Advice sought for Southampton to Heathrow

[Spideysmum]

Yes, I know how to do it...but not as quickly as possible   Dilemma is that I’ve booked daughter and Boyfriend onto cruise with us and they are still not committed (it’s in 2021 with refundable deposit)   The current airline schedule shows a flight direct to SFO at 12:20 pm    Daughter says they want to get back ASAP ...directly  no stopovers   I’m using miles so am rather stuck with this airline   Cruise ends at 6 am on a Sunday   I’m thinking if they self disembarked that it should be doable   Nothing is certain, of course , and neither of them are placid nor easy going   I want to assure them I’ll do my best to get them home to their demanding jobs   
 

Has anyone any suggestions for transfers or private car that are reliable and travel like bats out of hell?    I’d like to have a few months of anticipating a fun time onboard with them   🤷‍♀️

 

 

[Rick&Jeannie]

I cannot speak directly to Southampton to Heathrow...we only did a transfer from Heathrow to Southampton prior to our cruise.  Our plans changed coming back...we were coming from Cardiff, Wales so we took a train.

 

However, you might want to take a look at the website below.  They have LOTS of great information regarding everything London oriented.  We've used several of their recommendations for a previous trip last year.

 

https://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/southampton_cruise_shuttles.htm

[Colo Cruiser]

19 minutes ago, Spideysmum said:

Yes, I know how to do it...but not as quickly as possible   Dilemma is that I’ve booked daughter and Boyfriend onto cruise with us and they are still not committed (it’s in 2021 with refundable deposit)   The current airline schedule shows a flight direct to SFO at 12:20 pm    Daughter says they want to get back ASAP ...directly  no stopovers   I’m using miles so am rather stuck with this airline   Cruise ends at 6 am on a Sunday   I’m thinking if they self disembarked that it should be doable   Nothing is certain, of course , and neither of them are placid nor easy going   I want to assure them I’ll do my best to get them home to their demanding jobs   
 

Has anyone any suggestions for transfers or private car that are reliable and travel like bats out of hell?    I’d like to have a few months of anticipating a fun time onboard with them   🤷‍♀️

 

 

Princess suggestion for the earliest flights is 2pm I believe.

Can you make it? Maybe.

Lots of factors come into play that could affect getting to Heathrow with the required cushion for the flight.

We would not take the chance.

Also try posting this question on the UK ports board.

 

Try this company.    http://www.smithsairportcars.co.uk

[Mom2labs]

We used Smith’s for Airport.  Southampton to Heathrow is a distance though.  It took us about 2 hrs on a weekday. 

[John99]

Besides this Princess forum - I would also pose this question(s) on The Port Of Call – Britain.  This forum will provide a more robust functionality for your questions.  Fellow cruisers often provide anecdotal information about their experiences.   Many topics are covered like: Hotels suggestions, public & private transportation, excursions, currency, theater tickets, interesting things to do, etc.  This forum will be specific to that travel destination.  In this case -- Britain.

John

[Rick&Jeannie]

Is it possible to do?  Probably, but you would need to be off the ship as early as they will let you (self-disembark) and hire a private car service.  You'll pay a premium over using more traditional types of transfer.  I personally would not try it...not worth the worry and stress after what should be a nice relaxing cruise!

[dog]

I’ve used Smiths and other private transfers and Princess transfer. I would NOT recommend this short time. We sat in traffic a long time on one of these trips. Too risky. 

[capriccio]

8 minutes ago, Mom2labs said:

We used Smith’s for Airport.  Southampton to Heathrow is a distance though.  It took us about 2 hrs on a weekday. 

 

We've used Smith's twice with excellent results. 

 

OP - Mom2labs brings up another consideration.  Traffic inbound to London on a weekday is heavy with lots of commuter traffic so timing can be problematic.  On a weekend, barring accidents, I'd say give yourself at least 1 1/2 hours.

[electricguy]

If you look at flight ease for 2020 trips Princess will let you take the 12:20 flight so it must be doable.

[Spideysmum]

Okay...most of you guys think it’s risky   I’ve thought of just buying airfare for them as there is a BA flight to SFO but just seems silly  when I’m overloaded with air miles    They are both rather volatile individuals and to posters Rick & Jeannie -I’m really not expecting a “relaxing cruise” with them anyway  (They are fun and excitable and highly stressed)    I think I will work on talking them into an airport hotel for that night  while we head on to London for a couple of days to de-stress ourselves   
 

Thanks everyone  😻

[Spideysmum]

5 minutes ago, electricguy said:

If you look at flight ease for 2020 trips Princess will let you take the 12:20 flight so it must be doable.

