London & Heathrow to Dover with optional Dover Castle
Free cancellation & full refund available on this product up to 7 days before travel.
Combine your cruise transfer from Heathrow and London to Dover, with an optional visit to one of the most impressive and dramatic Castles in the world, Dover Castle.
- From just £73 per person!
- Door to Door cruise transfer to Dover
- Collect from any London city centre hotel/Airbnb property/selected Heathrow Airport hotels
- Photo stop at the Battle of Britain Memorial, White Cliffs of Dover
- Optional visit to Dover Castle
- Travel by luxury coach with tour manager
- COVID19 Safety Policies Apply: 50% of all available seats will be left empty to ensure customer space and distancing. All vehicles used are deep cleaned and disinfected daily, with masks and hand sanitiser products available to all guests.
After completing the hotel pick ups we head east into the county of Kent, known as the 'Garden of England', full of freshly grown produce, orchards, vineyards, market gardens and hop fields. Our scenic drive takes us to the south eastern corner of England to our destination, Dover Cruise Terminals. On arrival in Dover we make a photo stop at the Battle of Britain Memorial. Sitting on top of the famous White Cliffs of Dover, the memorial offers stunning views across the English channel to France. A peaceful place, dedicated to the heroes who fought in the skies above Kent in the Battle of Britain in World War Two. Upon the cliff tops stand replicas of the famous Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes and the names of those small band of pilots who succeeded in the Allied victory of The Battle of Britain in 1940. *Subject to opening times*
Next stop will be at the impressive Dover Castle. A medieval castle, founded in the 12th century and widely known as the 'lock and key to England' due to its defensive significance and key role in many wars and battles!
If you choose not to enter the Castle, there will be a 10 minute photo stop, followed by a direct transfer to the nearby cruise terminal. You will arrive at your ship at approximately 11:30am - 12:00pm.
If you have upgraded to include the optional entry to Dover Castle you will have two hours to visit the Castle and grounds, then the coach will be waiting for you at the entrance to take you to the cruise terminal. You will arrive at the ship at approximately 2:00pm.
Dover Castle is the largest, and one of the oldest in England, with parts dating back to the Roman occupations, the fortress has proved critical in battles and wars spread over centuries. Perhaps the most famous feat of Dover Castle was throughout World War II, where the Castle housed an underground hospital built into the chalk cliffs and the command centre responsible for coordinating the world renowned evacuation of the beaches of Dunkirk, Operation Dynamo. The castle has outstanding views across the English Channel to France and boasts a 2,000 year old lighthouse built by the Romans!
Don't forget to reserve your entry tickets online at the time of booking, to avoid the main queues. Please be aware that the entrance to Dover Castle from the coach park does require an uphill walk which may not be suitable to passengers with walking difficulties.
Upon arrival at the port you will walk straight to the check in desk. Porters will take care of your luggage, ensuring it is delivered to your cabin. Please make sure you use the luggage label in your cruise pack to facilitate this.
Below is a list of major hotels in London and Heathrow with our collection times. If your hotel is not on the list or you are staying at an apartment or Airbnb, during the booking process you will need to add the address in the additional information box. We will then contact you after your booking to confirm the pick up time. Central London and Heathrow hotel pick ups are between 07:00am - 08:30am. We do not collect from Heathrow airport passenger terminals. Please see the FAQ's page (section 3) for details on where to meet the transfer if your flights arrives the same day.
Pick up points in central London click here Pick up points at Heathrow click here
We recommend that you are ready for collection in your specified hotel reception area, 10 minutes prior to the stated pick up time on your ticket. On departure from London we may use several smaller vehicles to pick up at hotels to ensure we complete the pickups as quickly and efficiently as possible. You may be collected by the main coach, or one of our smaller vehicles to transfer you to the coach.
On a small number of occasions, we may alter the route/timings to ensure prompt arrival at the cruise terminal. This may be down to road closures, events in London etc. If we do amend the timings we will contact you in advance. We strongly recommend checking your emails prior to your departure in case we have contacted you with a pick up time amendment.
How long will my journey take?
Central London and Heathrow hotel pick ups are between 07:00am - 08:30am. The journey from London to Dover will take approximately 2 hours.
How much luggage can I bring?
Each person is allowed a maximum of 2 items of hold luggage (23kg each) and 2 items of carry on luggage (10kg each).
Should you wish to bring any mobility aids (wheelchairs or walkers) you MUST contact us in advance to let us know. We will require full dimensions and weight. These items must be able to be folded and stored in the luggage hold. Wheelchairs must be counted as 1 item of your hold luggage.
