Europe cruise and DCL Transfers

[Ofinn]

I've not taken the civilized transportation from Seattle to Vancouver (train). But when I have driven, usually there's less than a 30 minute wait to get into Canada and 2.5 - 4 hour wait to return to the USA.

Good thing I'm flying home from Hawaii.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I'm 99% positive I will use Disney transfers or private taxi. Since it's just me, two kids and a bunch of luggage I want things to be as simple as possible. If my personal porter(husband) was going I would probably be a little more adventurous. The info is helpful I have a better understanding of how the system works now.

Black cab taxis are good regulated and a good way with bags to get around town, if arriving from Heathrow express you need to go up one floor on the east side of Paddington, - the express comes in on that side, and go to the marshalled cab rank on that first floor, there are always cabs queueing.

 

[desparatelydisney]

Just to throw out another option...you can always ask your hotel to arrange a car service for travel to or from the hotel. We had a car pick us up at the port in Dover and drive us straight to The Goring in London so that we could make the Trooping of the Colours in 2010 as there was no hope of making it otherwise and I was not about to miss it if I could help it. We had a car at the airport in Barcelona to take us to the hotel, and we always have a car carry us to and from Heathrow unless we are staying at a Heathrow hotel for the night.

If you email the hotel they will set it all up and bill it to your room. You know you are getting a good car company that way as well. Yes, it's more expensive, but after a transcontinental flight and border control (especially when you are traveling with kids) it's always nice just to have someone waiting to take care of you. Plus, you've made contact with the hotel concierge in advance so they are ready and waiting for you when you arrive.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Just to throw out another option...you can always ask your hotel to arrange a car service for travel to or from the hotel. We had a car pick us up at the port in Dover and drive us straight to The Goring in London so that we could make the Trooping of the Colours in 2010 as there was no hope of making it otherwise and I was not about to miss it if I could help it. We had a car at the airport in Barcelona to take us to the hotel, and we always have a car carry us to and from Heathrow unless we are staying at a Heathrow hotel for the night.

If you email the hotel they will set it all up and bill it to your room. You know you are getting a good car company that way as well. Yes, it's more expensive, but after a transcontinental flight and border control (especially when you are traveling with kids) it's always nice just to have someone waiting to take care of you. Plus, you've made contact with the hotel concierge in advance so they are ready and waiting for you when you arrive.

A reminder Dover is an hour and fifteen minutes ( on a good day) from central London , this will be an expensive option. Have a set agreed price as if your by the minute and get stuck on the Motorways ( freeways) you will see the price shooting up.

It may be for some, but just consider the length of the service.

 

[desparatelydisney]

A reminder Dover is an hour and fifteen minutes ( on a good day) from central London , this will be an expensive option. Have a set agreed price as if your by the minute and get stuck on the Motorways ( freeways) you will see the price shooting up.

It may be for some, but just consider the length of the service.

Car services typically only charge for the route. I have never had a car service (in the US or Europe) charge us based on time (not saying of course that there isn't someone, somewhere who does).

This past fall we paid £145 pounds for roundtrip service from Heathrow to central London (Marylebone). It would have been £80 pounds for one-way only. I think we paid about £165 or £175 for one-way transfer from Dover to central London (that was, however, 5 years ago). Both were for a Mercedes sedan that could accommodate 4.

The trip from BCN to La Rambla is not nearly as far as Heathrow to central London, so it was cheaper, although I cannot recall now how much. As an added bonus, since they knew when we were coming they had our room ready even though it was only 08:00 or so their time.

Not saying it's for everyone. But it is another option to consider

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Car services typically only charge for the route. I have never had a car service (in the US or Europe) charge us based on time (not saying of course that there isn't someone, somewhere who does).

You may not have had one but there are limo services here or in many that charge per hour or half hour, normally first hour then additional 30 mins. There are fixed fee transfers I would recommend for that, but if you are delayed in traffic you could be charged a penalty.

This past fall we paid £145 pounds for roundtrip service from Heathrow to central London (Marylebone). It would have been £80 pounds for one-way only. I think we paid about £165 or £175 for one-way transfer from Dover to central London (that was, however, 5 years ago). Both were for a Mercedes sedan that could accommodate 4.

A round trip Heathrow to Marylebone would be that price but in distance cannot be compared to one from London to Dover which was being discussed, they are completely different distances. From Heathrow there is high competition from other transfers, tube, rail bus so due to the competition they cant charge too much. Dover I just priced the smallest car and at 9am and it was 193.99 GBP for the cheapest. One quote is 323.95 GBP

Heathrow to Piccadilly 50 miles, Piccadilly to Dover 77 miles or 50% more.

The trip from BCN to La Rambla is not nearly as far as Heathrow to central London, so it was cheaper, although I cannot recall now how much. As an added bonus, since they knew when we were coming they had our room ready even though it was only 08:00 or so their time.

The distance El Prat to Barcelona city center is 8 miles only, Dover is 77 miles, they cant be compared.

Not saying it's for everyone. But it is another option to consider

Agree, and true its an option, it is expensive some will pay, Train is quicker and cheaper.

 

[gscott8075]

Does anyone know the price of DCL transfers from Dover to Gatwick or Heathrow?

Thanks

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

We initially were going to use the DCL transfer from Dover to the London Grosvenor Marriott which is $60 p/p, however we still needed to take a taxi from there to the St. Pancras area where our hotel is. I found a better and more convenient deal (I think they were already mentioned) and booked with Premier Taxis Folkestone and from port of Dover to our hotel is 115£ or about $178. It was cheaper and clearly more efficient for the three of us to do this

Heather

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

In Barcelona we found out what hotels DCL was using for transportation to the port, then booked one of those hotels on our own. DCL was charging too much - we got rates on our own at a cheaper rate, and just signed up for the transport the morning of the cruise and took that. Do your research: whatever DCL offers can be used as a guide, but you have a lot of time to figure out something on your own at what would most likely be a lower cost.

I did that in 2014 and I would NOT recommend Disney transfers based on that fiasco. No, they didn't send us to the port in waves, they sent EVERYONE from both hotels they were using to the port at the exact same time... something like 15 buses all arrived at once. What a nightmare!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I did that in 2014 and I would NOT recommend Disney transfers based on that fiasco. No, they didn't send us to the port in waves, they sent EVERYONE from both hotels they were using to the port at the exact same time... something like 15 buses all arrived at once. What a nightmare!

It's best not to choose a DCL hotel in Barcelona. Another thing none are near the tourist central hub.