Just back from the 7 night Fantasy cruise, Southampton UK to Norway!

[suzannews]

This was a bucket list vacation for my husband...and it was amazing! We flew Orlando to London Heathrow, non stop flights, each way. Seas were rough, for me, 2 of the days (I always wear the wrist bands and take a pill each morning) but our waiter suggested green apple and that helped a lot. Norway, even in the rain, was beautiful and we would definitely cruise there again. Please ask any questions you might have, if you are planning on this cruise in the future.

 

[emchen]

We’re going next Aug on the DVC Member cruise.

I’m interested in your experience between Heathrow and the port. Did you stay in a hotel near the ship the night before? Days before? What transport did you take? What was debark and back to airport experience like?

 

[ironz]

This was a bucket list vacation for my husband...and it was amazing! We flew Orlando to London Heathrow, non stop flights, each way. Seas were rough, for me, 2 of the days (I always wear the wrist bands and take a pill each morning) but our waiter suggested green apple and that helped a lot. Norway, even in the rain, was beautiful and we would definitely cruise there again. Please ask any questions you might have, if you are planning on this cruise in the future.

Awesome! Which ports did you visit, and what did you do?

Also, curious about how you got to port and back from London.

Thanks!

 

[Girl of the South]

I am doing a DCL cruise out of Southampton next month and using DCL Transportation. I believe it’s $75 each way? But you can also take a bus from the Airport to Southampton. You should arrive at least one day before your cruise.

 

[suzannews]

We’re going next Aug on the DVC Member cruise.

I’m interested in your experience between Heathrow and the port. Did you stay in a hotel near the ship the night before? Days before? What transport did you take? What was debark and back to airport experience like?

We took the National Bus from Heathrow to Southampton after landing on Sunday morning (cruise sailed on Monday morning). I would not recommend this. The bus area was overly crowded and very chaotic. We had reservations for the 9:15 am bus which didn't show up until almost 10am. 3 Southampton busses showed up within minutes of each other and then the 3 bus drivers tried to figure out what to do with the 60+ people trying to get on. It was a lot to deal with after the over night flight.

We stayed at the Premier Inn West Quay in Southampton the night before the cruise. I would recommend it for an inexpensive hotel that was clean, had a good restaurant where we had dinner, and let us early check in for an additional $25 or $30. FYI, we were 3 adults and had to book 2 rooms because their rooms are a maximum of 2 adults. We were given rooms across the hall from each other which was fine and it was nice to have 2 bathrooms to get ready in. We took a taxi to the port for 10 UK pounds. We could have walked the 10-15 minute walk but a taxi was easier with the luggage.

We booked a private car the morning we got off the ship to take us to Salisbury cathedral. The driver then dropped us off at the Holiday Inn by the airport. FYI, this hotel let us book our 3 adults in one room. The hotel was clean and had a sports bar in the lobby where we had a good dinner. The next morning we took at taxi to the airport for our flight home.

 

[suzannews]

Awesome! Which ports did you visit, and what did you do?

Also, curious about how you got to port and back from London.

Thanks!

Ports were Olden, Alesund and Stavanger. We were suppose to have a day going through the fjords in the beginning of the cruise but that got cancelled, and turned into a sea day, because we didn't leave Southampton until 10pm due to weather.

I'll have to look up the exact names of the excursions we booked in Olden and Stavanger. There were a lot to choose from on the cruise website. We ventured out on our own in Alesund. All 3 ports were fantastic.

 

[Girl of the South]

Just going to throw this out there regarding Southampton . . . I stayed right at Heathrow, The Hilton Garden Inn Terminal 2 & 3. It's just across the covered parking lot, 5 minutes from the Arrivals hall. I stayed two nights. The first day I dozed . . . (after long travel day) and the 2nd day I took the Underground into London. Took almost an hour but I always pinpoint an area - a museum or exhibit I want to see, then research a place to eat lunch, and a grocery store that's walkable. And then I take the Tube back to the airport. The next day (sail day) I walk over to the Arrivals Hall to meet up with the Disney Bus to Southampton. Agree it costs more than taking the National bus but I have to say it was pretty easy and even though the bus first went to the wrong dock (!) I was 'in Disney's hands' so knew I would get on the ship sooner or later! Southampton does have some Titanic connections and London itself is bustling and maybe too busy if you just want to relax pre-cruise.

I took the bus up to Oxford on a previous trip and also found the bus station to be very cramped and crowded and chaotic. I DID make it up to Oxford and back that day but it was not a relaxing ride. Just be prepared, mentally.

 

[DisneyDTL]

Great cruise even with the rain, however few things unhappy about:-

Can no longer get cartons of milk or boxes of cereals, half the time staff would give you full cream milk when you asked for skimmed, if you wanted skimmed milk at night none available, advantage of cartons you could have one in your room for your night time drink

I also have to watch my sugar intake, with a cereal carton you knew what it was, hard to judge it when it's served for you.

Reason for change saving the environment, given that they were filing the milk jugs from 2 litre milk cartons & cereals from full sized cereal carton would think saving was minimal. Would think it more a case of saving money.

What next bring your own cups for soft drinks, sure that would be better for the environment, as not sure you can recycle them, whereas milk and cereal cartons can be.

Lack of choice of movies to watch, the Fantastic 4 was showed twice in the WD Theatre one evening, then in the Beau Vista Theatre later the same night and just in case you missed it, it was shown all next day in the Beau Vista Theatre

On the last sea day Toy Story 1 was shown all day again in the Beau Vista Theatre

Films on Funnel version much better choice, but most of the time you could not watch them due to the weather

Did ask about choice of films showing and was told that was what the guests wanted, did have a look in the theatre on last sea day & you could count the number of people watching the film on your two hands

 

[suzannews]

Great cruise even with the rain, however few things unhappy about:-

Can no longer get cartons of milk or boxes of cereals, half the time staff would give you full cream milk when you asked for skimmed, if you wanted skimmed milk at night none available, advantage of cartons you could have one in your room for your night time drink

I also have to watch my sugar intake, with a cereal carton you knew what it was, hard to judge it when it's served for you.

Reason for change saving the environment, given that they were filing the milk jugs from 2 litre milk cartons & cereals from full sized cereal carton would think saving was minimal. Would think it more a case of saving money.

What next bring your own cups for soft drinks, sure that would be better for the environment, as not sure you can recycle them, whereas milk and cereal cartons can be.

Lack of choice of movies to watch, the Fantastic 4 was showed twice in the WD Theatre one evening, then in the Beau Vista Theatre later the same night and just in case you missed it, it was shown all next day in the Beau Vista Theatre

On the last sea day Toy Story 1 was shown all day again in the Beau Vista Theatre

Films on Funnel version much better choice, but most of the time you could not watch them due to the weather

Did ask about choice of films showing and was told that was what the guests wanted, did have a look in the theatre on last sea day & you could count the number of people watching the film on your two hands

I saw the large bowls of cereal at Cabana's each morning. I thought maybe the supplier in the UK is very different from the supplier in the US and doesn't carry the small boxes of cereal.