Southampton cruise terminal to London City Airport
London City Airport sits in the Royal Docks on the far side of London from Southampton, so the trip from the ship is a cross-London one: around 119–120 miles by the usual M25 route. A private car does it in one leg from £241 per car, with the driver waiting at your terminal while the ship clears.
Disembarkation day: from the ship to London City Airport (LCY)
London City Airport is popular after a cruise for short flights to Europe, Edinburgh and Dublin. It is about 95 miles from the Southampton cruise terminals, at the far side of London, so the time of day matters more than on any other airport run.
Return-journey bottlenecks
- Leaving the port: Between roughly 07:30 and 09:30 traffic queues around the dock gates while the ships empty.
- Crossing London: Through central London, the Embankment and the Highway into Docklands are slow in the daytime. Round the M25, the Dartford Crossing and the A13 can queue. Your driver chooses the quicker option on the day.
For a flight after about 15:00 the journey is usually comfortable; earlier flights are tight, so check the earliest flight you can book after a cruise before you book.
Meeting you at the terminal
We track your ship, and your chauffeur waits at the terminal while it clears, with no waiting charge. They meet you outside the baggage hall, load your luggage and drop you at the London City Airport terminal forecourt, a short walk from check-in.
Fixed fares from the ship to London City Airport
| Ship terminal | Saloon up to 4, 2 cases | MPV up to 6, 4 cases | Executive up to 3 | 8-seater up to 7 | Road miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Cruise Terminal | £242 | £257 | £272 | £302 | 119 |
| QEII Cruise Terminal | £243 | £258 | £273 | £303 | 120 |
| City Cruise Terminal | £241 | £256 | £271 | £301 | 119 |
| Horizon Cruise Terminal | £241 | £256 | £271 | £301 | 119 |
| Mayflower Cruise Terminal | £242 | £257 | £272 | £302 | 119 |
Guide fares per vehicle, one way, for a weekday daytime journey, including luggage and the London City drop-off charge. The same fares apply from the airport to the ship. Fridays, weekend mornings and peak hours carry a supplement and the exact fixed fare appears before you pay. A return booked together costs 1.9 times the single fare.
Price the ship to London City transfer Or call +44 20 8888 9988.
Round the M25 or through London?
There are two sensible routes from the Port of Southampton to the Royal Docks, and the driver chooses on the day using live traffic:
- The M25 route, about 119–120 miles: M3, then the M25 round the north or south of London to the A13 and west into the Royal Docks. It is longer but mostly motorway, and on a weekday it is usually the more predictable choice.
- Through central London, about 90 miles: M3 to the A316, then across town along the Embankment and east to the airport. It is shorter, and can be quicker early on a Sunday, but daytime traffic and roadworks make it slow and unpredictable.
Either way the fixed fare does not change. Allow 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours from the ship to the terminal door.
Which flight can you make?
London City is small and usually quick to get through, which is its great advantage. The airlines still set their own check-in and bag-drop cut-offs, so check yours. Working back from a typical disembarkation:
| How you leave the ship | In the car | At London City (typical) | Book a flight from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-disembarkation, hand luggage | 08:00–08:30 | 10:45–11:30 | 14:00 |
| Early luggage tag | 08:45–09:15 | 11:30–12:15 | 14:45 |
| Standard luggage tag | 09:30–10:15 | 12:15–13:15 | 15:30 |
Most flights from London City are short-haul, to cities such as Amsterdam, Zurich, Geneva, Milan, Dublin and Edinburgh, flown by British Airways and other European airlines. If you are connecting to a long-haul flight, Heathrow is closer to the port and has more options; see Southampton cruise terminal to Heathrow.
Drop-off at London City Airport
Cars set down on the terminal forecourt, a few steps from check-in. The airport charges for drop-off there, and that is already included in our fare. The airport has its own DLR station, which is useful if you are heading into London instead of flying, but with cruise luggage the car to the door is far easier.
Flying into London City to join a cruise
The same car runs in reverse. Send us your flight number; the driver tracks the landing and meets you in arrivals with a name board. With 2½ to 3 hours on the road, aim to land by late morning for an afternoon check-in slot, or come the night before. If you are staying near Canary Wharf first, see Canary Wharf to Southampton cruise terminal.
Ship to London City Airport in winter: a long cross-London run in the dark months
At 119–120 miles via the M25, this is one of the longer ship-to-airport runs we do, and in winter the orbital section is where delays build. Early fog is common on the M25, and the final miles into Docklands get busy from mid-morning. Your driver tracks the ship from the night before and there is no waiting charge while it clears, so the clock for the drive starts when you leave the terminal rather than when the ship was due.
Ships are usually alongside by about 06:00, but storms can push that back. For a winter return we suggest leaving a wider gap before your flight than you would in summer, and checking whether your airline has changed its timetable for the season. If the ship docks late, the driver will give you an updated arrival time so you can speak to the airline before check-in closes, not after it.
London City suits business travellers flying on after a repositioning voyage or one of Queen Mary 2's transatlantic crossings, and it sits close to Canary Wharf and ExCeL if you have meetings first. Fares are fixed per vehicle with luggage included, and a heated car makes the long run east a comfortable place to catch up on email after a week or more at sea.
- No waiting charge while your ship clears in bad weather
- Fog and M25 traffic factored into the flight gap we advise
- Updated arrival time sent if docking slips, so you can contact the airline
- Warm car with space for winter coats and cases
For winter business trips, our Canary Wharf chauffeur service and ExCeL London event chauffeur work from the same part of town.
Questions
How much is a transfer from Southampton cruise terminal to London City Airport?
From £241 one way in a saloon (up to 4 people, 2 large cases) and from £256 in an MPV (up to 6 people, 4 cases), per vehicle, including luggage, the airport drop-off charge and waiting at the ship.
How long does it take to get from Southampton cruise port to London City Airport?
Allow 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours. The usual route round the M25 is about 119–120 miles; the route through central London is shorter but rarely quicker in daytime traffic.
What is the earliest flight from London City after a Southampton cruise?
With self-disembarkation and hand luggage, a flight from about 14:00 is realistic; with a standard luggage tag, 15:30 or later. London City is quick to get through, but airlines set their own check-in cut-offs.
Where does the driver drop us at London City Airport?
At the terminal forecourt drop-off. The airport charges for drop-off there and that charge is included in our fare.
Is London City a good airport to use after a Southampton cruise?
It suits passengers flying to European business destinations or to Dublin, Edinburgh and other UK cities, especially if you have an afternoon flight. For long-haul flights, Heathrow is closer to Southampton and has far more choice.
Do you run ship-to-London City transfers after winter and repositioning cruises?
Yes. We collect from all five Southampton terminals throughout the year, including after festive itineraries, winter sailings and repositioning voyages. Business travellers coming off a transatlantic crossing often want to be in Docklands by lunchtime. Tell us the ship, terminal and flight, and we will agree the fixed fare and plan before you travel.
What happens if fog or a storm delays our ship on the morning of our flight?
If docking slips, the car stays put at the terminal and the extra time costs you nothing. Once you are in the car, they will give you an honest arrival time at London City, allowing for fog and traffic on the M25, so you can rebook with the airline early if the gap has become too tight.
Related transfers and guides
- Southampton cruise terminal to Heathrow
- Canary Wharf to Southampton cruise terminal
- London City, Stansted and Luton to Southampton (outbound)
- Southampton cruise terminal to Southend Airport
- Ship to flight connections
- Every station, airport and area we cover
Going home after the cruise: Southampton to Heathrow, Southampton to Gatwick, Southampton to London, Southampton to Paddington, Southampton to King's Cross, Southampton to Southend Airport.