Help/info please on getting from London Hotel to Southampton the day before the cruise. Any transfers offer optional tour?

[bluecruisin]

Thanks so much!!

[John Bull]

Your choice might depend on the location of your hotel, the main options are

 

- By train from London Waterloo train station direct to Southampton Central station, about 3 trains per hour, journey time about 90 minutes. Because direct trains are so frequent, avoid those which involve a change  

Walk-up fares are expensive - £52 pp., but from about 12 weeks out you can buy cheap advance tickets for under £20. No refund or changes on cheap advance tickets, and they are only good for the train time that you book - miss that train and your tickets are trash, you'll have to pay the walk-up fare for the next train. Since you'll already be in London you have no excuse like a flight delay for missing the train, so cheap advance tickets are the way to go.

Trains also from London Victoria train station - cheaper but only an hourly service, journey time an hour longer and one slightly difficult train change. 

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

 

- By bus from London Victoria coach station direct to Southampton coach station. Poorer frequency, journey times 2 1/2 to 3 hrs, coaches have bathroom and at-seat wi-fi, driver loads & unloads luggage. Fare only £8 pp Advance booking strongly advised.

https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

 

- by private transfer door-to-door from central London to Southampton. Myriad operators, pre-booked rate for a sedan upward from £180, journey time 2 - 3 hrs.

 

- By cruise tour-transfer  coach

Friends International are a long-established and reputable London tour coach operator. They offer door-to-door cruise ship tour-transfers, including London to Southampton via Windsor or Stonehenge

   https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/shore-excursions-and-cruise-transfers.html 

Pick-up from major hotels in central London (if yours isn't served you make your way to a nearby hotel which is listed). Driver loads & unloads luggage.

At the end of the tour-transfer they drop at the Southampton cruise terminal of the cruise served.

Of course that won't be the cruise which you're taking, so check the port website below for ships being served on the day of your transfer and book as for that cruise. Ensure that the driver knows that you won't be boarding the ship, he will then load your luggage separately. You then collect your luggage from the driver and take a taxi (there'll be plenty dropping passengers off)  to your Southampton lodging.

NB On the same page, Friends International offer direct van transfers - IMHO they're not great value

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

The port website names the port agent or cruise corporation, the International Friends' website names the cruiselines. So you may need to google the name/s of ship/s sailing that day to find out the name of the cruiseline.

(If you're not yet committed to Southampton accommodation and your ship is served by International Friends you could travel next day with your fellow-cruisers)

 

JB 🙂

 

 

[JennyLynnP]

We did the International Friends to Stonehenge then Southhampton, and that was a GREAT tour. Plenty of time at Stonehenge, seamless pick up at hotel and drop off at the port - definitely worth it. They are pros at this.

Edited February 23 by JennyLynnP

[klfrodo]

Before you choose who to go with, ensure that the price includes the number of bags you can take. We discovered (in time to make changes) that they only allowed 1 bag per person. We had more than the allotted amount and we had to change to a different mode of transportation.

[John Bull]

1 hour ago, klfrodo said:

Before you choose who to go with, ensure that the price includes the number of bags you can take. We discovered (in time to make changes) that they only allowed 1 bag per person. We had more than the allotted amount and we had to change to a different mode of transportation.

 

In the UK and most other places probably including the wild & woolly NW of the USA, luggage is limited by law.

To minimise injuries in the event of an accident,  large cases aren't permitted in the cabins of a coach - a large unsecured case could be thrown the length of the cabin, same as an un-belted passenger. (And yes, coaches are fitted with seat-belts and passengers are required to wear them except when moving about the coach eg to the bathroom). 

And penalties are high for owning or driving a commercial vehicle which is over its MGW (maximum gross weight). 

 

International Friends'' limit is 2 x 23kg checked cases & one 10kg cabin case per passenger, which is surely enough for anyone ?

That's more generous than most coach journeys, because they are aware that all of the passengers have vacation luggage. Their coaches are mainly 44 to 49-seaters, but note that for cruise tour-transfers they book a max of 35 passengers. This is due to the size of coach belly lockers and the vehicle's MGW

See FAQ on cruise tour-transfers https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/london-heathrow-to-southampton-via-stonehenge.html

 

I've driven many many ships' transfer coaches for multiple cruise lines. They didn't have any luggage limit but with the exception of Cunard (who use trucks for excess luggage) they too anticipate carrying only about 33 to 35 passengers per coach They have the advantage of up to a dozen coaches for a single airport, so if anyone brings significantly more luggage & consequently a coach maxes out at say 32 passengers, there'll be spare capacity on other coaches.

