hcrane Posted September 15, 2010 #1 Share Posted September 15, 2010 I know this has been asked a thousand times before, but what time can you expect to be off QM2 in Soton? If you carry your own bags, can you leave at any time or do you have to be one of the first off? If I'm flying out of Heathrow, what is a reasonable time for the fiight? Lastly, am I correct in figuring about 90 minutes for the drive by car? Thanks, Crane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Dean Posted September 15, 2010 #2 Share Posted September 15, 2010 I know this has been asked a thousand times before, but what time can you expect to be off QM2 in Soton? If you carry your own bags, can you leave at any time or do you have to be one of the first off? If I'm flying out of Heathrow, what is a reasonable time for the fiight? Lastly, am I correct in figuring about 90 minutes for the drive by car? Thanks, Crane You forgot "How long is a piece of string....." Seriously, if you self help you can get off early - assuming no problems. You'll be then into rush hour traffic. Ninety minutes is a very good time - but could be double that if there is trouble on the motorway. If it were me, I'd be looking at a flight in the late afternoon, or early evening, having departed normally from the ship and then travelling over the later part of the morning. The whole thing would be less stressful. Why are you seeking to leave England so promptly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcrane Posted September 16, 2010 Author #3 Share Posted September 16, 2010 You forgot "How long is a piece of string....." Seriously, if you self help you can get off early - assuming no problems. You'll be then into rush hour traffic. Ninety minutes is a very good time - but could be double that if there is trouble on the motorway. If it were me, I'd be looking at a flight in the late afternoon, or early evening, having departed normally from the ship and then travelling over the later part of the morning. The whole thing would be less stressful. Why are you seeking to leave England so promptly? Maybe I should have asked how to push that piece of string?:rolleyes: Thanks for your thoughts - yes, why rush off after a very relaxing time on QM2? As to why I want to leave England so promptly, I want to go someplace Nice:D (BA have a departure about 4pm from LHR). Best regards Crane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic The Parrot Posted September 16, 2010 #4 Share Posted September 16, 2010 I want to go someplace Nice:D (BA have a departure about 4pm from LHR). Nice ... as in France ? :D ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcrane Posted September 16, 2010 Author #5 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Nice ... as in France ? :D ;) Oui! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Dean Posted September 16, 2010 #6 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Maybe I should have asked how to push that piece of string?:rolleyes: Thanks for your thoughts - yes, why rush off after a very relaxing time on QM2? As to why I want to leave England so promptly, I want to go someplace Nice:D (BA have a departure about 4pm from LHR). Best regards Crane Eurostar/TGV would be my preference. Get to London, stay the night and catch a train the following morning. Or go to Paris the day you dock, and then down to Nice the next day..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic The Parrot Posted September 16, 2010 #7 Share Posted September 16, 2010 4pm departure from LHR? I'm not too sure about that ... seems pretty risky. Overnighting would be better, then hoofing it to the airport the next day. Some food for thought. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwestie Posted September 16, 2010 #8 Share Posted September 16, 2010 You wont have a problem getting to Heathrow for a 4pm flight at all, how do you intend getting there, Train, car or bus. Depending on traffice it is one hour to the airport, long if you hit the southampton traffic, if youleave the ship around 9am you miss the traffic and be there around 11am. soton traffice is bad at times but only as far the motorway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Dean Posted September 16, 2010 #9 Share Posted September 16, 2010 You wont have a problem getting to Heathrow for a 4pm flight at all, how do you intend getting there, Train, car or bus. Depending on traffice it is one hour to the airport, long if you hit the southampton traffic, if youleave the ship around 9am you miss the traffic and be there around 11am. soton traffice is bad at times but only as far the motorway Google suggests 82 minutes via M3/M25, 104 minutes A34/M4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwestie Posted September 16, 2010 #10 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Google suggests 82 minutes via M3/M25, 104 minutes A34/M4. Yes Id say that depending on traffic, so if your off at 9am you be there for 10.45 then, even better, so a 4pm flight is no problem at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwestie Posted September 16, 2010 #11 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Eurostar/TGV would be my preference. Get to London, stay the night and catch a train the following morning. Or go to Paris the day you dock, and then down to Nice the next day..... I agree with this, anything to get away from heathrow,such a nice way to travel as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcrane Posted September 16, 2010 Author #12 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Thanks William, Vic and Rob for the input - will pass it on to the one who must decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare david,Mississauga Posted September 16, 2010 #13 Share Posted September 16, 2010 I know this has been asked a thousand times before, but what time can you expect to be off QM2 in Soton? If you carry your own bags, can you leave at any time or do you have to be one of the first off? ... On my last two crossings, self-help disembarkation started at 7:00. We were told we could disembark at any time after that. We had a leisurely breakfast and left about 8:00. On our last crossing of QE2 in April 2008 we were told we had to disembark within 30 minutes of the start of self-help disembarkation and if we did not we would have to wait. It wasn't clear for what we would be waiting because, having registered for self-help, we did not have colour-coded luggage labels. So we left the QE2 by 7:30 and were at the railway station, with Britrail passes validated and ready to travel, by 8:00. Fortunately the QM2 has a more reasonable policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norfolk Brit Posted September 16, 2010 #14 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Eurostar/TGV would be my preference. Get to London, stay the night and catch a train the following morning. Agreed - we've done the rail trip a couple of times. Just to add, if you get the Eurostar direct to Lille from St Pancras, it's simply a matter of changing platforms before going onward to Nice; from Paris, you have to cross the city by taxi. You'll whizz down as far as Marseilles, thereafter the line is very slow, but much of this part of the journey is absolutely lovely. A most civilised way of getting to a most civilised city. Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic The Parrot Posted September 16, 2010 #15 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Hi Mary ;) I thought that the Eurostar train left from Waterloo ? :confused: Did they change this recently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Dean Posted September 16, 2010 #16 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Hi Mary ;) I thought that the Eurostar train left from Waterloo ? :confused: Did they change this recently? It's been St. Pancras International for some while now. Much improved and a great option. Bang next door to Kings X as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic The Parrot Posted September 16, 2010 #17 Share Posted September 16, 2010 It's been St. Pancras International for some while now. Much improved and a great option. Bang next door to Kings X as well. I was there (Waterloo) 2 years ago, and thought I'd seen Eurostar signs. Unless they were in the process of changing things that month. Thanks for the info, WD. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwestie Posted September 16, 2010 #18 Share Posted September 16, 2010 It is now and has been for quite some time the new station, in 2 years the whole world can change, . The staion is now the most amazing place, also great for late night shopping, the train now can zip across to Paris, much nicer than flying and in the end faster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Dean Posted September 16, 2010 #19 Share Posted September 16, 2010 The staion is now the most amazing place, also great for late night shopping. What did you buy? LK Bennett? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trevgbb Posted September 17, 2010 #20 Share Posted September 17, 2010 I think if you are self dis-embarking, they expect you to get off pretty promptly, so they can clear the decks for the timed departures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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