Sharon Sparlin: CRUISE PORT OF SOUTHAMPTON, UK

The Southampton cruise port is located 80 miles southwest of London on the south coast of England and is the busiest cruise terminal in the United Kingdom.

The Port of Southampton has many claims to fame:

It was the main departure point for the Normandy Landings on D-day in 1944.

The fated RMS Titanic sailed from Southampton in 1912.

It was home port to the elite Cunard Shipping Line with their luxurious Transatlantic “Blue Riband” liner, RMS Queen Mary, and later RMS Queen Elizabeth making weekly sailings to and from New York City.

Southampton cruise port has two docks, Eastern and Western, and five cruise passenger terminals:

Queen Elizabeth II Terminal, berth 38/39 opened 1966, upgraded 2003 and again in 2016.
Mayflower Terminal, berth 106 opened 1960, upgraded 2003 and 2015.
City Terminal, berth 101 opened 2003, upgraded 2007
Ocean Terminal, berth 46 opened 2009.
Horizon Cruise Terminal, berth 102, opened summer 2021.

Official addresses for the five cruise ports are:

Horizon Cruise Terminal Western Docks Southampton SO15 1AW

City Cruise Terminal Herbert Walker Avenue Western Docks Southampton SO15 1HJ

Mayflower Cruise Terminal Western Docks Southampton SO15 1HJ

Ocean Cruise Terminal Eastern Docks Southampton SO14 3QN

QEII Cruise Terminal Eastern Docks Southampton SO14 3GG

Southampton is home port to some of the largest and most luxurious cruise lines and world-famous ships including:

P&O Cruises – Arcadia, Aurora, Azura, Britannia, Oceana and Ventura
Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Silhouette
Cunard – Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and the Transatlantic liner Queen Mary 2
Princess Cruises – Royal Princess and Sapphire Princess
Royal Caribbean – Independence of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas

Port Southampton is also a popular port of call for ships of other cruise companies, including:

AIDA – German cruise line, part of Carnival with 14 cruise ships,
Azamara Club Cruises
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Crystal Cruises
Costa Cruises– part of Carnival with 14 cruise ships
MSC Cruises - 11 cruise ships
Norwegian Cruise Line – 16 cruise ships
Oceania Cruises – 5 luxury ships
Regent Seven Seas Cruises – 5 luxury ships (part of NCL)
Saga Cruises – 3 ships, offering cruises for the over-50s
Silversea Cruises (owned 90% by Royal Caribbean with 6 ships)
TUI Cruises

The Port of Southampton is the United Kingdom's number one vehicle handling port, Europe's leading turnaround cruise port and the UK's most productive container port. Operated by DP World Southampton, the terminal is home to the new 500m deep water quay SCT5, which was built to handle the biggest ships in the world.

The port is less than two miles from the M27 and has direct rail links to the main railway network for both freight and passenger trains. The Port of Southampton is served by Southampton International Airport, while Gatwick and Heathrow airports are within easy reach.

The month of June found me aboard the Norwegian Star cruising 23 days from Southampton, UK to Reykjavik Iceland. The itinerary was physical demanding with 19 ports during the 23 day period.

For this trip I elected to fly non-stop from Los Angeles to London Heathrow airport, arriving into Terminal 3 at 10:25am aboard American Airlines flight #136. After clearing immigration and customs I then walked to the Heathrow Central Bus Station.

London Heathrow Airport

My GPS indicated a 7 minute walk of 0.4 miles. I had pre-purchased my bus ticket through National Express at a cost of $23.89 for the one-way fare from London Heathrow to Southampton.

The bus to Southampton was #203 and departed at 3:55pm, making stops at both terminal 4 and terminal 5, finally pulling out of the Heathrow airport complex at 4:30pm. With only 3 stops along the way arrival into Southampton was 6:10pm.

London Heathrow Central Bus Station

Inside bus with FREE wifi

Southampton National Express Bus Station

From here I took an UBER to the IBIS Southampton RED hotel at a cost of $6.84USD. There are 3 hotels located next to each other – IBIS Southampton RED Hotel, the IBIS Budget BLUE hotel and the higher end Novatel. All three of these properties are located next to a TGIFridays, McDonalds and a food market where you can find beer, wine and spirits.

