Help, please. Sailing from Southampton next March.

[Lady Bordeaux]

Hello all

A cruise has been booked and we are sailing from Southampton in March 2024.. Our first ever cruise, but I am really not sure about ports and there seems to be no advice anywhere. Hope you can help.

The ship departs at 3pm.

I am worried about parking. We are travelling by car (driving our own) down to Southampton, over 150 miles from home. It's a long journey. Would you travel the day before and stay at a Southampton hotel the night before, or go straight to Southampton on the day and park the car? I have no idea about facilities at the terminal in Southampton or where we should park the car.

I need to book parking soon, so any advice would be gratefully received. Thank you. 

[crystalspin]

Hello LadyB and welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

This post will probably be moved to the UK Cruisers board, or you can simply copy it to one of the two sub-boards, included here:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/543-uk-cruising/

[ldubs]

I think you will have some options for parking and need not worry.  I second @crystalspin's suggestion for getting the best advice.  

[Host Kat]

9 hours ago, Lady Bordeaux said:

Hello all

A cruise has been booked and we are sailing from Southampton in March 2024.. Our first ever cruise, but I am really not sure about ports and there seems to be no advice anywhere. Hope you can help.

The ship departs at 3pm.

I am worried about parking. We are travelling by car (driving our own) down to Southampton, over 150 miles from home. It's a long journey. Would you travel the day before and stay at a Southampton hotel the night before, or go straight to Southampton on the day and park the car? I have no idea about facilities at the terminal in Southampton or where we should park the car.

I need to book parking soon, so any advice would be gratefully received. Thank you. 

 

Hello @Lady Bordeaux and welcome to Cruise Critic and the message boards!

 

To help you out, your new thread has been moved to the UK Cruisers forum where it will be on topic. That is where you can learn more about cruising from the UK or on UK based ships from cruisers just like you! We also have The Pub forum to talk about almost anything with other UK cruisers. And in our Ports of Call forums, you will want to research our Ports of Call - Europe - British Isles/Western Europe forum. Lots of information about Southampton there. For all our ports of call forums, click here: Ports of Call. Please browse through the thread titles in the forums looking for threads of interest. You will probably find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that may be of interest to you.

 

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Happy sails,

 

Host Kat

 

[Bloodgem]

Hi welcome to CC (Cruise Critics)

 

I live about 190 miles from Southampton and always travel down the day before. I don't want the stress of travelling down the same day in case of road closures due to accidents.

 

If you could post the name of the ship we can give more specific advice, about parking, as Southampton has different terminals for different cruise lines.

 

Check out the Ports of Call section of CC for advice about the ports you will be visiting: 

 https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/8-europe/

[Harters]

On the occasion that we cruised from Southampton, back in 2018, we drove down (from near Manchester) the day before. It eliminates any potential stress of travelling on cruse day. We've also done similar when cruising from a port in another country - earlier this year, we had two nights in Barcelona). Driving from the northwest, we looked for a nice hotel somewhere between Winchester and Southampton, but decided on one in the New Forest which was fine. Either way, it gives you a roughly 45 minutes journey the next day.  Of course there are hotels very close to the port but not all have their own car park. 

 

We used Parking4Cruises who were fine. Their drop-off point was, literally, opposite the cruise terminal.

Edited November 19, 2023 by Harters

[Host Hattie]

We usually travel the day before and book a hotel with parking included for the cruise. 

There are a few hotels in the area offering similar packages but we like the Montague Arms in Beaulieu. 

[babs135]

We live in the north west of the UK and although we have travelled to Southampton on the day of sailing it is not really recommended but sometimes the only option. We've stayed at the Elizabeth House Hotel in Southampton which does a very nice breakfast and they will keep your car while you're away and organise a taxi to the port. If you must travel down on the day, then look at Penguin Parking which will shuttle you to and from the port.                Regarding your question re ports, I'm not sure what you mean. The website for your cruise, you haven't said who you are sailing with, will have information on them and you can also Google for more information. You've been told where to look here but another site which may help is:     Whatsinport.com                         Please don't hesitate to come back and ask any questions.                      

[norahs-lot]

We have sailed out of Southampton on several different cruise lines over the past two years and can recommend CPS, on site at Southampton, for car parking if you are sailing with Princess, P&O or Cunard... these are the cruise lines that CPS deal with. ABP is another on site company that we have used for parking if you are sailing with Celebrity, Fred Olsen, MSC, NCL, Royal Caribbean or Saga. Car parking is bookable online, in advance, with either of these companies.

We always travel down the day before, staying overnight locally. Holiday Inn on Herbert Walker Avenue, Southampton is so convenient and budget friendly but have also splurged on the Southampton Harbour Hotel for a very special occasion!

[Thejuggler]

A hotel the night before is less stressful.

 

It doesn't have to be in Southampton, I just look for the cheapest hotel (usually Premierinn) within no more than an hours drive from the port.

 

Parking depends which line you are sailing with.  For first trip I'd use the recommended company.

 

ABP is brilliant as the car is parked and left next to the ship.  CPS is a bit of a faff as its valet parking so you need to queue to hand over keys and then pick the car up from the terminal car park on the return.
 

 

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

We always drive down the day before. Sometimes we use CPS or one of the other parking companies at the port. Other times we stay the night before in a hotel that includes parking and get a cab to the port (and back on arrival). It is really your choice but travelling the day before ensures you do not have last minute travel issues increasing your stress. Also, it means the holiday starts the day before so it chills us down ready for the cruise.

[MBP&O2/O]

Keep an eye on 

 

https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

 

Good source of accurate berthing information

Edited December 11, 2023 by MBP&O2/O

[lebreos]

We travel from south wales aiming to get to Southampton around 12 - so 8am ish start. If the worst happens that's what travel insurance is for.. Parking as above the cruise line deals with onsite parking - valet as cps or abp as above. Have used penguin parking - you drop car at their site 10 min away they shuttle you to and from berth. Also used triangle parking for P&O as its a 5 min walk from a car park literally outside port gate, you keep keys and leave car. We dropped off main luggage on arrival then went back out to part car and walk back with hand luggage and vice versa on return. Book as early as you can for these. Not used long stay car parks or hotels so cant advise, but I stay clear of cheaper meet and greet services unless you 100% sure of them as some cowboys about...