Southampton port is around 80 miles from central London. The terminals are strung along the waterfront several miles apart, and are a short distance from the city centre.
Southampton cruise customers are offered a range of transport options to reach the terminals. Our London to Southampton transfer section explains how to transfer from London and its airports to the Southampton cruise terminals.
The five cruise terminals (City, Ocean, Mayflower, Queen Elizabeth & Horizon terminals) are all run by the port authority and each cruise terminal can only accommodate one cruise ship at a time. Cruise lines are not tied to any particular cruise terminal. If a cruise line has more than one ship in port on the same day, they will be docked at separate terminals.
Our Southampton map below depicts the location of each of the five cruise terminals.
From west to east the five Southampton cruise terminals are the Mayflower, Horizon, City, Ocean and Queen Elizabeth terminals. There are several dock gates acting as gateways to the different cruise terminals. On the approaches to Southampton port, electronic signs state the name of each ship docked at each cruise terminal.
If a a ship is not berthed at a cruise terminal then the terminal is closed and you cannot enter.
Public facilities within the cruise terminals are very basic, really just toilets. There is a short-term car park (not free) at each cruise terminal, used for collecting and dropping off, and large bays for coaches.
Long term cruise parking is available to Southampton cruise passengers from a choice of providers. Some of these car parks are very close to the terminals and others a little further away with a shuttle service in operation. All terminals have their own well marshaled taxi ranks.
The five cruise terminals are managed by Southampton Port Authority. It is they who decide which cruise ship will use which terminal, not the cruise companies. Only one cruise ship can occupy a terminal and the same cruise company doesn't always use the same terminal.
To check which cruise terminal your ship is scheduled to dock at you should refer to the official Southampton ports website. This lists which vessel is in port each day and which cruise terminal they are booked into, along with their scheduled arrival and departure times.
Knowing which terminal you are using can also assist with pre booking your Southampton long term cruise parking.
Most Southampton cruise ships depart the terminal the same day they arrive, usually late afternoon/early evening. The first passengers start boarding during the morning, when the last of the previous cruise might still be leaving. Embarkation normally closes for departing cruises between 3-5 pm. Do check directly with your company however, as there are exceptions to this.
On disembarkation marshalling is well organised and touting for taxis or other services is illegal. Only the fully licensed white Southampton taxis can solicit for business. Each terminal has their own taxi rank and these are orderly and well regulated.
If you’re using a cruise line coach transfer you will be escorted directly to your waiting coach outside the terminal. If you have pre booked a taxi or charter bus the driver will normally be outside the customs/baggage hall with your name and a board.
Ocean cruise terminal is the most modern of the four terminals. It's located in the Eastern Docks which is close to the old town of Southampton. Entry into the docks is through Dock Gate 4 and the terminal is very close to the dock gate entrance.
Hotels located in the old part of town are most convenient for the Ocean cruise terminal. The closest is the Ennios Hotel, a boutique style property. This and many others are listed on our Southampton hotels page which provides a comprehensive guide to all hotels in the city centre and close to the port.
No public transport serves the Ocean cruise terminal. Local transport will bring you to the city centre and from there you must take a short taxi journey. A range of convenient London to Southampton transfers are available to Southampton's Ocean cruise terminal from the capital and its airports. Or if travelling by car we can assist in booking your long term cruise terminal car parking.
Berth 46-49, Dock Gate 4, Cunard Road, Southampton, SO14 3QN
Ocean Cruise terminal map
The Queen Elizabeth cruise terminal is like the Ocean cruise terminal in the Eastern Docks, but far from the port gate opposite the old town of Southampton. Entry into the docks is through Dock Gate 4.
The Queen Elizabeth cruise terminal is the furthest cruise terminal from Southampton's hotels and railway and coach stations. Like the other terminals it has few facilities until you reach the departure or arrival lounges.
The closest hotels to the Queen Elizabeth terminal are in the old part of town. The most convenient is the boutique Ennios Hotel. This and many others are listed on our Southampton hotels page which provides a comprehensive guide to all hotels in the city centre and close to the port.
No public transport serves the Queen Elizabeth cruise terminal. Local transport will bring you to the city centre and from there you must take a short taxi journey. A range of convenient London to Southampton transfers are available to Southampton's Queen Elizabeth cruise terminal from the capital and its airports. Or if travelling by car we can assist in booking your long term cruise terminal car parking.
Berth 38/39, Dock Gate 4, Southampton, SO14 3GG
Map of Queen Elizabeth Cruise terminal
City cruise terminal is in the Western Docks, and is accessed through Dock Gates 8,10 or 20.
Together with the newest terminal, Horizon it is the closet terminal to Southampton's coach and railway stations; these are the only terminals within possible walking distance of these. Although only a handful of passengers would attempt this 10-15 minute walk with luggage.
The closest hotels to the City cruise terminal are the Novotel, Ibis and Holiday Inn hotels. The Ibis and Novotel are opposite dock gate 10 and the Holiday Inn by dock gate 8. You could walk to these if you are reasonably fit and not travelling with heavy luggage.
