From Dover to Heathrow?

[Lvtocruize2]

We disembark at Dover ending our Baltic cruise. How does Regent get all the passengers to Heathrow from Dover? Our flight leaves at 2:25 pm and we will be flying Delta back to the states. Will we be dropped off at the departing gate or have to make our way thru the airport to get to the baggage check in? I'm assuming we will only be making our way to the security point after checking our luggage instead of going thru security.

[rallydave]

We disembark at Dover ending our Baltic cruise. How does Regent get all the passengers to Heathrow from Dover? Our flight leaves at 2:25 pm and we will be flying Delta back to the states. Will we be dropped off at the departing gate or have to make our way thru the airport to get to the baggage check in? I'm assuming we will only be making our way to the security point after checking our luggage instead of going thru security.

 

Really don't understand what you wrote as your expectations but, based on a Regent Baltic Cruise last year ending in Southampton, they will direct you to a specific bus which will go to your terminal. It may go to more than one terminal so make sure you get off at the correct terminal.

 

They will unload your luggage from under the coach and you will take your luggage into the terminal similar to how you departed from your home airport. There are free trollies curbside.

 

Follow the signs to Delta and check in at the counter and check your luggage. Then head for security just like you do in the states. One difference is you do not need to remove your shoes unless that's changed. Liquids limits are the same so be sure they are in your checked luggage. Once thru security, head for your gate and wait for you to be called to board.

 

No way they can take you to any gate on the bus. Your statement about going to the security point after checking your luggage instead of going thru security is contrarian??

 

Really no different than most US Airports except a large international terminal where different lines may be for different flights. Once thru security, you will find a huge shopping mall with many stores including Harrods and other London shops. Everything is duty free but, be careful as prices are still high. If you bought anything during your cruise expensive enough to get paperwork for a refund of the VAT anywhere in Europe, it is here you must find the correct kiosk to turn in your paperwork so they can mail you your refund. Miss it here and you won't get the refund. You can turn in multiple forms from any of the countries you have visited at one kiosk.

 

Hope this explains things.

[rarin2go]

You can find full up-to-date details of security including the new bodyscanners being introduced here.

Last time I went through about 6 months back, shoe check was still in operation.

[Lvtocruize2]

I'm assuming we will only be making our way to the security point after checking our luggage instead of going thru security.

Sorry I meant to say "instead of going thru customs"

[kavivashi]

does the ship guide you to where to , and how to go to a transfer.

very confused for the 28th ;)

[rallydave]

does the ship guide you to where to , and how to go to a transfer.

very confused for the 28th ;)

 

Depends on whether you are doing a Regent transfer or an independent transfer. If doing a Regent transfer, you will disembark, go and find your luggage and either take it yourself or get help from the workers and follow directions out of the terminal where busses will be lined up to take you where Regent is taking you, probably the airport or your hotel.

 

If you are arranging your own transfer, you follow the same route out to where the transportatin is qued and find your transfer. For your own transfer, you should arrange for them to meet you where Regent disembarks ahead of time. They should be able to tell you how to find them once you reach the street at the Port.

 

Hope this helps and if not, please post what exactly your plans for disembarkation are so people here can provide the correct responses.

 

If you don't arrange a transfer before disembarkation with either Regent or on your own, you will probably only have taxis to take you from the port. By the way, if you don't have included Regent transfers and haven't arranged your own, you will have the ability to purchase a Regent transfer on board and you can check out the possibilities at the Destinations Desk. Be aware, these are much more expensive than anything you can arrange yourself.

 

My DW and I disembarked at Southampton last year and purchased transfers to Heathrow on board and it was $150 per person.

[ChatKat in Ca.]

We used the roll call on our last disembarcation at Dover and found another couple to share a private van ride to the port. It was pricey at $500 but shared it cost less than the Regent Transfer. We were in a Mercedes Van which held all 8 of our suitcases (for four for a two week cruise)

[Lvtocruize2]

We do have a Regent transfer from Dover to LHR. Since we are entering another country, do we go thru customs and where? One would think that there would be a customs stations at the disembarkation point in Dover. Therefore avoiding any hassles at LHR. Will Regent get us there in plenty of time to board our 2:25 pm flight?

 

Also we board Delta from LHR arriving at MSP, ideally, arriving there at 5:25pm. We do continue on to DFW at 7:15pm on another Delta flight. It is my understanding that we have to get our baggage, go thru customs, recheck baggage with Delta to DFW at MSP. Gosh, if this is true, are we going to have time to make the next connection assuming the flight from LHR is on time?

[Travelcat2]

We do have a Regent transfer from Dover to LHR. Since we are entering another country, do we go thru customs and where? One would think that there would be a customs stations at the disembarkation point in Dover. Therefore avoiding any hassles at LHR. Will Regent get us there in plenty of time to board our 2:25 pm flight?

 

Also we board Delta from LHR arriving at MSP, ideally, arriving there at 5:25pm. We do continue on to DFW at 7:15pm on another Delta flight. It is my understanding that we have to get our baggage, go thru customs, recheck baggage with Delta to DFW at MSP. Gosh, if this is true, are we going to have time to make the next connection assuming the flight from LHR is on time?

 

When Regent books your air and transfers, it takes transfer time and customs into consideration. If the port prior to Dover is part of the European Union, you will not need to go through customs in Dover. If you are arriving from a country outside of the European Union, you will clear customs in Dover when you disembark the ship. There will not be any hassles at LHR.

