More excellent info - it's about a three hour drive for us from Wiltshire, M25 permitting.
What time should we aim to arrive in Dover? We're Silver so I realise we don't get any priority but would like to get on as early as possible.
The port terminal building is very small see my photos, it is on two floors with departures above, it was a little disorganised, if you think there is only three departures here in five years then whilst this terminal does all ships it's not as slick as Port Canaveral, the departures lounge however had a nice local type cafe I recall being tempted by a nice Cornish pasty as I drove without breakfast.
I would say embarkation will be a bit later the ships get in later than PC more 8am to 9.30 depends on the busy channel traffic and sea tides. There is little to do there bar the cage, you can't walk to town, well you can I did it on a non cruise day but not a present walk.
I would say no earlier than 10am, I did get there too early circa 8am and I could park my car and saw the first cruisers off, my luggage was taken my porters and there was a queue but it didn't go inside until all the people were off the previous cruise and then we went up the stairs a Lille at a time and check in didn't start till 10am, I would say 10.30 to 11am then you will not miss anything, there will be PATS as the terminal is very small.
I emailed before we even booked and have got the info about a tour which I think will work for us with the kids. We will probably go with the Relaxing St Petersburg 2 day tour with maybe a couple of amendments (including obviously the change in start on day 1!)
Mel
x
Good idea they are popular but a big firm, I have re written there proposed schedule re the arrival time and what we saw last time and do not want to do again, your your young family the big places of Peterfof, Pushkin, Catherine's palace, with hydrofoil are great,
DCL did do a princess gala one night with Disney pro princesses which would be a fantastic expire acne but Aldo was circa $350pp. PS they take you shopping as well but it's a bit pricey.
I guess they will allocate Port Arrival times when you do online check in - you can usually choose from a selection depending on what is still available.
Last time we were later than planned due to traffic problems on A12 \ M25. My Dad drove us so we didn't have the car left in Dover as we were flying home from Barcelona. I am thinking of arriving the night before and doing a Premier Inn \ Travel Lodge so we can arrive nice and early depending on our Port Arrival Time.
Need to check out if there are any Premier Inns or similar near to the port!
Mel
x
As said do not get there too early there is nothing to do there bar a cafe and embarkation will start later than Barcelona and PC, aim for no earlier than 10am, and I will drive down on the day from Essex via M25, it will be rush hour as a weekday.
We are enthusiastic geocachers, any others on board? We'll be planning to find some caches in each port, if there are any non-UK cachers interested in cache recommendations in London then let me know.
I closest I got was hiding things in my stateroom and on ship for the next cruisers to find before DCL found them, a type of treasure hunt.
I look forward to hearing from you! 
