
Cruise ships will sail from the Port of Dover this summer – with sailings to Norway, Malta, Portugal and more
Carnival Miracle is among cruise ships that have made inaugural calls in Kent this month as the Port of Dover prepares for its high season.
Southampton may be the main UK port for cruises but Dover will have hosted four inaugural calls for ships during May and has five regular brands departing from its terminal, providing another departure option for UK passengers.
Windstar's Star Pride and Ponant's Le Laperouse and Le Bellot ships stopped at the port for the first time this month, meaning more than 3,000 new guests have travelled into the region in May.
The Port of Dover expanded its mooring facilities earlier this year to make room for larger ships and can now host three vessels at once.
Peter Wright, head of cruise at the Port of Dover, said: 'We are thrilled to launch our 2025 season with Carnival and their guests, and to see another member of their fleet begin her set of nine turnaround calls this year.
'We also had the pleasure of welcoming both Star Pride and Le Laperouse for their debut calls.
'It was wonderful seeing these two unique ships moored alongside each other in front of the White Cliffs and making use of our wide-ranging facilities catering for different ship sizes and styles.'
The Windstar and Ponant ships were only in port for a visit during longer sailings but there are a range of cruise brands departing from Dover in the coming months.
Carnival Miracle
The 2,670-capacity Carnival Miracle made its debut in Dover this month.
The vessel is hosting British Isles sailings from the port after just coming out of drydock following a refresh that includes a new Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge and Cloud 9 Spa.
Passengers can also enjoy the ship's refreshed mini-golf course and eat at a new chef's table experience.
Carnival Miracle will homeport in Dover until early August for a series of nine and 12-day itineraries across the British Isles, Scandinavia, the Baltics and northern Europe.
Prices start from £747 per person for a nine-day Spain, Portugal and France cruise that departs on 30 May.
Saga Cruises
Over-50s brand Saga Cruises has regular departures from Dover aboard both Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure.
Itineraries include sailings around Britain and Norway, including a seven-night Norwegian fjords summertime cruise departing on 15 August from £2,822 per person.
Fred Olsen's 1,360-capacity Borealis is departing from Dover throughout the summer.
Passengers can enjoy sailings to the Norwegian fjords, Iceland and the Azores region in Portugal
Other highlights include its 11-night Malta and Scenic Sights of Croatia sailing, departing on 5 June from £1,299 per person.
Seabourn Sojourn
Luxury cruise brand Seabourn has six sailings from Dover until early August aboard its Sojourn ship, which caters for 458 passengers.
Itineraries include sailings to Iceland and Norway as well as a seven-day Castles, Lochs and Scottish Highlands cruise departing on 2 August from £4,164 per person.
Holland America Nieuw Statendam
Holland America's Nieuw Statendam ship has several sailings from Dover until September.
It marks Holland America Line's first UK season in 10 years, with the 2,666-guest ship.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Heatwave hell as passengers are 'slow cooked' on stuck trains for hours amid 34C heat - as nation swelters on hottest day of the year
Terrified passengers today had to be freed from stuck Thameslink trains by transport police and were forced to walk down the tracks to safety in sizzling 34C heat. Enraged customers travelling on the services say they felt like they were being 'slow cooked' in 'an oven' as the services came to a halt with no air conditioning or ventilation. The frightening ordeal comes just days after experts predicted nearly 600 people in England and Wales could die as a result of this week's heatwave. Three trains were stopped due to faults, and a series of images shows one service heading south through London being evacuated on what is the hottest day of the year so far. One commuter wrote on social media: '[Thameslink] you will have hell to pay. We've been stuck on this hot and humid train for over an hour. 'The doors were closed because we were told we may be moving. That was 15 minutes ago. It's like an oven in here and we're being slow cooked.' The operator confirmed on a social media post that their services were facing issues, and have since apologised to the passengers who were affected. They first posted: 'Due to a fault on a train between London Blackfriars and Herne Hill, some lines are blocked. We're working to gather more information on this incident.' They later added that 'services across the network' were 'experiencing significant disruption'. Another passenger said they had been stuck on a 'rammed' service to Brighton between Elephant and Castle and Loughborough Junction which was a medical accident 'waiting to happen'. They also asked why there was 'no air con' or windows that could be opened on the service. In their instructions to stuck passengers, Thameslink posted on X that anyone stuck should not attempt to leave the train. They said: 'If you're stuck on a train which isn't moving, please remain where you are and don't make any attempt to leave the train unless instructed to.' Thameslink also replied to a post from a passenger who said he was stuck on a service between Blackfriars and East Croydon which had been 'over an hour with no AC'. Their reply read: 'Network Rail staff and emergency services are enroute to each train stuck between stations to evacuate and work on getting these moving.' A Thameslink spokesperson told MailOnline that they were 'truly sorry' to the passengers affected. They said: 'Earlier today, a fault on a train near Loughborough Junction brought all services to a halt in the area, three of them outside station platforms. 