 

In terms of your connection at DFW, you should have enough time. It is correct that you will go through customs and recheck your luggage with Delta. The time between flights seems reasonable. Don't worry about it. The very worst thing that can happen is that you will be booked on another flight (not likely -- just worst case scenario). Worrying about this only takes away from the excitement and anticipation of your cruise. So, relax and enjoy!

[rallydave]

We do have a Regent transfer from Dover to LHR. Since we are entering another country, do we go thru customs and where? One would think that there would be a customs stations at the disembarkation point in Dover. Therefore avoiding any hassles at LHR. Will Regent get us there in plenty of time to board our 2:25 pm flight?

 

Also we board Delta from LHR arriving at MSP, ideally, arriving there at 5:25pm. We do continue on to DFW at 7:15pm on another Delta flight. It is my understanding that we have to get our baggage, go thru customs, recheck baggage with Delta to DFW at MSP. Gosh, if this is true, are we going to have time to make the next connection assuming the flight from LHR is on time?

 

This added info really helps so see below:

 

1. You don't go thru any customs or Immegraton when coming into GB. You will have been in the EU during your trip and anything necessary to get you int GB is done when the ship is cleared.

 

2. No problem getting to LHR. We came into GB thru Southampton last year and were last to disembark as we were spending the nite at a LHR hotel and took the Regent shuttle to LHR and the bus let us off at our hotel. We were at our hotel before noon after stops at two different terminals. Regent will time your disembarkation to make sure you make your flight. No customs or immegration at LHR either. Simply check in for your flight, check your bags, go thru security and you are in a huge shopping mall (Duty Free) which stretches to your gate. Expect to be several hours early for your 2:25 flight.

 

3. You are correct about what you will need to do at MSP with two addition, first you go thru immigration and that usually takes the longest depending on the number of planes arriving from foreign countries at MSP. You then get your luggage which more than likely be there waiting for you and you should simply walk to customs, turn in your form that they give you on the plane and then walk a few feet to where you recheck you luggage for DFW. You then go back thru security and walk to your gate. Seems like a lot but, don't think it will take much longer than an hour to an hour fifteen again depending on how busy immigration and security are. Every airport as a minimum connect time and you can't be booked on a connecting flight if the perfect time between them exceeds the minimum in your case for an International flight. Looked around the internet and they show MSP to be a real easy International Airport to transfer within with the average immigration wait time of 20 minutes so you should be fine and if not, Delta should put you up if there isn't another connecting flight that nite.

 

Hope this helps to ease your mind and gives you the entire process. Have a great cruise.

 

Just checked and your flight is the last non-stop back to Texas so please don't delay any more than necessary in MSP. Not trying to scare you. Am 99% sure you will make your connection; just providing you information. Enjoy the Baltic, we did last year. And, Regent is great.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I beg to differ. I believe there was some (brief) customs formality when we disembarked at Dover, after being in France. Britain is part of the EU, but also holds itself aloof on some matters.

 

2 p.m. sounds fine for Heathrow. We did private transfers and it was lovely, but our company is no longer around to recommend.

[rallydave]

I beg to differ. I believe there was some (brief) customs formality when we disembarked at Dover, after being in France. Britain is part of the EU, but also holds itself aloof on some matters.

 

2 p.m. sounds fine for Heathrow. We did private transfers and it was lovely, but our company is no longer around to recommend.

 

 

Wendy,

 

You may be correct about being in France but the cruise we are talking about is almost identical to the cruise my DW and I took last year. Our last two ports were Amsterdam and Bruges while this year, the last two ports are Olso and Amsterdam. No France. The French and the Brits don't get along very well. The other difference is we disembarked in Southampton while this year is Dover.

 

In any case, we simply walked off the ship, found our luggage and took it to the bus. No immigration, no customs, no officials so would expect the same for this year in Dover based on where we visited and the OP is visiting.

[Lvtocruize2]

This added info really helps so see below:

 

1. You don't go thru any customs or Immegraton when coming into GB. You will have been in the EU during your trip and anything necessary to get you int GB is done when the ship is cleared.

 

2. No problem getting to LHR. We came into GB thru Southampton last year and were last to disembark as we were spending the nite at a LHR hotel and took the Regent shuttle to LHR and the bus let us off at our hotel. We were at our hotel before noon after stops at two different terminals. Regent will time your disembarkation to make sure you make your flight. No customs or immegration at LHR either. Simply check in for your flight, check your bags, go thru security and you are in a huge shopping mall (Duty Free) which stretches to your gate. Expect to be several hours early for your 2:25 flight.

 

3. You are correct about what you will need to do at MSP with two addition, first you go thru immigration and that usually takes the longest depending on the number of planes arriving from foreign countries at MSP. You then get your luggage which more than likely be there waiting for you and you should simply walk to customs, turn in your form that they give you on the plane and then walk a few feet to where you recheck you luggage for DFW. You then go back thru security and walk to your gate. Seems like a lot but, don't think it will take much longer than an hour to an hour fifteen again depending on how busy immigration and security are. Every airport as a minimum connect time and you can't be booked on a connecting flight if the perfect time between them exceeds the minimum in your case for an International flight. Looked around the internet and they show MSP to be a real easy International Airport to transfer within with the average immigration wait time of 20 minutes so you should be fine and if not, Delta should put you up if there isn't another connecting flight that nite.

 

Hope this helps to ease your mind and gives you the entire process. Have a great cruise.

 

Just checked and your flight is the last non-stop back to Texas so please don't delay any more than necessary in MSP. Not trying to scare you. Am 99% sure you will make your connection; just providing you information. Enjoy the Baltic, we did last year. And, Regent is great.

 

Thanks rallydave for taking the time to look into our schedule and the additional info!! Also I appreciate everyone's opinion!!!

 

Patty