Solo Disney Fantasy 3 Night Southampton to Cherbourg France August 2025 Updated Pre Cruise Overnight in Southampton

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Im back home in Ireland so its time to start the trip report.

For anyone new to my trip reports, I am a solo cruiser from Ireland. This is my 4th Disney cruise and my 3rd Disney ship. Previous cruises have been on The Magic and Dream, all European cruises. Links to previous cruises trip reports are in my signature.

This cruise was part of a longer trip to England. I chose this cruise as I am a big Titanic fan. The Titanic left from Southampton and went to Cherbourg first before Ireland, so it was really interesting to me to follow the same route. Ireland has a very big connection to Titanic, as the ship was built in Belfast and the last port was in Cork. Many Irish people have a personal connection to the ship. My interest in Titanic started back in the 1980's when the ship was discovered as my grandfather had books about the Titanic which I used to read.

Part 1 Monday 18 August
Dublin to Wiltshire, England to visit my sister

Part 2 The Cruise
Thursday 21 August
Train from Wiltshire to Southampton
Overnight in Southampton

Friday 22 August
Embarkation Day

Saturday 23 August
Port Day Cherbourg

Sunday 24 August
Day at Sea

Monday 25 August
Debarkation and Train to London

Part 3 London
Tuesday 26 August
Sightseeing in London

Wednesday 27 August
Travel home to Ireland from London Heathrow

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Part 1 Monday 18 August To Thursday 21 August
Dublin to Wiltshire, England visiting my sister

This years trip started with a few days in Wiltshire visiting my sister. My niece had been spending the previous week in Ireland with us and now I was bringing her home to England.

We flew from Dublin to Bristol, one hours flight time and then got the bus and train and then my sister collected us from the train.

They have moved house last year and their new house is a fixer upper. This is the first time I have been to the new house , as each time I planned a visit they had been doing construction work.

Its still a work in progress but they have made great changes. My niece is really excited that her room is currently a blank canvas and she can furnish and decorate within reason anyway she wants.

My sister had some time off work and it was really nice just to catch up and hear all about the plans for the new house now that the major structural construction is done.

Wiltshire is full of canals and we spent a lovely afternoon at a canal side cafe chatting and watching the boats go by.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Part 2 The Cruise Thursday 21 August
Train from Wiltshire to Southampton Overnight in Southampton

After a lovely visit with my sister I got the train from where they live to Southampton. To give some context about locations , this is a map I found on Google search which shows where Wiltshire is. Southampton is in Hampshire.



The journey was just about an hour. I had bought my ticket in advance and I planned my arrival in Southampton for around 3pm. The train ticket cost me £9.00 and I bought it online direct with South Western Railways on 13 July 2025.

The hotel I booked IBIS Southampton Central is walking distance from the train station and also the cruise terminal. Its a budget hotel but thats fine with me, as its just an overnight before the cruise. I booked the hotel direct through their website on 4 January 2025 and I paid £105.30 for a double room with the optional breakfast add on.



I have stayed in this hotel from previous cruises. This time I had a room at the back of the hotel, which was quiet.

After checking in and refreshing it was time for some food.

I went over to West Quay Shopping Centre which has a great variety of mid price restaurants and food options. As it was early evening, most places were just opening and there wasnt alot of people around.

I decided to go to Thaikhun Thai Restaurant, which is a mid price Thai Street Food Chain Restaurant





Passionfruit Martini
Vodka, passionfruit, soda water, garnished with dragon fruit powder £12.00



Thai Chicken Katsu 15.75
Crispy chicken breast and Massaman curry sauce. Served with jasmine rice.

After relaxing for a bit , I left the restaurant and went for a walk through the main shopping area, and ended up at ASDA, the big main grocery store. I wanted to stock up on snacks for the cruise.

I was back at my hotel around 7pm and decided to have an early night. Tomorrow would be a big day, and I wanted to get up early to see the ship arrive on the port webcams.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

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Friday 22 August
Embarkation Day

 

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Saturday 23 August
Port Day Cherbourg

 

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Sunday 24 August
Day at Sea

 

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Monday 25 August
Debarkation and Train to London

 

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Part 3 London
Tuesday 26 August
Sightseeing in London

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

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Wednesday 27 August
Travel home to Ireland from London Heathrow

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

UPDATED
Pre Cruise overnight in Southampton

 

[greensombrero]

Part 2 The Cruise Thursday 21 August
Train from Wiltshire to Southampton Overnight in Southampton

After a lovely visit with my sister I got the train from where they live to Southampton. To give some context about locations , this is a map I found on Google search which shows where Wiltshire is. Southampton is in Hampshire.

View attachment 1000096

The journey was just about an hour. I had bought my ticket in advance and I planned my arrival in Southampton for around 3pm. The train ticket cost me £9.00 and I bought it online direct with South Western Railways on 13 July 2025.

The hotel I booked IBIS Southampton Central is walking distance from the train station and also the cruise terminal. Its a budget hotel but thats fine with me, as its just an overnight before the cruise. I booked the hotel direct through their website on 4 January 2025 and I paid £105.30 for a double room with the optional breakfast add on.

View attachment 1000097

I have stayed in this hotel from previous cruises. This time I had a room at the back of the hotel, which was quiet.

After checking in and refreshing it was time for some food.

I went over to West Quay Shopping Centre which has a great variety of mid price restaurants and food options. As it was early evening, most places were just opening and there wasnt alot of people around.

I decided to go to Thaikhun Thai Restaurant, which is a mid price Thai Street Food Chain Restaurant

View attachment 1000098


View attachment 1000099
Passionfruit Martini
Vodka, passionfruit, soda water, garnished with dragon fruit powder £12.00

View attachment 1000100

Thai Chicken Katsu 15.75
Crispy chicken breast and Massaman curry sauce. Served with jasmine rice.

After relaxing for a bit , I left the restaurant and went for a walk through the main shopping area, and ended up at ASDA, the big main grocery store. I wanted to stock up on snacks for the cruise.

I was back at my hotel around 7pm and decided to have an early night. Tomorrow would be a big day, and I wanted to get up early to see the ship arrive on the port webcams.

Excited for your trip report! Thanks for the UK geography help . I don’t know it well. However after our trip this summer I can now visualize taking trains and a lot of the other aspects of your journey which is fun.

I hadn’t thought about the Titanic leaving from Southhampton. Right after she was discovered I went on a school trip as a kid to a museum that had an exhibit about the Titanic and then we picked up my grandparents from a cruise around the same time. My young brain connected the two and for years I said I’d never set foot on a cruise ship. Now though I think it’s cool to make the connection. The sea is definitely magical but demands respect!

 

[Girl of the South]

What did you pick up for 'snacks'? I know it's a little crazy to want snacks when there is so much food on cruise ships but . . . . sometimes you just have a hankering for a certain food? Before my cruise last year, I picked up a package of crackers at the LHR airport M&S. Jacob's CHEDDARS. Thank goodness because that's all I ate the first day of the cruise. A rare case of sea sickness and that's all I wanted to eat. I might get some Malteasers too - one of my favorite UK chocolates.