Debarkation in Southampton

[casofilia]

I see that debarkation arrival in Southampton appears to be at 5am for many Caribbean Princess cruises.

 

What time are people able to get off the boat? Especially those who "walk off"?

After a "Round Britain" cruise how long will it take to clear "Customs and Immigration" for those using a UK Passport?

Are there lots of taxis available? What is the cost and time to Southampton Central Station?

 

 

The reason for asking is that we want to travel to Crewe by train using a Britrail Pass and want to be able to arrange reservations before we leave on the cruise to ensure decent seats on the trains. We have to change in Birmingham.

 

 

Thank you

 

 

Mike

Pom by Birth; Coin Collecting Retired Kiwi by Choice; Canuck by Family Ties.

[Colo Cruiser]

Private transport to/from Southampton.

 

http://www.woodfordchauffeurcars.co.uk/index.php

[caribill]

I see that debarkation arrival in Southampton appears to be at 5am for many Caribbean Princess cruises.

 

What time are people able to get off the boat? Especially those who "walk off"? Last May the first walkoff was at 6:10 AM.

After a "Round Britain" cruise how long will it take to clear "Customs and Immigration" for those using a UK Passport? We have USA passport. I do not remember any special clerarance. Ship had been in the EU. This may change after Brexit.

Are there lots of taxis available? What is the cost and time to Southampton Central Station? There were taxis when we disembarked around 8 AM. I assume there were some earlier. I do not know the rates.

 

 

The reason for asking is that we want to travel to Crewe by train using a Britrail Pass and want to be able to arrange reservations before we leave on the cruise to ensure decent seats on the trains. We have to change in Birmingham.

 

 

 

see above in red

[Rubynic]

Hi

 

Taxi to Southampton only takes about 5/10 mins and costs less than £10 at that time of day when there is little traffic.

 

 

You will only be able to reserve train seats on one particular train so if you have an open ticket but catch an earlier/later one than your seat reservations you will just have to take your chances. Make sure your ticket is unrestricted as well - some are only available on a specific train so if the ship is delayed & you miss it you will have to purchase a new ticket.

[antsp]

see above in red

Brexit is at least 2 years away

[upwarduk]

I am assuming you start your cruise in Southampton if it's a round Britain. If that is the case you won't even show your passport at disembarkation. We didn't when we returned from a Baltics cruise in July 2015, as it was a 'closed loop cruise ,' which surprised me, considering it was the time when illegal immigrants were trying to gain entry into U.K. We wern't even stopped by customs officers.

 

 

Train tickets are available ( at greatly reduced prices) 12 weeks before travel. We bought a single TO Southampton from Huddersfield for £40.40 ( should have been £125)

[casofilia]

(Snipped)

You will only be able to reserve train seats on one particular train so if you have an open ticket but catch an earlier/later one than your seat reservations you will just have to take your chances. Make sure your ticket is unrestricted as well - some are only available on a specific train so if the ship is delayed & you miss it you will have to purchase a new ticket.

 

Thank you. As I said in my original post I we will have Britrail passes, so can travel at any time. We are travelling on a real "cross country" route and so want to book the most logical train as the next one to take is an hour later. Also we are travelling First Class so there will probably be no problem just turning up but it is always nice to be able to get the 'best' seats.

[harz99]

Taxi should be around £5/6, depending on the day taxis should be readily available or short wait (longer wait during school term between 8.15 and 9.30 and Sunday mornings). Make sure they take you to the London bound side of the railway station, and your CrossCountry train will normally have one first class carriage with just 26 seats.

[daiB]

On P&O we have never shown our passports when getting off In Southampton.

 

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[casofilia]

Thank you to all the respondents; there have been some very helpful answers.

 

 

Mike

[Alaskanb]

Thank you to all the respondents; there have been some very helpful answers.

 

 

Mike

We are doing something similar but getting off at Stockport. Planning to book a through train mid-morning so we have time for breakfast onboard; also no problems with changing trains in Birmingham. Brother lives near Altrincham so anywhere in the area works for us.

[casofilia]

We are doing something similar but getting off at Stockport. Planning to book a through train mid-morning so we have time for breakfast onboard; also no problems with changing trains in Birmingham. Brother lives near Altrincham so anywhere in the area works for us.

 

 

There is a through train from Southampton to Stockport about every hour at quarter past the hour if you didn't know already; 4 hours travel time. That is if the present timetable continues till June/July.

[Alaskanb]

There is a through train from Southampton to Stockport about every hour at quarter past the hour if you didn't know already; 4 hours travel time. That is if the present timetable continues till June/July.

Thanks. Was aware of the schedule. Know we will be in need of a rest after our day in Le Havre so not concerned about the time so the 4 hr rest will be fine. Our only concern is hauling our luggage on and off the train :eek: I will request assistance with CrossCountry and hope it occurs. My Dad was an engine driver based in Stoke and Crewe beginning in WW2. Lots of great memories of our train rides --we were never allowed on the footplate.

[casofilia]

Thanks. Was aware of the schedule. Know we will be in need of a rest after our day in Le Havre so not concerned about the time so the 4 hr rest will be fine. Our only concern is hauling our luggage on and off the train :eek: I will request assistance with CrossCountry and hope it occurs. My Dad was an engine driver based in Stoke and Crewe beginning in WW2. Lots of great memories of our train rides --we were never allowed on the footplate.

