The Europe CruiseFor the American voyager

Your voyage begins in Southampton

From the airport to the gangway, every way there and back.

Photo: Michael Coppins, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

Southampton is England's main cruise port. It is on the south coast, not in London. Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours from Heathrow by road, and more from Gatwick.

I · Arrive by airLHRLondon Heathrow
II · Airport to shipNational Express lists about 1 hour 35 minutes by coach between Heathrow and Southampton. Traffic can make it longer.
III · Ways to travel6compared below
IV · BoardSouthamptoncruise terminal
The timetable

Every way from the airport to the ship

Tap any way for step-by-step directions.

The wayFromTimeCost
National Express coach (route 203), then taxiLHRAbout 1 hr 35 min on the coach, plus about 5 min by taxiApproximate: coach fares from about GBP 19.30 per person (National Express 'prices from'); taxi extra
RailAir coach to Woking or Reading, then train to Southampton Central, then taxiLHRRailAir lists Woking in under 40 minutes and Reading in about 40-45 minutes; add the train and taxi timeNot verified, check railair.com and nationalrail.co.uk
Cruise line transferLHRVariesSet by your cruise line
Private car or taxi booked aheadLHRRoughly the same as the coach, door to doorNot verified, get a written quote
Train (Southern) to Southampton Central, then taxiLGWNot verified, check nationalrail.co.uk for your dateNot verified
Cruise line transfer or pre-booked carLGWVariesSet by the line or the car company
On the chart

Where Southampton lies

Antique-style chart of The British Isles with ports markedSouthamptonDoverBelfastCherbourgCobhDublinEdinburghFalmouthGreenockGuernseyHolyheadHonfleurInvergordonKirkwallLe HavreLerwickLiverpoolNewcastlePortlandPortreeStornowayWaterford
Step by step

From London Heathrow (LHR)

National Express lists about 1 hour 35 minutes by coach between Heathrow and Southampton. Traffic can make it longer.

National Express coach (route 203), then taxi

Time About 1 hr 35 min on the coach, plus about 5 min by taxiCost Approximate: coach fares from about GBP 19.30 per person (National Express 'prices from'); taxi extra
  1. Collect your bags and follow signs for the coach/bus station (Terminals 2 and 3 use the Central Bus Station; Terminal 5 uses stops 11-15 outside arrivals).
  2. Board National Express to Southampton. Book ahead online; there are about 9 coaches a day.
  3. Get off at Southampton Coach Station on Harbour Parade.
  4. Take a taxi from the rank at the coach station to your cruise terminal. ABP says it is about 5 minutes.

National Express sells a 'Change & Go' add-on for about GBP 5 each way that lets you take a different coach if your flight is late. The coach is the simplest public option with big bags.

RailAir coach to Woking or Reading, then train to Southampton Central, then taxi

Time RailAir lists Woking in under 40 minutes and Reading in about 40-45 minutes; add the train and taxi timeCost Not verified, check railair.com and nationalrail.co.uk
  1. Find the RailAir coach stop at your Heathrow terminal.
  2. Ride to Woking or Reading station.
  3. Take a train to Southampton Central.
  4. Leave the station by the south side. Take a taxi from the rank to your terminal.

More changes and more lifting of bags. Best for light packers.

Cruise line transfer

Time VariesCost Set by your cruise line
  1. Book the transfer with your cruise line before you fly.
  2. Follow the line's meeting instructions after you clear customs.

The easiest choice if you land on the morning of the cruise. The line knows your terminal.

Private car or taxi booked ahead

Time Roughly the same as the coach, door to doorCost Not verified, get a written quote
  1. Book ahead and give the driver your terminal name.
  2. The driver can drop you at the terminal door (ABP says taxis can drop off directly outside).

Good for groups of 3-4 sharing the cost.

Step by step

From London Gatwick (LGW)

Farther from Southampton than Heathrow by road for most routes; Gatwick lists Southern trains serving Southampton.

Train (Southern) to Southampton Central, then taxi

Time Not verified, check nationalrail.co.uk for your dateCost Not verified
  1. Go to the Gatwick Airport railway station inside the South Terminal.
  2. Take a Southern train to Southampton Central (check whether you need to change).
  3. Exit by the south side of the station and take a taxi to your terminal.

Gatwick's own page says Southern serves Southampton. Check for changes of train before you go.

Cruise line transfer or pre-booked car

Time VariesCost Set by the line or the car company
  1. Book before you fly.
  2. Have your terminal name ready.

Simplest with luggage.

