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Setting sail from Southampton is the beginning of your unforgettable cruise adventure, but first, you need to get there. If you’re flying into London, whether that’s London Heathrow or London Gatwick, this guide will navigate you through the different transport options to get you comfortably to our Cunard departure port in Southampton.

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Southampton is on the south coast of England, in the county of Hampshire, and it is around 80 miles southwest of London. There are&nbsp;several cruise terminals in Southampton, and Cunard usually departs from the Mayflower Cruise Terminal, the Ocean Cruise Terminal, or the QE2 Cruise Terminal. The terminal you will depart from will be in your booking confirmation.&nbsp;
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Heathrow is southwest of the centre of London, and Gatwick is directly south of the capital. Both airports have superb links to the city of London and the rest of the UK, including Southampton.

From Gatwick Airport, there are trains to Southampton Central station, run by Southern Railways. The journey takes on average two hours, with approximately two trains per hour and requires one or two train changes.&nbsp;
The journey can cost between £7 and £29 for a single ticket*, and these can be booked online through the National Rail website or directly with Southern Railway using a debit/credit card, or at the train station using ticket machines with either cash or a debit/credit card.
From Southampton Central Station, it is approximately one mile to the cruise port, which is accessible on foot or by taxi.
*Prices correct at the time of publishing: always check prices directly before you travel.

By rail, from Gatwick Airport to Southampton cruise port

From Heathrow Airport, there are trains to Southampton Central train station, run by a number of operators. The journey takes on average two hours and 10 minutes, with approximately two trains per hour and requires two or three train changes.&nbsp;
The journey can cost approximately £82.50 for a single ticket*, and these can be booked online through the National Rail website using a debit/credit card, or at the train station using ticket machines with either cash or a debit/credit card.
From Southampton Central Station, it is approximately one mile to the cruise port, which is accessible on foot or by taxi.
*Prices correct at the time of publishing: always check prices directly before you travel.

By rail, from Heathrow Airport to Southampton cruise port

From Gatwick Airport, National Express operates a coach service to Southampton Coach Station. The journey takes on average four hours and 15 minutes with one change, with around 24 coaches per day.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The journey can cost between £20 and £50 for a single ticket*, and these can be booked online through the National Express website using a debit/credit card, or from the National Express ticket desks found in both terminals. The coaches depart from directly outside the terminal doors in both the North and South Terminals.
From Southampton Coach Station, it is approximately one mile to the cruise port, which is accessible on foot or by taxi.
*Prices correct at the time of publishing: always check prices directly before you travel.

By bus, from Gatwick Airport to Southampton cruise port

From Heathrow Airport, National Express operates a coach service to Southampton Coach Station. The journey takes on average one hour and 55 minutes if a direct service, with approximately two coaches per hour, every two hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The journey can cost approximately £20 for a single ticket*, and these can be booked online through the National Express website using a debit/credit card, or at the coach station using the automated ticket machines.
At Heathrow Airport, the Central Bus Station is located within walking distance of Terminals 2 and 3. National Express also has stops at Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 – these are located directly outside the terminal buildings. There is also a free transfer between Heathrow terminals on the Heathrow Express.
From Southampton Coach Station, it is approximately one mile to the cruise port, which is accessible on foot or by taxi.
*Prices correct at the time of publishing: always check prices directly before you travel.

By bus, from Heathrow Airport to Southampton cruise port

From Gatwick Airport, it takes approximately one hour and 50 minutes by car or taxi directly to the cruise terminal. The cost of a taxi can vary massively depending on the size and luxury of the vehicle but costs between £140 and £250 for a single journey*. Due to the length of the journey, it is best to book in advance, either on a taxi provider's website or over the phone. It is also possible to book with <a href="https://www.airportcars-gatwick.com/">Airport Cars Gatwick</a>, Gatwick’s own approved provider.&nbsp;
It is also possible to hire a car from the airport and drop it at the company’s Southampton branch.
*Prices correct at the time of publishing: always check prices directly before you travel.

By car, from Gatwick Airport to Southampton cruise port

From Heathrow Airport, it takes approximately one hour and 20 minutes by car or taxi directly to the cruise terminal. How much the taxi costs can range wildly and this will depend on the size and luxury of the vehicle but it’s sensible to budget between £160 and £290 for a single journey*. Due to the length of the journey, it is best to book in advance, either on a taxi provider's website or over the phone.&nbsp;
You can also hire a car from the airport and return it to their Southampton branch.
*Prices correct at the time of publishing: always check prices directly before you travel.

By car, from Heathrow Airport to Southampton cruise port

From Gatwick Airport, there are a number of private transfer and shuttle providers to Southampton Cruise Port. These transfers can either be private or shared with other cruise passengers and take approximately two hours.
The journey will take you directly from the airport to the cruise terminal and cost between £110 and £300 for a single journey* depending on the size of the vehicle, the quality of the vehicle and whether it is private or shared.
*Prices correct at the time of publishing: always check prices directly before you travel.

Transfers and shuttles from Gatwick Airport to Southampton cruise port

From Heathrow Airport, there are a number of private transfer and shuttle providers to Southampton cruise port. These transfers can either be private or shared with other cruise passengers and take approximately one hour and 30 minutes.
The journey will take you directly from the airport to the cruise terminal and cost between £90 and £250 for a single journey*, depending on the size and style of the vehicle, and whether it is a private or shared vehicle.
*Prices correct at the time of publishing: always check prices directly before you travel.

Transfers and shuttles from Heathrow Airport to Southampton cruise port

If you’re arriving into either Gatwick or Heathrow Airport late, it may still be possible to get a coach, taxi or private transfer to Southampton. However, on arrival in Southampton, you will likely need to check into a nearby hotel and travel to the cruise terminal in the morning. Locally, there are a number of hotels including <a href="https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/southampton/leonardo-royal-hotel-southampton-grand-harbour">Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour</a>, <a href="https://all.accor.com/hotel/1073/index.en.shtml">Novotel Southampton</a>, <a href="https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/gb/en/southampton/soahp/hoteldetail">Holiday Inn Southampton</a> or <a href="https://www.thepighotel.com/in-the-wall/">The Pig in the Wall</a>.
Alternatively, you can choose to stay at an airport <a href="https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/lounges-hotels-spas/heathrow-hotels">hotel at Heathrow</a> or a <a href="https://www.gatwickairport.com/premium-services/airport-hotels.html">hotel at Gatwick</a> and travel to Southampton the next day. The hotel may be more expensive but it will give you more options for travel in the morning.
Cunard have <a title="Hotels with Cunard" href="https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/the-cunard-experience/cruise-and-stay/hotels">hotel packages</a> with a number of local hotels, so we can secure a room for you and attach it to your booking: this will not just give you a room for the night, but also includes breakfast (unless otherwise stated), local taxis and service charges, luggage porterage and the services of a local Cunard representative. You can add a hotel to your booking during the cruise booking process, or add it later by calling our Customer Contact Centre.

My plane arrives late in the day - what is my best option?

If you’re travelling with heavy luggage from Heathrow or Gatwick, your best option will either be a taxi or transfer/shuttle. By using either of these modes of transport, you will be less required to lift or manoeuvre your luggage and instead, will be taken from the airport straight to the cruise terminal. This is also true if you’re part of a larger group or travelling with children, as taking a taxi or transfer may be more cost-effective.

I'm travelling with very heavy luggage: what should I do?

When getting from Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Terminal, travelling by train is one of the cheapest ways, followed by a coach. On the other hand, when getting from Heathrow Airport to Southampton Cruise Terminal, travelling by coach is the cheapest way.&nbsp;
If there is a large group, it may be more cost-effective to travel by taxi or private transfer from either airport.

What is the cheapest way to get from London airports to Southampton cruise terminal?

The first places most people think of are Rome and Athens, due to their unique historical and cultural sights. Cunard also visits Spain - Barcelona features amazing Gaudi architecture that's well worth a look - Southern France - famous for its vineyards - and Croatia, where lesser-known but just as impressive historic sites await.

What are the best places to visit in the Mediterranean?

The best weather in this region is from April until November, and Cunard visits the Mediterranean within this window. If you're looking for a tan and don't mind the heat, travel in June or July, but if you prefer milder temperatures book your cruise in the autumn months.

What is the best time of year to cruise the Mediterranean?

Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Croatia, and Greece all use the Euro. Gibraltar uses the Gibraltar Pound, (although Pound Sterling and Euros are unofficially accepted in parts).

What is the currency in the Mediterranean?

The Mediterranean has a changeable climate, depending on the season, but dry, hot and sunny days are to be expected in the peak summer months and often during spring and into autumn. It's not out of the question for temperatures to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in July or August while even September and October can herald warm and pleasant weather. If you're hoping to spend time relaxing on some of the Mediterranean's sandy beaches, it's best to avoid travel during November to March when temperatures are cooler and days can be fresh and rainy.

What is the weather like in the Mediterranean?

A variety of languages are spoken in the Mediterranean. In Spain, where Spanish is the official language, you'll also find regional languages including Catalan, Galician, Basque and Occitan. Spanish is also spoken in Gibraltar, even though the official language of Gibraltar is English. Similarly, in Malta both Maltese and English are spoken.
In France the native language is French, in Italy it's Italian, in Greece it's Greek and in Croatia it's Croatian. French is also the official language of Monaco but you'll encounter Italian spoken by much of the population here too.

What languages are spoken in the Mediterranean?

Depending on the time of year, you'll need cool clothes and comfortable shoes for exploring the exciting ports along your journey. A sunhat and sunscreen are a must in the summer months, and would be wise in the autumn too, as the sun can still be strong in September and October. For evenings on deck bring light jackets for when the temperatures cool.
For more details and suggested packing lists, see our special guide on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/cruise-destinations/mediterranean/mediterranean-cruise-packing-guide">what to pack for Mediterranean cruises</a>.

What should I pack for a Mediterranean cruise?

There are twenty sovereign countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea: Spain, Gibraltar, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.
Cunard typically sails to countries on the Southern European Coast; Spain, Gibraltar, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Croatia and Greece. Be sure to check our exciting itineraries for more details.

Which countries are in the Mediterranean?

UK and EU citizens, residents of Schengen countries, plus residents of the US, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan and New Zealand don't currently require a visa to travel to the Mediterranean, provided the duration of stay is less than 90 days.
Some countries within the Mediterranean require a minimum 6-month validity on your passport, so it's advisable to check the local requirements of the countries included in your Mediterranean cruise itinerary.

Will I need a visa for a Mediterranean cruise?

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London airports to Southampton cruise terminals

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Route options from London airports

Travelling from London airports - common scenarios

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