Easiest way to and from London to Southampton cruise port

[Travel&books6]

I have a cruise starting at Southampton.  We will have large luggage pieces with us.  What is the best way to get to and from the cruise port that won’t cost a fortune?  Thank you in advance.

[mom says]

There's a thread for that in the Ports of Call forum:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/148-british-isleswestern-europe/

 

It's a sticky at the top of the page.

[Flatbush Flyer]

4 minutes ago, Travel&books6 said:

….won’t cost a fortune? 

The key phrase here is “ ….won’t cost a fortune?“

Do you want $ or value?

if it’s value, find a shared private transfer service. We used to use Silver Fleet in London. But, I think they’re gone due to Covid. Check with your precruise hotel concierge.

[Essiesmom]

It’s likely your cruise line will offer a coach transfer from Victoria Coach Station.  ‘em

[Host Kat]

8 hours ago, Travel&books6 said:

I have a cruise starting at Southampton.  We will have large luggage pieces with us.  What is the best way to get to and from the cruise port that won’t cost a fortune?  Thank you in advance.

 

Hello @Travel&books6

 

Thank you for your new thread on the Ask s Cruise Question forum! However, it is the forum for general questions regarding cruising. Your inquiry was off topic there since it is about a specific port, Southampton. Your new thread has been moved to the Ports of Call - Europe - British Isles/Western Europe forum where it will be on topic. Browse through the thread titles in this forum looking for threads of interest. You may find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that may be of interest to you.

 

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[Travel&books6]

Thank you for the information.  

[love to cruz]

1 hour ago, Travel&books6 said:

Thank you for the information.  

We always use National Express Coach out of Victoria Coach Station in London. Very reasonable, new buses. Extra suit cases (after the first two) are only $10.00

[Cotswold Eagle]

13 hours ago, Travel&books6 said:

I have a cruise starting at Southampton.  We will have large luggage pieces with us.  What is the best way to get to and from the cruise port that won’t cost a fortune?  

A rather important clarification needed here is from where exactly? Have you a hotel booked in London? And if you are implying that you can't handle your luggage, your desire not to spend much money may be a difficult constraint! Hopefully you realise that Southampton is 80 miles from London.

Edited September 1 by Cotswold Eagle

[blloyd78]

In our experience, National Express coaches are the most cost-effective option for travelling between London and Southampton Cruise Terminals.

Here's a detailed guide to help you get started:

https://www.journeyintodarkness.co.uk/national-express-to-southampton-cruise-terminal

[John Bull]

1 hour ago, blloyd78 said:

In our experience, National Express coaches are the most cost-effective option for travelling between London and Southampton Cruise Terminals.

Here's a detailed guide to help you get started:

https://www.journeyintodarkness.co.uk/national-express-to-southampton-cruise-terminal

 

Good information on that website.

 

But since the OP mentions "large luggage pieces" they need to note the luggage limitations, they are now more restrictive than in the past - just one case per passenger plus hand-luggage, altho you can add more cases at £10 each.

Don't worry too much about the weight of each case - drivers load & unload luggage and the 20kg limit isn't strict like it is on aircraft, it's to indemnify the operator against claims for injury to drivers. But Nat Express drivers aren't wimps, luggage isn't weighed unless very clearly over that limit & certainly no problem if within the 23kg limit set by many airlines. 

The coaches go to Southampton coach station which even with luggage is walkable to a couple of cruise terminals. As per @blloyd78's link there's a taxi rank at the coach station but rarely taxis sat on it, instead they tend to swing by.

Coaches don't have elastic sides & extra coaches aren't laid-on to cater for extra demand so you're very strongly advised to pre-book. 

 https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

 

Most cruise lines offer coach transfers on sailing day, from Heathrow & Gatwick airports, & from central London - usually the same London Victoria coach station as National Express. Like pretty-well all cruise transfers they're over-priced, but with excess luggage or heavy pieces they're worth considering because there are no limits. And they take you to your cruise terminal

 

The two public transport options from central London are by that Nat Express coach service from Victoria coach station or by train.

 

By train you need to schlepp your luggage but it's much easier than in the USA - train carriages are either at platform level or just one easy step up. Frequent fast (90 minutes) direct trains from London Waterloo station, or from Victoria train station much slower (2 1/2 hours) half-hourly trains which involve one simple same-platform change at either Barnham or Havant..

NB avoid Victoria trains which involve a change at Clapham Junction 😧 because that change is awkward with luggage and it's a much more expensive route.

From Waterloo is the better service, but Victoria may suit if your London lodgings are there.

Southampton Central train station is quite close to the coach station, again walkable even with luggage to Horizon or City cruise terminals and taxis always on the rank.

No requirement to pre-book trains, but Advance tickets are very much cheaper at about a third of the cost. The only significant downside of Advance tickets is that they're unchangeable / un-refundable and are only good for the train time that you book. Advance tickets are available from about 12 weeks out, Advance fares are fluid, they rise as the travel date approaches.

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

 

If you want to combine your travel to port with a visit to either Windsor or Stonehenge consider https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/shore-excursions-and-cruise-transfers.html

International Friends is a long-established & very reputable coach operator, who added cruise tour-transfers some years ago and gets very good reviews on Cruise Critic. This is a door-to-door (central London or Heathrow hotel to cruise terminal) service available to most ships on sailing day. I think there are no limitations on cruisers' luggage - same as cruiseline-sponsored transfers they limit the number of passengers per 48-seater coach to about 30  to allow for extra luggage. Drivers load & unload.

(For singletons their direct van transfers are better value than a private transfer).

 

A private transfer from central London would be in the order of £180 to £200 for a sedan.

 

 JB 🙂

 

 

 

 

[Travel&books6]

Thank you so much. 

[SophieM]

On 8/31/2024 at 9:41 PM, love to cruz said:

We always use National Express Coach out of Victoria Coach Station in London. Very reasonable, new buses. Extra suit cases (after the first two) are only $10.00

We just did that from Southampton to London. Worked great! Just a short cab ride from the ship to the coach station. 

[GloriaF]

Can you fly into Southampton from London?

[blloyd78]

Not on a scheduled airline, no. 

[John Bull]

4 hours ago, GloriaF said:

Can you fly into Southampton from London?

 

No.

Southampton airport has flights to a number of UK & European destinations

but it's only about 60 miles from LHR, and 85 from Gatwick.

 

JB 🙂