Welcome to our comprehensive guide to Southampton cruise terminals. Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or a first-time traveller, this article will provide you with all the practical information you need to navigate the four terminals: City, Ocean, Mayflower, and Queen Elizabeth.
Situated approximately 80 miles from central London, Southampton port offers a convenient gateway to exciting cruises and a plethora of travel options. The terminals are strategically located along the waterfront, just a short distance from the city centre. As such, Southampton cruise customers have a wide range of transportation options available to them including ChauffeurAi’s luxury and executive cruise transfers.
Southampton is home to five cruise terminals: City, Ocean, Mayflower, Queen Elizabeth, and Horizon. Each of these terminals is managed by the port authority and is designed to host one cruise ship at a time. Importantly, cruise lines are not bound to any specific terminal. In situations where a cruise line has more than one ship in port on the same day, the ships will be docked at different terminals.
The Ocean Cruise Terminal in Southampton stands out as the most contemporary among the four terminals. It is situated in the Eastern Docks, in close proximity to Southampton’s old town. Access to the docks is granted through Dock Gate 4, with the terminal itself being just a stone’s throw away from the dock gate entrance.
For those planning to stay overnight, hotels in the old town area offer the most convenience due to their proximity to the Ocean Cruise Terminal. The Ennios Hotel, a boutique-style establishment, is the nearest. A comprehensive list of other hotels in the city centre and near the port can be found on our Southampton hotels page.
It’s important to note that the Ocean Cruise Terminal isn’t served by public transport. Local transport can get you to the city centre, from where a brief taxi ride will take you to the terminal. For those coming from London, a variety of convenient transfer options from the capital and its airports to Southampton’s Ocean Cruise Terminal are available.
Berth 46-49, Dock Gate 4, Cunard Road, Southampton, SO14 3QN
Ocean Cruise terminal map
The Queen Elizabeth Cruise Terminal, much like the Ocean Cruise Terminal, is located in the Eastern Docks. However, it is situated a considerable distance from the port gate, on the side opposite to Southampton’s old town. Access to the docks is granted through Dock Gate 4.
The Queen Elizabeth Cruise Terminal is the most remote among the cruise terminals from Southampton’s hotels, as well as the railway and coach stations. Similar to the other terminals, it offers limited amenities until you reach the departure or arrival lounges.
Hotels in the old town area are the closest to the Queen Elizabeth Terminal, with the boutique-style Ennios Hotel being the most convenient. Our Southampton hotels page provides a comprehensive guide to all hotels in the city centre and near the port.
It’s important to note that the Queen Elizabeth Cruise Terminal is not served by public transport. Local transport can get you to the city centre, from where a short taxi ride will take you to the terminal. For those coming from London, a variety of convenient transfer options from the capital and its airports to Southampton’s Queen Elizabeth Cruise Terminal are available. If you plan to drive, we can help you arrange long-term parking at the cruise terminal.
Berth 38/39, Dock Gate 4, Southampton, SO14 3GG
Map of Queen Elizabeth Cruise terminal
Bird’s Eye View of Southampton’s City Cruise Terminal
The City Cruise Terminal is located in the Western Docks of Southampton, with access provided through Dock Gates 8, 10, or 20.
This terminal, along with the newest one, Horizon, is the closest to Southampton’s coach and railway stations. These are the only terminals that could potentially be reached on foot, although only a few passengers would consider making this 10-15 minute walk with luggage.
The hotels nearest to the City Cruise Terminal are the Novotel, Ibis, and Holiday Inn. The Ibis and Novotel are located opposite Dock Gate 10, and the Holiday Inn is near Dock Gate 8. These could be reached on foot by those who are reasonably fit and not burdened with heavy luggage.
The Leonardo, Moxy, and Premier Inn West Quay are popular hotels located just a short distance beyond the Holiday Inn. Our Southampton hotels page provides a comprehensive guide to all hotels in the city centre and near the port.
The City Cruise Terminal is not served by public transport. Local transport can get you to the city centre, and from there it’s a short taxi ride (or a 15-minute walk) to the terminal. For those coming from London, a variety of convenient transfer options from the capital and its airports to Southampton’s City Cruise Terminal are available. If you plan to drive, we can help you arrange long-term parking at the cruise terminal.
Berth 101, Western Docks, Herbert Walker Avenue, Southampton, SO15 1HJ
Map of City Cruise terminal
The Mayflower Cruise Terminal is situated in the Western Docks of Southampton. However, it’s not within a walkable distance from Southampton’s hotels, railway, and coach stations. To enter the docks, use Dock Gates 8, 10, or 20.
The hotels closest to the Mayflower Cruise Terminal are the Novotel, Ibis, and Holiday Inn. The Ibis and Novotel are located opposite Dock Gate 10, while the Holiday Inn is near Dock Gate 8.
You can find a comprehensive comparison of these and other hotels in the city centre and near the port on our Southampton hotels page.
