Taxi on disembarkation day

[riki10555]

We would like to take the national express from Southampton to Heathrow at the end of the cruise. However with so many people getting off the ship would it be difficult to find a taxi to the bus station? From your experience how much time should we allow from disembarking to getting to the bus station in Southampton? We are 4 people so maybe withe the luggage would need 2 taxis? Would appreciate any advice.

[gumshoe958]

49 minutes ago, riki10555 said:

We would like to take the national express from Southampton to Heathrow at the end of the cruise. However with so many people getting off the ship would it be difficult to find a taxi to the bus station? From your experience how much time should we allow from disembarking to getting to the bus station in Southampton? We are 4 people so maybe withe the luggage would need 2 taxis? Would appreciate any advice.

There’ll be plenty of taxis, and it’s only a 5-10 minute drive to the coach station, depending on which terminal you arrive at.

Disembarkation at Southampton is normally very quick. Very occasionally the UK Border Force does spot checks which slows things down, but that’s unlikely to be an issue for cruises that start and end at Southampton.

 

[riki10555]

Many thanks for your quick and reassuring response

[John Bull]

Gumshoe was referencing a recent cruise which was targeted by HM Border Force, who for one cruise (5,000 passengers) checked through every passenger's luggage and caused traffic chaos for cruisers and locals alike. That cruise was Southampton to Southampton, but visited the Canary Islands - tobacco prices in the UK super-high, tobacco price in the Canaries super-low, nod nod, wink wink, say no more. Because of the traffic grief that they caused, Border Force won't be doing the same again for many many years.

 

Taxis from the rank at terminals are used only for short trips - the rail station, the coach station, Southampton hotels etc - because they're not economic for those travelling further afield, such as London airports. So taxis join the back of the line almost as fast as they depart from the front of the line.

There may be periods when there are more passengers than taxis, so occasionally a delay of 15 to 20 minutes, but very very rarely longer

 

JB 🙂

[riki10555]

So getting off the ship about an hour before the bus departure time would be enough in your opinion?

[John Bull]

2 hours ago, riki10555 said:

So getting off the ship about an hour before the bus departure time would be enough in your opinion?

 

No promises, but at the terminal exit an hour ahead of the bus seems perfectly safe

 

JB 🙂

[riki10555]

Many thanks

[Cardiff girl]

18 hours ago, riki10555 said:

So getting off the ship about an hour before the bus departure time would be enough in your opinion?

An hour should work but personally, I'd allow longer to feel comfortable.

Last Oct Border Force wanted to see every passport on our ship, causing anxiety and delay. Sometimes four or five big ships disembark on the same day. 

National Express has a Change and Go add on. You can board any available coach 12 hours either side of your departure for £5 per passenger each way.

[gnome12]

4 hours ago, Cardiff girl said:

National Express has a Change and Go add on. You can board any available coach 12 hours either side of your departure for £5 per passenger each way.

I thought that was only available at the airports.

[John Bull]

17 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

I thought that was only available at the airports.

 

 

Yes, that was the case - you simply bought a ticket in advance, and because of the difficulties with early/late flights, fast or slow airport formalities etc, at airports only you could transfer it to an earlier or later coach subject to a £5 admin fee.

Now you have to pay that fee up-front by choosing "Change & Go" if you want that flexibility.

And that has also been rolled out to its bigger coach stations, including Southampton.

 

Because the facility to switch depends on availability of seats, I rate it best to book the coach time that you're tolerably certain you'll make (thereby securing your seats) and switch to an earlier one if you're in time to catch it.

That particularly applies at Southampton - disembarking unassisted you can usually catch the 07.30 bus to Heathrow but the more-sensible 09.45 often books out. So book the 09.45 & change to the 07.30 if you're there in time

 

JB 🙂

 

[riki10555]

Our flight out is at 15:00 so 7:30 would be way too early. 9:45 would be good for us.

[John Bull]

1 minute ago, riki10555 said:

Our flight out is at 15:00 so 7:30 would be way too early. 9:45 would be good for us.

 

Yep - the 9.45 will give you time for something to eat on the ship & get you to LHR more than early enough. 🙂 

 

JB 🙂