Additional charges will be incurred should you bring additional items of luggage or for items weighing more than the maximum weight stated above.
How much walking will be involved in this tour?
Your tour manager will meet you inside the hotel lobby of your chosen pick up and will assist you with your luggage. The vehicle will park as close as is safely and legally possible.
Upon arrival at Dover Castle there is an uphill walk from the coach park to the Castle which may not be suitable to passengers with walking difficulties.
Once you have arrived at the port there will be a typical walk of about 100 yards from the vehicle to the terminal.
My chosen hotel is not on your list of pick up points, can I take this service?
We collect from any London city centre hotel and Heathrow airport hotels. Occasionally we are unable to pick up or drop off at certain hotels because they are not in London city centre, Heathrow airport or not easily accessible by coach. Please email us at [email protected] and we will advise if we can collect at your hotel, or direct you to the closest pick up point.
My flight arrives at Heathrow in the morning of my transfer, how can I join this service?
This will depend upon the arrival time of your flight. On average it takes around 40-60 minutes to get through passport control and collect your luggage. This can vary depending on how busy the airport is at any given time. Once you have your luggage you will need to make your way to the nearest hotel pick up either by taxi or by using the regular airport Hoppa bus service:
- Arriving at Terminal 1, 2 or 3 - Please go to Park Inn Heathrow, Bath Road, UB7 0DU.
- Arriving at Terminal 4 - Please go to Hilton Heathrow Terminal 4, Hounslow, TW6 3AF.
- Arriving at Terminal 5 - Please go to Sofitel Heathrow Terminal 5, Heathrow, TW6 2GD.
A taxi journey from the terminal to the hotels listed above would take 5-10 mins, the Hoppa Bus will take 15-20 minutes. You will need to ensure you have enough time to get to the meeting point for the earliest pick up time stated on the itinerary. This means if our pick up is 08:00am - 08:30am at a particular hotel, you MUST be at that pick up point 08:00am.
What happens if my flight is delayed and I cannot get to the meeting point on time?
When you book you will be given an emergency contact number on your E-ticket. We advise that you contact us on this number to inform us of your new arrival time so that we can best advise the options available to you. At Heathrow airport our collections take place in a 30 minute time period. If you do contact us and are running 10-15 minutes late we would advise you to go to one of the hotels scheduled for a later pick up time. Please note our scheduled Shore Excursions and transfers are shared options and the final departure times cannot be delayed for late arrivals, however we will always assist you in making your way to the ship. As a general guide we would not recommend our shared service for anyone arriving at Heathrow less than 2 hours before the pick up time. In all cases refunds on shared transfers cannot be applied to missed transfers due to late flight arrivals or delays in luggage collection or passport control. In this situation you will need to check if it is possible to make a claim through your airline or your travel insurance. If your flight arrival timings are too near to the shared transfer departure time we would strongly recommend you book a private transfer. With private transfers the departure time can be delayed.
Will I get to my ship on time?
Our Shore Excursions and Transfers are all designed for passengers going to and from the cruise ship. Our itineraries are based on the ships arrival and departure times. We would not offer an itinerary that did not allow passengers to get to their ship in time for its departure. Many ships will give allotted check in times, this is to help stagger passenger arrivals at the terminal and is more an indication of the earliest time they wish you to arrive. All of our tours aim to have passengers at the ship by 02:00pm. In the unlikely event of there being delays out of our control, such as traffic problems, we will liaise directly with the ships ground handling team and keep them updated on our progress and expected arrival time at the port.
How far in advance should I book?
Our tour dates go on sale 12-18 months in advance. We always advise booking early to avoid disappointment as availability cannot always be guaranteed if booking is left until closer to the date of travel. We offer a free cancellation policy up to 7 days prior to travel.
Should we tip our driver or guide?
Tips are entirely at the customer’s discretion and in no way expected. Should you feel inclined to tip, your driver or guide would be grateful, but you should not feel obliged. A 10% tip is considered customary in the UK.
My transfer includes optional entry – do I need to pre book?
If you have added entry to Dover Castle then you do not need to contact the attraction and book entry. You will not need separate entry tickets to the attraction, the guide will manage your entry on the day. If you know you want to visit Dover Castle we always advise you add the tickets on at time of booking your transfer. We cannot guarantee entry for passengers to the attractions that have not pre-booked and paid.
My flight arrives or departs from Gatwick – can you pick me up or drop me off there?
Unfortunately Gatwick is not in London and not in our collection or zone. You will need to make your way in Central London for pick up. If you are arriving into Gatwick please contact us and we will advise on the best transfer options for you.