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
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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. |
Princess has several cruises from Dover
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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
Typical price: £2598 for an 8 day cruise for two people with a balcony from Dover around Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Adding another two people was only about £500 extra in total.
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
Typical price: £2598 for an 8 day cruise for two people with a balcony from Dover around Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Adding another two people was only about £500 extra in total.
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: £2398 for a 7 day cruise from Dover for two people with an ocean view (Norwegian Fjords in August 2018).
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: £2398 for a 7 day cruise from Dover for two people with an ocean view (Norwegian Fjords in August 2018).
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: £3914 for a 10 night cruise for two people with an outside cabin (i.e. one with a window) from Dover to Guernsey, Spain and France onboard Saga Sapphire in September 2019
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: £3914 for a 10 night cruise for two people with an outside cabin (i.e. one with a window) from Dover to Guernsey, Spain and France onboard Saga Sapphire in September 2019
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: £13398 (no, really) for a 15 night cruise for two people with an outside cabin from Dover around the UK.
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: £13398 (no, really) for a 15 night cruise for two people with an outside cabin from Dover around the UK.
5. Disney cruise line, mid-priced/luxury - good for families
Disney Cruise lines choice of destinations from Dover is not great, but it's really about the onboard experience which gets rave reviews. 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.
When I checked, the choice of destinations from Dover was either a big loop of the British Isles or a long journey across the Atlantic, with views of nothing much for several days.
Typical price: £6000 for an 11 night cruise for a family of four with a balcony view (UK to New York in September 2018).
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.
When I checked, the choice of destinations from Dover was either a big loop of the British Isles or a long journey across the Atlantic, with views of nothing much for several days.
Typical price: £6000 for an 11 night cruise for a family of four with a balcony view (UK to New York in September 2018).
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).
