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May 27, 2022, I took a taxi from Southampton National Express Coach station to Premier Inn West Quay on a Friday around 11am-12pm. Once off the Coach, we (2 senior ladies), walked through the building. Outside the building , there was space for 4 taxi cars. We only waited a few minutes and a SUV taxi turned the corner. I told him the hotel name. He said you can walk to it. I said, not walking with luggage. Dropped off at the door. Cost was under £7? My sister/brother in law walked. Brother in law pulled luggage and sister had hand luggage. She found it a long walk after getting lost. I was glad to have taken a taxi. I asked at the desk about a taxi for the next morning. There is a direct line to a “Radio” taxi company near the elevators. I called while waiting for our room to be ready for the next day with my name, hotel name, time I wanted, Ship name/terminal, number of people and number of luggage. There was a list of cruise line ships and terminal near the elevator. Cost to Mayflower terminal was under £10. Mask to be wore in taxi. We were tired so decided to eat dinner at the hotel. I had taken the Breakfast Meal Deal. They changed the Breakfast Meal Deal into Breakfast and Dinner Meal Deal. They asked what time we wanted to have dinner and breakfast so chef can be prepared. Dinner meal - glass of wine/beer/soda, either appetizer or dessert and main meal. Breakfast was buffet. You have to swipe your room key to get elevator to go up.

My sister was suppose to have arrived at LHR at 6:30am Friday May 27 for our cruise the next day Saturday May 28. Her non stop flight from her home airport was 2 1/2 hours late due the plane’s late arrival from another country. She spend over 1 1/4 hours going through immigration and luggage pickup. She missed her 9:30am National Express Coach and was able to get on a later Coach. She arrived in Southampton after 2pm. You never know if planes will be on time. Going the day before will help with jet lag. Go the day before your cruise. Stay at a hotel near LHR or a hotel attached to LHR if you want the cruise line transfer. Take National Express Coach www.nationalexpress.com from LHR to Southampton Coach station. Stay at a Southampton hotel (check Port of Call - Britain for hotel suggestions). Take a taxi from National Express Coach station to hotel and a taxi to the port.

I was on the Sky June 4-11, Norway Fjords. I had purchased the WiFi separate. I was refunded $35 for lack of WIFI for 3 days. I don’t know if anything was refunded if you had WIFI was a perk.

I didn’t ask on my first week cruise. I asked my cabin attendant on second week cruise. He said you have to request it. He said he had to ask his supervisor. I received 1 nail file, 1 eye shade, 1 bath scrubber, he put them in a folded towel.

Presently on the Sky, Elite amenities are no only in the cabins, you have to requested it and the same with bathrobes.

What currency to do use to purchase or tips?

Thanks for helpful information. Can’t wait until Princess releases more dates. We enjoy planning the cruises in advance.

Is better to pick a cabin port side or starboard or does not matter?

We had a great time. Yes, lines as the full crew are back, we expected that. We missed some show as theater was full but we are on the next cruise June 4-11 so will see them then. On sea days, weather was cold, we did not sit out what you expect on the open seas. Plenty of spaces inside to sit and relax. We enjoyed our Princess excursions in each port, enjoyed the 2 comedians, one production show and special events talkers. We always found something to eat either off the day’s menu or the everyday menu in dining room, we had same table each night. We had breakfast in buffet or dining room, dinner in Cielo dining room, pizza in Alfred’s a few times, International Cafe, dinner on night in Crown Grill. Purchased Future Cruise Deposit, received an email and was deposited in my Princess account the same day.

My flight’s arrival was 6:35am on Friday May 27 Terminal 5. I had purchased online standard National Express tickets for LHR Terminal 5 to Southampton for 9:45am. We had to take a bus from plane to the terminal 5 so we missed the long walk to Immigration. At that time, there was not too many people at Immigration, we were before the crowds. At Immigration, it was a facial recognition machine where you put your passport in a slot. If you could not make it work there was a live person looking at your passport. Our luggage was just arriving when we got in the baggage area. Total time from arrival (6:35am) to luggage pickup was under 30 minutes. I could not believe how fast it was. Walked to where the National Express Coach stops outside LHR terminal 5. There was a person who had a later ticket and driver let him on an earlier bus. My sister’s arrival time changed as plane arrived late at her home airport so was 2 hours late.. She was suppose to arrive at 6:30am and be on the same Coach as me but from LHR terminal 2/3 at 9:39am and I was joining the same Coach at 9:45am at terminal 5. She said Terminal 2 Immigration had long lines and their was waiting fir them. She was able to change her 9:30am ticket (with no fee) to the 11:30am. The morning of my flight we received an email that the route 204 LHR to Southampton National Express Coach would not be a National Express Coach but another Coach company’s Coach. I talked to a Coach driver waiting and he said the day before May 26, route 204 LHR to Southampton was cancelled due to lack of coaches and drivers plus 5 other routes. He said on May 27 (my day) Bournemouth was supplying the Coach and National Express the driver. I had purchased seats tickets for £2/pp I was told since it was not a National Express Coach, no reserved seats. *** FYI - Look for route 204 Bournemouth ( is the end of the line) on the Coach sign. The route 204 goes to LHR - Winchester - Southampton- Bournemouth. The first time I used the Coach terminal at terminal 2/3, I thought the Coach sign would show Southampton until I asked “that the sign would show the last stop which was Bournemouth”.

