Waitng on Princess Bus from Airport to Ship

[Texas]

We are scheduled to arrive at Heathrow at 6:55 a.m. and have made arrangements for the Princess shuttle to the ship in Southampton. Anyone have experience with arriving early and waiting for the bus. Just wondering how long we will probably have to wait before we depart for the ship. Are the airport restaurants open that early and are the shops open for business at that early hour. Of course, we don't know how long it will take us to get through customs.

 

Appreciate any feedback.

[Ashland]

I have been in the same arrival time but with RCI..Heathrow shops/restaurants were open..Luckily we were on the first shuttlebus that left at approx 9:00am..just make sure you check in with their staff that will be easy to spot so that you will be on the first bus as it's a first come first serve basis.

[John Bull]

The routine with Princess is the same as Ashland experienced with RCI.

You should be in the arrivals concourse in about an hour, make yourself known to the rep for Princess/their land agent, then there's cafes & shops in any terminal (majority tend to be on the departures level, but best not to stray)

First coach gets called about 9am, but will trawl the terminals. You may be at the first or you may be at the last, but you'll likely be aboard by about 10am.

The run to Southampton is normally under 90 mins (usually slower on summer saturdays) & cruise lines don't like coaches arriving before noon, so you'll experience no urgency on the first few coaches - early drivers are sometimes even encouraged to take a secondary route (scenic instead of boring super-slab) or stop for half an hour or more in Winchester to burn up some time.

 

For the return to Heathrow coaches are allocated to specific terminals, so no delay at the airport.

 

JB :)

[Texas]

John, think I can talk the driver into a "wine" stop along the way :)

[John Bull]

John, think I can talk the driver into a "wine" stop along the way :)

 

Put in as many smilies as you like - but sorry, they won't work.:p :(

 

Other than the rare occasion when a transfer coach is running too early, its a direct run to the ship.

Driver will be aware that stopping for the benefit of one or two passengers would inconvenience the others.

Even conning the driver that you need a stop cos you're feeling unwell or whatever will only result in him pulling into a motorway service area - no alcohol on sale there.

 

Depending on your berth & arrival time, it might be possible to taxi from the pier to a wine shop or "offie" or supermarket, but you'd blow your savings on the taxi fare.

 

And no duty-free in arrivals at either Heathrow or Gatwick, though some terminals have a little shop between customs & arrivals hall - stuff for sale won't be duty-free and there'll be very very little choice but will be competetively-priced.

 

The best bet for anyone on any ship's transfer coach is to buy in the duty-free shop at their departure airport - my experience is that liquids purchased airside, beyond security, are OK to carry onto the aircraft.

 

 

JB :)