Cruises from Harwich

Harwich International Port has just one terminal, sitting on Parkeston Quay about 70 miles from London, with the A120, A12 and its own railway station delivering you right to the door. Cruises rarely start here now, though. No line has Harwich sailings planned for the next two seasons, so most people in this part of England sail from London Tilbury or Southampton instead.

Which cruise lines sail from Harwich

Right now, no cruise line has sailings planned from Harwich. Fred. Olsen used to sail from here, but its UK cruises now leave from Southampton, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Rosyth, and you can see where on Fred. Olsen’s current sailings.

If you live in Essex or East Anglia, London Tilbury is the nearest port with regular cruises, and Ambassador sails from there all year. Have a look at cruises from the Port of Tilbury. Southampton has the most lines and dates of any UK port.

Ships still call at Harwich now and then, and if a line brings sailings back, they’ll show up on its own website first. For every UK port with cruises, see cruise options from UK ports.

Harwich cruise port map

Each pin shows how far that place is from the nearest cruise pier. Tap a pin for directions.

• Harwich International PortWhere ships dock
• Ha’penny PierPier · About 2 km from Harwich International Port
• Dovercourt BayBeach · About 3 km from Harwich International Port
• Redoubt FortHistoric fort · About 2 km from Harwich International Port
• Pier HotelHotel · About 2 km from Harwich International Port

Harwich cruise terminal: check-in and facilities

Harwich cruise terminal has a pre-boarding lounge that seats 300 and a café right next to it for a coffee while you wait. Someone will help with your luggage from the drop-off point all the way through to check-in, so you’re not hauling bags across the car park yourself.

Inside you’ll find free Wi-Fi, a tourist information point, currency exchange, cash machines, vending machines and a photo booth. It’s fairly basic as terminals go, but it’s air-conditioned, there’s room to spread out, and a handful of shops sit alongside the café.

Disabled access has clearly been thought through: lifts run from the car park, there are disabled toilets both before and after check-in, wheelchairs and valet parking are on offer, and staff help with priority boarding. Baby-changing facilities and accessible toilets are provided too.

Getting to Harwich International Port by road and rail

The A120 and A12 connect easily to the London airports, and the direct train from Harwich International railway station into central London takes about an hour.

If you’re driving, head straight to the terminal to drop off passengers and luggage before you park.

Parking at Harwich International Port

Parking at Harwich International Port is charged on a sliding scale: short stops cost little, and the price climbs the longer the car sits there. The long-stay daily rate for cruise passengers quoted elsewhere runs noticeably higher than the port’s general short-stay tariff, so confirm the current price directly with the port when you book.

The cruise car park runs on number-plate recognition, so there’s no ticket to lose, and you pay at a machine rather than a barrier on the way in. Follow the signs to the designated car park, not the terminal itself; a free bus covers the five-minute hop to the terminal from there.

Where to stay near Harwich cruise port

Staying in Harwich itself the night before makes sense if you’ve got an early check-in, since the town has hotels within walking distance of the terminal rather than you needing to trek in from somewhere bigger. The same spots work just as well for a night after you get off the ship, if you’re not heading straight home.

• Fryatt Hotel & Bar, on Garland Road, is about a one-minute walk from the port, so it’s your closest bet for an early morning check-in.
• Pier Hotel takes up two refurbished historic buildings on the quayside next to the foot ferry, with the terminal under 10 minutes away by car.
• Alma Inn & Dining Rooms sits right next to the Pier Hotel, about a five-minute drive from the terminal, and it’s pet-friendly, handy if you’re bringing the dog along for an early sailing.

Luggage storage at Harwich cruise port

Luggage storage at Harwich cruise terminal isn’t officially confirmed, though short-term storage at the terminal does get mentioned here and there. What is certain: neither Harwich International station nor Harwich Town station offers left-luggage.

If you’re off the ship early with a flight later in the day, or arriving the night before with bags to drop, book luggage storage near the terminal before you travel rather than hoping you’ll find something on the day.

Where to eat near Harwich cruise port

The best place to eat near Harwich cruise port is around Ha’penny Pier, a short walk from the terminal, where fish and chips by the water is practically the law.

• Fish and chips – the classic order here, eaten on a bench overlooking the harbour at Ha’penny Pier.
• Fresh seafood – sold from a kiosk right on the pier, good for a quick bite on your way between the ship and the old town.
• Tea, coffee and cake – from a café near the foot ferry, a good stop once you’ve watched the ferry come and go.
• Bakery provisions – on the High Street, from one of the town’s two traditional bakers, handy for picking up something to take back on board.

Best photo spots in Harwich

The best photo spots in Harwich sit in the old town rather than at the port itself, starting with Ha’penny Pier.

• Ha’penny Pier – one of the only working wooden piers left in the UK, its distinctive L-shape gives you wide views over the harbour and the River Stour; get there early morning to watch the day’s catch come in.
• Dovercourt Bay – a stretch of golden sand with views over the North Sea and Felixstowe Point, where the High and Low lighthouses once guided ships in before they were decommissioned.
• Redoubt Fort – a restored fort with sea views and a collection of weaponry on display.

What to wear in Harwich: outfit ideas for a port day

What to wear in Harwich comes down to how much walking you’ve got planned, since the old town’s streets are cobbled and Dovercourt beach is stony rather than sandy underfoot.

• Flat, sturdy shoes beat sandals on the cobbles and on the beach; comfortable walking shoes are worth packing if you’re covering the old town and the pier on foot.
• A windproof layer earns its keep on the walk towards the Alma Inn, where the coast path is exposed and breezy.
• Bare feet or thin sandals aren’t much fun on Dovercourt beach, given how stony the ground is.

For more ideas, have a look at these casual cruise outfit ideas for women and cruise outfit ideas for men.

Harwich cruise port FAQs

Where do cruise ships dock at Harwich?

Cruise ships dock at Harwich International Port’s single berth on Parkeston Quay, on the River Stour’s south bank about a mile upstream from Harwich town.

Which cruise lines sail from Harwich?

No cruise line has sailings planned from Harwich at the moment. Fred. Olsen used to sail from here, but if you’re nearby, London Tilbury is now the closest port with regular cruises.

Are there cheap cruises from Harwich?

Not at the moment, because no cruises start from Harwich. For a cheap short break, look at the two to four night mini cruises from Southampton, or Ambassador’s shorter sailings from London Tilbury.

Is there a Norwegian Fjords cruise from Harwich?

Not right now. The nearest Norwegian Fjords cruises leave from London Tilbury with Ambassador, and from Southampton and Newcastle.

Are there river cruises from Harwich?

River cruises don’t depart from Harwich; Fred Olsen’s river cruise sailings are fly-cruise packages based in continental Europe rather than round trips from this port.

How much does parking cost at Harwich cruise terminal?

Parking at Harwich International Port is charged by how long you stay, so check the current rate when you book.

Can I store luggage at Harwich cruise terminal?

Luggage storage at Harwich cruise terminal isn’t officially confirmed, and neither Harwich railway station offers left-luggage, so book storage near the port in advance if you need it.

How far is Stansted Airport from Harwich cruise terminal?

Stansted Airport is Harwich’s nearest airport, about 50 miles away, while Heathrow and Gatwick both take over two hours to reach by road.

Is Harwich the same port as Felixstowe or Tilbury?

Harwich is a separate, smaller port on the Essex coast. Felixstowe sits across the estuary, and the Port of Tilbury is a different embarkation point further down the Thames.