Fly-cruise transfers to Southampton for American travelers
You have just flown overnight across the Atlantic, you are in a country that drives on the left, and your ship is 70 to 90 miles away. We take that whole leg off your hands: a private Mercedes chauffeur who tracks your flight, meets you in arrivals and drives you to your hotel or straight to your ship, at a fixed price agreed before you fly.
- ✓ TfL-licensed operator · licence 11588
- ✓ Fixed price per car, luggage included
- ✓ Flights tracked · 60 min free airport waiting
- ✓ Driver details sent before you travel
- ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours
Choose your fly-cruise package
1. Airport → hotel → ship (recommended)
Land a day or two early, we drive you from Heathrow or Gatwick to your hotel in Southampton, at Heathrow or in London, then collect you from the hotel lobby on sailing day at a time worked back from your boarding slot. Two fixed fares, one booking. See where to stay the night before.
2. London first, then the ship
Spend a few days in London, then a door-to-ship transfer from your London hotel straight to the terminal’s baggage drop. Central London to the ship from £201.
3. Ship → airport on the way home
Book the return when you book the outward leg. Self-disembark early, and you can be at Heathrow around 10 am for an afternoon flight. Read our guide to the earliest flight you can safely book.
How your arrival day works
- We track your flight. Your pickup moves with your actual landing time, so an early or late arrival costs you nothing.
- The first 60 minutes after landing are free. That covers the passport queue and baggage reclaim at Heathrow or Gatwick.
- Your driver meets you in arrivals and handles the luggage to the car.
- A fixed fare per vehicle, not per person, with luggage included and no surge pricing.
| Airport | Distance to Southampton | Typical drive | Four people in an MPV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | 65–70 miles | About 95 minutes | From £175 |
| Gatwick | 94 miles | About 1 hr 45 min (up to 2 hr 15) | From £221 |
Travelling as a couple in a premium suite? Ask for an executive Mercedes S-Class. Families and groups with several large cases are best in a Mercedes V-Class or an MPV. Tell us your case count when you book and we will match the car to it.
Good to know before you fly
- UK entry: US citizens need a passport and a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before boarding a flight to the UK. Apply on GOV.UK in good time.
- Prices are in pounds sterling and fixed when you book, so exchange-rate moves on the day do not change your fare.
- Time zones: the UK is five hours ahead of New York and eight ahead of Los Angeles. Give us times in UK time and we will confirm them back in writing.
- Staying in touch: message us on WhatsApp from the US at no cost, and save your driver’s number before you leave home.
- Tipping is not expected in the UK. The fare is the fare.
- Find your terminal: check our Southampton terminal, berth and dock gate guide once your cruise line confirms it.
More detail for first-time visitors is in our London to Southampton cruise port guide for Americans.
UK and North American terms, decoded
Our booking form and drivers use British words. Here is what they mean, with the passenger and luggage limits we use for each car.
| We say | You may say | Seats and luggage |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon | Sedan | Up to 4 passengers, 2 large suitcases |
| MPV (Galaxy or Sharan) | Minivan | Up to 6 passengers, 4 large suitcases |
| Mercedes V-Class | Executive van | Up to 7 passengers, 6 large suitcases |
| 8-seater (Vito or Transporter) | Passenger van | Up to 8 passengers, 8 large suitcases |
| Minibus | Shuttle bus | Up to 16 passengers |
Other words you will meet: luggage is baggage, the boot is the trunk, a motorway is a highway, and the arrivals hall is where you come out after customs. Cruise trunks and garment bags take more room than a standard case, so tell us about them when you book and we will match the car.
Which Southampton cruise terminal?
Southampton has five cruise terminals: Ocean, Mayflower, City, QEII and Horizon. Cruise lines are not tied to one building and can change terminal, so check the terminal on your cruise documents and give it to us when you book. Your driver takes you straight to it. Postcodes and dock gates are in our terminal postcodes guide.
Sailing with a particular line? See our pages for Cunard, Princess, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Crossing to New York on Queen Mary 2 to relocate? Read moving to the USA by sea. With a few spare hours on arrival day, you can also stop at Windsor Castle on the way from Heathrow.
Questions American cruisers ask us
Should I fly in on the day my cruise sails?
We advise against it. A delayed transatlantic flight or a slow passport queue can cost you the ship. Land the day before, or earlier, and stay near Heathrow, in London or in Southampton.
How long is the drive from Heathrow or Gatwick to Southampton?
Heathrow is a 65 to 70 mile drive, usually about 95 minutes. Gatwick is 94 miles, usually about 1 hour 45 minutes and up to 2 hours 15 minutes in heavy traffic.
What happens if my flight is late?
We track your flight and adjust the pickup to the actual landing time. The first 60 minutes of waiting after landing are free, which covers most passport and baggage queues.
Is the price per person?
No. Every fare is per vehicle, one way, with luggage included. Four people in an MPV from Heathrow to Southampton start from £175, about £40 each.
Do I need anything to enter the UK?
US citizens need a valid passport and a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for online before you fly. Check the current rules on GOV.UK before you travel.
Should I tip my driver?
Tipping is not expected in the UK and the fare is fixed. If you want to thank your driver, a small tip is appreciated but entirely up to you.
Which car do I need for cruise luggage?
Four adults with one large case each fit an MPV (up to 6 passengers and 4 large suitcases). With more or bigger bags, book the Mercedes V-Class (up to 7 passengers and 6 large suitcases). A saloon suits up to 4 passengers with 2 large suitcases.
Do you know which terminal my ship uses?
Your terminal is printed on your cruise documents. Southampton has five: Ocean, Mayflower, City, QEII and Horizon. Give us the terminal name when you book and your driver takes you straight there.
From the arrivals hall to your ship, on one fixed fare
Heathrow and Gatwick to every Southampton cruise terminal, plus London hotels and the return trip. Flight tracked, luggage included.