Southampton time frame for flight home

Earliest departure flight home when disembarking in Southampton for their flight home from LHR.

 

Is 12:30pm too early for them to make it...how far and quickest/easy way to get to LHR?

 

I've booked my DS & new DIL on the Navigator for their honeymoon cruise July 22-29th and their staying a few days pre-cruise (Hotel Rubens good choice?) so not an option to stay post-cruise.

 

Would appreciate some guidance ... thanks.

I've booked my DS & new DIL on the Navigator for their honeymoon cruise July 22-29th ...

Seven Seas Navigator? Navigator of the Seas? 2018? 2019?

 

Most pertinently, on which day of the week is "29 July" - the day that they disembark and fly home?

 

And where are they flying to?

Hotel Rubens is an excellent choice.

 

Great hotel and location.

 

Keith

Seven Seas Navigator? Navigator of the Seas? 2018? 2019?

 

Most pertinently, on which day of the week is "29 July" - the day that they disembark and fly home?

 

And where are they flying to?

RCI Navigator ... July 29, 2018 is a Sunday....and the day they disembark to fly back to the US to our home destination airport which is LAX.

 

Sorry for not adding these details.

Hotel Rubens is an excellent choice.

 

Great hotel and location.

 

Keith

Thank you ... it looks like it will be a nice pre-cruise hotel. We haven't stayed there personally. When DH and myself were in London last for a week post cruise we stayed at the Millstone and previously had booked our older son at the Knights Bridge Hotel for his pre-cruise honeymoon trip. So not too familiar with many hotels...doing my best with some great recommendations on this board.

RCI Navigator ... July 29, 2018 is a Sunday....and the day they disembark to fly back to the US to our home destination airport which is LAX.

Then subject to anything that the cruise line may say differently, they ought to be OK for a 1230 flight. Sunday morning is generally a good time for road travel. RCI's website says Navigator of the Seas is scheduled to arrive at 0530, so if they are able to do an unassisted disembarkation and get a private car transfer then all should go well. See for example this recent query and the answer from John Bull, one of our resident Southampton experts - https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=55469921#post55469921 - and if you search for his posts, you'll see many others in similar vein (another question and answer are here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=52910414#post52910414).

 

Is 12:30pm too early for them to make it...how far and quickest/easy way to get to LHR?

 

 

Car service is by far the easiest, and when all is considered, probably the fastest as well, given that its door to door service. We've used a service for this route called Totally Driven. https://www.totallydriven.co.uk/

The obvious trade-off for the ease and convenience of a car service is price.

Then subject to anything that the cruise line may say differently, they ought to be OK for a 1230 flight. Sunday morning is generally a good time for road travel. RCI's website says Navigator of the Seas is scheduled to arrive at 0530, so if they are able to do an unassisted disembarkation and get a private car transfer then all should go well. See for example this recent query and the answer from John Bull, one of our resident Southampton experts - https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=55469921#post55469921 - and if you search for his posts, you'll see many others in similar vein (another question and answer are here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=52910414#post52910414).

Thank you so much very helpful info. However I was able to get them on a nonstop AA flight that leaves LHR at 3:15pm instead of the 12:30pm flight. I think this will work out much better for those honeymooner's ;)

Car service is by far the easiest, and when all is considered, probably the fastest as well, given that its door to door service. We've used a service for this route called Totally Driven. https://www.totallydriven.co.uk/

The obvious trade-off for the ease and convenience of a car service is price.

More than likely I'll book a car service for them...Thank you for the recommendation...I'm also considering smithforairports and aquacars....Their going to need transportation from LHR to Hotel Rubens...hotel to Southampton and then back to LHR.

 

Any other suggestions you might have for all their transportation needs?

Help me.....John Bull :D

 

Need your suggestions for transportation options from LHR (Wednesday July 19, 2018 AA flight lands at 2:25pm) .

 

Going to Hotel Rubens...so taxi or private car service?

 

Leaving Hotel Reubens for Southampton (Sunday July 22, 2018) RCI Navigator cruise, best time to leave and needing your suggested transportation please.

 

Then at end of cruise (Sunday July 29, 2018) transportation back to LHR for a 3:15pm flight on AA airlines.

 

I have always valued your experience and recommendations....need them again to make sure this honeymoon trip for my DS and DIL goes as smooth as possible.

 

Thank you so much for any input you may have.

More than likely I'll book a car service for them...Thank you for the recommendation...I'm also considering smithforairports and aquacars....Their going to need transportation from LHR to Hotel Rubens...hotel to Southampton and then back to LHR.

 

Any other suggestions you might have for all their transportation needs?

 

Airport to hotel in the same city, cab is probably cheaper and almost as easy. I wouldn't spend money on a car service for that. Personally I'd use a car service for the other two though, given the distance/comfort and the ability to arrange in advance, know the price, etc.

