Southampton direct to Heathrow & London
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- Preview our cruise transfer experience
Enjoy a hassle free post cruise transfer from Southampton cruise terminals to London city centre, Heathrow airport terminals and Heathrow airport hotels. Executive vehicles are used ensuring a quick, comfortable transfer.
- Shared Door to Door cruise transfer from Southampton to London & Heathrow
- Maximum of 8 people and 4 drop offs per vehicle
- Executive vehicles with wifi and uniformed drivers
- A stress free shared transfer!
- If your ship is late, we will wait
This cruise transfer is available on all dates when a Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Oceania, NCL, Celebrity, Princess or Disney cruise ship is visiting Southampton. Service also available to passengers on other ships not listed when dates and arrival times coincide with ships listed. Please note you will need to make your own way to the ship we are servicing on that date.
Departure from Southampton Cruise Terminal
Nearly all cruises at Southampton arrive between 05:00am and 06:00am in the morning, with disembarkation starting around 07:00am. Your driver will meet you at the terminal building exit from 08:00am. Your driver will be holding a sign reading "International Friends", and will accompany you the car. We plan to leave Southampton by 08:30am. There are 4 cruise terminals at Southampton, all slightly different but you will have a typical walk of about 75 yards to the vehicle where the driver will load your luggage into the hold. In the unlikely event your ship is delayed into port, we will delay our departure time accordingly (applicable only to the listed ships we service). For all delayed ship arrivals we will aim to leave at the latest one hour after docking (earlier if possible).
Arrival at London & Heathrow
We will drop passengers at Heathrow hotels and terminals 1-5 starting from approximately 10:30am. We will drop passengers in central London starting from approximately 11:00am. We cover all hotels and train stations in London city centre. If you are booking a train for forward travel we recommend you do not book a train departing before 1:00pm. If you are booking a Eurostar train you will need to allow one hour for check in, we recommend you do not book a Eurostar train departing before 1:30pm. Drop offs should be completed with 1.5 hours of arrival.
Below is a list of major hotels in London and Heathrow that we offer a drop off at. If your hotel is not on the list or you are staying at an apartment or Airbnb, during the booking process you will need to add the address in the additional information box. We will then contact you after your booking to confirm that we can offer a drop off here.
Drop off hotels in London click here Drop off points at Heathrow click here
Will I make it to Heathrow Airport in time to catch my flight?
In the UK we advise arriving at the airport at least 3 hours prior to your flight departure time. As a general guide, we would not recommend our shared service for anyone departing Heathrow before 13:30PM.
If your flight departure timings are too near to the shared transfer arrival time we would strongly recommend you book a private transfer. With private transfers you can depart the port at a time of your choice. It is your responsibility to check in advance that our tour itinerary is suitable for your onward travel, particularly if same day flights are involved. Please email cruise@internationalfriends.
My flight departs from Gatwick, Stansted or Luton – can you drop me off there?
Unfortunately these airports are not in London and not in our drop off zone. If you are flying from Gatwick, Stansted or Luton Airports we can drop you at Victoria Rail or Coach Station around 11:30am / 11:45am, where there are frequent cost effective options to each airport. You can check out these options at:
- Express Trains: www.gatwickexpress.com
- All Trains: www.nationalrail.co.uk
- Coach transfer: www.nationalexpress.com
Helpful Information
Southampton direct to Heathrow & London
How far in advance should I book?
Our tour dates go on sale 12-18 months in advance. We always advise booking early to avoid disappointment as availability cannot always be guaranteed if booking is left until closer to the date of travel.
How much luggage can I bring?
Each person is allowed a maximum of 2 items of hold luggage (23kg each) and 1 item of carry on luggage (10kg each). If you have to bring more than the allocated amount, please inform us prior to travel.
Limits on luggage are worked out based on the space available in the coaches hold. If you bring extra luggage there is a possibility it will not fit in the coach. In this instance you will be responsible for arranging separate transportation for your luggage to your hotel or airport.
Should you wish to bring any mobility aids (wheelchairs or walkers) you MUST contact us in advance to let us know. We will require full dimensions and weight. These items must be able to be folded and stored in the luggage hold. Wheelchairs must be counted as 1 item of your hold luggage.