😻😻  maybe there’s hope  

[franktown]

56 minutes ago, Spideysmum said:

Okay...most of you guys think it’s risky   I’ve thought of just buying airfare for them as there is a BA flight to SFO but just seems silly  when I’m overloaded with air miles    They are both rather volatile individuals and to posters Rick & Jeannie -I’m really not expecting a “relaxing cruise” with them anyway  (They are fun and excitable and highly stressed)    I think I will work on talking them into an airport hotel for that night  while we head on to London for a couple of days to de-stress ourselves   
 

Thanks everyone  😻

I think that is the best answer.  Book them in a hotel and they can take the next days flight.  Then know one has to stress about it.

[yoyo_man]

Take the National Express when your life's in a mess - it'll make you smile!

 

https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

 

Southampton to Heathrow direct is about 2 hours and will cost about £15.

[Diver2014]

We had a 12:20 pm flight last June from Heathrow when we were on the Crown Princess.  We took the Princess transfer from Southampton and were at the airport at 10am.  We had to sit around and wait for an hour before the gate at terminal 3 opened. Just our experience, everyone has a different answer.

Edited February 8, 2020 by Diver2014

[calliecat]

How far out can you book the train?   Our cruise isn't till September.

 

[40yearcruiser]

Keep in mind that the bus and train stations are not close to the cruise terminal in Southampton. You would need to factor in a taxi from the cruise port to the station. We cruised both into and out of Southampton last summer and used the National Express bus to and from London, but if you hit traffic it can be a slow trip. If I were on a tight schedule I'd book the ship's transfer to the airport, definitely not the least expensive but most likely to get you off the ship quickly. 

[nini]

If daughter wants to get home ASAP, I do not understand how overnight at the airport

or London will help. The Princess transfer is currently $59.00 pp each way. They have a stake 

to get you there on time.

[Spideysmum]

28 minutes ago, nini said:

If daughter wants to get home ASAP, I do not understand how overnight at the airport

or London will help. The Princess transfer is currently $59.00 pp each way. They have a stake 

to get you there on time.

I’d sure like that...price, actually is no object...but on the Princess website this is the wording:

 “Earliest International Flight Departure from Heathrow airport for London (Southampton):
7 hours after ship's arrival.”   

 

Ship docks 6 AM   Scheduled San Francisco flight 12:20 PM     I’m positive that it COULD be done but....lol  

 

Thanks everyone for the input   I’ve got months before they really commit so things all around could change  😀😀

[nini]

We will be doing the BI cruise this September and have booked the Princess transfer.

Our flight is scheduled to take off 8.5 hours after we dock. Can they catch a later flight?

 

[casofilia]

Private helicopter charter

[Spideysmum]

1 hour ago, nini said:

We will be doing the BI cruise this September and have booked the Princess transfer.

Our flight is scheduled to take off 8.5 hours after we dock. Can they catch a later flight?

 

Your flight sounds very safe   My kid and her BF are high maintenance and only want direct flights   This 12:20 pm is the latest united flight (my air miles) so far   But..it’s early   Things can change  

Have a fun time on your BI cruise   We did that in 2017 and loved it  

[rocklinmom]

I think the 12:20 flight on a Sunday is doable if you use a private car service. We docked at Southampton on a Sunday this past June and had a car waiting for us at 7am (the ship docked earlier but it takes awhile to clear customs and get the gangways set up, etc. before passengers can disembark) and were at Heathrow by 8:30am. I booked it through International Friends and the car service they used was called Discover the South, based in Southampton. Would highly recommend them. 

[Spideysmum]

4 hours ago, rocklinmom said:

I think the 12:20 flight on a Sunday is doable if you use a private car service. We docked at Southampton on a Sunday this past June and had a car waiting for us at 7am (the ship docked earlier but it takes awhile to clear customs and get the gangways set up, etc. before passengers can disembark) and were at Heathrow by 8:30am. I booked it through International Friends and the car service they used was called Discover the South, based in Southampton. Would highly recommend them. 

Good info    Thanks   I’ll add to my list of suggestions  

Btw...are you from Rocklin CA?

[SuiteTraveler]

Spideysmum, we were on a cruise where first there was a heli-med evacuation on the final night and during that someone jumped overboard committing suicide in the English Channel  and our ship searched for them until the wee hours.  We got into Southampton at 7:30am - very late, and luggage was a mess due to our late arrival - didn't get our priority luggage until 8:15am but we were still at Heathrow by 10:30am.  One of the ladies who was sharing the ride with us panicked and jumped in a taxi (we passed her on the motorway 15 minutes later.) Don't stress.  Book a car service or use the train, they will make it in plenty of time even if something unexpected happens.

 

Edited February 9, 2020 by SuiteTraveler

[nini]

17 hours ago, Spideysmum said:

Your flight sounds very safe   My kid and her BF are high maintenance and only want direct flights   This 12:20 pm is the latest united flight (my air miles) so far   But..it’s early   Things can change  

Have a fun time on your BI cruise   We did that in 2017 and loved it  

Ours is a direct flight from LHR to Seattle. There are no non-stops that afternoon for them from London to the West Coast?