Southampton cruise terminals: where they are and how to get there
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Southampton has five cruise terminals across two dock areas. The Eastern Docks sit beside the old town and the Western Docks run along the waterfront towards Millbrook. Knowing which one you're sailing from sets your drop-off point and a few minutes of drive time.
Ocean Cruise Terminal
Berth 46, close to the old town. Of the five, it's the shortest drive from Heathrow.
QEII Cruise Terminal
Berths 38–39, at the far end of the Eastern Docks. Allow a few extra minutes inside the dock estate after Gate 4.
City Cruise Terminal
Berth 101 on Herbert Walker Avenue, the closest terminal to Southampton Central station.
Horizon Cruise Terminal
Berth 102, the newest terminal (opened 2021), next to City Cruise Terminal on West Bay Road.
Mayflower Cruise Terminal
Berth 106, towards the western end of the docks. Not within walking distance of the station, so a door-to-door car makes most sense.
Not sure which terminal?
Your cruise documents name the terminal for your sailing. The same ship can use different terminals on different dates, so check the ticket rather than last year's trip. Terminal guide →
Eastern Docks: Ocean and QEII
Both are reached through Dock Gate 4, off Canute Road near the old town. Ocean Cruise Terminal (Berth 46) is the first you come to. QEII (Berths 38–39) is further inside the dock estate. Postcodes used for sat-navs are SO14 3QN (Ocean) and SO14 3GG (QEII).
Western Docks: City, Horizon and Mayflower
These line the western waterfront, with the SO15 postcode. City Cruise Terminal (Berth 101) and Horizon (Berth 102) sit side by side off West Bay Road. Mayflower (Berth 106) is further west. Follow the port's cruise signs from the dock gate to your terminal.
Fares to the terminals
| From | Saloon | Executive | MPV (6) | V Class | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow Airport | £146 | £176 | £161 | £206 | 65–69 mi |
| Gatwick Airport | £193 | £223 | £208 | £253 | 90–94 mi |
| Central London | £176 | £206 | £191 | £236 | 81–85 mi |
| Luton Airport | £204 | £234 | £219 | £264 | 97–101 mi |
| Stansted Airport | £213 | £243 | £228 | £273 | 101–105 mi |
| London City Airport | £196 | £226 | £211 | £256 | 93–97 mi |
From Southampton Airport or Southampton Central station, any terminal is £65 per vehicle.
Transfer, or drive and park?
If you own a car and do not mind the drive, parking at Southampton is cheaper than two transfers. It is worth setting the numbers side by side rather than guessing.
| Option | Cost for a seven-night cruise | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Private transfer, both ways | From about £279 for a saloon with the return booked together | Door to dock gate, nothing left behind, no driving on embarkation morning |
| Park at the terminal | Roughly £140–£160 for seven nights with ABParking at City, Horizon and Mayflower; CPS valet parking at Ocean and QEII starts around £152 | Plus fuel and the drive each way |
| Park off-site with a shuttle | Roughly £65–£95 for seven nights at operators such as Triangle, Airlynx and SCPS | Plus fuel, the drive, and a shuttle with your cases at both ends |
So: if the car is free to sit in Southampton for a week and someone is happy to drive 65–69 miles each way, parking wins on price. The transfer wins when you are flying in, when the car is needed at home, or when nobody wants to drive back down the M3 after a week at sea. Parking figures are published rates for 2026 and change; check with your car park before you book.
The five Southampton terminals outside the summer season
The docks do not close when the summer programme ends. Selected winter sailings, festive itineraries and repositioning voyages keep both the Eastern and Western Docks working, and the layout is identical in December to July. Ocean (Berth 46/47) and QEII (Berth 38/39) are reached through Dock Gate 4; City (Berth 101) and Horizon (Berth 102) through Dock Gate 10; and Mayflower (Berth 106) sits at the western end, through Dock Gate 20.