The Mayflower Cruise Terminal is not served by public transport. Local transport can get you to the city centre, and from there it’s a short taxi ride to the terminal. For those coming from London, a variety of convenient transfer options from the capital and its airports to Southampton’s Mayflower Cruise Terminal are available. If you plan to drive, we can help you arrange long-term parking at the cruise terminal.
Berth 106, Dock Gate 10, Herbert Walker Avenue, Southampton, SO15 1HJ
Map of Mayflower Cruise terminal
Southampton welcomed its fifth cruise terminal, the Horizon Cruise Terminal, in the summer of 2021.
Situated in the Western Docks, it’s right next to the City Terminal, making these two the only terminals potentially within walking distance of the centre of Southampton.
The coach and Central railway station, along with a few hotels such as the Novotel, Ibis, and Holiday Inn, are roughly a 15-minute walk away. However, this would require a reasonable level of fitness and minimal luggage. Otherwise, a brief taxi ride will get you there.
Our Southampton hotels page offers a selection of hotels conveniently located near all of Southampton’s cruise terminals.
The Horizon Cruise Terminal stands out for its focus on green technology. As the first of its kind in the UK, the terminal boasts eco-friendly features like roof-mounted solar power and shore power facilities. This significantly cuts down on pollution by allowing cruise ships to plug into shore-side power instead of relying on fuel-consuming generators. In terms of docking capacity, the terminal is the largest, capable of accommodating two mid-sized vessels at once or one very large vessel.
Which cruise ships dock at Southampton’s fifth terminal?
The Horizon Terminal is a collaborative project between MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line. While these companies have signed agreements to use the facility, it also serves luxury cruise lines like Regent Seven Seas Cruise Lines and Oceania Cruises. The Port Authority determines which ships dock at which terminal, a system that is also in place for the other four terminals.
Berth 102, Herbert Walker Avenue, Western Docks, Southampton, SO15 1HJ
Map of Horizon Cruise terminal
The five Southampton cruise terminals are accessible through various dock gates. As you approach Southampton port, electronic signs displaying the name of each ship and its corresponding terminal guide you effectively. It’s important to note that if a ship is not berthed at a specific terminal, access to that terminal is restricted.
Facilities at the Southampton cruise terminals are designed to cater to the needs of cruise passengers. Though relatively basic, the terminals provide essential amenities such as toilets. Each terminal also has a short-term car park for collecting and dropping off passengers, as well as dedicated coach bays.
One common question among cruise travellers is which terminal their ship will be using. It’s worth noting that the cruise companies do not determine their assigned terminal; this decision lies with Southampton Port Authority. To find out which terminal your ship will dock at, consult the official Southampton ports website. They provide up-to-date information on which vessels are scheduled for each day, along with their expected arrival and departure times. Knowing your terminal can also assist in pre-booking long-term cruise parking.
Most cruises departing from Southampton leave on the same day as arrival. Typically, embarkation starts in the morning, even as the previous cruise is finalising disembarkation. Departing cruises usually close embarkation between 3-5 pm, but it's advisable to confirm this with your cruise company, as there may be exceptions.
Disembarkation at Southampton port is a well-organised process. Touting for taxis or other services is illegal, ensuring a hassle-free experience. Licensed white Southampton taxis are the only authorised providers soliciting business. Each terminal has its designated taxi rank, which is orderly and well-regulated.
Passengers using cruise line coach transfers are escorted directly to waiting coaches outside the terminal. If you have pre-booked our luxury terminal transfer, your driver will typically be waiting outside the customs/baggage hall, holding a board with your name.
If you’re wondering about parking options for your Southampton cruise, rest assured that there are several long-term parking providers available. These can be categorised into two types: those located near the cruise terminals, and those situated a short distance away, with shuttle services operating between the parking lots and terminals. It is strongly recommended to pre-book your parking ahead of your cruise to ensure a smooth experience. Look for recognised parking operators and, ideally, choose a car park that has been accredited with the Park Mark stamp to guarantee quality service.
Locations of Cruise Terminals, Bus and Train Stations, and Major Hotels
The map of Southampton provided below offers a clear depiction of the four cruise terminals in relation to the city’s other facilities. For more detailed information on Southampton hotels and the usage of bus and train stations, please refer to our dedicated pages.
Southampton boasts a robust public transport network, offering excellent connections to London and other regions of the country. Cruise customers can benefit from a variety of transfer options from London to Southampton, which provide direct links from the capital and its airports to Southampton’s cruise terminals.
We hope this comprehensive guide has provided you with all the information you need to navigate Southampton cruise terminals efficiently. Remember to check which terminal your ship will be using, plan your transportation accordingly, and pre-book your private chauffeur transfer or long-term parking to ensure a stress-free start to your cruise vacation. Southampton port offers the perfect gateway to embark on an unforgettable journey. Bon voyage!
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