bworks22

Cheers to the suggestion of a better walking route, by some local experts. My route was one of two suggested by Google Maps (yours was the other) and we chose it, though  a bit longer, merely for the opportunity for its route through some shopping for before and after cruise. The original question was whether it is walk-able to begin with, and I think all the posts confirm it to be so, allowing for the concerns of luggage, fitness for walking, etc.

I recently cruised from Southampton and walked from the railway station to the City cruise terminal. It is about one mile, with sidewalks all the way. We are a married couple, age 63, with our adult son, age 29. We made the transfer rolling a 25" suitcase each, and a smaller carry on bag nested on top. We were very pleased to find there are no steps from train to ship. The walking path begins just to the left of the train station, and is plainly visible. The route follows a pedestrian path through a large shopping district car park at first, passing by an ASDA store and a disused Toys 'r' Us. Presently the path merges on to the sidewalk of a major thoroughfare, which is called Harbour Parade. Following this to its end at a roundabout, we found ourselves before the Carnival cruise line headquarters building, from which the ship was plainly visible to the right. A short jog to the left led us to a turning adjacent to the Holiday Inn Express hotel, and bearing right we gained access to the port entrance. 

It was very pleasant, provided you have a reasonable amount of luggage and a forbearance of rain.. I would mention that the train carriages traveling from London Waterloo to Southampton have very limited overhead luggage space, and none in the vestibules. It was a struggle to manhandle our 25" bags overhead. Moreover, this size bag barely fit in the overhead rack, due not to its length but to its thickness,. Using anything larger than this, or more pieces of luggage per person, would indicate the need for a motorcoach transfer from central London. 

I recently (June, 2019) cruised from Southampton and walked from Central Station to the City Cruise Terminal. We are age 64 and had our son age 29 with us. It was a reasonable walk with rolling bags and small carry-on items, as we are in good physical shape and walk daily for exercise. The route is a pedestrian path through a very large shopping district, partly through the parking areas. The path was completely step-free from the train platform to the ship. The sidewalk begins about 100m from the train station exit and is visible just off to the left with your back to the rail station. and leads past the giant ASDA store, the local IKEA, and a closed Toys 'r' Us.  The route is reliably rendered by Google Maps using the walking route option, and basically follows the road called Harbour Parade to its end at the port entrance, from which the ship will be plainly visible.

Note the other cruise piers are NOT walkable. Our ship, though it left from City Terminal, returned to another berth about a mile further away, and we took a taxi.

Caveat about the South West Railway service from London Waterloo: 25 inch luggage will not easily fit into the overhead racks in the carriages, and it was very difficult to lift them overhead and shove them onto the racks. There is no other provision for luggage. As such, we will use 22 inch bags the next time we try this transfer, if ever.

All told, if you are not a good walker, have bad knees/hips etc, or can't handle your own bags, I think another form of transfer would be advised.