Cruising out of Southampton, UK

[suzannews]

Hello! For those that have flown into London, what's the best way to travel to the port in Southampton? I've read bus, train, or rent a car one way. What was your best experience (and what not to do!)? Any other tips/suggestions?

 

[Mommb]

My top suggestion is to arrive in Southampton at least a day before the cruise, if you can, in case there is heavy traffic or other delays when coming from London.

On our first cruise out of Southampton, my husband and I flew into Heathrow in the evening, stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn near Terminal 2/3, and took an International Friends bus from our hotel in the morning that stopped for a few hours at Stonehenge and dropped us off near the port in Southampton. We were prepared to walk from the port to our hotel, but as the bus wasn't full, the driver was able to drop us off at our hotel.

Before our second cruise, we stayed in London for a day and night. We considered taking the train from Waterloo station to Southampton. The train station is walking distance from several hotels that are fairly close to the port. However, we decided that it might be difficult with a week's worth of luggage. Instead, we booked a van trip with International Friends that picked us up at our London hotel and dropped us off at our Southampton hotel. (We had booked a car service to take us from Heathrow to our London hotel.)

I did not consider renting a car, because I'm sure I would automatically drive on the "wrong" side of the road.

There are buses from Heathrow to Southampton and from London to Southampton, but I haven't tried them.

Both of our experiences with International Friends were great, as was our car service from Blacklane.

After both of our cruises, we took the Disney bus back to Heathrow, for simplicity and convenience.

 

[DWillowBay]

We used a service called MiniCabit from our Central London Hotel to Southampton on the morning of the cruise. We budgeted for 2 hours of travel and due to traffic, that is just about what it took. They will compare several cab (size, price, style) and you can choose which you feel suits your situation best. Price was what I expected (unfortunately), but it was clean, the driver was very kind. I can certainly recommend.

 

[lorimay]

Last year we did a train from Waterloo station it’s a straight run and we didn’t have to change trains. It was about an hour or so. We stayed at a hotel that was within walking distance from the station. We are sailing again in September this year and we will use the train again, it was very easy the port is not far from the train station I. south Hampton. It was a 5 minute taxi ride to the port

 

[insureman]

We take the DCL transfer from the airport or hotel the day of the cruise. If it's late or there's an issue the ship will wait. We also usually stay at the DCL recommended hotel in London.

 

[lois00525]

We take the DCL transfer from the airport or hotel the day of the cruise. If it's late or there's an issue the ship will wait. We also usually stay at the DCL recommended hotel in London.

We do the same, except for this year. We are flying into LHR 3 days prior to the cruise and staying in Windsor for 2 nights. On the 3rd night we will stay at the Sofitel London Heathrow recommended by DCL, and use DCL transfers to the port and then back to the airport. It's convenient for us.

 

[suzannews]

Last year we did a train from Waterloo station it’s a straight run and we didn’t have to change trains. It was about an hour or so. We stayed at a hotel that was within walking distance from the station. We are sailing again in September this year and we will use the train again, it was very easy the port is not far from the train station I. south Hampton. It was a 5 minute taxi ride to the port

Which cruise are you sailing on in September?

 

[suzannews]

We take the DCL transfer from the airport or hotel the day of the cruise. If it's late or there's an issue the ship will wait. We also usually stay at the DCL recommended hotel in London.

Where can I find this info for the DCL transfer from the airport or hotel?

 

[Kwami]

Where can I find this info for the DCL transfer from the airport or hotel?

The hotels are listed here:

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ports/southampton-england/

You'll have to call DCL to add transfers, I think. You don't have to stay at those hotels to take DCL transfers, but you do have to be there when the bus/van/car gets there.

Maybe Southampton is different and you do have to stay there?

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Cruising in September as well out of Southampton- you must be staying at one of their hotels-on the list posted above to use the service. Or- DCL is offering transfers from Victoria Coach Station for those staying at hotels nearby. Call them to add and confirm that you receive an email from DCL stating your transfer and pick up location.

 

[lorimay]

Which cruise are you sailing on in September?

The Fantasy 7 night Norway and the 7 night Spain and France. Last two before she goes into dry dock

 

[princesscinderella]

We have cruise out of Southampton twice and have used twelve transfers both times. https://www.twelvetransfers.co.uk/ Their cars were roomy to accommodate all 6 of us and they were great with communication and on time. The day we were going to the port the last cruise there was a rail strike and if we had planned to take the train there we would’ve had to make alternate plans quickly. I would say if you are planning to take the train I’d do it the night before and stay in Southampton, just in case of a service interruption.

 

[tidefan]

While not DCL (we cruised a British Isles cruise on Princess - great cruise, BTW), we have cruised out of Southampton. We stayed in London the night before at the Hampton Inn Waterloo, which was walking distance from Waterloo Station, then took the train to Southampton the morning of the cruise and a taxi (around 10 pounds) to the cruise terminal. Couldn't be easier. The train took about and hour and 15 minutes.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

We have cruise out of Southampton twice and have used twelve transfers both times. https://www.twelvetransfers.co.uk/ Their cars were roomy to accommodate all 6 of us and they were great with communication and on time. The day we were going to the port the last cruise there was a rail strike and if we had planned to take the train there we would’ve had to make alternate plans quickly. I would say if you are planning to take the train I’d do it the night before and stay in Southampton, just in case of a service interruption.

Being of an age where we prefer having assistance with our luggage, we have eIther used DCL transfers (from WDW resort, MCO Hyatt, ship to airport or resort, etc.) or a private car service. We used Twelve Transfers between LHR and our London hotel prior to last year’s WBTA and then from that hotel to a Southampton hotel for the cruise. We were pleased with the quality of service and felt the price was fair (we use a car service between our Chicago suburban home and O’Hare or Midway, so we’re used to the prices charged for the convenience). We used taxis between the Southampton hotel and port and from our Fort Lauderdale debarkation and FLL.

 

[insureman]

The hotels are listed here:

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ports/southampton-england/

You'll have to call DCL to add transfers, I think. You don't have to stay at those hotels to take DCL transfers, but you do have to be there when the bus/van/car gets there.

Maybe Southampton is different and you do have to stay there?

It never used to like that. A lot of people would stay at less expensive hotels and take the DCL transportation from the nearest DCL hotel but I found out this year they weren't allowing that. It could be the hotels that were complaining. We did the West bound transatlantic in 2023 and the Hyatt was pretty hectic with all the outside people coming in the lobby with all their bags.

 

[KDG]

When I called DCL to book a transfer to Southampton, the cast member told me we did NOT have to be staying at a Disney designated hotel. We only needed to get ourselves to that hotel to catch our bus transportation.

 

[insureman]

When I called DCL to book a transfer to Southampton, the cast member told me we did NOT have to be staying at a Disney designated hotel. We only needed to get ourselves to that hotel to catch our bus transportation.

I talked to a couple of cast members on different dates and they told me we had to be staying at the DCL hotel for transfers unless you went to Heathrow and picked it up there. When are you sailing we are sailing this September.

 

[KDG]

We are on the WBTA in November.

 

[Girl of the South]

I have taken the DCL bus from Heathrow twice. Very convenient. Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn and took the Tube into London - takes about 40 minutes.