On the Sky out of Southampton May 28-June 11. Kettle, cups, tea/coffee on a tray on the desk.

I believe you have to contact Princess to get permission.

Please post if any itineraries come out for 2024

The formal nights was Sunday and Thursday (port day). Formal night is never on the last night if it the day before disembarkment as passengers are packing.

I am looking at this cruise. We have not been to any of the ports or so many sea days. The itinerary is- LA 4 sea days 3 Hawaii ports 4 sea days 3 Samoa ports 3 sea days 4 French Polynesia ports 8 sea days LA Has anybody taken this cruise? Did you find it too many sea days? Sailings are November or March, which would be better? Any Information on this cruise would be appreciated.

I am also on the Sky, our first time 2019 on her first sailing. It took us maybe 1/2 hr to check from arrival to cabin. . We had arrival time 11. I could not get Medallion Net dockside. The lines moved outside and inside. If you vaccinated in one line. Once at the front on line, they directed you to an open agent desk. Since we did not have our Medallion, she took our passport, vaccination paper and Covid test results. Someone behind the desk handed her an envelope with our Medallion. Walked straight onto the ship. it was mentioned that the cabins would be ready at 1pm, we went straight to our cabin which was ready. After a short while we went to Alfredo’s for pizza for lunch , we had to wait a couple of people. I had reserved a 6pm dining for each day at Cielo dining deck aft, have to take the elevator from deck 7 down to 6. We arrive a few minutes before sometimes a few passengers no real line. I ask to have the same table each night and we have it. The waiter and assistant remember want we like. They appreciated when we told we were going to be there the next night. The 8:15 show the first night the theater was not not full, comedian. Second night, no seats available for 8:15 production show Rock. The 3 night, we came 1/2 hour earlier and again full, another comedian. Every night the theater is full at 8:15. I don’t understand why people leave a seat or two empty and don’t want to move down for others. We are on the next cruise will see what we missed. We were in Princess Live on the second day, sea day. Crew were delivering drinks. I asked can I order a coke, someone would be around. Asked another crew again, same answer. So, I tried to use my app to order a coke. On my phone, it said deliver to cabin, I then switched to my Ipad, said Princess Live. I ordered a coke, waited, and waited, and waited, it showed ordered, preparing on the app. After being there 45 minutes, we lefted. My coke was sitting on the bar counter, I took it, it was watered down as it was sitting there so long. I asked for a new one. There were 2 staff doing coffee and 1 bar staff. The bar attendants are so busy filling the orders from the app they can’t fill the orders for walk up. The app orders are lined up for the services to deliver. Since I only drink soda, I walk up to the bar. Many people at checkin were not wearing mask. As the days are going by, less people wearing masks. My sister had problems connecting to the app, the crew were able to help her. WIFI sometimes slow during the day. wifi log in with your cabin number instead of booking #. If you have VPN on phone/IPad remove it for the cruise. Internet crew very helpful. I did all Princess excursions. Buses lefted and returned on time. With the 4 day Bank holiday, 300 kids. There are 3,525 passengers. 3,100 British, 15 Canadians, 290 USA then smaller numbers for other countries. I am staying on for June 4-11 and there are suppose be 200-300 less passengers. Back to back cruisers received a IN TRANSAT card to show if getting off/on in Southampton. Cabin account will be carried over to next cruise or can cash out. Casino account has to be cleared by Friday.

Thank you

We are taking the National Express from LHR terminal 5 to Southampton on Friday May 27 at 9:45am, route NX204. Today, I received an email that the National Express branded bus will be replaced by a non National Express branded vehicle. "Your NX service will be covered by Amans Travel from Heathrow Airport to Bournemouth ONLY" "Customers travelling after Bournemouth will be accomodated" Will be stopping at Southampton? I think Bournemouth the last stop?

I have used www.justairports.com from LHR to my London airport and London hotel to LHR a few times, on time, clean cars.

Check out - www.internationalfriends.co.uk - - Under Shore Excursions & Transfer ——- London and Heathrow to Dover with Optional of Dover Castle They go from certain London hotels to Dover. I have used them from Dover and Southampton to my London hotel.

Thanks I am on the Sky - May 28 -June 4 - Mayflower June 4 -11 -QEll - I stay on the Sky June 11- Mayflower

Thanks. I have been to both terminals by taxi. I could not remember which terminal was Mayflower.

I have stayed in Southampton before. I will staying Premier Inn West Quay. I know Southampton has Mayflower and QEll docks. The Sky will be at the Mayflower. Is the Mayflower the dock where people staying at Holiday Inn Herbert Walker can walk to? Or, is the Mayflower dock the one other dock?

Thanks for your help. On my Princess EzAir paperwork, for March 19, I have flight #947 11:40am return showing for a Sunday flight. I am sure later I would received an email with changed for flight # and time to #949 9:15pm for Sunday. I have changed my return to Saturday.

Flying Air Transat - from YYZ to FLL - March 9 from FLL to YYZ - March 19