Disembarkation Day - Southampton

[Opie]

We are Americans doing the 7-day nordic cruise on Sapphire Princess returning to Southampton (UK) on 6/23. We don't fly home until the next day. From what I understand, we are to be out of our rooms at 8am, at which time I expect we will take our carry ons up to the restaurant for breakfast. What time should I tell the driver to be ready for us to pick us up after customs, if we are done with breakfast by around 8:40? I was thinking 9:30?

 

By the way, if anyone has a Patter from disembarkation day in Southampton please send me the link -- thank you!

[WatchHill]

No customs. You have the option of selecting a disembarkation time and will receive color coded tags so you can locate your luggage in the terminal. Leaving the ship can be annoying of they are using only one way off - every cruise card needs to be scanned, then down the ramp, find luggage and walk it through the doors to the arrival hall area to meet your driver.

 

We had our driver meet us at 8: as we planned a tour through the countryside, New Forest, stop in Lyndhurst and then to LHR for our 4:PM flight. This was on the Royal, last month, a larger ship and the line to disembark was wrapped around beyond the casino.

 

darcy

[dog]

We took the Princess transfer to LHR, which left at 9:30. They also dropped people off at the hotels by the airport. If they give you a time you don't care for just go to guest services and get it changed the night before. Your driver could come any time between 8-9:30.

[retiredtoday]

No customs. You have the option of selecting a disembarkation time and will receive color coded tags so you can locate your luggage in the terminal. Leaving the ship can be annoying of they are using only one way off - every cruise card needs to be scanned, then down the ramp, find luggage and walk it through the doors to the arrival hall area to meet your driver.

 

 

 

We had our driver meet us at 8: as we planned a tour through the countryside, New Forest, stop in Lyndhurst and then to LHR for our 4:PM flight. This was on the Royal, last month, a larger ship and the line to disembark was wrapped around beyond the casino.

 

 

 

darcy

 

 

 

Darcy did you arrive at LHR a day before your trip began or day of. Did you use princess transfer? If you arrived the day before how did you get to your hotel? Thanks for any info you can give me

 

 

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[long cruiser]

We were on the royal 4/16-5/13/18 and took the princess transfer.our hotel (hilton)was at terminal 4.Princess only has transfers to terminal three.It cost us $35.00usd to go from one terminal t6o the other.

long c ruiser

[phabric]

Darcy did you arrive at LHR a day before your trip began or day of. Did you use princess transfer? If you arrived the day before how did you get to your hotel? Thanks for any info you can give me

 

 

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I have used http://www.justairports.com a car service to/from LHR to our London hotel, use your hotel’s postal code to get a quote (per car not per person).

 

Internationalfriends http://www.internationalfriends.co.uk goes on embankment/disembarkment days from LHR hotels, certain London hotels to/from Southampton dock. An great way to see Stonehenge to Southampton Princess dock or Salisbury, Stonehenge, Windsor from Southampton Princess dock then on to certain London, LHR hotel or LHR.

 

National Express http://www.nationalexpress.com goes from LHR or London Victoria Coach Station to Southampton Coach Station (this is the station you want) and then a short taxi (under £10) to/from Princess dock.

 

Princess has transfers on embankment/disembarkment days from LHR and London Victoria Coach Station, direct to the dock.

 

Train from London Waterloo train station to Southampton train station and a short taxi (less than £10).

[Opie]

Thanks everyone. We are using a private vendor to pick us up. I'm just trying to determine if we eat breakfast until 8:30-8:45 if we will be allowed to disembark around that time and how long it will likely take.

 

Darcy: What time did you leave to get in line to disembark?

[WatchHill]

Darcy did you arrive at LHR a day before your trip began or day of. Did you use princess transfer? If you arrived the day before how did you get to your hotel? Thanks for any info you can give me

 

 

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We always arrive at least 4 days before any European cruise, often planning an extended road trip or simply taking in London itself. Last month, we flew into LHR, took the Heathrow Express to Paddington Rail, [hint: but tickets at least 90 days out for a significant savings] and from there, walked to our hotel nearby - we prefer local hotels, not the big US based chains. After spending a few days taking in London sights, we requested a private transfer through the hotel to Victoria Coach where we took the 9: bus to Southampton. Yes, buy those tickets ahead of time, too, to ensure you have seats. Once in Southampton, we walked to the Novotel Hotel not all that difficult with rolling luggage - first time staying at Novotel and would use them again. After check in, we walked along West Quay to the Old Town, toured Tudor House, walked the old walls and had an early dinner at historic Duke of Wellington, excellent. After that we stopped at the huge shopping mall, bought a few things we really didn't need and worked our way back to the hotel, In the early evening, we stopped at Majestic Wines for a couple bottles of wine to take onto the ship - easy 5 minute walk from the hotel. On the morning of the cruise, nice hotel breakfast, the hotel called a private transfer for us, through West Quay Taxi, and we arrived at the terminal about 11:AM, meeting friends who were arriving from Bournemouth, England.

 

We have an unwritten and unspoken rule: Avoid cruise line tours and transfers unless really willing to be disappointed and comfortable with overpaying.

 

Post cruise - We [now 5 of us] were off the ship by 8: and I had arranged a private tour/transfer through Discover The South, part of West Quay taxi. The driver helped with luggage and off we went for a highlight tour of Southampton, stopped at a nearby beach where we had time to walk along the shore, then a tour through New Forest and a stop in Lyndurst where we had cream tea and scones, then wandered through the local shops [spending a little more money]. From there, we headed to the local rail station to drop off one member of our group - she lives in Bournemouth and was taking rail back to her flat. Our driver/guide was very helpful in assisting her with luggage and making sure she was not alone waiting for the train. We continued our drive from the Forest onto the motorway and arrived at Terminal 3 where our driver got each of us a luggage cart, helped load the luggage and sent us on our way into the terminal.

 

Darcy

[Opie]

What time did you begin leaving the ship to make it to your transfer at 8am?

[WatchHill]

What time did you begin leaving the ship to make it to your transfer at 8am?

 

We were in line about 7:30 AM, and were not impress by the disorganization. I just read a review of the cruise after ours, and seems Princess hasn't stepped up to the plate and corrected this issue. Given the size of the ship and the need to expedite passenger disembarkation, Princess needs to have two exits off the ship. Worse part, was the steep ramp [tidal issue and should have been done on a lower deck]. Many seniors or those with mobility issues had difficulty managing the steep ramp.

 

The luggage is well organized, so it was easy to find our color and all of our pieces - from there it was but a few minutes to the arrival area where our tour guide was waiting. Yes, exactly 8: AM.

 

Darcy

[dog]

We were on the royal 4/16-5/13/18 and took the princess transfer.our hotel (hilton)was at terminal 4.Princess only has transfers to terminal three.It cost us $35.00usd to go from one terminal t6o the other.

long c ruiser

 

Re: Princess transfer: On May 12th we were dropped off at LHR terminal 2 and they also dropped off at 2 hotels first and 1 hotel after us.