LHR to ship transfer thru Norwegian

[CUTTERSAM]

I see on NCL you are able to purchase transfers from LHR to the ship for 75 dollars. That is a big savings over private car. Has anyone used this option thru NCL?  Is it chartered or one of the National bus lines?  

 

Thank you for any info you may have.

[fredflint]

Are you counting per person I see a taxi is about 125.00 that would be for 2 people.  The transfer is not bad but can be slow if you are first on.

 

 

[Cruz56379]

We did this to Southampton through Norwegian.  It was by far the best boarding experience that we have had.  It was a chartered bus and everything was smooth and simple.

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, CUTTERSAM said:

I see on NCL you are able to purchase transfers from LHR to the ship for 75 dollars. That is a big savings over private car. Has anyone used this option thru NCL?  Is it chartered or one of the National bus lines?  

 

Thank you for any info you may have.

It’s a private NCL motor coach. They wait until the bus is full before leaving for the ships. We paid a lot more for a private car from downtown London to Southampton on our last cruise. 

[CUTTERSAM]

17 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

It’s a private NCL motor coach. They wait until the bus is full before leaving for the ships. We paid a lot more for a private car from downtown London to Southampton on our last cruise. 

I saw some prices one person over 300.00 private car.  My flight gets in at 7:30 am. I am thinking most flights are overnight and many ship goers.  I would not want to be waiting for more than a hour but I imagine it is a popular choice for cruisers and would fill up fairly quickly. 

[CUTTERSAM]

17 hours ago, fredflint said:

Are you counting per person I see a taxi is about 125.00 that would be for 2 people.  The transfer is not bad but can be slow if you are first on.

 

 

One person. I would reserve transport in advance of course, don't want to end up with an off brand transport. Traveling solo I am cautious, maybe overly so. Thank you!

[CUTTERSAM]

17 hours ago, Cruz56379 said:

We did this to Southampton through Norwegian.  It was by far the best boarding experience that we have had.  It was a chartered bus and everything was smooth and simple.

I am so happy to hear that!  Was it a long wait for the bus to be filled, do you recall?  I am getting in at 7:30 am.

[Crown Vic]

You may wish to read Cruise Critic’s Ports of Call/British Isles and Western Europe for oodles of information on travelling from LHR to Southampton.

In September last, used aquacars.co.uk for the trip. Cost was £140. Driver met us at LHR, took the luggage to the car etc. etc. May be worth considering. Cheers…

[fmrlkr]

I did this in October.  We arrived later on the day before sailing and stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn at the airport.  On the morning of the cruise we went back to the airport lobby to get the bus.  We missed the first round and waited with the second.  It was very easy. It will take some time to get your luggage and thru customs.  Find out when the last bus leaves.  They take your luggage and when you get to the port you do not have to deal with it (with attached luggage tags).  I highly recommend this!

Edited January 1 by fmrlkr
Missed word

[Minoushka]

Train is very easy taxi to and from station for city if not straigh5 to airport also by local bus 

i did it from Gatwick to port for 10$ 

[marys350]

Are you flying in on the day of the cruise or a day in advance?

[CUTTERSAM]

Flying in day of. Delta non stop, arrival 7:30 am

33 minutes ago, marys350 said:

Are you flying in on the day of the cruise or a day in advance?

 

 

[CUTTERSAM]

1 hour ago, Minoushka said:

Train is very easy taxi to and from station for city if not straigh5 to airport also by local bus 

i did it from Gatwick to port for 10$ 

 

[CUTTERSAM]

Just now, CUTTERSAM said:

That would be much hands on for me. Traveling solo with max luggage and a pitiful sense of direction! 🤪

th

[dexddd]

We used this option fall 2022.  LHR customs greatly improved.  Long line, moved fast, scan passport, gate opens.  Walked to claim, bags quickly arrived, NCL reps there, check off list, wait.  Go out to bus with group, gave luggage, then to port.  Maybe 1.5 hours from plane to ship.

 

Biggest issue was once at port.  A few people still getting off ship.  No real direction from bus staff where to go.  Entered building.  They were setting up a Haven check in far end.  Went there, did checkin, escorted to security, then upstairs to Haven area.  Had to do another whole check in.  Not sure if the Haven part applies for you.  Other than port issue, very smooth.

[CUTTERSAM]

2 hours ago, marys350 said:

Are you flying in on the day of the cruise or a day in advance?

Day of. Currently scheduled to land at 7:30 Delta

[Cruz56379]

6 hours ago, CUTTERSAM said:

I am so happy to hear that!  Was it a long wait for the bus to be filled, do you recall?  I am getting in at 7:30 am.

We had the NCL air package with flight, and our flight was overnight from MSP.  Once we got through customs we did wait a bit inside the airport for the bus to arrive.  Once we were brought outside to the bus, they took our luggage and put it in a separate truck.  From there we did not see our luggage again until it was delivered to our room.  Really nice, but make sure you have everything out of it that you may need.  The bus filled up and left right away, so no real wait there.

[julig22]

6 hours ago, CUTTERSAM said:

I am so happy to hear that!  Was it a long wait for the bus to be filled, do you recall?  I am getting in at 7:30 am.

You will most likely have a wait to board the bus but there will be someone from NCL to meet you and direct you to a waiting area - first because they will usually be using the same busses that they use to take passengers from the ship to the airport, those probably start arriving 8:30-9am.  Second, they do not want people arriving at the port before the disembarking passengers have cleared the ship and the terminal - you might find yourself standing outside if you get to the port too early.  My last cruise (different port) didn't start check-in until noon.

As a solo traveler, I usually depend on the NCL transfers. I've used them often, they seem like the best option in most ports.

 

[insidecabin]

6 hours ago, Minoushka said:

Train is very easy taxi to and from station for city if not straigh5 to airport also by local bus 

i did it from Gatwick to port for 10$ 

 

There is no sensible train option from Heathrow.

 

National express works best if your flight times fit.

[Minoushka]

You are correct train from Gatswick, bus fromHeathrow 

[Joanne G.]

7 hours ago, fmrlkr said:

I did this in October.  We arrived later on the day before sailing and stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn at the airport.  On the morning of the cruise we went back to the airport lobby to get the bus.  We missed the first round and waited with the second.  It was very easy. It will take some time to get your luggage and thru customs.  Find out when the last bus leaves.  They take your luggage and when you get to the port you do not have to deal with it (with attached luggage tags).  I highly recommend this!

We will be spending several days in London before our cruise.    If we decide to return to Heathrow for the NCL bus, where exactly would we find it?   We've been to Heathrow, and we know it's massive.  What do you mean by airport lobby?   If we decide on the NCL bus, we don't want to be wandering all over Heathrow with our bags, looking for it LOL!   

 

 

[ontheweb]

2 hours ago, Joanne G. said:

We will be spending several days in London before our cruise.    If we decide to return to Heathrow for the NCL bus, where exactly would we find it?   We've been to Heathrow, and we know it's massive.  What do you mean by airport lobby?   If we decide on the NCL bus, we don't want to be wandering all over Heathrow with our bags, looking for it LOL!   

 

 

Go to the area where baggage is picked up.

 

I was surprised that our bus from Heathrow left before it was full, but then it made a stop and picked up some more passengers at IIRC, a hotel, quite possibly one used by Norwegian.