxury companies such as Seabourn, Crystal, Oceania and Silversea Cruises sail also from/to the Port of Dover.
Passenger Terminals 1 and 2 – Pier
Dover is currently home to 2 cruise ship passenger terminals at Admiralty Pier, located at the Western docks which is about 20 minutes walk or cheap cab ride from the town centre.
Taxis are available to/from both terminals. Dover’s Priory railway station is within walking distance (30 minutes), but it’s recommended to take an inexpensive taxi (5 minutes).
To and From London
A high speed train connects London’s St Pancras international rail station with Dover Priory Station. Travel time is 1 hour (fastest option). There also rail services to/from both Charing Cross and Victoria stations, but these trains don’t travel on the same high speed tracks as trains to/from St Pancras. Travel time to Charing Cross and Victoria stations is about 110mins to 120mins.
National Express operates a regular coach service to Dover’s Pencester Road. The journey takes around 2hrs 30mins from London Victoria coach station (cheapest option).
Additional cruise bus shuttles operate between central London and Dover from all hotels in the main hotel districts. These buses call at London Heathrow Airport too. This service is only available on sailing dates when ships of Holland America Line, Carnival Cruises and Saga Holidays are in port.
Also car rentals and private shuttles are available.
Terminal 1 and 2
Sat nav: CT17 9DQ
Ferry Port
Ferries leave from the Eastern Docks, appox. 1 mile from the town center.
Address Dover Ferry Terminal
Travel Centre
Eastern Docks, Dover, Kent, CT16 1JA United Kingdom
Legendary White Cliffs of Dover
Dover is well known of being home to Britain’s oldest building, the solid Dover Castle, but is best known for the port’s legendary White Cliffs. The town is located on the English Channel at the Strait of Dover, which is the closest point between Great Britain and France.
Take a walk around the impressive White Cliffs and admire the view of the English Channel or take a boat tour leaving from the Clock Tower in the Marina for another wonderful view of the Cliffs. Atop the White Cliffs is stunning Dover Caslte, built by Henry II. It’s the largest castle in England and has a long history.
Visit the military museum that includes a great exhibit of WWII spy equipment or take a look at the Pharos lighthouse, built by the Romans during the 1st century.
From Dover you can easily visit the main tourist attractions and historical sites of Kent, known as the Garden of England. Rey, a true gem of an English market town, and medieval Canterbury, noted for its stunning cathedral are within easy reach.
A perfect day trip for the entire family is Leeds Castle and the nearby Castle gardens where you take an exciting step back in time. The famous gardens of Vita Sackville-West’s, the legendary poet and writer, can be visited at Sissinghurst Castle.
The must see sights of London such as the Big Ben, Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge to name a few are less than 2 hours away by car. By high speed rail link to St Pancras, to city of London is only just over an hour away.
Many great value and reasonable priced hotels and b&b’s can be found within close distance of Dover cruise port. Stay overnight in or just outside the town centre or near Priory train station.
Nearest Airports
Dover can be reached from London’s Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted and all other major London airports.
Gatwick international airport is the nearest major airport, approximately 80 miles or 129 km away.
There is no direct transport link to/from the airport. The cheapest option is by taking the National Express Coach service to Victoria Coach station. From Victoria Station buses travel to either Dover or Gatwick airport.
Faster option is taking the train. Fastest way is a train via St Pancras. Most people will take the train. There are many routes, the most convenient will involve changing trains at either London Bridge or St Pancras.
There are different rail options from Gatwick to Dover.
a) Gatwick Express to Victoria then train to Dover
b) Southern Train to Victoria then train to Dover
c) Thameslink to London St Pancras International then train by Southeastern to Dover
Car Parking
Parking — car parking is located adjacent to passenger terminal 1.
Disabled parking spaces are also available, as are wheelchairs with assistants.
How to get to Dover by Car – driving directions
When travelling on the M2/A2 via Canterbury, or when driving on the M20/A20 via Ashford, you have to follow the signs to the Western Docks. Both cruise terminals are located beside these docks.