happycruise2015

Hi Teresa,

 

Yes, London Toolkit is an excellent and well-established website packed with useful info, mainly about London but also about the ports like Southampton.

I update them from time to time if any of their Southampton info goes out-of-date, and I guess others do too cos they're rarely out-of-date.

By comparison Tom's Port Guides and even Rick Steves guide books have some errors and some out-of-date material about places I know, so I'm wary about their info on places I don't know.

 

The one area I'd avoid is their private transfer offerings. I have little doubt that the standards are good, but the rates are high - I'm guessing they get a fat share, same as cruise lines do for excursions.

But the very good cruise bus tour-transfers available thro' them are actually about £10 cheaper than buying direct from the coach operators, International Friends

 

JB :)

Thanks John, good info! Teresa

Cheapest for a couple is by bus at around £23 pp

http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx

You need to know your Heathrow terminal - the bus starts at Heathrow central bus station in the T1/2/3 complex (no more than a ten minute walk from any of those terminal) and calls at T5 and T4, which are remote from the main complex.

Your destination is Southampton coach station, walkable to City cruise terminal & no more than a £10 taxi fare to any other cruise terminal.

 

 

You're strongly recommended to book, the service isn't frequent. Allow about 90 minutes for usual airport formalities from touch-down to arrivals hall.

From airports only, your ticket can be used for a later bus, because its acknowledged that delays aren't in the control of the passenger.

 

By train is a little complicated, expensive and slow, because Heathrow isn't on the main line to Southampton. Either

- train to London's Paddington station, then cross central London to Waterloo station for direct trains to Southampton central station, passing within a few miles of Heathrow.

- or RailAir bus from Heathrow to Woking station, then those same direct trains to Southampton.

Not a great option, but trains are frequent and no need to pre-book, so its a useful Plan B if other arrangements foul-up.

 

By private transfer, expect to pay about £90 for a pre-booked sedan from airport to ship - about 60 miles. 90 minutes.

Check out www.smithsforairports.com and www.aquacars.co.uk and www.westquaycars.com All three are based at the Southampton end and are frequently used by CC members.

 

Cruise lines offer a bus transfer service from all terminals to the ship, on sailing day only. A good service, and some folk find it reassuring that airport to ship is the responsibility of the cruise line. But poor value, you may find it more expensive than a private transfer for two, and certainly for three or more.

 

There's a tour-transfer bus from airport hotels to Southampton via Stonehenge. But note that's from hotels - and for a reason. If your flight is late, you've wasted your money.

 

What's your flight arrival time?

And your ship?

And the date / day of the week ?.

It can make a difference.

 

JB :)

PS - you'll get more replies if you ask on the British Isles forum http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=233

Hi John, your info is very helpful. Is londontoolkit.com a trusted website? Thanks

Teresa

Happy Cruiser...my wife and I just booked this cruise today. We are very experienced Celebrity cruisers and are looking to join in private tours in the ports except Venice and Rome. If you have booked private tours and have space, please let me know. Or you can email me directly at srepro@aol.com. Thanks! Bob

hi Bob, we will start to plan our cruise excursion in couple weeks. Will let you know once we have decided our plan.

Thanks for the pointer.. I found the roll call for the cruise ship. I'm also a new user on this forum, glad to get help from you guys.. thanks

We are first timer on Celebrity cruise in June for 10 nights. It includes the following ports: Venice, Italy (2 nights); Dubrovnik, Croatia (2 nights); Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Greece; Olympia (Katakolon), Greece; Valletta, Malta; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy;

I can't find any review on this route. Is this a new route? Any suggestion about the shore excursion? Can we walk around or take local bus? is it safe?

Any suggestion is welcome!

Thanks