 

Leaving Hotel Reubens for Southampton (Sunday July 22, 2018) RCI Navigator cruise, best time to leave

 

Tell the car service what time you would like to arrive at the port and they'll advise what time they should pick you up, based on their knowledge of the traffic on that day of the week/time of day/route.

Airport to hotel in the same city, cab is probably cheaper and almost as easy. I wouldn't spend money on a car service for that.

A cab from the rank at Heathrow would probably cost something like £60-70 to the Rubens. I think that one of the airport transfer specialists in London would probably only want about £45.

 

It's worth noting that neither Smiths nor Aqua are in London.

I have used www.justairports.com (a car service) from/to LHR and London hotel. Use your hotel’s postal code to get a quote per car.

 

You can walk/taxi from Rubens to National Express (www.nationalexpress.com) Victoria Coach Station. Take the National Express to Southampton Coach Station and a short taxi ride to the dock.

 

The cruise line might have a transfer from Victoria Coach Station (the same place as the National Express Coach station).

 

The National Express goes direct from Southampton Coach Station, (a short taxi ride dock to Coach Station) to LHR.

 

I have stayed at the Rubens, a great location, close to Buckingham Palace, The Mews, Queen’s Gallery, pubs, HOHO, tube, National Express, regular bus, restaurants.

 

Check out www.royalcollection.org.uk for the dates that Buckingham Palace’s staterooms are open.

Edited March 20, 2018 by phabric

Tell the car service what time you would like to arrive at the port and they'll advise what time they should pick you up, based on their knowledge of the traffic on that day of the week/time of day/route.

So car service like Totally Driven from hotel to Southampton then back to LHR ?

 

Thank you so much.

A cab from the rank at Heathrow would probably cost something like £60-70 to the Rubens. I think that one of the airport transfer specialists in London would probably only want about £45.

 

It's worth noting that neither Smiths nor Aqua are in London.

Air port transfer specialists...recommendation please...and is this option pre-booked?

I have used www.justairports.com (a car service) from/to LHR and London hotel. Use your hotel’s postal code to get a quote per car.

 

You can walk/taxi from Rubens to National Express (www.nationalexpress.com) Victoria Coach Station. Take the National Express to Southampton Coach Station and a short taxi ride to the dock.

 

The cruise line might have a transfer from Victoria Coach Station (the same place as the National Express Coach station).

 

The National Express goes direct from Southampton Coach Station, (a short taxi ride dock to Coach Station) to LHR.

 

I have stayed at the Rubens, a great location, close to Buckingham Palace, The Mews, Queen’s Gallery, pubs, HOHO, tube, National Express, regular bus, restaurants.

 

Check out www.royalcollection.org.uk for the dates that Buckingham Palace’s staterooms are open.

Thank you for the car service recommendation.

 

I think I might prefer using a private car service for them from hotel to Southampton and then to LHR.

Air port transfer specialists...recommendation please...and is this option pre-booked?

They must be pre-booked. There are many recommended on here, they're all much of a muchness, and I think every one of them attracts some complaint from time to time. Therefore I don't normally name the company I use on the (fairly rare) occasions when we take a car to the airport, but I made an exception last week so I might as well repeat that: Simply Airports.

 

I think I might prefer using a private car service for them from hotel to Southampton and then to LHR.

For those trips, of course, using a Southampton (or nearby) based company may prove to be cheaper because they are likely to have lower overheads. And Southampton to Heathrow doesn't go into London.

So car service like Totally Driven from hotel to Southampton then back to LHR ?

 

Thank you so much.

 

That's what I'd choose.

That's what I'd choose.

I so very much appreciate all the help you've offered.

I have used www.justairports.com (a car service) from/to LHR and London hotel. Use your hotel’s postal code to get a quote per car.

 

You can walk/taxi from Rubens to National Express (www.nationalexpress.com) Victoria Coach Station. Take the National Express to Southampton Coach Station and a short taxi ride to the dock.

 

The cruise line might have a transfer from Victoria Coach Station (the same place as the National Express Coach station).

 

The National Express goes direct from Southampton Coach Station, (a short taxi ride dock to Coach Station) to LHR.

 

I have stayed at the Rubens, a great location, close to Buckingham Palace, The Mews, Queen’s Gallery, pubs, HOHO, tube, National Express, regular bus, restaurants.

 

Check out www.royalcollection.org.uk for the dates that Buckingham Palace’s staterooms are open.

Thank you so very much for the link to the royal collection. They will luckily be there on July 21st which is the first day of the 10 week summer tour's for Buckingham Palace...and they have booked it.

 

Again very much appreciated that you took the time to post such helpful information. I think their honeymoon planning is getting off to a wonderful start.