Transfer from Southampton Port to Heathrow.

[sinophile888]

My daughter and I are booked on a Celebrity cruise out of and returning to Southampton. I have researched the options for transferring from Southampton Port to Heathrow and don't really like any of them. We don't mind how we get to the port from London but on the day we return to Southampton we want to fly out from Heathrow as early as possible.

Has any of our esteemed cruisers any advice on our best option?

 

[Anna]

Having once missed an 11am flight* after a cruise because of the unexpectedly late arrival of the ship at the dock, consequent disembarkation chaos and nightmare traffic on the drive to the airport, I no longer try to book morning flights after a cruise. Admittedly that experience was at BKK not Southampton.

If I'm not staying in the arrival port, I usually book a flight departing 3pm or later on disembarkation day (assuming the usual ship arrival time of 6am or so).

*booked for me by a travel agent who supposedly specialised in cruises

 

[Pushka]

Have to agree with Anna. The 'early as possible' flight time to me = stress on the last day which is quite an ordeal in itself. 3pm and later works for me but we usually stay another night minimum after a cruise.

 

[Ansett]

https://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/heathrow_southampton.

Not sure if there is anything useful I this but worth a read

 

[sinophile888]

Our current plan is to book a 15:55 flight out of Heathrow. However, there is a 13:05 flight which we could transfer to if we arrive at Heathrow without too many delays. Flight changes on the day of travel are free up to 1 hour before departure. There are 3 more flights after the 15:55 flight on the same day which we could change to if there is a delay getting to Heathrow.

My main query is which is the best, most reliable, most convenient, most cost effective, quickest or most comfortable option. Bus, train, ship transfer (GDP89 pp), taxi, private car transfer, another option I don't know about or take pot luck at the port. They all seem to have at least one downside.

 

[Pushka]

Private Transfer would always be the most reliable especially if five star reviews on something like Trip Advisor. How about the ship transfer or a ship excursion that ends up at the airport?

 

[bobe]

We have finished about 3 cruises in Southampton with Celebrity and have caught the train to London but not Heathrow if you look at " Trainline" or British rail travel you will get all the info you need , only takes a few hours and quit comfortable, you will get connections to Heathrow.

 

[Must...Fly!]

For the train, your options if you're with luggage may not be particularly palatable, as everything from Southampton will arrive in to either Victoria or Waterloo. You could run straight in to Waterloo to get the Bakerloo to Paddington for the HEX/change for Piccadilly line, or in to Victoria, the circle line to Paddington (HEX) or South Kensington (Piccadilly). You could also potentially change at East Croydon and take a Thameslink service through the core, changing at Kings Cross to pick up the Piccadilly line to LHR but I imagine this will be slower.

 

[Magpie10]

Getting off the ship in Southampton will be pretty smooth, if it is like our cruise in August, no immigration to speak of, as like you we embarked and disembarked in Southampton. Embarking in Southampton again this June and have organised private car to collect us at Heathrow and take us down to Southampton this time. Looked at the other options available and all too complicated, so have just bit the bullet and organised private car to save stress. Last year my husband traveled with me and we hired a car, but this year it is just my BFF and I don't want to have to negotiate the motorway....happy sailing ️

 

[Peter D]

The railway line to London passes a few miles to the south of Heathrow. You do not need to take a train all the way into London. Get off at Woking from where there is a rail/air bus link.
Alternatively National Express Coaches have a service from Southampton bus terminal direct to Heathrow.

 

[erina143]

Celebrity have a last day tour that goes to a couple of tourist spots then onto heathrow. They move the bags by truck direct. Downside is the flight out is in the evening.
We are on a cruise leaving southhampton june 22nd.