Eboracum_d Posted January 4, 2017 #26 Share Posted January 4, 2017 There are trains running on Sunday though you have to change at either once (at Guildford) or twice (at Guildford and Woking) . Are you sailing out of Southampton on that Sunday? If not you also have the option of spending the night in London and coming on from there the next day. Another alternative would be to take the train from Gatwick into London Victoria and then a coach from there to Southampton. It might also be worth thinking of a pre booked taxi ( cost about £130) to meet you at Gatwick and take you to the cruise terminal . Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob++ Posted January 4, 2017 #27 Share Posted January 4, 2017 For rail, you will need to leave it to nearer the date. This is a Southern Rail route and they have a load of problems just now. It will hopefully be resolved by September and it may well be that the schedules will change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josumello Posted January 4, 2017 #28 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Thanks!! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted January 4, 2017 #29 Share Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) A rail service on Sunday's, but no a direct service. For a Sunday, for simplicity a national Express coach is simplest, and cheaper. JB :) Edited January 4, 2017 by John Bull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josumello Posted January 5, 2017 #30 Share Posted January 5, 2017 A rail service on Sunday's, but no a direct service. For a Sunday, for simplicity a national Express coach is simplest, and cheaper. JB :) Is the National Express Coach available at Gatwick?? TIA Sue Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs4fun Posted January 5, 2017 #31 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Is the National Express Coach available at Gatwick?? TIA Sue Sent from my iPhone using Forums Yes - from Gatwick to Southampton coach station. http://www.nationalexpress.com/destinations/coach-travel-to-southampton.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josumello Posted January 5, 2017 #32 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Yes - from Gatwick to Southampton coach station. http://www.nationalexpress.com/destinations/coach-travel-to-southampton.aspx Great information!! Would u recommend buying tickets ahead of time or would it be better to wait. I am thinking of a delay with plane. [emoji23][emoji35] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShopperfiendTO Posted January 5, 2017 #33 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Generally how far out should one book the National Express buses to get the best fares? I understand that they can be as low as 5 pounds per person but does this mean booking it 6 or 9 months in advance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs4fun Posted January 6, 2017 #34 Share Posted January 6, 2017 (edited) Generally how far out should one book the National Express buses to get the best fares? I understand that they can be as low as 5 pounds per person but does this mean booking it 6 or 9 months in advance? Personally, I have no experience with these super cheap fares. Hopefully a local will chime-in with more info. I don't think the funfare (£5) is available from Gatwick to Southampton (but I could be mistaken). The funfare involves travel at off peak times, booking early & depends on which day you travel (according to their website). Here is the website on the £5 fares (put in your date & time of travel to see the fares - fares are usually available a year out): http://www.nationalexpress.com/cheap-coach-tickets.aspx Edited January 6, 2017 by dogs4fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs4fun Posted January 6, 2017 #35 Share Posted January 6, 2017 (edited) Great information!! Would u recommend buying tickets ahead of time or would it be better to wait. I am thinking of a delay with plane. [emoji23][emoji35] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Depends on how risk tolerant you are. I bought mine online - ahead of time (this was about 8 years ago & I was not traveling to a cruise port so my situation was entirely different from yours). I don't know if your route/time of day will be sold out (in which case, you would not be able to purchase a ticket on that coach on the day of travel) or whether or not you mind paying the (usually) higher price for purchasing your ticket on your day of travel. The answer to most questions can be found on the National Express website, FAQ. Here is the info on their website re: delay of plane: What should I do if my flight is delayed? We strongly recommend booking a coach which departs a minimum of 1 hour 30 minutes after you are due to land which will enable you to clear passport control and collect any luggage and make your way to our departure point. If your flight is delayed, you should aim to make contact with our staff before the time of departure on your ticket to request an amendment. Tickets can only be amended before the time of departure and are subject to an amendment fee, excess fare (where applicable) and seat availability. For added flexibility you might consider an open return ticket which will allow you to be booked onto the next available service by our staff, without fees and valid for 3 months from the original date of departure. Alternatively, a flexible add-on is available from the 'add extras' page when making your booking online which means that you can board any available coach 12 hours before or 12 hours after your original departure time Amend your ticket to a new departure date - free of charge obtain a refund on your ticket, when cancelled up to 24 hours before departure Edited January 6, 2017 by dogs4fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duesouth Posted January 7, 2017 #36 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Will be on the same cruise as you, there is a small roll call started here, if you feel like joining in http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2331490 Ok can you take this from Southampton to Gatwick? Or just departures from the airport to the cruise port? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted January 7, 2017 #37 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Great information!! Would u recommend buying tickets ahead of time or would it be better to wait. I am thinking of a delay with plane. [emoji23][emoji35] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Generally how far out should one book the National Express buses to get the best fares? I understand that they can be as low as 5 pounds per person but does this mean booking it 6 or 9 months in advance? Buy tickets in advance - coaches do book out. They!re very aware that flights can be delayed, so for journeys from airports (and ONLY from airports) you can switch your ticket to a later coach, subject to. £5 admin charge. There are no fun-fare rates on transfers to / from airports - fun-fares are to encourage folk to use buses for days out & such, there's no need to encourage folk to use the bus for airports cos they need the transport. JB :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sddsddean Posted January 7, 2017 #38 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Don't be too worried about the £5 admin fee. Though its in their T&C's, my Mum was late at Gatwick last year and they just put her on the next coach as there was room...no problem. I'm not saying they won't charge, but they might not and in the grand scheme of things, £5 is naff all when you are paying a couple of grand for a cruise! As long as you have a reservation, in my experience the staff will do their best to help you out. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotswold Eagle Posted January 7, 2017 #39 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Ok can you take this from Southampton to Gatwick? Or just departures from the airport to the cruise port? Sent from my iPad using Forums Take what? You have quoted a link to a roll call. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truffles2 Posted January 7, 2017 #40 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Yo0u can take Smith's from airport to cruise port OR to hotel; from cruise port to an airport or a hotel, etc. Almost anywhere you want....just contact them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phabric Posted January 7, 2017 #41 Share Posted January 7, 2017 For LHR, they say plan 90 minutes from leaving the plane and through imgration. How long for Gatwick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted January 8, 2017 #42 Share Posted January 8, 2017 For LHR, they say plan 90 minutes from leaving the plane and through imgration. How long for Gatwick? Broadly the same, though as anywhere it's a matter of luck. Bus stops at both of Gatwicks terminals so it's easier than LHRs Ts 1, 2, 3. The train station is in South Terminal. Private transfer drivers will want your flight number and can figure it themselves. JB :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbee Posted January 8, 2017 #43 Share Posted January 8, 2017 A quick look at nationalrail.co.uk and Sunday's easiest trip requires a change of train (same platform) at Ford (a little village on the south coast). It's faster than taking a coach (2h02m vs 2h30m), runs more often than taking a coach (every hour, vs every 2h30), and likely more comfortable. Oh, and it's GBP8.50; seems like a no brainer to me. Buy your ticket in advance, getting to the platform at Gatwick is easy and well marked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotswold Eagle Posted January 9, 2017 #44 Share Posted January 9, 2017 A quick look at nationalrail.co.uk and Sunday's easiest trip requires a change of train (same platform) at Ford (a little village on the south coast). It's faster than taking a coach (2h02m vs 2h30m), runs more often than taking a coach (every hour, vs every 2h30), and likely more comfortable. Oh, and it's GBP8.50; seems like a no brainer to me. Buy your ticket in advance, getting to the platform at Gatwick is easy and well marked. You are correct on the current timetable, although the change may also be at Barnham. That fare is an Advance and can be cheaper, but not yet possible to book for September - and won't be for about 5 months. As Bob said earlier, need to wait and see what will happen, particularly as these are two Southern services, with all their industrial dispute problems! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duesouth Posted January 9, 2017 #45 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Totally agree we use Smiths for all our Airport and Cruise travel, nice cars, good drivers and reasonably priced as well. Would you know the cost from the cruise port to Gatwick?? Thank you Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob++ Posted January 9, 2017 #46 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Would you know the cost from the cruise port to Gatwick?? Thank you Sent from my iPhone using Forums Which cruise port? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duesouth Posted January 9, 2017 #47 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Which cruise port? Sorry... Southampton Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arachnid Posted January 10, 2017 #48 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Would you know the cost from the cruise port to Gatwick?? Thank you Sent from my iPhone using Forums today the price was quoted at £74 for two people, that's to Gatwick or Heathrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duesouth Posted January 10, 2017 #49 Share Posted January 10, 2017 If my ship docks at 5:30 AM in south hampton and I get early disembarkation, would it be reasonable to think that I could be at the National Coach bus station in south Hampton for 6:50 AM for the bus departure?? Thanks for all the help so far... [emoji173][emoji4] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duesouth Posted January 10, 2017 #50 Share Posted January 10, 2017 today the price was quoted at £74 for two people, that's to Gatwick or Heathrow. Thank you! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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