Southampton question

[ian moore]

We are planning to take a Princess cruise in September and we will be disembarking in Southampton.

 

Our flight home from Southampton is at 1845,and,as normal, Princess will have us off the ship before 10.00 am. Even if Princess have a disembarkation tour, they normally get passengers to the airport by midday.

 

In order to avoid a long boring day at Southampton airport, we are wondering if there are any local tour companies that maybe pick up at the port, do a tour at Portsmouth,say, and then deliver to the airport.

 

Any cruisers had a similar experience?

 

All ideas welcome.

 

many thanks.

 

Ian Moore

[Bob++]

The first problem is your luggage. You can leave it at the airport at £6.00 per bag / per day, but there are no other facilities in Southampton.

 

Because it is a terminal, Southampton is not a port where there are a tour companies looking for business.

 

One suggestion is to hire a car for the day. You can pick one up near the port and drop it at the airport, or take a taxi to the airport and hire one there. This should give you five hours or so to explore some of the countryside.

 

Better still, dump your bags at the airport and catch a train. Either to The Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth; or to Winchester.

[John Bull]

There are no "tours" from Southampton - the only coach excursions are for locals & the times almost certainly won't meet your time-scale.

You can hire a car or car+driver - I can suggest a few if you want, but it'd cost a pretty packet.

 

Southampton is a railway junction, with trains in four / five directions, and that's probably your best bet.

 

But as per Bob's comment, with public transport the sticking point is your luggage.

 

The only place where you can store luggage in the city is at http://www.oceanssouthampton.com/

But the place has a chequered history, it has only recently re-opened at this location after falling foul of the Official Receiver at another High Street address, so whether it will still be in business in September is debateable.

 

The Grand Harbour hotel used to store luggage for non-residents but that facility has now ceased, so ignore any web references to it.

 

So head straight to the airport.

There are frequent trains from Southampton central to Southampton parkway/airport, but you'll need a £6 to £10 (depending on your cruise terminal) taxi ride from ship to Southampton central station plus £3.70 train fare each. So probably better to take a taxi all the way. About £21 from the rank at the cruise terminal, or about £14 pre-booked eg http://westquaycars.com/

 

If there's no baggage drop for your flight there's left luggage at the airport terminal's Swissport desk, £6 per bag.

 

Winchester is just 10 mins by direct train, about 4 trains per hour, £5.40 day return.

Portsmouth Harbour (for the historic dockyard & ships) involves one change, either at Eastleigh or back at Southampton central depending on the time, takes about an hour & 20 mins, £11 day-return.

Salisbury is something under an hour, day return fare about £11, about 3 trains per hour - some direct, some via a change at Romsey, some via a change back at Southampton central. From the station at Salisbury you can take the hop-on bus to Stonehenge. If you do that, buy your Stonehenge tickets with your hop-on tickets - Stonehenge gives priority admission to those with timed tickets & if you arrive at a busy time without a ticket you will be held up - a ticket via the hop-on service gives priority admission without having to specify a time.

http://www.thestonehengetour.info/ Or you can simply visit Salisbury and its magnificent cathedral.

Or just head back to Southampton central station on the train - the old town, within the city wall, has a few sights like the Bargate, Tudor House, Medieval Merchant's House, Gods Tower archaeological museum. There's also the SeaCity museum (close to the station) & the Solent Sky aircraft museum. And a modern shopping street (Above Bar) & Mall (West Quay Mall).

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/

 

Other places easily accessible from Southampton like Bournemouth, Weymouth, Bath, the New Forest tour & the Isle of Wight won't fit your time-scale.

 

Google those places, see what you think

 

JB :)

Edited March 14, 2016 by John Bull