'Without power and air conditioning on such a hot day, we pulled all resources from across Sussex and Kent to get personnel on site to safely evacuate passengers as quickly as possible along the track. 'This would have been a difficult and uncomfortable experience for our passengers and we are truly sorry. With safety our top priority, the safest place was to remain on the trains while we worked our hardest to get help to those on board. 'There is engineering work taking place today, which means this is the only route Thameslink trains can take south out of London and severe disruption is expected for the rest of the afternoon. 'Anyone travelling south of London is currently advised to use Southern services from Victoria but you should check the latest travel advice at 'Passengers delayed by 15 minutes or more are also entitled to compensation, with details on our website.' A British Transport Police spokesperson added: 'Officers were called to Loughborough Junction Railway Station at just before 11am today (June 21) to reports of a train broken down nearby. 'Officers assisted Thameslink and Network Rail and all passengers have been evacuated safely.' The shocking footage has sparked concern as experts at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London used decades of UK data to predict excess mortality during the hot temperatures from Thursday to Sunday. Their study, released on Saturday, forecasted that around 570 people could die due to the heat over the four days. The excess deaths were estimated to peak at 266 on Saturday when the heat will be at its most intense. London was predicted to have the greatest number of excess deaths with 129. The researchers said their assessment highlights how extreme heat poses a growing threat to public health in the UK. Today, Britain is as hot as the likes of Barbados and Corfu and is hotter than Barcelona and Lisbon. But forecasters at the Met Office warned that much of the UK could be soaked as soon as 5pm this evening as the humid aftermath of the heatwave looks set to result in a downpour. This week has already seen thermometers surpass 30C across much of the UK, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all recording their warmest days of the year on Friday. But forecasters at the Met Office warned that much of the UK could be soaked as soon as 5pm this evening as the humid aftermath of the heatwave looks set to result in a downpour (Pictured: Commuters squeeze onto a London Underground tube, June 21, 2025) That blistering heat has continued into today, which is the official end of spring, an occasion which was marked at Stonehenge this morning. Thousands of people watched the sunrise over the monument to celebrate the summer solstic e. Those who gathered for the spectacle in Wiltshire braved a warm start to the morning as they marked the year's longest day. Temperatures in Salisbury and Greater London reached 18C by 5am, according to the Met Office. The weather bureau confirmed that Yeovilton in Somerset and Crosby in Merseyside recorded the highest overnight temperatures in England, both reaching 19.7C by 6am on Saturday. Towns in Cumbria and Lancashire also recorded temperatures above 19C. An amber heat-health alert for all regions in England remains in place for the weekend, but a warning for thunder has been issued. Spanning the north Midlands to Northumberland, including north-east Wales, downpours, hail, lightning and gusty winds are predicted from 5pm today until the early hours of tomorrow. The Met Office warned of 'sudden flooding' which could see communities 'cut off', transport disruption and power cuts. The hot weather is poised to linger in the South and East through the weekend. An amber heat health alert – to warn healthcare providers – lasts until Monday. Elsewhere, temperatures are set to fall from tomorrow to the high teens or low 20s. It follows a World Weather Attribution (WWA) research group study published on Friday which found the heatwave has been made around 100 times more likely and 2-4C hotter due to climate change. Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, lecturer at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, said: 'Heatwaves are silent killers - people who lose their lives in them typically have pre-existing health conditions and rarely have heat listed as a contributing cause of death. 'This real-time analysis reveals the hidden toll of heatwaves and we want it to help raise the alarm. 'Heatwaves are an underappreciated threat in the UK and they're becoming more dangerous with climate change.' An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. The Met Office confirmed that 'many places' in England and 'one or two areas' in Wales, including Cardiff, entered a heatwave on Friday. There will also be very high UV and pollen levels across the country on Saturday, the forecaster said. The amber heat-health alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, is in force until 9am on Monday. It warns 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. Following the hot weather, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) urged the public to take heat and water safety seriously. During 2022's heatwave, temperatures rose past 40C, leading to 320 people being treated in hospital. Steve Cole, policy director at RoSPA, said: 'Heat is no longer just a holiday perk - it's a growing public health risk. 'We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities. 'Warm weather can also be deceptive when it comes to going for a dip. 'While the air may feel hot, water temperatures often remain dangerously cold, which can lead to cold-water shock, even in summer.'


Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Marriage Diaries: Should I get a prenup for my second wedding or trust my husband-to-be?