With five cruise terminals and multiple berths in Southampton it will be important for you to know where your ship will be docking. You can check the Port of Southampton cruise ship schedule to determine your terminal and berth or check with your cruise company. The Norwegian Star would dock at the Horizon Cruise Terminal, berth 102.

Transfers to the Southampton Cruise Terminal can be via:

CRUISE SHIP COMPANY SHUTTLE PURCHASE

CAR

Allow at least 2 hours from Central London, depending on the time of day and traffic.

From the North, East and London Regions Traveling on the M3 southbound, follow signs for Southampton. Merge onto the M27 and follow the signs for the M27 West. Leave the M27 at Junction 3 and at the roundabout take the 1st exit signed M271 toward Southampton/The Docks.

At the next roundabout (Redbridge) take the 1st exit onto the A33 which will lead you along a dual carriageway heading into Southampton to the relevant Dock Gate assigned for your cruise.

For Ocean and QE11 Cruise Terminals only: From the end of the M3 at junction 14 follow A33 signs for Southampton & The Docks. This route will bring you out close to the Eastern Docks and Dock Gate 4, where the Ocean Cruise Terminal and QE11 Terminal are situated.

For the Western Docks proceed to City Cruise Terminal (access through Dock Gate 8) or for Mayflower Terminal proceed through Dock Gate 10.

From the West: From the A31 Poole & Bournemouth areas follow the road through the New Forest to join the M27. Leave the M27 at junction 3 and at the roundabout take the 3rd exit signed M271 toward Southampton/The Docks.

At the next roundabout (Redbridge) take the 1st exit onto the A33 which will lead you along a dual carriageway heading into Southampton to the relevant Dock Gate assigned for your cruise:

Horizon Cruise Terminal: Dock Gate 10

City Cruise Terminal: Dock Gate 10

Mayflower Cruise Terminal: Dock Gate 10

Ocean Cruise Terminal: Dock Gate 4

QE11 Cruise Terminal: Dock Gate 4

TRAIN

Trains run to Southampton from all over the UK. If you’re staying in Central London there are regular trains from Waterloo and Charing Cross stations with South Western Railway.

A direct express train will take about 90 minutes, but if you need to change trains at Basingstoke, for example, the journey will naturally take longer. You will need a taxi to transfer you the last 2 miles from the railway station to the cruise port.

BUS

National Express runs scheduled coach services to Southampton from London (Waterloo Station), Heathrow, Gatwick and most major cities. This is the cheapest way to get to Southampton.

The distance from the bus station to the cruise port is about 1.5 miles.

TAXI OR UBER

PRIVATE TRANSFER

I have cruised in and out of Southampton on several occasions but had never spent time exploring the city. On this trip I would spend 2 nights at the IBIS Red Hotel.

SIGHTSEEING

TUDOR HOUSE AND GARDENS

Tudor House is Southampton’s oldest museum and most important historic building, reveling over 800 years of history in one fascinating location at the heart of the Old Town. The timber-framed building facing St Michael’s Square was built in the late 15th Century, with King John’s Palace, an adjacent Norman house accessible from Tudor House Garden, dating back a further 300 years. Tudor House gives a unique and atmospheric insight into the lives and times of both its residents through the years, and of Southampton itself.

THE WHITE STAR TAVERN

Nineteenth century White Star Tavern is located on the city's vibrant Oxford Street. The former ticket office was renamed after the White Star Shipping Line, as both passengers and crew would frequent here pre- and post-cruise for drinks and dinner. It was also where many passengers spent their last night on land, before joining the Titanic the following morning. It has been converted into an excellent pub and boutique hotel, with every room (called cabins) named after a White Star Line ship. It's walking distance from the Ocean Cruise Terminal.

MEDIEVAL MERCHANTS HOUSE

The Medieval Merchant's House is tucked away within easy walking distance of the busy city center. Away from the bustle of the city and take in the history of Southampton's 'old town'. Built on one of the busiest streets in medieval Southampton, beneath the medieval town wall that once defended Southampton against seaborne attack, the Merchant’s House served as a residence and place of business. It is now restored to its mid-14th century appearance and is equipped with replica period furnishings.