Why we love cruising: the questions that start the best conversations
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Ask a room of cruisers about their next sailing and you will be there all evening. These are the questions that get people talking, and our own answers from the driver’s seat on the road to Southampton.
- Many cruisers book their next sailing on board
- Lifelong friendships often start at dinner tables
- Repeat guests earn loyalty perks on every line
- A countdown is half the fun
Updated 26 September 2026 · By the Woodford Chauffeur Cars team · Tell us your view in the comments on our LinkedIn page
Who is counting down the days until their next cruise?
If you have a countdown app on your phone, you are in good company. Many of the guests we drive to Southampton booked their next cruise before they even left the last one, often using the future cruise deals sold on board. Our tip: book your transfer when you book your cruise, and that is one more thing ticked off the list.
Would you drop everything to go on a cruise tomorrow if you could?
Last-minute cruise deals from Southampton do appear, particularly on shorter sailings. If you ever do, we can usually arrange a same-week transfer to the port, subject to availability.
Would you ever go on more than 10 cruises in your lifetime?
Many of our regulars passed ten long ago. Loyalty schemes reward repeat guests with perks such as priority boarding, discounts and onboard credit, and every line, ship and itinerary feels different, so there is always a new reason to go back.
Have you ever met someone on a cruise and stayed friends afterwards?
It happens all the time: shared dinner tables, trivia teams and excursion coaches have started lifelong friendships and more than a few annual reunion cruises. Choose fixed-time dining with a shared table if you want to meet people.
For Celebrity Cruises fans: what one thing makes you want to cruise again?
Guests we drive often mention the modern design, the food and the calm, grown-up atmosphere. We would love to hear yours, whether it is the Lawn Club, the spa or the dining.
Is "cruise therapy" covered under health insurance?
Sadly not! But ask any cruiser and they will tell you that sea air, a sunset from the deck and no cooking for two weeks does wonders. Just make sure your travel insurance, which is not optional, covers your cruise properly.
Light the night: what is your favourite night-time moment on a cruise?
Deck parties under the stars, a lit-up sail-away past the Isle of Wight or simply a quiet balcony at midnight with the wake glowing below: night-time on a ship is special. Tell us your favourite.
Start (and end) your cruise the easy way
A fixed-fare Woodford Chauffeur Cars car from Heathrow, Gatwick, London or Essex to any of the five Southampton terminals, and home again when you are back. Luggage included, ship and traffic tracked. From £146 per car.
Why we love cruising out of season too
Ask regular cruisers about their favourite trip and a surprising number choose one in November or January. The ships feel calmer, festive itineraries bring carols in the atrium and lights along the promenade, and a repositioning voyage offers a run of sea days for anyone who simply loves being on the water. Out-of-season cruising has its own crowd, often repeat passengers who know exactly what they want and are happy to trade sunbathing for a good book by the window.
What none of them miss is the dark-morning scramble to the port. Our drivers see the same winter pattern every year: fog lying on the motorway, a cancelled train, cases too heavy for a station staircase. A private car from home avoids all of that, and on the way back the driver follows your ship's progress, so the car is there whether she berths on time or a gale has held her up.
- Door-to-terminal pickup, so no frosty platform waits
- Ship tracking on the way home, with collection moved if the berth time changes
- An MPV seats six with four cases when new friends from the ship share a ride
Between cruises, the same cars run all year on routes such as Southampton to London, handy for a winter theatre trip or a family visit.
Quick answers
Can I book a cruise transfer at short notice?
Often yes, subject to availability. Call or get an instant fare online.
Is cruising good for making friends?
Yes. Shared tables, trivia and excursions make it easy to meet people, and many cruisers stay friends for years.
Do you run transfers for festive and winter cruises as well as summer ones?
We do. Our cruise transfers are not limited to the summer timetable, and we regularly plan around Christmas sailings, New Year voyages and quieter off-season departures. The process is the same: one fixed price for the vehicle, luggage included, agreed when you book, and a pickup time worked out from your terminal and boarding slot rather than a standard guess.
Will the driver find out if our ship is behind schedule on a winter morning?
Before the driver sets off, we look at where the ship is and when it should berth. The usual pattern is a berth by around 06:00, yet winter weather in the Channel can push that back. If it does, your collection shifts with it, and the driver will be waiting near the terminal when you come through with your bags.
Cruise line rules change. Always check the latest policies with your cruise line before you travel. This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice.