Southampton
Welcome aboard to Southampton, the ultimate destination for maritime enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Just a stone's throw away from the bustling heart of London by train, this dynamic city boasts the title of the UK's No.1 cruise port. Dive into Southampton's rich maritime history as you stroll along its historic docks and marvel at the majestic cruise ships that call this port home. But the adventure doesn't stop there – venture into the enchanting New Forest for a taste of nature's tranquility. Whether you're exploring the city's vibrant culture, embarking on an outdoor adventure, or simply soaking in the maritime atmosphere, Southampton is a great place to start or end your cruise.
Which Cruise?
We've taken many a cruise from Southampton including; Queen Mary 2, Queen Anne, Celebrity Silhouette, Fred Olsen's Bolette, P&O's Arvia, Ventura, Iona, Arcadia and Sky Princess.
Highlights
Reel 1 - Anthem of the Seas
Reel 2 - Celebrity Silhouette
Reel 3 - P&O Arvia
Stories 1 - Cooking School
Stories 2 - Anthem of the Seas
Stories 3 - Star Princess Naming
Embarkation Port -Southampton
Southampton is easily reached by car at the end of the M3 and along the M27. Frequent trains run to London, Manchester and Birmingham, or west to Bristol. Southampton is a gateway to Norway, The British Isles, Northern Europe and Iceland. Southampton is also home to the famous New York transatlantic crossing. You'll find many well known hotels and some great boutique hotels in the city.
Airports
Southampton - 4 Miles / 12 Min Drive
London Heathrow - 62 Miles / 1 Hour 10 Mins Drive
London Gatwick - 88 Miles / 1 Hour 30 Mins Drive
Bristol - 82 Miles / 2 Hour Drive
Station - Southampton Central
South Western Railway - London Waterloo (Fastest)
Southern Railway - London Victoria/Brighton
Crosscountry Trains - Birmingham/Manchester
GWR - Bristol/Cardiff
Trainline - all uk train tickets
Must do's
Things we did and we think you should too...
New Forest
Discover the charming villages of the New Forest such as Lyndhurst or Burley, known for its witchcraft history. There are plenty of hiking trails to explore and make sure to spot the deer and ponies that inhabit the National Park. Other charming villages include Brokenhurst and Beaulieu, famed for its car museum.
Cook up a storm
Join a cooking class at one of the most renowned cooking schools in the country; Chewton Glen. We cooked a fresh crab tartlets and other yummy locally caught fresh seafood dishes.
Oink! Oink!
Visit Peppa Pig and friends at Peppa Pig world at Paultons Park. Explore the other lands for a family filled day out
Mudeford
Visit the picturesque coastal town of Mudeford. Try the local sea food, fresh fish and chips or get the ferry to over to Mudeford Spit, walk on the white sands and enjoy the traditional british beach huts or lunch at the beach house
Isle of Wight
Hop off your ship, onto a ferry and over to the Isle of Wight. Explore the needles, the garlic farm, ride a on an old London Underground train, or wander around the quaint towns like Yarmouth.
Iceberg! Right Ahead!
Learn about the cities maritime past, at SeaCity, including one of the most infamous ships to leave Southampton; The Titanic.
Top Tips
Tips to help you have a great time on shore.
Uber?
Yes! Local taxi's are also available
Currency?
British Pound. ATMs can be found in some cruise terminals. Banks and ATMs can be found in the city.
Dock Side?
There's 5 Cruise Terminals in Southampton:
- QEII Cruise Terminal
- Located in the eastern docks, this is one of the trickiest to get to, we would advise arriving by taxi or shuttle from the car park through Dock gate 4. This is one of the lesser used terminals, however Cunard, Disney Cruise Line and P&O Cruises dock here.
- Ocean Cruise Terminal
- The closest terminal to the Town Quay and ocean village. Walkable nearby hotels include Harbour Hotel and Room 2. This terminal is almost always used by Cunard, P&O Cruises and Princess/the Carnival group of cruise lines.
- City Cruise Terminal
- As you would imagine this terminal is the closest to the city and located near the most hotels e.g. Moxy, Holiday Inn and the Pig in the wall. Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Fred Olsen normally call this terminal home.
- Horizon Cruise Terminal
- Sits in the middle of City and Mayflower terminals, the closest to the railway station, and slightly further away from the city centre than City. MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line normally dock here when in port.
- Mayflower
- Like QEII Mayflower cruise terminal is used as an over flow from the three other preferred terminals and is the furthest away from the city.
All terminals have cafe's and ATM services. Depending on your cruise line you may be offered a shuttle into town if you're passing through rather than starting or ending your voyage. We've walked from hotels to Ocean, City and Horizon cruise terminals, but we wouldn'trecomendit for the others. We've also been able to walk from the Station to Horizon and City Terminals
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