sallyport555 Posted October 23, 2011 #1 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I'm flying into Heathrow a few days prior to Royal Caribbean cruise so I can see London. Does anyone know how to get from Heathrow to Southampton Cruise Port? I can't make heads or tails out of the train/bus/tube maps. What about taking a private taxi/shuttle? Also does anyone know which of the 4 Southampton Cruise Ports Royal Caribbean sails from? Thanks for any input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissDave Posted October 23, 2011 #2 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Hi there are many many many different ways to get there. You say from Heathrow but you are visiting London for a few days. Are you staying at one of the Heathrow hotels or in London it'self? If at Heathrow then the National Express coach service is easiest and usually the cheapest. Or there is the bus to Reading station and then a train. If staying in London it'self then National Express from Victoria coach station, or train from Waterloo (1h15m) or from Victoria station (2h) If you have lots of luggage then you might want to look at a private car service. If you can give more details about where your hotel is, amount of luggage etc then we can add more detail on best options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenR_UK Posted October 23, 2011 #3 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I'm flying into Heathrow a few days prior to Royal Caribbean cruise so I can see London. Does anyone know how to get from Heathrow to Southampton Cruise Port? I can't make heads or tails out of the train/bus/tube maps. What about taking a private taxi/shuttle? Also does anyone know which of the 4 Southampton Cruise Ports Royal Caribbean sails from? Thanks for any input. Royal Caribbean usually use City terminal (berth 101). if it is this year you should be able to find out check out on http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/cruise_ship.asp. if its next year you may have to wait until Feb/March 2012 before the listing is available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted October 23, 2011 #4 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I'm flying into Heathrow a few days prior to Royal Caribbean cruise so I can see London. Does anyone know how to get from Heathrow to Southampton Cruise Port? I can't make heads or tails out of the train/bus/tube maps. What about taking a private taxi/shuttle? Also does anyone know which of the 4 Southampton Cruise Ports Royal Caribbean sails from? Thanks for any input. Don't book a hotel near Heathrow, its a bland hotelland with little of interest & you'll end up pulling your hair out. It's also about 15 crowded miles to central London, no fun commuting each day.:eek: Heathrow hotels are for overniters. You've got a number of options for getting to central London - the Heathrow Express, tube, coach, car, and as SwissDave's post the location of your central London hotel is a factor in which is best. Southampton is about 70 miles from central London. Public transport options are the train from Waterloo station (near the London Eye) or coach from Victoria (near Buckingham Palace) Trains http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search from London Waterloo (code WAT) to Southampton central (code SOU) 2 to 3 trains per hour, journey time about 1hr 20 mins, cost about £32 pp No need to pre-book. You can get bucket-price tickets on some of these trains for around £4 :) by booking through http://uk.megabus.com/default.aspx These are available on only a few of the trains, about one every two hours and none on sundays. You must pre-book, tickets are unrefundable & can only be used for the train that you've booked. Bookings are available from about 8 weeks out. These are separate Megatrain carriages on regular trains, but are the same good standard. A bargain if they fit your schedule. You can also take the train from Victoria station but there are complications. Post again for advice if your hotel is in Victoria. Coach There are two competingcoach companies offering London Victoria to Southampton http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/index.cfm This is the country's leading coach company, the service is Victoria coach station to Southampton coach station (ignore "cruise terminal" option), journey time 2 hours, cost about £16, often "funfares" at £1 http://www.greyhounduk.com/ Offer an identical service, similar fares & bucket-price offers. Service is from street bus stop in Victoria to Southampton Town Quay RCI normally sail out of City Cruise Terminal, berth 101, but all four terminals are a £5 to £7 taxi hop from train or coach stations or Town Quay http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/ and click on port information for cruise ship schedule or maps header for locations JB :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrozuk Posted October 23, 2011 #5 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Royal Caribbean usually use City terminal (berth 101).if it is this year you should be able to find out check out on http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/cruise_ship.asp. if its next year you may have to wait until Feb/March 2012 before the listing is available. Royal Caribbean have a dedicated terminal in City Terminal, berth 101, so I'm sure it's that berth for the cruise, unless we have one of those rare instances where there are two RCI ships in that day. As Karen said though, best to check sometime next March or so. ScrozUK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sallyport555 Posted October 24, 2011 Author #6 Share Posted October 24, 2011 (edited) Thanks to everyone for the info. Sorry I wasn't more specific. We are staying at the Jurys Inn in Heathrow as we get in late afternoon. Will have one day and plan to use the tube into London for one worldwind day then back to the hotel. So I need info on getting from Jurys Inn Heathrow to the cruise port the next morning - the day the ship sails. The cruise leaves Feb 2 2012. There are three adults traveling and expect to have 3 suitcases and 2 carryon backpacks. Edited October 24, 2011 by sallyport555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsforkids Posted October 24, 2011 #7 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Thanks for all the great info! What a help!:) What pier does Princess usually use? