The Dover terminal is very, very small and very generic. The porters were right outside the terminal and we checked our bags before heading inside. There were some chairs set up in the terminal, but they were not in use at the time we arrived which was shortly after noon and boarding had already started. We were able to walk right up and check in, we were then directed to the embarkation photo and then boarded the ship.
This was for a Carnival sailing in 2008.