LONDON: With the popularity of cruises continuing to grow in Britain, many of the UK’s ports are developing cruise facilities, with departures possible from more than just the south coast terminals.
With four terminals this is Britain’s most important cruise port. There is virtually no limit to where you can sail: north Europe and the Arctic; The Mediterranean – east and west – North and South America; the Caribbean; Middle East and even further to Asia and Australasia. It is only five miles from Southampton airport with easy motorway access from the M27 off the M25.
Or you can take a train from London Waterloo: it takes just over an hour, plus a short taxi ride to any of the terminals. Among the ships based here are Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary; Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess, launched by the Duchess of Cambridge; and Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas.
There is something special about seeing the white cliffs of Dover, whether departing or leaving the cruise terminal, although the town itself is not the most picturesque. That said, it’s an easy drive down the A20 over the hill into town and straight into the cruise terminal car park. Trains from London Victoria or Charing Cross take about one hour, 45 minutes to get to Dover Priory Station, and it is only a few minutes by taxi to the terminal.
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Magic has cruises departing from Dover in 2015, and it is the permanent home port for Saga Cruises’ ships Saga Sapphire and Saga Pearl II. Fred Olsen Cruise Line has regular departures from Dover and there are occasional departures by Princess Cruises ships, Crystal Cruises, Windstar Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.
