Post Cruise Transportation From Ship to Heathrow

[proshopred]

We are sailing on the MSC Euiribia in April.. What is the earliest time we will be able to disembark? We were planning to take a 2:05 flight from Heathrow to Florida?  Is this possible? Is it advisable?....The National Express appears to be the most economical choice, but I don't think that we will be able to make it this flight. Is a limo service our best option?

 

[John Bull]

On the current Nat Express timetable you have two options ..............

 

The 07.30 coach arrives LHR 10.05

Most ships are cleared for unassisted disembarkation (haul your own bags from your cabin) at 7am or earlier. Arrival formalities are normally very quick at that time of day, very little longer than a walk-thru, and no line for taxis. MSC's usual berth (City Cruise Terminal) is only a 3 to 5 minute drive or a 15 minute walk from Southampton coach station.

So theoretically it's fine - but no wiggle-room.

 

The 10.05 coach arrives LHR at 12 noon ( 20 minutes earlier for T4, 35 mins earlier for T5)

That means a much more leisurely disembarkation, and arriving two hours before your flight time is comfortable. But no wiggle-room for delays en-route.

 

Cruise lines provide coach transfers from the ship in Southampton to LHR terminals (coaches are each allocated to a single LHR terminal, no time-consuming touring terminals), and the first coaches usually depart at about 8am. Cruise lines generally advise against using their transfers for flights before1.00pm.

Very easy, and the timing is perfect, but cruise lines' transfers are usually poor value - Princess seem to be best value at currently around $65 pp, other cruise lines charge as much as $100 and more pp.

I don't know MSC's prices - in fact I don't even know if they offer transfers.

For a solo it's the best compromise between comfortable timing and cost.

 

A private transfer might be cheaper than a ship's transfer coach for two or more, as well as its other advantages. Cost is currently in the order of £125 to £140 for a sedan for 3, perhaps 4, plus luggage.

 

Rail travel won't work in your timescale because there are no direct trains, and in any case they're expensive for Southampton to LHR..

 

What day-of-the-week are you returning?

Saturdays & sundays are a dream,

Mondays (tuesday if a national holiday weekend) tend to be slowest day due to extra commuter traffic heading for the big bad city.

 

JB 🙂