 

 

My grandfather was one based in Frome and Didcot!! That was before and just after WW1!! When a youngster I traveled all over the UK on trains and still love to travel that way when there. We tend to buy a 1st Class Britrail pass for the number of days we are visiting relatives but fine that they are lax at dating it. When I have extra days I travel lots!!

 

Mike

[Alaskanb]

My grandfather was one based in Frome and Didcot!! That was before and just after WW1!! When a youngster I traveled all over the UK on trains and still love to travel that way when there. We tend to buy a 1st Class Britrail pass for the number of days we are visiting relatives but fine that they are lax at dating it. When I have extra days I travel lots!!

 

Mike

I'm looking into the Britrail Senior Card or the Two for One card as will recoup that cost on the one journey. As we are staying with family, and only for 7 days, we will be mostly going places by car with the odd trip into Manchester by the light rail system.

[upwarduk]

I'm looking into the Britrail Senior Card or the Two for One card as will recoup that cost on the one journey. As we are staying with family, and only for 7 days, we will be mostly going places by car with the odd trip into Manchester by the light rail system.

 

 

I bought the Two for One card last summer for £25. Then used it for our trip to Southampton £80.80 for 2 people. That ticket should have cost £256, so in total I paid just over £100, as I booked early, 12 weeks before, when the tickets were released.

[harz99]

My grandfather was one based in Frome and Didcot!! That was before and just after WW1!! When a youngster I traveled all over the UK on trains and still love to travel that way when there. We tend to buy a 1st Class Britrail pass for the number of days we are visiting relatives but fine that they are lax at dating it. When I have extra days I travel lots!!

 

Mike

I should keep that last comment to yourself Mike, what you're doing is knowingly committing fraud!

 

If you buy a Britrail pass of the straight through validity type, YOU are required to ensure it is validated by either the station ticket office before boarding on the first day of travel or if there is not an open ticket office, by the guard on the first train you travel on. If you buy the Flexipass version, after initial validation as above, YOU are required to date each of the date boxes before you board the first train on each day of travel. It's all in the T&Cs, as are the potential consequences of failing to comply.

 

Don't get me wrong as I'm all for saving money, but that's not the way to do it.

 

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[casofilia]

{Snipped}

If you buy a Britrail pass of the straight through validity type, YOU are required to ensure it is validated by either the station ticket office before boarding on the first day of travel or if there is not an open ticket office, by the guard on the first train you travel on. If you buy the Flexipass version, after initial validation as above, YOU are required to date each of the date boxes before you board the first train on each day of travel. It's all in the T&Cs, as are the potential consequences of failing to comply.

 

 

Thank you, now I know.

When we buy them from New Zealand all we get sent are the tickets themselves and no information (no T&Cs) about how to use them. The first time we travel I take them to the ticket office to check and they stamp them. On the train I give them to the ticket collector and they date them so I assumed that was the way to do it. I will do it the correct way myself in future.

 

Mike

[Alaskanb]

I bought the Two for One card last summer for £25. Then used it for our trip to Southampton £80.80 for 2 people. That ticket should have cost £256, so in total I paid just over £100, as I booked early, 12 weeks before, when the tickets were released.

Great!

[Alaskanb]

Great!

I've ordered the Two for one card. Will work well for us. Thankfully we have a UK address it can be sent to and then on to us in the US.

[LostFan#1]

I am pleased to hear passengers were able to leave the ship as early as 6am. We, too, sail round trip Southampton to the Baltics. Itinerary says the ship docks at 7am. We have a 10am flight to Manchester and hope to self-carry our luggage and disembark as quickly as possible. The ship is Crown Princess. I assume we will be able to request early debarkation sometime during the cruise.

 

Thanks.

[upwarduk]

I am pleased to hear passengers were able to leave the ship as early as 6am. We, too, sail round trip Southampton to the Baltics. Itinerary says the ship docks at 7am. We have a 10am flight to Manchester and hope to self-carry our luggage and disembark as quickly as possible. The ship is Crown Princess. I assume we will be able to request early debarkation sometime during the cruise.

 

Thanks.

 

 

Which airport are you flying from to Manchester?

[LostFan#1]

Southampton (on Flybe).

[upwarduk]

Southampton (on Flybe).

 

 

At least you won't have 2 hr pre check in at Southampton!

[casofilia]

I am pleased to hear passengers were able to leave the ship as early as 6am. We, too, sail round trip Southampton to the Baltics. Itinerary says the ship docks at 7am. We have a 10am flight to Manchester and hope to self-carry our luggage and disembark as quickly as possible. The ship is Crown Princess. I assume we will be able to request early debarkation sometime during the cruise.

 

Thanks.

 

 

The cruise we are on arrives at 6am so I would assume that we might get off by 6.30am or maybe by 7am. If you are due to dock at 7am work on getting off by 7.30am or maybe 8am.

 

Southampton airport isn't too far from any of the ports, about 20 minutes from the QE11 terminal, so you should be able to do it easily to be there by 9am. By what time do you have to check in and get rid of your luggage? Is the weight limit for hold luggage only 20KG?? If so be careful that you are not over that limit!!

 

I don't know anything about requesting "early debarkation". Is this a Princess thing?

 

Mike