Cruising from Dover...PAT?

[Luv2Diz]

Are PATs for overseas cruises the same as for U.S. ports? We are cruising out of Dover next year. I’ve been in contact with a transportation company there and the lady said she didn’t think we would be able to embark before 2 p.m. at Dover. I’m used to an 11:30 PAT when cruising from U.S. ports.

Thanks!

 

[DisneyHelen]

PAT for cruise this year is 1100am to 11:30 for us.

 

[jrabbit]

several years ago we took the train from Victoria Station to Dover Priory and I believe that we arrived in Dover around noon. Within 15 minutes we were in the cab and in less than a 10 minute drive we were at the ship. Was really easy, and not too expensive - for either the train or taxi. We walked right into the terminal, through security, got checked in and were on the ship in a short amount of time. We stopped and had pictures taken with Minnie and waited for Mickey. Had our picture taken then we were on board.

Was Quick and easy.

 

[KDG]

I believe I saw 10:30 PAT, but for sure 11:00, when I did online check in for our 9/2 BI cruise. We are taking the train from London to Dover Priory next week and are looking forward to the train ride to Dover.

 

[Yokelridesagain]

I suspect the report from the transportation company is highly unreliable. Disney turns over the ship at essentially the same rate regardless of port. The only delays would be shoreside, and those tend to be minimal.

The PAT is really only taken semi-seriously as a suggested arrival time at Port Canaveral. (Even then, only for the earliest time slots.) The PAT is mainly just a reflection of your boarding group number. I have never been on a Disney cruise at any port where boarding was not open by 12:30-1 pm.

 

[Marc D]

If I sail on DCL from Dover again, I would try to be there earlier. Last year, we took the DCL shuttle from the Sofitel. We arrived around 1:30 and the place was packed. All the airport shuttles were arriving around the same time. The Gold/Platinum line was twice a size long as the Silver line. It was the longest we ever waited to get checked-in.

 

[mab2012]

My PAT for Sunday (!) is noon, and that's only because I was a couple days late checking in. There were definitely earlier slots that we missed.

We also sailed from Dover in 2015. I can't remember exactly when we arrived, but I know we were on board by lunchtime.

If you want to board early, I'd plan to arrive mid / late morning. You'll definitely be on well before 2 pm.

 

[kiford]

When we sailed out of Dover in 2015, we took DCL transfers and were on the ship just around noon.

 

[Luv2Diz]

Thanks everyone. I suspected PATs were fairly standard at all ports. Not sure where she got 2 pm from.

We are planning to fly to London a few days before our cruise then take the train to Canterbury the day before our cruise to do some sightseeing there. The transportation company was a potential option I found for door-to-door service from Canterbury to Dover cruise terminal. We may just stick with the train from Canterbury to Dover.

 

[Barbamama]

Our PAT time was 11-11:30 and we were on the ship at noon (there were lots of people).