SOUTHAMPTON CRUISE TERMINAL

There are four terminals at the Port of Southampton stretched across over 2 miles of waterfront, so it is important to know which terminal your cruise ship will be using or you might try to drop your luggage off at the wrong one.

If you are using a GPS or map program (we use Here WeGo), input the following to find the correct terminal:

Mayflower Cruise Terminal: Berth 106, Herbert Walker Ave, Southampton SO15 1HJ

City Cruise Terminal: Berth 101, Solent Road, Western Docks, Southampton SO15 1AJ

Ocean Cruise Terminal: Berth 46/47, Eastern Docks,  Southampton, SO14 3QN

Queen Elizabeth II Cruise Terminal: Berth 38/39, Test Road, Southampton SO14 3GG

View a map of the cruise terminals from the Port of Southampton.

PASSENGER & LUGGAGE DROP OFF

EMBARKATION: Luggage drop-off at the car parks is provided on a limited basis (indicated on the signage). For faster service, you can drop off your luggage and companions at the terminal first.

DISEMBARKATION: When returning you can either retrieve your vehicle and return to the terminal to pick up your companions and luggage in the loading area, or take your luggage and companions to your car park to retrieve your vehicle.

The area next to the cruise terminal is for loading and unloading only so you should be prepared to unload/load quickly to allow others to do the same.

TAXIS: As to be expected there is a high demand for taxis during peak disembarkation hours and they may not be readily available. Please account for this wait time in your plans for departure day, especially when booking a flight home.

PORTS OF CALL FOR SHIPS DEPARTING SOUTHAMPTON

For 2019 Southampton has ships with itineraries scheduled to include:

Alesund, Norway | Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Athens, Greece | Barcelona, Spain | Belfast, UK | Bergen, Norway | Bilbao, Spain | Boston, USA | Brest, France | Cadiz, Spain | Cartegena, Spain | Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas | Cherbourg, France | Civitavecchia, Itay | Copenhagen, Denmark | Cork, Ireland | Dublin, Ireland | Flam, Norway | Fort Lauderdale, USA | Geiranger, Norway | Genoa, Italy | Gibraltar | Gijon, Spain | Halifax, Canada | Hamburg, Germany | Hamilton, Bermuda | Haugesund, Norway | Hellesylt, Norway | Helsinki, Finland | Invergordon, UK | Kings Wharf, Bermuda | Kirkwall, UK | La Coruna, Spain | Labadee, Haiti | Le Havre, France | Le Verdon-sur-mer, France | Leixoes, Portugal | Lerwick, UK | Lisbon, Portugal | Livorno, Italy | Malaga, Spain | Marseille, France | Miami, USA | Naples, Italy | Nassau, Bahamas | New York, USA | Newcastle, UK | Nice, France | Olden, Norwary | Oslo, Norway | Philipsburg, St Maarten | Port Canaveral, USA | Portland, ME, USA | Reykjavik, Iceland | Riga, Latvia | Rotterdam, The Netherlands | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Santa Margherita, Italy | Skagen, Denmark | South Queensferry, UK | St John’s, Canada | St Peter Port, Guernsey | St Petersburg, Russia | Stavanger, Norway | Stockholm, Sweden | Tallin, Estonia | Valencia, Spain | Vigo, Spain | Zeebrugge, Belgium

*Please Note: These scheduled ports of call are not guaranteed as the cruise line may make changes to their itineraries due to weather or other reasons. 

MONEY MATTERS

CURRENCY

The currency of the United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP) or Pound Sterling, which is divided into 100 pence. It is printed on plastic or paper bills in the following denominations: £5, £10, £20, and £50 (uncommon). It also includes the following coins: 1p (penny), 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2.

TIPPING

Although it’s not mandatory, tipping is customary in the United Kingdom and service industries will appreciate a tip for a job well done. Tipping is generally at a much lower level than visitors from the USA will be used to.