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray66 Posted October 24, 2011 #8 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Some people speak very highly of Smiths for Airports although I haven't used them myself. They may be expensive. http://www.smithsforairports.com/index.html If you need more information you might want to try the British Isles Ports of Call forum: http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=233 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray66 Posted October 24, 2011 #9 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Thanks for all the great info! What a help!:) What pier does Princess usually use? Thanks! Southampton VTS cruise ships schedule shows Grand Princess at Pier 106 which is the Mayflower terminal. http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/cruise_ship.asp You would normally be better asking your questions on the British Isles forum here:- http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=233 This is the UK forum which says "Welcome to all UK Cruisers to the forum where you can ask questions related to cruising from the UK, or on UK based ships." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted October 24, 2011 #10 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Thanks to everyone for the info. Sorry I wasn't more specific. We are staying at the Jurys Inn in Heathrow as we get in late afternoon. Will have one day and plan to use the tube into London for one worldwind day then back to the hotel. So I need info on getting from Jurys Inn Heathrow to the cruise port the next morning - the day the ship sails. The cruise leaves Feb 2 2012. There are three adults traveling and expect to have 3 suitcases and 2 carryon backpacks. OK, for a one-day trip into central London (and even the previous evening as well), without luggage its very easy from Hatton Cross tube station, close to your hotel. No changes needed. Get off somewhere around Piccadilly Circus. For getting around central London's main sights in one day, IMHO the ho-ho bus is your best bet, either http://www.theoriginaltour.com/ or http://www.bigbustours.com/eng/london/custompage.aspx?id=london_sightseeing_tour&gclid= You're heading to Southampton from Heathrow on a wednesday. You have the choice of (use the links in my first post) National Express coach. You'll need to get yourself to either Heathrow central bus station or T4 or T5. T4 is closest. Journey time to Southampton coach station 2 hours, cost about £16.60 pp (no fun-fares on this route). Don't select "cruise terminal", its a dead end. Pre-booking very strongly advised. Limited choice, the 09.45 would be your best bet, the 11.45 the latest. Theoretical luggage limit of 2 cases at 44lb, plus hand luggage, per person. Not strictly enforced. A 10-15 min walk on level ground from coach station to City Cruise Terminal, or about £5 for a taxi Greyhound coaches don't operate a route from Heathrow. Most folk would recommend coach rather than train for this journey. Train It's a little complicated since there's no Southampton trains from Heathrow, so it involves a Railair bus to a nearby rail station. This operates from Heathrow central bus station, so you take a free shuttle from T4. Stick to the hourly service (on the hour from Heathrow central bus station) which takes you via Woking rail station & is cheaper (£17.50 combined Railair bus/train ticket), quicker (about 2 hours total) & easier than the other train options. No need to pre-book, no luggage limitations that would concern you. A 15-20 min walk on level ground from Southampton central station to City Cruise Terminal, or about £6 for a taxi It's now just a week or two too soon to see the timetable for your day, so choose a random wednesday in january for the detail. Private transfer www.smithsforairports.com and www.westquaycars.com are most commonly recommended on this forum, they're based near Southampton & cheaper than most airport-based services. But there are dozens of options. Cost around £90 the car. Beware of hidden charges such as credit card fees, but since its a hotel pickup theres no complications with parking/waiting charges. A standard-size estate car should cope, but quote your numbers & luggage when seeking a price. From hotel to ship in about 90 minutes. It'll be cold in February, probably with overnight frost. JB :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted October 24, 2011 #11 Share Posted October 24, 2011 Thanks for all the great info! What a help!:) What pier does Princess usually use? Thanks! As Ray's answer Princess use Mayflower Terminal, or increasingly nowadays the new Ocean Terminal. Almost certainly one of these two. Neither is sensibly walkable with luggage, but only a £5 to £7 taxi ride from any city centre hotel or coach or train stations. JB :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sallyport555 Posted October 24, 2011 Author #12 Share Posted October 24, 2011 What great information. You are wonderful for taking the time to help. I truly appreciate all your assistance. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsforkids Posted October 27, 2011 #13 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Southampton VTS cruise ships schedule shows Grand Princess at Pier 106 which is the Mayflower terminal. http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/cruise_ship.asp You would normally be better asking your questions on the British Isles forum here:- http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=233 This is the UK forum which says "Welcome to all UK Cruisers to the forum where you can ask questions related to cruising from the UK, or on UK based ships." Got the hint. Sorry!:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizanessie Posted October 27, 2011 #14 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Got the hint. Sorry!:o You are very welcome to post here :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PNW Traveler Posted October 27, 2011 #15 Share Posted October 27, 2011 You might consider a private transfer from your hotel to the ship. Although the cost is more, it is an easier day and you won't have so much time standing out in the cold. There are various transport services and several are advertised on the port of Southhampton's web site. We arranged for ours through our favorite one stop shopping that is membership only. Our executive membership gave us some additional perks and a great hotel package with extras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsforkids Posted October 28, 2011 #16 Share Posted October 28, 2011 You are very welcome to post here :D Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toho Posted October 27, 2017 #17 Share Posted October 27, 2017 I'm flying into Heathrow a few days prior to Royal Caribbean cruise so I can see London. Does anyone know how to get from Heathrow to Southampton Cruise Port? I can't make heads or tails out of the train/bus/tube maps. What about taking a private taxi/shuttle? Also does anyone know which of the 4 Southampton Cruise Ports Royal Caribbean sails from? Thanks for any input. Private car service is Smithsforairport who are excellent and trustworthy. Also our driver Jeff is a great conversationalist...a pleasant companion from London to Southampton. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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