 

National Express coach fares include an allowance of 1 x 20kg case & 1 45x35x20cm hand luggage per person..

But cases aren't weighed and drivers aren't wimps, so there or thereabouts and usual aircraft allowance shouldn't be as problem.

If you want to take more luggage you can book it with your coach tickets at £10 per bag.

I'm guessing that Nat Express' long experience is that the number of passengers without cases or with cases below the allowance weights exceeds the number of extra cases (be aware that their routes don't start at London airports, so there are always plenty of day-trippers etc. with next-to-no-luggage)

https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/luggage-lost-property

 

Trains. I recall a long and hilarious thread which ended up estimating how many sheep plus the appropriate number of sheepdogs you could take on trains, but the upshot was that there's no maximum number of  cases (or sheep) that would concern cruisers.

But there's usually no paid help to carry or load

 

Private transfers. Even cars are subject to MGW, although the average owner wouldn't  know theirs or even where to find it.

Every airport transfer quote that  I've ever seen wants to know the number of adults, children, large cases and hand-cases - and allocates an appropriate vehicle.

 

JB 🙂

 

[Globaliser]

2 hours ago, John Bull said:

Trains. I recall a long and hilarious thread which ended up estimating how many sheep plus the appropriate number of sheepdogs you could take on trains, but the upshot was that there's no maximum number of  cases (or sheep) that would concern cruisers.

 

The current National Rail conditions of carriage (wef 6 February 2022) say:

 

23.1 You may take up to three items of luggage into the passenger accommodation of a train unless:

    23.1.1 your luggage is such that it may cause injury, inconvenience or a nuisance or it may cause damage to property;

    23.1.2 there is not enough room for it;

    23.1.3 your luggage would obstruct doorways, gangways or corridors;

    23.1.4 the loading or unloading may cause delay to trains;

    23.1.5 your luggage is not carried or packaged in a suitable manner;

    23.1.6 your luggage is one of the prohibited items shown in the list shown in 23.4 below;

    23.1.7 a Train Company has set out any special conditions relating to the carrying of luggage on their own train services. In such cases these conditions will be made available when buying your Ticket in advance and will be shown on the Train Company’s website.

 

I think that these default rules are in theory applicable to all the usual domestic train operating companies. (I haven't checked Eurostar's provisions.)

 

In addition, some TOCs have set out special conditions. For example, LNER says "Please note we only allow three items per person. A maximum of one large suitcase, a carry on bag and small handbag can be brought onboard." The maximum size of the permitted suitcase (singular) is 90 x 70 x 30 cm.

 

LNER is not alone, although it attracted adverse media attention at the time that it started publicising this (for example, this article - which also has interesting inaccuracies as well as photographic evidence of why the limits are sometimes needed). GWR also publicises limits:

 

What you can bring

• small cases and bags. These can be kept under your seat
• medium-sized cases and bags. Perfect for overhead racks - just like on a plane
• larger items - up to 25 x 40 x 70cm is fine. These should be stored in the dedicated luggage areas

If you can’t find any space on the train, speak to one of our on-board staff. We may have to store your luggage in a different carriage, so make sure you label and lock your cases.
 

What you can’t bring

• more than 3 pieces of luggage. Or anything larger than 30 x 70 x 90cm
• anything that might cause an injury, obstruction, or damage
• luggage that might cause a delay when it’s being loaded and unloaded

I think the TOC that is most likely to concern cruisers is SWR, which doesn't seem to publicise limits. And actual enforcement is another matter altogether (see a more sober specialist press article here). But whatever hilarious conclusions that previous thread reached, whenever it was, I think they must now be looked at in the light of these expressly-stated limits.

 

2 hours ago, John Bull said:

Private transfers. Even cars are subject to MGW, although the average owner wouldn't  know theirs or even where to find it.

Every airport transfer quote that  I've ever seen wants to know the number of adults, children, large cases and hand-cases - and allocates an appropriate vehicle.

 

I suspect that where cars are concerned, luggage is likely to bulk out before it weighs out. AIUI, this is common in the parcel business, too, both by air and road.

