Port of Southampton info

[MeanIt451]

We are Docking at the Port of Southampton on the Marina on our return and are planning on meeting up with some friends who are departing on the same ship from there. I am totally un-familiar with Southhampton and have the following questions. 
1. What dock is it, or is there a central cruise terminal. 
2. Can we leave our luggage somewhere while we meetup at a restaurant? At cruise terminal?
3. Any recommendations for places nearby?

[Harters]

You may well attract a wider audience for your queries by posting on the British Isles ports of call forum. 

 

But, to give you a part answer to Q1 - the port has several cruise terminals. FWIW, when were on Marina in 2017, it was docked at the QE2 Terminal, both departing and arriving (which was fortunate,as my car was parked across the road). There are minimal facilities there - there's a cafe (snacks & drinks) and toilets but that's about it. 

Edited May 30 by Harters

[John Bull]

https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

Unless I've missed any sailings, Marina will be at berth 101 City Cruise Terminal or the next-door berth, 102 Horizon Cruise Terminal.

City has minimal facilities & not a suitable place for a get-together. Horizon is quite new and I don't know about the facilities but probably no better than City. 

And I'm pretty certain that no cruise terminals have left-luggage facilities.

 

How are you travelling from Southampton & your friends travelling to Southampton?

Please say one of you will be in your own car. If not, I'll put my thinking hat on for a suitable venue to get-together.

 

JB 🙂

[MeanIt451]

Thanks for the reply. Our plans have changed as the people we were intending to meet up with have changed theirs. We will be going from the cruise dock into central London. I understand there is a rail service, but would appreciate any recommendations. There are just 2 of us with one suitcase each.

[John Bull]

23 hours ago, MeanIt451 said:

Thanks for the reply. Our plans have changed as the people we were intending to meet up with have changed theirs. We will be going from the cruise dock into central London. I understand there is a rail service, but would appreciate any recommendations. There are just 2 of us with one suitcase each.

 

Yes, two to three trains per hour from Southampton Central station to London Waterloo.

 

Fare is something over £50 pp, but if you buy Advance tickets (available from about 12 weeks out) it can be as low as £14 - that increases as the date gets close

The limitation of Advance tickets is that they're only good for the train time that you book - miss it and you'll have to buy those £50+ walk-up tickets (altho they can deduct the cost of the Advance tickets if you present them).

So don't be too ambitious about booking an early train - aim for 9am or later. If the ship allocates you a late embarkation slot, go to Guest Relations and ask for an earlier one, citing your onward travel arrangements.

 

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

 

JB 🙂

[irishgal432]

On 6/1/2024 at 7:16 AM, John Bull said:

 

Yes, two to three trains per hour from Southampton Central station to London Waterloo.

 

Fare is something over £50 pp, but if you buy Advance tickets (available from about 12 weeks out) it can be as low as £14 - that increases as the date gets close

The limitation of Advance tickets is that they're only good for the train time that you book - miss it and you'll have to buy those £50+ walk-up tickets (altho they can deduct the cost of the Advance tickets if you present them).

So don't be too ambitious about booking an early train - aim for 9am or later. If the ship allocates you a late embarkation slot, go to Guest Relations and ask for an earlier one, citing your onward travel arrangements.

 

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

 

JB 🙂

What are lugggage allowances for the train and do you have to pay extra?

[gumshoe958]

38 minutes ago, irishgal432 said:

What are lugggage allowances for the train and do you have to pay extra?

No limits, and no.

 

BUT you should know that the Southampton trains are essentially commuter trains with no dedicated luggage storage, except for overhead racks which can take a carry-on size case but nothing bigger.

 

So large cases have to go wherever you can find space to squeeze them around your seat. Not a problem if it’s quiet but not ideal if it’s busy. Think Long Island Railroad, not Amtrak if that helps.

 

Edited June 2 by gumshoe958

[John Bull]

24 minutes ago, irishgal432 said:

What are lugggage allowances for the train and do you have to pay extra?

 

We had a long discussion about this a while back - it ended with an argument about how many sheep a passenger could take on a train 😃

 

Yes, there's a limit, but waaaay more than you need worry about, and no extra charge.  🙂

But bear in mind that there's no porters these days.

 

JB 🙂

 

[irishgal432]

27 minutes ago, gumshoe958 said:

No limits, and no.

 

BUT you should know that the Southampton trains are essentially commuter trains with no dedicated luggage storage, except for overhead racks which can take a carry-on size case but nothing bigger.

 

So large cases have to go wherever you can find space to squeeze them around your seat. Not a problem if it’s quiet but not ideal if it’s busy. Think Long Island Railroad, not Amtrak if that helps.

 

Thank you, so late morning would be better?  Around 11 am or so?

[gumshoe958]

11 minutes ago, irishgal432 said:

Thank you, so late morning would be better?  Around 11 am or so?

On a weekday, plenty of room. On a sunny weekend, not so much.

[John Bull]

13 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

On a weekday, plenty of room. On a sunny weekend, not so much.

 

On early-to-mid-morning weekdays Southampton to London is busy with commuters & those who have business meetings & such in the big bad city. Later in the day it's a breeze. And it's the opposite way round for London to Southampton.

 

JB 🙂

[gumshoe958]

19 minutes ago, John Bull said:

 

On early-to-mid-morning weekdays Southampton to London is busy with commuters & those who have business meetings & such in the big bad city. Later in the day it's a breeze. And it's the opposite way round for London to Southampton.

 

JB 🙂

It’s Southampton to Waterloo that’s the issue on days when multiple ships are in port. Cruise passengers with lots of heavy luggage fighting for space with commuters on trains that are busy even before they reach Southampton does not a pleasant journey make!

 

Waterloo to Southampton is usually easier although weekend mid-morning trains can get very busy with the big spike in leisure travel since the pandemic.

[John Bull]

22 minutes ago, gumshoe958 said:

It’s Southampton to Waterloo that’s the issue on days when multiple ships are in port. Cruise passengers with lots of heavy luggage fighting for space with commuters on trains that are busy even before they reach Southampton does not a pleasant journey make!

 

Waterloo to Southampton is usually easier although weekend mid-morning trains can get very busy with the big spike in leisure travel since the pandemic.

 

Yes, weekdays that's like I said

 

Have little experience of trains at weekends, but summer friday evenings and saturday mornings the road from London is slow-going as cruisers have to mix it with Londoners getting out of the big bad city for the weekend.

Same going back to London on a sunday evening (or afternoon if the weather's a washout) though that doesn't affect cruisers

 

JB 🙂