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5 Best Cruises From Dover
Dover is the UK's second busiest cruise port, with a good choice of cruise lines offering no-fly holidays.
Some cruises are better for kids, whilst some are very much aimed at the couples and older end of the cruise market.
We've picked out five of the best on offer based on reviews, number of cruises on offer, value for money and onboard facilities.
Some cruises are better for kids, whilst some are very much aimed at the couples and older end of the cruise market.
We've picked out five of the best on offer based on reviews, number of cruises on offer, value for money and onboard facilities.
1. Princess Cruises - mid-priced, good for families and older couples
Princess Cruises had a choice of about 15 no-fly cruises from Dover when I checked, including trips around the UK and to Scandinavia, the USA and Russia.
Princess is a good all-round cruise line which has some good deals. It mostly appeals to families and older couples, rather than young couples. Reviews average about 4/5 from customers on most cruise websites. The company's biggest awards recently were at the Cruise International Awards 2017 where it won Best Cruise Line for First Time Cruisers and Best Overall Cruise Line. |
Children and young adults can escape their parents for a few hours with activities for 3-7, 8-12, 13-17 and 18-20 year olds. Equally, grown ups have got a decent choice of onboard activities including top deck talks on stargazing, outdoor cinema, dance classes, cookery demonstrations and swimming pools. Be aware that they've got nearly 20 ships in their fleet, and there is some variation in terms of facilities.
Upgrading to a room with a window or a balcony with Princess is usually sensibly priced and they also do some very good deals if you want to squeeze a third and fourth guest into your cabin (only another couple of hundred pounds per person on some cruises). The price includes all the food you can manage to eat without feeling guilty, as well as non-alcoholic drinks.
If you are looking for a cruise for all the family then you would be better looking at cruises departing from Southampton, as the cruises from Dover are a minimum of 18 days in length.
Typical price: £8848 for a 21 day cruise in July 2023 for two people with a sea view from Dover to New York. Stops include Scotland, Iceland, Greenland and Canada. The sailing for 2024 had sold out when we checked so we couldn't see a price.
Upgrading to a room with a window or a balcony with Princess is usually sensibly priced and they also do some very good deals if you want to squeeze a third and fourth guest into your cabin (only another couple of hundred pounds per person on some cruises). The price includes all the food you can manage to eat without feeling guilty, as well as non-alcoholic drinks.
If you are looking for a cruise for all the family then you would be better looking at cruises departing from Southampton, as the cruises from Dover are a minimum of 18 days in length.
Typical price: £8848 for a 21 day cruise in July 2023 for two people with a sea view from Dover to New York. Stops include Scotland, Iceland, Greenland and Canada. The sailing for 2024 had sold out when we checked so we couldn't see a price.
2. Fred. Olsen Cruises - budget/mid-priced, good for older cruisers
If you're looking for zip lines, nightclubs and surf simulators...don't book a Fred Olsen cruise.
However, if you're looking for a competitively priced and traditional style cruise line, then they are certainly worth a look. There was a choice of about 20 no-fly cruises from Dover with Fred Olsen when I checked, with destinations including Germany, Norway, France, Italy, Scandinavia and the UK. They also offer some 'mystery cruises' where you don't actually know where you are visiting (although if it's a 5 day cruise you can be fairly sure it isn't going to be Australia).
Most cruisers onboard Fred Olsen cruises are towards the older end of the market, so expect activities such as ballroom dancing and painting classes alongside swimming pools, saunas and gyms.
Customer reviews are around 4/5 for Fred Olsen. They were named as the 4th Best Cruise Line in 2018 by Which? and came 8th in the Telegraph Travel Awards in 2017.
Typical price: £3798 for a 7 day cruise from Dover for two people with an ocean view (Norwegian Fjords in August 2024).
However, if you're looking for a competitively priced and traditional style cruise line, then they are certainly worth a look. There was a choice of about 20 no-fly cruises from Dover with Fred Olsen when I checked, with destinations including Germany, Norway, France, Italy, Scandinavia and the UK. They also offer some 'mystery cruises' where you don't actually know where you are visiting (although if it's a 5 day cruise you can be fairly sure it isn't going to be Australia).
Most cruisers onboard Fred Olsen cruises are towards the older end of the market, so expect activities such as ballroom dancing and painting classes alongside swimming pools, saunas and gyms.
Customer reviews are around 4/5 for Fred Olsen. They were named as the 4th Best Cruise Line in 2018 by Which? and came 8th in the Telegraph Travel Awards in 2017.
Typical price: £3798 for a 7 day cruise from Dover for two people with an ocean view (Norwegian Fjords in August 2024).
3. Saga Cruises - mid-priced, just for 50+
Saga had a choice of more than 50 no-fly cruises from Dover when we checked with a very decent range of destinations to choose from. Short cruises visit Guernsey, Edinburgh and France in less than a week whilst longer Saga cruises from Dover travel to Canada, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.
More than half of the cruises on offer from Dover were onboard Saga Sapphire which got a score of 4/5 from cruise experts Berlitz and was also named 3rd Best UK Small Cruise Ship at the Cruisers Choice Awards 2017.