[John Bull]

9 minutes ago, Globaliser said:

 

The current National Rail conditions of carriage (wef 6 February 2022) say:

 

23.1 You may take up to three items of luggage into the passenger accommodation of a train unless:

    23.1.1 your luggage is such that it may cause injury, inconvenience or a nuisance or it may cause damage to property;

    23.1.2 there is not enough room for it;

    23.1.3 your luggage would obstruct doorways, gangways or corridors;

    23.1.4 the loading or unloading may cause delay to trains;

    23.1.5 your luggage is not carried or packaged in a suitable manner;

    23.1.6 your luggage is one of the prohibited items shown in the list shown in 23.4 below;

    23.1.7 a Train Company has set out any special conditions relating to the carrying of luggage on their own train services. In such cases these conditions will be made available when buying your Ticket in advance and will be shown on the Train Company’s website.

 

I think that these default rules are in theory applicable to all the usual domestic train operating companies. (I haven't checked Eurostar's provisions.)

 

In addition, some TOCs have set out special conditions. For example, LNER says "Please note we only allow three items per person. A maximum of one large suitcase, a carry on bag and small handbag can be brought onboard." The maximum size of the permitted suitcase (singular) is 90 x 70 x 30 cm.

 

LNER is not alone, although it attracted adverse media attention at the time that it started publicising this (for example, this article - which also has interesting inaccuracies as well as photographic evidence of why the limits are sometimes needed). GWR also publicises limits:

 

What you can bring

• small cases and bags. These can be kept under your seat
• medium-sized cases and bags. Perfect for overhead racks - just like on a plane
• larger items - up to 25 x 40 x 70cm is fine. These should be stored in the dedicated luggage areas

If you can’t find any space on the train, speak to one of our on-board staff. We may have to store your luggage in a different carriage, so make sure you label and lock your cases.
 

What you can’t bring

• more than 3 pieces of luggage. Or anything larger than 30 x 70 x 90cm
• anything that might cause an injury, obstruction, or damage
• luggage that might cause a delay when it’s being loaded and unloaded

I think the TOC that is most likely to concern cruisers is SWR, which doesn't seem to publicise limits. And actual enforcement is another matter altogether (see a more sober specialist press article here). But whatever hilarious conclusions that previous thread reached, whenever it was, I think they must now be looked at in the light of these expressly-stated limits.

 

 

Interestingly the Nat Rail site says "You’re generally welcome to bring up to 3 pieces of luggage" 

(the bold face is mine)

 

SWR do have a limit of 3 cases per passenger (Southern is the one which doesn't appear to have a limit)  though as you say enforcement is another matter.

And I'm not sure where in a cabin you'd fit more than six cases 🙄 

 

And an update on that previous thread. South-west's limit is two sheepdogs 🐕🐕 per passenger, and smaller animals like lambs must be carried in a cage.🐑

 

JB 🙂

[klfrodo]

8 hours ago, John Bull said:

 

In the UK and most other places probably including the wild & woolly NW of the USA, luggage is limited by law.

 

 

 

 

JB 🙂

 

Thank you for sharing some great info.

 

My experience here in the States is different though. When you reserve a slot in a shared van to leave your hotel to go to a cruise ship, the van shows up with a trailer hooked up to the van just for the luggage.

That's my experience and that was my expectation for shared transportation from London to Southampton to the cruise ship. As it turned out, my expectation was unrealistic. Fortunately, I was able to correct my mistake in time. My original post was to just share my experience for someone traveling a great distance and let them be aware of the different operational practices.

[John Bull]

4 hours ago, klfrodo said:

Thank you for sharing some great info.

 

My experience here in the States is different though. When you reserve a slot in a shared van to leave your hotel to go to a cruise ship, the van shows up with a trailer hooked up to the van just for the luggage.

That's my experience and that was my expectation for shared transportation from London to Southampton to the cruise ship. As it turned out, my expectation was unrealistic. Fortunately, I was able to correct my mistake in time. My original post was to just share my experience for someone traveling a great distance and let them be aware of the different operational practices.

 

 

It's a similar operation on roads in mainland Europe, but with full-size and over-size tour coaches towing luggage trailers.

Distances in the UK are shorter, but some continental operators use the same combo for their coach tours here - they occasionally get in a pickle and screw-up traffic on some of Britain's twisty roads & narrow over-crowded city streets.

 

I know of only one local operator using minibus (van) plus trailer

 

JB 🙂

[Crown Vic]

On 2/24/2024 at 7:01 PM, John Bull said:

…and smaller animals like lambs must be carried in a cage.🐑

JB 🙂

Big C (aka JB), to your lamb quote, gotta say “baaah”. 
Keep up the good work. Regards to J.

C (aka CV)…