The Leonardo, Moxy and Premier Inn West Quay are popular hotels just a short distance beyond the Holiday Inn. We have a comprehensive guide to all hotels in the city centre and close to the port on our Southampton hotels page.
No public transport serves the City cruise terminal. Local transport will bring you to the city centre and from there it's a short taxi journey to the terminal (or 15 minute walk). A range of convenient London to Southampton transfers are available to Southampton's City cruise terminal from the capital and its airports. Or if travelling by car we can assist in booking your long term cruise terminal car parking.
Berth 101, Western Docks, Herbert Walker Avenue, Southampton, SO15 1HJ
Map of City Cruise terminal
Mayflower cruise terminal is in the Western Docks, and is not within walking distance of Southampton's hotels, railway and coach stations. Entry into the docks is through Dock Gates 8, 10 or 20.
The closest hotels to the Mayflower cruise terminal are the Novotel, Ibis and Holiday Inn hotels. The Ibis and Novotel is opposite dock gate 10 and the Holiday Inn by dock gate 8.
These and others are compared on our comprehensive guide to all hotels in the city centre and close to the port on our Southampton hotels page.
No public transport serves the Mayflower cruise terminal. Local transport will bring you to the city centre and from there it's a short taxi journey to the terminal. A range of convenient London to Southampton transfers are available to Southampton's Mayflower cruise terminal from the capital and its airports. Or if travelling by car we can assist in booking your long term cruise terminal car parking.
Berth 106, Dock Gate 10, Herbert Walker Avenue, Southampton, SO15 1HJ
Map of Mayflower Cruise terminal
Southampton's fifth cruise terminal opened in the summer of 2021.
Located in the Western Docks, it is adjacent to the City Terminal and together they are the only terminals within possible walking distance of Southampton centre.
The coach and Central railway station and a handful of hotels including the Novotel, Ibis and Holiday Inn hotels are around 15 minutes away on foot. Although you would need to be reasonably fit and travelling light to attempt this. Otherwise it's a very short taxi ride.
We offer a range of hotels convenient for all of Southampton cruise terminals on our Southampton hotels page.
Southampton's fifth terminal has primarily been designed with green technology in mind. The first of its kind in the UK, the terminal has environmental qualities such as roof mounted solar power and shore power facilities. This drastically reduces pollution as it allows cruise ships to use plug in shore side power, as opposed to fuel guzzling generators. The terminal is also the largest in terms of capacity of docking cruise ships. It can accommodate two mid sized vessels simultaneously or one very large vessel.
The fifth terminal is a joint venture between MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line. These companies have signed partnership deals to use the facility, however it also accommodates luxury cruise lines Regent Seven Seas Cruise Lines and Oceania Cruises. The Port Authority determine which ships dock at which terminal and this is how the other four terminals operate.
Berth 102, Herbert Walker Avenue, Western Docks, Southampton, SO15 1HJ
Map of Horizon Cruise terminal
Southampton port parking is either by the docks or located away from the cruise terminals served by taxi shuttles. All car parking should be pre-booked ahead of your cruise.
Your long term car parking options will depend on which cruise terminal your ship is docked at. Our detailed long term cruise parking page should provide a helpful guide on which is best for you.
Do be aware of rogue parking operators. It's important you pre-book your parking with a recognised operator and ideally your car park has been accredited with the Park Mark stamp. This is a security award confirming the car park company is reputable and adheres to national standards.
The Southampton map below clearly marks the four cruise terminals in relation to the city's other amenities.
We have dedicated pages providing more information on Southampton hotels and using the bus and train stations.
Southampton has a good public transport network, with good links to London and other parts of the country.
Cruise customers are well served by a range of London to Southampton transfers which directly connect the capital and it's airports to Southampton's cruise terminals.
There is a wide choice of hotels within a short distance of Southampton's cruise terminals.
The City Cruise terminal is the only terminal within walking distance of any hotel, these are the Ibis, Ibis Budget, Novotel and Holiday Inn. The other Southampton cruise terminals require a short taxi journey, as they’re a little further along the waterfront.
Our Southampton city map above illustrates the locations of the hotels and the four cruise terminals.
There are no shuttle buses or public transport connecting any of Southampton's hotels to the cruise terminals.
We have a dedicated Southampton hotels page which compares all the properties and covers all budgets and tastes.
Southampton cruise terminals are not served by any public transport. The only way to reach them is by driving and booking long term cruise parking, taking a taxi or booking a cruise transfer. We offer cruise customers a range of convenient, door to door transfers to Southampton cruise terminals from London and it's airports. Return transfers are available too, once your Southampton cruise has finished.
Cruise shuttle transfers provide a direct London to Southampton cruise terminal transfer in smart, executive vehicles. These are shared with up to eight other passengers, with a maximum of four hotel pick ups/drops offs. Whilst Southampton tour transfers offer a similar service but incorporate sight seeing along the way, such as to Stonehenge or Windsor Castle. These are usually conducted in larger touring buses.
Booking your own private Southampton cruise transfer is the most flexible option and can be surprisingly good value if there is a group of you. Private transfers allow you to dictate your own timings and can include sightseeing too.
We have dedicated pages on all these London to Southampton cruise terminal transfers, which are exclusively tailored to Southampton cruise customers.
