Taxi from Gatwick Airport to Dover Cruise Terminal

Where the cruise terminal is

Dover's cruise terminals are at the Western Docks, on the western side of the harbour, below the cliffs at Shakespeare Beach. This is a completely different place from the Eastern Docks, where the cross-Channel ferries leave, and the two are not connected for passengers on foot. If you are joining a cruise, make sure the driver is heading to the Western Docks.

There are two cruise terminal buildings, and ships are allocated to one or the other. Your cruise documents will tell you which. Our drivers follow the port's signage to the passenger drop-off.

The route from Gatwick

The driver heads up the M23, along the M25 to junction 5, then on to the M26 and M20 past Maidstone and Ashford to Folkestone. From the end of the M20, the A20 climbs over the cliffs and drops into Dover, and the Western Docks are reached along the seafront. An alternative is the M2 and A2, coming into Dover from the north.

On a normal day, it is an hour and a half to an hour and three quarters. The M20 can be slow when the Channel ports are very busy, and on summer Saturdays the roads into Dover carry a lot of holiday traffic. Your driver will check conditions before you leave and choose the better route.

Planning around your boarding time

Most cruise lines give each passenger an allocated arrival window at the terminal. Arriving too early can mean waiting outside, and arriving after your window closes risks problems at check-in. Tell us your ship name, terminal and boarding window when you book, and we will suggest a Gatwick pickup time that gets you there comfortably.

If your flight lands early and your window is not until the afternoon, we can take a more relaxed approach: a stop for lunch in Canterbury, or a drive along the coast. If your flight is delayed and time is tight, we leave the moment you are through arrivals.

Cruise luggage needs space

Cruise holidays mean big cases, formal wear and extra bags. A saloon takes two large cases comfortably, which is not enough for most couples on a two-week cruise. For two people, we usually suggest an estate; for a family, an MPV or the eight-seater. Groups of friends sailing together can share the eight-seater, which keeps everyone together and is usually cheaper per person.

After the cruise

We also collect passengers from the cruise terminal at the end of a voyage and take them back to Gatwick or home. Ships usually arrive early in the morning and disembarkation runs through the morning. Give us your ship and arrival date, and your flight time if you are flying out, and we will be waiting in the agreed pickup area.

Getting there without a car

By public transport, the journey usually means a train from Gatwick into London, then the high-speed service from St Pancras to Dover Priory, and then a taxi or the cruise line's shuttle bus to the Western Docks. It takes around two and a half hours, with heavy luggage on and off trains. For most cruise passengers, the direct car is the more practical choice.

Gatwick charges and meet and greet

A name board in the arrivals hall and live flight tracking come with every pickup. If someone else drives you back to Gatwick at the end of your trip, warn them that the forecourt drop-off zones cost £10 for the first ten minutes since January 2026. With a pre-booked transfer, the fixed fare covers it.

A stop in Canterbury or along the coast

If your boarding window gives you time to spare, the drive passes some lovely places. Canterbury, with its cathedral and medieval streets, is only a short detour from the route. Closer to Dover, the White Cliffs and the views across the Channel from the A20 are a fitting start to a sea voyage. Tell us when you book if you would like a stop, and we will include it in the fixed price.

Frequently asked questions