Additional charges will be incurred should you bring additional items of luggage or for items weighing more than the maximum weight stated above.
What happens if my ship is late getting into port?
In the unlikely event your ship is delayed into port, we will delay our departure time accordingly (applicable only to the listed ships we service). For all delayed ship arrivals we will aim to leave at the latest one hour after docking (earlier if possible).
Will you wait for me if I am late disembarking from the ship?
If your cruise ship docks on schedule and disembarkation begins as normal, we cannot be held responsible, in the unlikely event you are unable to disembark in time to meet your transfer. This is a shared transfer and we cannot delay departure from the port for customers who are late in disembarking. It is your responsibility to check the departure time for your transfer, and ensure you are at the meeting point at the appropriate time. For some cruise lines this may require self disembarkation. To ensure you can disembark in time to meet your guide/driver we would recommend self-disembarkation. Refunds cannot be issued for passengers who miss their tour due to being late.
How will I identify the International Friends staff?
When you disembark the ship and leave the departure terminal, you will see your driver outside of the exit holding a sign reading ‘International Friends’. The driver will have all your information ready to welcome you on board. From here the driver will either walk you directly to the vehicle or show you exactly where to go with your luggage and get settled ready for departure.
You do not service the ship I am travelling on. What do I do on the morning of the transfer?
Our transfers from the port are available to passengers on other ships not listed, when dates and arrival times coincide with the ships we do service. You will need to make your own way to the ship we are servicing on that date. Please note on your booking the ship you are arriving on, and we can then advise which ship you will need to make your way to. Please note you will need to arrive at our meeting point by 08.00am to meet your guide/driver. Our tours and transfers depart at 08.30am.
You may need to take a taxi from your ship to our meeting point which should take no longer than 10 minutes. There will be taxis waiting outside of your cruise ship, however, to avoid queuing we suggest pre booking a taxi in advance. Our office will be happy to provide the details of a local supplier. The average fare will be £6-7.
How much walking is involved in this transfer?
When disembarking from the ship you will have a short 100 yard walk to reach your awaiting transport.
We aim to take you directly to your chosen drop off point (accommodation, train station etc). However sometimes due to traffic or parking restrictions we may not be able to get right to the front door. We will aim to park as close as we can ensuring it is safe for you and other road users.
How many people are on this transfer?
This tour is a shared transfer with a maximum of 8 people on your trip, plus the driver. We will provide an executive minivan with Wi-Fi and plenty of space for everyone and their luggage.
Is food and drink provided on this transfer?
Food and drink is not provided on this transfer. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch with you. Cold food and drink can be eaten in the minivan. Hot food is not permitted and all hot drinks must have a lid. All rubbish is to be taken with you.
How long will my journey take?
We will collect you from the ship’s terminal and depart Southampton at 8:30am. The journey to Heathrow Airport is approximately 2 hours where the first drop offs begin. We anticipate arriving in Central London at around 11:00am where the remaining drop offs will take place.
Where will the coach take me at the end of my transfer?
Our coaches will drop off to any hotel at Heathrow Airport and any Zone 1/Central London hotel or train station. We aim to drop as close to the door as possible, but due to traffic and parking restrictions this may not always be possible.
My chosen hotel is not on your list of drop off points, can I still use this service?
We drop off at any London city centre hotel and Heathrow airport hotel and terminals. Occasionally we are unable to drop off at certain hotels because they are not in London city centre, Heathrow airport or not easily accessible by coach. Please email us at [email protected] and we will advise if we can drop off at your hotel, or direct you to the closest drop off point.
If the hotel you have chosen to stay is not on the list, we can still drop you there as long as it is within Zone 1/Central London or at Heathrow. If your hotel falls out of the chosen area, we can take you to a train station to allow direct access to the hotel or we can take you directly there for an extra charge which will be indicated before travel.
Should we tip our driver or guide?
Tips are entirely at the customer’s discretion and in no way expected. Should you feel inclined to tip, your driver or guide would be grateful, but you should not feel obliged. A 10% tip is considered customary in the UK.