RESTAURANTS: It is customary to offer your waiter or waitress a tip of around 10% for good service. Service standards can be variable but are generally good and you will find the service is good though normally less attentive than say the USA. If the service isn’t great you can leave a smaller tip or even no tip. If you are dining with a large group (usually 8 or more) the restaurant may add a service charge to your bill automatically so check for this before you add your tip. This is usually indicated at the bottom of a menu if the restaurant does this, or it will be indicated on your bill.

PUBS/BARS: Tipping is not expected, but if you wish to tip, the usual approach is to offer the server a drink for themselves. This will be accepted and taken as the cash value of a suitable drink. In some places, you’ll find a “tip jar” on the bar.

TAXIS: A tip of 10% or a suitable rounding up of the fare to a round number is customary, especially if your driver helps you with your luggage.

Paying with a credit or debit card is very common and in most restaurants, bars, and even taxis,  you’ll be able to add a tip to the total on the machine when you settle the bill if you don’t have cash. Some credit card machines have buttons with possible tips percentages on them so it will calculate the tip for you if you choose that option. You are always given the option to select the amount you’d like to tip, or you can opt not to put the tip on your card and give a cash tip instead.

BANKS & ATMS

Finding an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) will not be too difficult in Southampton, with the nearest one to the terminal located at Southampton Central Railway Station and several options in the town centre. We’ve also pinned several other banks and ATMs that are near the terminal to the map below.

Generally, in the UK, you will find ATMs at banks, grocery stores, railway stations and bookmakers. Any high street will normally have several machines available to use.

GETTING AROUND SOUTHAMPTON

Whilst the port is right on the edge of the town, it’s still about a twenty-minute walk to get to the town centre, so you might want to use a taxi or Uber to get there quickly and easily. There will typically be taxis waiting at the terminal, especially during peak embarkation and disembarkation times

Once in the centre, the town is very walkable like many UK cities and you’ll be able to enjoy the shops, restaurants and attractions very easily. But if you prefer, you can make use of Southampton’s public transport system.

SOUTHAMPTON WEATHER

The weather in Southampton is nothing if not changeable, but in general, you’ll find the summers are comfortable while the winters can be cold and windy. The best times to visit Southampton for warm-weather outdoor activities are from late June to early September.

The hottest part of the year is normally July and August with average daily high temperatures around 21°C (70°F). The coldest part of the year is the beginning of December to the beginning of March with average daily high temperatures below 10°C (50°F).

SOUTHAMPTON VISITOR’S CENTER

Southampton doesn’t currently have a visitors centre.

For the Official Southampton Pocket Guide click here.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Southampton has many events and activities taking place, especially in the summer months, so you’re bound to find some fun things to do while you’re in town.

if you are planning a cruise during any big events in Southampton it is best to book any hotels as far in advance as possible to get your desired accommodations.

Also, keep event dates in mind if you want to join in the fun, or come another time to enjoy a quieter Southampton.

DINING

While you’ll have plenty to eat aboard your cruise, you shouldn’t give up the chance to try some of the great things Southampton has to offer.

Being a large city, you can enjoy cuisines from around the world in Southampton.

A couple that come highly recommended are:

Casa Brasil – For meat lovers, little can beat a Brazilian all you can eat buffet. Turn your card green side up and they will keep bringing freshly cooked marinated meat until you give in and turn the card red side up to indicate enough.

Cattle Steakhouse – If a great British steak is what you need, or a delicious burger, then Cattle Steakhouse has you covered. 

SHOPPING

Southampton is the biggest place to shop on the south coast of the UK and therefore has plenty of options for those seeking some retail therapy or who need a last minute item they forgot to pack.

Westquay Shopping Centre has over 100 stores right in the heart of the city offering big named brands and plenty of food options.

Marlands Shopping Centre offers more boutique and speciality stores for those looking for something special.

Outside the indoor shopping centres, the city offers Bedford Place which offers independent stores and upmarket businesses as well as Queensway and Oxford Street to cover any shoppers requirements.

MAP

The map below shows the points of interest mentioned above in relation to the cruise terminal.