Which airport is best for Southampton sailing?

[Lanzalady]

I shall be sailing from Southampton next June on a P & O cruise to the Baltics and would like some advice on which airport to fly into in order to get to Southampton with the least complications. We live in the Canary Islands (Lanzarote to be precise) and we can more or less fly into any of the UK airports (apart from Heathrow) but getting from the airport down to Southampton seems to be far more complicated. It seems that if we could fly into Heathrow we could get a direct coach down to Southampton but there doesn't appear to be any such service from any of the other airports. So, if there is anyone out there who has had this same problem and can give me some hints on the best way to do this, I would be very grateful.

[insidecabin]

Southampton airport is best but probably no direct flights

 

Gatwick there is a direct train(from in the terminal) which is very convenient as long as you don't travel on a sunday then you go via London.

 

Then you have others like Bournmouth, Bristol etc but would need to check the connections.

Edited August 4, 2014 by insidecabin

[John Bull]

I don't think there are scheduled flights between any of the Canaries & Southampton, though you could consider Lanzarote to Malaga or Alicante or Palma, & from one of those to Southampton by Flybe.

 

Ryanair operate a limited scheduled service Lanzarote to Bournemouth, about 25 miles from Southampton.

From there to Southampton isn't easy by public transport - taxi from airport about 6 miles to Bournemouth travel interchange, then half-hourly train or approx. hourly National Express coach to Southampton. (No need to pre-book the train. If you pre-book the coach, book to Southampton coach station - the cruise terminal option only applies to Fred Olsen sailings.)

By pre-booked private transfer the 40-minute drive will cost around £50 - £60

 

Best choice of flights will be to London's Heathrow or Gatwick. Heathrow is a little more convenient, but don't choose by airport - base your choice on the most convenient & economical flights.

From Heathrow to Southampton by

- Nat Express coach costs about £18pp e/w, pre-booking strongly advised, direct service every couple of hours, journey time 2 hrs. Again,. book to Southampton coach station.

- train involves a shuttlebus from Heathrow to Woking or Reading, negating the quicker journey time, then direct train to Southampton Central. Total journey time again about 2 hours, about £35 pp e/w. Not a popular option but service is frequent & no need to pre-book so a useful Plan B if other plans go belly-up.

- private transfer will cost about £80 for the car, journey time 90 minutes excluding delays.

From Gatwick to Southampton by

- train is hourly & direct, journey time 2 hrs, about £15 pp e/w.

- no direct train service on sundays, so the direct National Express service may be a better option, journey time up to 2.5 hrs, about £18pp e/w. Again it's to Southampton coach station. Altho most folk find the train more convenient, the direct Nat Express operates daily.

- private transfer takes something under 2 hours excluding delays. I guess around £100 e/w for the car.

 

Taxi from train or coach station to ship about £5 to £10 depending on your berth.

 

Ship's coach transfer I believe operates from both Heathrow & Gatwick. Often also Southampton airport, though there are several cheaper options for the 6-7 mile journey.

 

Stansted or Luton to Southampton by public transport is convoluted, & probably expensive (esp Stansted) by private transfer. Bristol is some distance & its airport is about 8 miles from Bristol Temple Meads station but there's a shuttlebus to the station & a good (hourly?) direct train service from Temple Meads to Southampton central.

 

http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search

http://www.smithsforairports.com

http://www.westquaycars.com

http://www.mandptaxis.co.uk/

(those private transfer operators suit any Southampton-bound journey)

 

JB :)

Edited August 4, 2014 by John Bull

[Lanzalady]

Thanks very much for the information. :)

[Talisker92]

JB,

Seriously, thank you for taking the time to help the OP out. You are a veritable fount of information!!!