Curioius - What latest time on-board prior to sailing (Southampton)

[Jim_Iain]

I know many things are not as usual but what is that latest time you have to be back on board prior to sailing.     We have two turn arounds on B2B2B in Southampton and the sailing time is 4:00 PM.      I was wanting to take a day trip to Isle of Wight but thinking it may just be too tight.

 

 

[talljules1]

12 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I know many things are not as usual but what is that latest time you have to be back on board prior to sailing.     We have two turn arounds on B2B2B in Southampton and the sailing time is 4:00 PM.      I was wanting to take a day trip to Isle of Wight but thinking it may just be too tight.

 

 

I think that will be too tight a turn around. For our sailing on Saturday the final boarding time is 4pm, sail time 5.30pm.

 

[talljules1]

Also, at present, you can only leave the ship for ship shore excursions.  I wonder how they will deal with that for passengers who are back-to-back cruising?  Might be worth calling Celebrity to find out whether they will be OK with you wandering off on your own in between cruises. I don't think they have a shore excursion to the Isle of Wight.

 

Of course, with restrictions due to be lifted in the UK on 19th July, it could be that they will relax their rules.

[Covepointcruiser]

Well it would depend on the sea states between Southampton and the Isle of Wight.    If you miss the ship can you rejoin at the next port?   Some cruise lines are not allowing this under the pandemic rules.    

[Jim_Iain]

9 hours ago, talljules1 said:

Also, at present, you can only leave the ship for ship shore excursions.  I wonder how they will deal with that for passengers who are back-to-back cruising?  Might be worth calling Celebrity to find out whether they will be OK with you wandering off on your own in between cruises. I don't think they have a shore excursion to the Isle of Wight.

 

Of course, with restrictions due to be lifted in the UK on 19th July, it could be that they will relax their rules.

I understand that, luckily my cruise is not until April of 2022 so hoping things will be much changed by then.   

[Jim_Iain]

9 hours ago, talljules1 said:

I think that will be too tight a turn around. For our sailing on Saturday the final boarding time is 4pm, sail time 5.30pm.

 

I was thinking the same.    While in Tokyo they had a 1 1/2 hour final boarding time but the Retreat Manager got the Captain to give us an extra 45 minutes (in advance) if we needed because we were going into Tokyo for the day.   

 

Long story short it never happened -  a hurricane was barreling down on us and they evacuated all B2B's to a hotel and notified boarding passengers to get a hotel for the night.   The ship sailed early around noon and went out to the harbor  to ride out the storm, as the port was closing.

[hawkesbaynz]

The Red Jet is every 1hr 20mins. Takes 25 minutes. Stops in Cowes Town. You could do a nice walk from there or perhaps get a tour in a Taxi to the Needles or somewhere (costly). The Terminal is very central in Soton and certainly walkable. I think it is doable if you get off the ship early.

https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/en/isle-of-wight-ferry/timetables/#timetablerealtime

 

Another option for a day trip is a rail trip to Portsmouth for the naval museum and the Victory. Another option would be a short train ride to Winchester for a wander around and see the cathedral and Arthurs Round Table (!). Train stations are walkable. Southampton has good shopping but...........

[Denny01]

As have most of the UK posters, we’ve been to the Isle a few times, and there are a ton of ferries and very quick hovercraft and so on making the run. I’d plan to get off early and set what you want to see and plan on a early/mid afternoon return and all would be fine.

 

No different than any other excursion, once they allow On Your Own trips. Don’t need an organized tour; it’s quite easy on your own and easy to get around and back/forth is well supported. 

 

Of anything to do near the port, that is The One I’d do!

 

We spent a week in Cornwall prior to a TA out of Southampton and just fantastic time. Also spent a few days in Southampton in a neat BandB and dined at Cowherds which was in a nearby park and loved it! But not close to the port itself. 

 

den

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, hawkesbaynz said:

The Red Jet is every 1hr 20mins. Takes 25 minutes. Stops in Cowes Town. You could do a nice walk from there or perhaps get a tour in a Taxi to the Needles or somewhere (costly). The Terminal is very central in Soton and certainly walkable. I think it is doable if you get off the ship early.

https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/en/isle-of-wight-ferry/timetables/#timetablerealtime

 

Another option for a day trip is a rail trip to Portsmouth for the naval museum and the Victory. Another option would be a short train ride to Winchester for a wander around and see the cathedral and Arthurs Round Table (!). Train stations are walkable. Southampton has good shopping but...........

Thanks for the recommendations.  I put them all down in my planning spreadsheet.

[Jim_Iain]

37 minutes ago, Denny01 said:

As have most of the UK posters, we’ve been to the Isle a few times, and there are a ton of ferries and very quick hovercraft and so on making the run. I’d plan to get off early and set what you want to see and plan on a early/mid afternoon return and all would be fine.

 

No different than any other excursion, once they allow On Your Own trips. Don’t need an organized tour; it’s quite easy on your own and easy to get around and back/forth is well supported. 

 

Of anything to do near the port, that is The One I’d do!

 

We spent a week in Cornwall prior to a TA out of Southampton and just fantastic time. Also spent a few days in Southampton in a neat BandB and dined at Cowherds which was in a nearby park and loved it! But not close to the port itself. 

 

den

Thanks Den.

 

If we do go I"m sure it will be early as you have to get off ship prior to 9:00 on B2B's or go through the B2B process so they can zero out the ship.   Iain is not much of  a morning person while I am always up early. 

[barbette165]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Thanks Den.

 

If we do go I"m sure it will be early as you have to get off ship prior to 9:00 on B2B's or go through the B2B process so they can zero out the ship.   Iain is not much of  a morning person while I am always up early. 

Slightly off topic - isn't only in US ports that the ship needs to be zero'd out? In Europe, you can stay on the ship during the changeover. The limiting factor for a Europe back to back is how early they issue the new sea pass cards.

[barbette165]

And if your looking for things to add to the options - the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth is certainly worth considering,