Cruising From Southampton: Britain’s Biggest Cruise Ship Port

18.11.2023 - 15:35 / forbes.com / Royal Caribbean / queen Elizabeth Ii II (Ii)

Southampton, with its centuries-long history as a maritime hub for England, is often referred to locally as the ‘Gateway to the World’. Its strategic position on the southern coast of England boasts a deep-water harbor that has served as a crucial departure point for a vast range of ships, from historic trading vessels to the Titanic in 1912.

Today, state-of-the-art cruise liners play the starring role. For those embarking on a cruise from the U.K. mainland, Southampton is likely your starting point, continuing its long-standing tradition as a launchpad for memorable voyages.

Southampton is home base for a wide variety of cruise lines, offering everything from luxury to family and budget cruises. It’s the home port for British line P&O Cruises, while Cunard begins its classic transatlantic crossing from the port.

Many more lines offer regular sailings from Southampton too, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

Southampton is also a port of call on Northern Europe itineraries that start elsewhere. Cruise lines often advertise ‘London’ as the destination, even though the capital is a two-hour coach journey away.

Such is the number of cruise ships in Southampton that the cruise ship ports are spread out for miles along the waterfront. The ‘cruise port’ actually consists of four different terminals: Queen Elizabeth II (QE2) Terminal, Mayflower Terminal, City Terminal, and Ocean Terminal.

If traveling by taxi or even walking, it’s important to know which terminal your cruise ship will use because they can be more than two miles apart.

Taxi drivers are usually well aware of which vessels are where on any given day, but you can double check the information from your cruise company using a live information tool like Cruise Mapper.

Each terminal is equipped with modern facilities and built to handle thousands of embarking and disembarking passengers.

A multitude of parking options are available. The easiest option is to take the option offered by your cruise line, although this is usually the priciest option. Private operators are plentiful, offering everything from premium meet-and-greet services through to bus transfers to/from the parking lot.

If you're arriving at Heathrow, navigating your way to the Southampton cruise port is not always straightforward. Opting for a taxi offers the most direct and quickest route, typically taking as little as 90 minutes. However, this convenience comes at a higher price, with rates starting around £140-£180 ($170-$220) per car.

For those mindful of their budget, taking the train or bus presents an economical choice. However, it's worth noting that the train will bring you to Southampton Central station, from which you'll