World Voyager sailed into Dover for the first time on 3^rd October; with a call in the Garden of England forming part of her 21-night Scotland and France Odyssey cruise.

With seven inaugural calls in total, and three more cruise lines still set to visit before the end of the season, Dover Cruise has seen a diverse collection of ships visit all through the year. Calls like these have connected thousands of new guests with Kent’s iconic culture, sights and landmarks in 2025.

Before setting sail for Rouen in France, guests enjoyed excursions to Leeds Castle and Canterbury Cathedral and had the opportunity to explore Dover by foot. A celebratory plaque exchange took place onboard with Councillor Edward Biggs, the Mayor of Dover and the ship’s Captain, Jeremy.

Peter Wright, Head of Cruise at the Port of Dover said:

“We were proud to welcome the elegant World Voyager here, and to showcase Kent as a great autumnal destination for cruise ships of all sizes.

“Our famous castles, cathedrals and coastline, along with quirky villages and medieval local towns make this corner of the UK a perfect cruise stop through all seasons. My thanks go to the wonderful team at Mystic Cruises for choosing Dover – we look forward to welcoming them back.”

David Sagrista, Senior Director Operations at Mystic Cruises, added:

“For Mystic Cruises and Atlas Ocean Voyages, it is always a privilege to operate in destinations that stand out for their authenticity and unique character. We differentiate ourselves by the places we choose – each port has to be truly special to become part of our itineraries. In this regard, Dover is an outstanding port, not only for its strategic location, but also for the excellence of its infrastructure and the warm welcome we have received. It is with great pleasure that we celebrate the World Voyager’s inaugural call here and reaffirm our commitment to returning to this port, which so perfectly represents the best of the United Kingdom.” 

The Port also marked debut calls from Silversea’s Silver Dawn and the recently refurbished Crystal Serenity in the past two months.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The Port of Dover is closing the gap every day between the UK and the world by connecting trade, travel, visitors and communities locally-globally, collaborating with local and international partners to create a more seamless, sustainable and tech-enabled port.
• As the UK’s busiest international ferry port and a vital gateway for the movement of people and trade, Dover handles £144 billion of trade per year, 33% of UK trade in goods with the EU and welcomes over 11 million passengers.
• Dover is an award-winning cruise port, delivering world class travel and visitor experiences to over 20 different cruise lines each year. With a growing and diversifying cargo business operating from state-of-the-art facilities, a new marina which is at the centre of the revived waterfront, plus opportunities for further expansion in the future, Dover’s proud history dating back 400 years has a new modern twist.