What changes is the weather. A storm at sea can delay a ship or alter its berth time, and that knocks on to check-in and disembarkation. Ships returning to Southampton are usually alongside by about 06:00, which in midwinter is long before sunrise, so you come ashore in the dark. Walking from Southampton Central to the Western Docks with cases in rain is very different from doing it on a summer afternoon.
A car avoids that walk entirely. The driver knows which gate serves which terminal, so a wet, dark morning does not turn into a hunt for the right entrance. Satnavs do not always pick the right gate, and in winter visibility a wrong turn around the dock roads costs more time than it should. You are dropped at the door with your cases, and on the way home the car is waiting as you come out.
- Dropped and collected at the terminal door, not a walk from the station in winter rain
- Driver follows the ship's progress, so a storm-delayed berthing is picked up early
- Gate 4, Gate 10 or Gate 20 chosen correctly in the dark
- Warm car waiting for the early-morning return
If you are in Southampton for work in the quieter months, our Southampton business park and university chauffeur and Southampton to Heathrow services run year-round.
Questions
Which terminal does my cruise leave from?
Your cruise documents or the cruise line's app name the terminal. The port allocates berths per sailing, so the same ship can use different terminals on different dates.
Can a private car drop us at the terminal door?
Yes. Taxis and private hire cars follow the port signs to the drop-off area outside each terminal, where porters take checked luggage.
How close is Southampton Central station to the terminals?
City Cruise Terminal is the closest, a short taxi ride away. Mayflower and the Eastern Docks terminals are further. Our fare from the station to any terminal is £65.
Do you drive to every Southampton terminal for winter and repositioning cruises?
Yes. Whether your ticket says Ocean, QEII, City, Horizon or Mayflower, we cover it in any month, including festive sailings in December and end-of-season repositioning voyages such as Celebrity Apex's departure for Port Canaveral on 18 October. Tell us the ship and we will confirm the terminal and dock gate before the day.
If a storm changes my ship's arrival, how does the driver know when to be at the terminal?
We follow the ship's progress into port on the morning rather than relying on the printed itinerary. If heavy weather pushes the berthing time back, your driver adjusts, and if the line announces a change in advance we update the booking. You will not be left waiting on a cold quayside for a car that has gone to the wrong time.
Where does the driver meet us at Heathrow?
At arrivals. Your licensed driver meets you at arrivals or at your door, helps with the cruise cases and takes you to your ship's dock gate rather than the port entrance.
Is the price per person or per vehicle?
Per vehicle, one way, with luggage included. Four people in an MPV from £161 works out at about £40 each. Returns booked at the same time are quoted at 1.8× the single fare.
How many people and cases fit in each vehicle?
A saloon takes up to 4 people with 2 large cases. An MPV takes up to 6 people with 4 cases. Cruise suitcases are usually large, so for 2–3 people with big cases, or anyone carrying formal wear bags, the MPV is the safer choice.
Which dock gate will we be dropped at?
Ocean Cruise Terminal (berth 46) and QEII Cruise Terminal (berths 38–39) are in the Eastern Docks, reached through Dock Gate 4 off Canute Road. City, Horizon and Mayflower are in the Western Docks, a few minutes further along the waterfront. Tell us the ship and we take you to the right one.
Is a transfer cheaper than parking at the port?
Not usually, if you own a car. Seven nights at the terminal car parks runs about £140–£160, and off-site parking with a shuttle about £65–£95, against roughly £277 for a return transfer from Heathrow. The transfer wins when you are flying in, when the car is needed at home, or when you would rather not drive on embarkation morning.
Can we pay the driver instead of paying by card?
Yes. The fixed fare for your journey is shown before you pay, and you can pay by card or choose to pay the driver.
More on Southampton cruise transfers
Get a fixed fare to your terminal
Fixed fare confirmed before you pay. Licensed drivers, flight tracking and luggage included. Call +44 20 8888 9988.