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

[suzannews]

I think that to get from Heathrow to Oxford a train may have been nicer (not entirely sure of the route but I expect you would need to go into central London then get on an over ground train). Buses are always subject to traffic and especially if going between cities there can be quite large delays.

If I were travelling from a London airport to Southampton (I live in the UK and we drove to Southampton) I would get a train or the Disney transport option.



I also found it odd that cereal via room service was already in a bowl, I was expecting boxes. I also expected to get cartons of milk not pre-poured.

We didn't see a direct train from the airport to Southampton and didn't want to switch trains with our luggage. We flew in and traveled to Southampton the day before the cruise so Disney transportation was not available. Is there a direct train?

 

[suzannews]

Did you hav heat in in your room ? I mean actual hot air coming out of the vent.

I don't know if there was actual hot air coming out of the vent but I did turn the temperature to red multiple times during this cruise. The room did get warm when I did this. I am always cold and always ask for a thick blanket, even on Caribbean cruises.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

We didn't see a direct train from the airport to Southampton and didn't want to switch trains with our luggage. We flew in and traveled to Southampton the day before the cruise so Disney transportation was not available. Is there a direct train?

There is no direct train from Heathrow Airport to Southampton Train Station.

1.
Heathrow to Leicester Square on Piccadilly Line Tube then change to Northern Line Tube to Waterloo Train Station
OR
Heathrow to Tottenham Court Road on Elizabeth Line Tube then change to Northern Line Tube to Waterloo Train Station
OR
Heathrow Express to Paddington Station then change to Bakerloo Line Tube to Waterloo Train Station

2.
Then South Western Railway Train from Waterloo Train Station to Southampton Train Station

 

[hardcorestitch]

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.

Leaving Disney to go on a cruise operated by Disney… I’m sure you had a magical time!!!

 

[Flcruising]

I don't know if there was actual hot air coming out of the vent but I did turn the temperature to red multiple times during this cruise. The room did get warm when I did this. I am always cold and always ask for a thick blanket, even on Caribbean cruises.

Thanks.. we would love to go on some similar cruises.but i need to be sure there's actual heat coming out of the vents before I go to cold climates

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thanks.. we would love to go on some similar cruises.but i need to be sure there's actual heat coming out of the vents before I go to cold climates

I can say for certain that heat comes out on the Magic and Wonder. It was very much needed on our Alaskan cruise and cruise to Norway.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

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.

We didn't tour Southampton specifically but we did just return on Sunday from a British Isles cruise on Princess (meh) that stopped in Belfast. We toured the Titantic Museum which was constructed at the port/dry dock where the Titanic was built. She stopped in Southamptom after leaving Belfast. Next she stopped in Cherbourg, France and Queenstown near Cork, Ireland, before leaving for the transatlantic portion. Passengers disembarked and embarked at each port. Not everyone planned to sail to NY.
I highly recommend this museum if you get the opportunity. At the dock there is still the large yellow cranes with H&W on top for Harland and Wolfe, builders of the Titanic. Not necessarily the same cranes used to built the Titanic. According to our guide, the company had recently declared bankruptcy and a company from Spain was going to take it over.

 

[holula]

There is no direct train from Heathrow Airport to Southampton Train Station.

1.
Heathrow to Leicester Square on Piccadilly Line Tube then change to Northern Line Tube to Waterloo Train Station
OR
Heathrow to Tottenham Court Road on Elizabeth Line Tube then change to Northern Line Tube to Waterloo Train Station
OR
Heathrow Express to Paddington Station then change to Bakerloo Line Tube to Waterloo Train Station

2.
Then South Western Railway Train from Waterloo Train Station to Southampton Train Station

You can also do Elizabeth Line, then change to the other branch of Elizabeth Line at Hayes & Harlington towards Reading, and change at Reading to Southampton.

Interestingly if I use Google Maps it tells me to use a bus called RailAir and get off at Woking or Reading and switch to a train. It also looks like there is a National Express bus (which would probably be my choice vs schlepping all my luggage through London and onto a train.)

If you are going from city to city I would always use the train but Heathrow is not very well connected to anything except London (vs Paris or Amsterdam or Frankfurt where you can get trains to other cities direct from the airport.)

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

You can also do Elizabeth Line, then change to the other branch of Elizabeth Line at Hayes & Harlington towards Reading, and change at Reading to Southampton.

Interestingly if I use Google Maps it tells me to use a bus called RailAir and get off at Woking or Reading and switch to a train. It also looks like there is a National Express bus (which would probably be my choice vs schlepping all my luggage through London and onto a train.)

If you are going from city to city I would always use the train but Heathrow is not very well connected to anything except London (vs Paris or Amsterdam or Frankfurt where you can get trains to other cities direct from the airport.)

I used to live in London and have flown into and out of Heathrow so many times I cant count over the last 25 years. Using the tube into central London is just automatic to me. When I lived in London, the Piccadilly Line Tube was my go to preferred route.

 

[holula]

I used to live in London and have flown into and out of Heathrow so many times I cant count over the last 25 years. Using the tube into central London is just automatic to me. When I lived in London, the Piccadilly Line Tube was my go to preferred route.

Same, honestly. I used to live on that line so it was very convenient! But there are definitely more options now.