Should you be planning the end of your marriage before you've even tied the knot? This is the question that's been plaguing me for the past few weeks. I'm 58 years old, and next March will be marrying Steve, 60. It will be a second wedding for both of us: I have three young adult daughters and he has a son. Steve and I are taking great pleasure in planning the next stage of our lives together. But – in between conversations about which location would suit our intimate ceremony, and what dress I should wear as a 50-something bride – I can't help but wonder whether we should get a prenuptial agreement. I'm so preoccupied about this decision that it's been keeping me awake at night. I've been fully open with Steve about my dilemma. He's quite relaxed about the subject, and isn't offended (at least, that's what he tells me) but doesn't think a prenup is necessary. I think this comes down to how we both experienced the end of our last marriages. My divorce from my ex-husband came through six years ago. It was nasty and protracted and expensive, mostly because my ex tried to hide money abroad and attempted to bully me into submission when I was hoping to appeal to his – ultimately absent – better nature. In the end, I had to hire a top family law firm. After a draining process – which ended up in court with a finance dispute resolution – I received a fair settlement. But it cost me the best part of £50,000 and a whole lot of tears. On the other hand, Steve's experience of divorce was far more pleasant. He and his wife had an amicable 'no fault' settlement, which barely involved lawyers. His son was also grown up, so it was less traumatic for everyone. After the sale of the London marital home, my children and I moved into a small cottage in West Sussex which I decorated with great care: I feel happy and settled here. I love my current home so much that Steve has agreed to move in with me while he rents out his Yorkshire house. When it comes to our respective finances, Steve and I are comfortable, but neither of us are rich: I'd say that financially, we are in a similar situation. We are both self-employed in the arts world and our properties are worth about the same. Prenuptial agreements didn't used to be binding in the UK, but I've consulted a lawyer who has told me that – done the right way – they can be. The problem is, setting up a legally watertight agreement could cost up to £4,000. My best friend is telling me that I'm being cynical and defeatist. Having known me for most of my life, she agrees that Steve is a far nicer man than my ex. I should embrace this happy new path with joy, she says, and not throw shade on the occasion by being negative. But she hasn't been through the pain of divorce: she hasn't seen how a white-wedding day can turn into a miasma of bitterness and hatred. I'm just not sure I could go through all that again. All I really care about is keeping this well-loved roof over my head, should we separate – this basic security is everything to me. 'We're both nice people,' says Steve. 'In the worst-case scenario we would sort it out, and I would never take your home from you.' But is it naive to believe this statement, uttered when things are at their rosiest? Surely one of the gifts of reaching midlife is learning from experience, and not making the same mistakes again. Should I listen to my gut and instruct a lawyer? Or am I being negative and doomy – and would my time (and money) be better spent on booking a super-luxurious honeymoon?


The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Parliament serves food off German-made plates – sparking huge patriotism row and calls for Palace to 'buy British'
THE UK Parliament is serving food off German plates - sparking a huge patriotism row. Furious MPs slammed the "outrageous" practice and called on the Palace of Westminster to put country first and 'buy British". The members dining room in the House of Commons is used by MPs and is one of the grandest restaurants in the building. Its elaborate menu boasts that "wherever possible we use British produce'. But it serves its grub on plain white plates and saucers which are made by Villeroy and Boch - a German firm founded in 1748. Gareth Snell, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central - known as 'The Potteries because of its proud ceramics industry - slammed the practice. He told The Sun on Sunday: "Britain has the best ceramics in the world - but our own parliament is serving food off German plates. 'This is outrageous and it is unpatriotic. 'Parliament should support businesses in areas like mine and buy British crockery.' 2 Britain's once booming potteries industry has been hammered by sky high energy costs. Many firms have shed jobs and some have closed. Mr Snell is launching a Buy British potteries campaign - and is urging the parliamentary authorities to lead by example and only use UK-made plates. Robert Flello, CEO of Ceramics UK, said: 'Why is the UK House of Commons using German cups and saucers and plates in the dining room used by MPs? 'It is outrageous. They need to be told to buy British. There is no excuse. 'Our potteries produce the best quality crockery. 'Buying British goods is a matter of national pride and will also help an industry struggling because our energy costs are going through the roof. 'If you go to any other country - France or Italy say - I bet their state institutions are using crockery made in their own country.' Parliament has lots of different restaurants and cafes serving food off a wide range of crockery bought from suppliers from around the world. While it uses some crockery made in the UK, it does not have a policy to only buy British. A House of Commons spokesman said:'We source a wide range of crockery from firms within the UK, as well as from those based elsewhere. All purchasing is in line with relevant legislation for public bodies, which prioritises value for money."