Don't assume Saga cruise ships are just full of old people in slippers - there is good food and dignified entertainment onboard and they get reviews of around 4/5 from customers. In 2018, Which? named Saga its 2nd Best Cruise Line (Oceania was first, but they cruise from Southampton instead of Dover).
One final award worth mentioning is the ‘Best Value for Money Cruise Line’ award which was given to Saga at the Wave Awards 2017.
Typical price: £5574 for a 7 night cruise for two people with an outside cabin (i.e. one with a window) from Dover to the Norwegian Fjords all-inclusive in July 2024.
More than half of the cruises on offer from Dover were onboard Saga Sapphire which got a score of 4/5 from cruise experts Berlitz and was also named 3rd Best UK Small Cruise Ship at the Cruisers Choice Awards 2017.
Don't assume Saga cruise ships are just full of old people in slippers - there is good food and dignified entertainment onboard and they get reviews of around 4/5 from customers. In 2018, Which? named Saga its 2nd Best Cruise Line (Oceania was first, but they cruise from Southampton instead of Dover).
One final award worth mentioning is the ‘Best Value for Money Cruise Line’ award which was given to Saga at the Wave Awards 2017.
Typical price: £5574 for a 7 night cruise for two people with an outside cabin (i.e. one with a window) from Dover to the Norwegian Fjords all-inclusive in July 2024.
4. Seabourn - luxury, good for couples
Seabourn is a luxurious (and expensive) cruise line which has a small number of cruises on offer from Dover. Some are no-fly cruise whilst others require a flight back home.
Customer reviews are strong with an average score of about 4/5 (4/5 on CruiseCritic, 5/6 on IGLU, 4.2/5 on Cruiseline.com).
As you'll guess from the price, Seabourn is at the very top end of the cruise market, with award-winning cabins and fine wine and cocktails included in your ticket price. The ships are also quite small so you won't feel like you are being herded about with thousands of other people.
There were about 20 destinations from Dover on offer when we checked, including Scandinavia, the USA, the UK and the Mediterranean.
Typical price: £20,024 (no, really) for a 14 night cruise Norwegian cruise for two people with an outside cabin from Dover around the UK in September 2024.
Customer reviews are strong with an average score of about 4/5 (4/5 on CruiseCritic, 5/6 on IGLU, 4.2/5 on Cruiseline.com).
As you'll guess from the price, Seabourn is at the very top end of the cruise market, with award-winning cabins and fine wine and cocktails included in your ticket price. The ships are also quite small so you won't feel like you are being herded about with thousands of other people.
There were about 20 destinations from Dover on offer when we checked, including Scandinavia, the USA, the UK and the Mediterranean.
Typical price: £20,024 (no, really) for a 14 night cruise Norwegian cruise for two people with an outside cabin from Dover around the UK in September 2024.
5. Disney cruise line, mid-priced/luxury - good for families
Disney Cruise lines was previously on this guide, but unfortunately, they don’t have any sailings from Dover planned in 2023. They are still offering cruises from Southampton.
Customers generally give a score of around 4.5/5 to Disney cruises (4/5 on CruiseCritic, 5.5/6 on IGLU, 4.4/5 on Cruiseline.com) whilst the company won Best Large Cruise Line at Telegraph Travel Awards 2017 and Best Cruise Line for Families at Cruise International Awards 2017.
Needless to say, children won't be bored on a Disney cruise line with live shows alongside kids' clubs and swimming pools with flumes. For adults, there are gyms and spa treatments.
Now that Disney has bought up huge chunks of the entertainment industry, they are able to offer Star Wars and Marvel themed cruises, which will appeal to those who don't want to spend a week with princesses.
The choice of destinations from Southampton are Northern Europe and Norwegian Cruise, Westbound Transatlantic Cruise ending in New York, a France cruise or a British Isles Cruise ranging from 4 to 11 nights.
Typical price: £7229 for an 11-night cruise for a family of four with a balcony view (UK to New York in September 2023). Prices for 2024 not available at the time of writing.
Customers generally give a score of around 4.5/5 to Disney cruises (4/5 on CruiseCritic, 5.5/6 on IGLU, 4.4/5 on Cruiseline.com) whilst the company won Best Large Cruise Line at Telegraph Travel Awards 2017 and Best Cruise Line for Families at Cruise International Awards 2017.
Needless to say, children won't be bored on a Disney cruise line with live shows alongside kids' clubs and swimming pools with flumes. For adults, there are gyms and spa treatments.
Now that Disney has bought up huge chunks of the entertainment industry, they are able to offer Star Wars and Marvel themed cruises, which will appeal to those who don't want to spend a week with princesses.
The choice of destinations from Southampton are Northern Europe and Norwegian Cruise, Westbound Transatlantic Cruise ending in New York, a France cruise or a British Isles Cruise ranging from 4 to 11 nights.
Typical price: £7229 for an 11-night cruise for a family of four with a balcony view (UK to New York in September 2023). Prices for 2024 not available at the time of writing.
The Best Cruises Guide Dont-Blame-Us-Disclaimer: facilities, onboard activities and prices were correct when we checked, but things change all the time so please check details direct with cruise lines. Bear in mind that some cruise lines are more 'inclusive' than others, so will add extra charges later. We just looked for the basic price which usually includes food but not alcoholic drinks or excursions (although this varies).