Already in town

From the city or your hotel

Train from London Waterloo to Southampton Central, then taxi

Time Not verified, check nationalrail.co.ukCost Not verified

ABP says use the south exit of Southampton Central. There are taxi ranks on both sides of the station.

Walk from Southampton Central

Time About 30 min to Ocean, City or Mayflower terminals; about 45-50 min to the QEII terminal (ABP figures)Cost Free

Not practical with large bags. Take a taxi.

QuayConnect bus from Southampton Central to Town Quay, then walk

Time Bus every 35 minutes; then an 8-30 minute walk depending on terminalCost Not verified

ABP says no public buses stop right outside a cruise terminal.

The night before

Where to stay

Arrive a day or two early. A delayed flight on sailing day is the most common way travelers miss the ship.

Southampton city centre, near Southampton Central station or the waterfront

You are about a 5-10 minute taxi ride from the terminals on boarding day, with no motorway traffic risk.

London, the night before, only if you also want London sightseeing

Works, but you then face a 1.5-2 hour transfer on boarding morning.

All aboard

Sailing day

Terminals & docks

Five terminals, run by ABP: QEII Terminal (berth 38/39) and Ocean Cruise Terminal (berth 46) in the Eastern Docks; City Cruise Terminal (berth 101), Horizon Cruise Terminal (berth 102) and Mayflower Cruise Terminal (berth 106) in the Western Docks. Your cruise documents name the terminal. Give the taxi driver the terminal name, not just 'the port'. There is a taxi rank outside each terminal.

Check-in

  • Your cruise line gives you an arrival time slot. Do not show up hours early.
  • Know your terminal name and berth number before you get in a taxi.
  • If you drive and park, ABParking handles on-site parking for several lines (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Fred Olsen, MSC, Disney, Silversea, NCL, Oceania, Regent). Book at abparking.co.uk.

What trips people up

  • Southampton is not in London. Americans often book a London hotel and are surprised by the long transfer.
  • There are five terminals in two dock areas. They are far apart (QEII is about 2.5 miles walk from the station; Mayflower about 1.5 miles).
  • No public bus stops at the terminal door. You will need a taxi for the last step.
  • ABP notes a lift problem at Southampton Central between platform 4 and the footbridge (National Rail station page). Check step-free access before you travel if you use a wheelchair.

Do this

  • Fly in at least one day early. Transatlantic flights are often late.
  • With heavy bags, the National Express coach plus a short taxi is the easiest public route from Heathrow.
  • Buy the National Express 'Change & Go' add-on in case your flight is delayed.
Homeward bound

Leaving the ship: back to the airport

The same routes run in reverse. On the last morning everyone leaves at once, so lines for taxis and buses are at their longest. Book flights home for the afternoon or later, and arrange your ride in advance if you can.

The wayToTimeCost
National Express coach (route 203), then taxiLHRAbout 1 hr 35 min on the coach, plus about 5 min by taxiApproximate: coach fares from about GBP 19.30 per person (National Express 'prices from'); taxi extra
RailAir coach to Woking or Reading, then train to Southampton Central, then taxiLHRRailAir lists Woking in under 40 minutes and Reading in about 40-45 minutes; add the train and taxi timeNot verified, check railair.com and nationalrail.co.uk
Cruise line transferLHRVariesSet by your cruise line
Private car or taxi booked aheadLHRRoughly the same as the coach, door to doorNot verified, get a written quote
Train (Southern) to Southampton Central, then taxiLGWNot verified, check nationalrail.co.uk for your dateNot verified
Cruise line transfer or pre-booked carLGWVariesSet by the line or the car company

Before you leave

  • No public bus stops at the terminal door. You will need a taxi for the last step.
  • Fly in at least one day early. Transatlantic flights are often late.
  • With heavy bags, the National Express coach plus a short taxi is the easiest public route from Heathrow.
  • Buy the National Express 'Change & Go' add-on in case your flight is delayed.
  • Know your terminal name and berth number before you get in a taxi.
Linger a while

Before or after your cruise

Arrivals & departures

Which ships are in port

See today's ships and every upcoming arrival at Southampton, from the port's own schedule.

Open the Southampton arrivals board →

Sources & what we could not confirm · 8 sources · checked 2026-11
Still being confirmed
  • Train time and fare Gatwick to Southampton, and whether a change is needed
  • Train time and fare London Waterloo to Southampton
  • Taxi fare Heathrow to Southampton
  • QuayConnect bus fare
  • US nonstop flights to Heathrow/Gatwick (not checked for this page)
  • US nonstop flights: not verified for this page; check airline sites