London & Heathrow to Southampton via Windsor Castle
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- Preview our cruise transfer experience
Make the most out of your time in England, and combine your pre cruise transfer from London to Southampton cruise terminal with a visit to Windsor Castle. This service is available on all dates when Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Oceania, NCL, Celebrity, Princess & Disney cruise ships are visiting Southampton. This service is also available to passengers on other ships, when dates and arrival times coincide with ships listed.
- Enjoy a stress free shared door to door cruise transfer, with travel by luxury coach
- Collection from any London city centre hotel/Airbnb property/selected Heathrow Airport hotels
- Entry to Windsor Castle included
- Services of a tour manager
- Flexible booking guarantee!
You will be driven in an air conditioned touring coach from London to Southampton Cruise Terminals, via the world famous Windsor Castle.
After pick up from your London or Heathrow address, we will make our way to Windsor Castle, where over 900 years of royal history await you. Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest continuously occupied castle in the world and official home of our present King, Charles III. Here, you will have a chance to visit the lavish state apartments, the Grand Reception Room and the Royal Chapel of St George, which serves as the resting place of many of our Kings and Queens, and also provided the setting for the 2018 royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. You will spend approximately 2 hours in Windsor.
After our visit to Windsor Castle, we begin the journey to Southampton, a journey of approximately 75 - 100 minutes. When we arrive in Southampton, you will walk straight to the check in desk. Porters will take care of your luggage, ensuring it is delivered to your cabin. Please make sure you use the luggage label in your cruise pack to facilitate this. We plan to drop you at your cruise terminal between 1:30pm – 2:00pm.
Please note Windsor Castle will be closed on Tuesdays & Wednesdays throughout 2023. This tour will not be available on those days. Please click here to see our full range of alternative options.
Departure from London
We offer a pick up from any London city centre hotel/Airbnb property/selected Heathrow Airport hotels. Below is a list of major hotels in London and Heathrow with our collection times. 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 the pick up time. London city centre pick ups begin at 07:00am and are completed by 08.15am. We will then collect from Heathrow airport hotels between 09:00am - 09:45am. For Heathrow pick ups you must be ready and waiting in the hotel reception area from 09:00am. We are unable to collect from Heathrow airport terminals. If your flight arrives on the day of travel please see the FAQs page (section 3) for details on where to meet the transfer.
Pick up points in central London click here Pick up points at Heathrow click here
We recommend you are ready for collection in the hotel reception area, 10 minutes prior to the stated pick up time on your ticket. On departure from London, you may be collected by the main coach, or one of our smaller vehicles may transfer you to the coach. This is to ensure we complete the pickups as quickly and efficiently as possible. Your driver will meet you inside your hotel lobby and will then assist you with your luggage.
On a small number of occasions, due to road closures or events, we may alter the route/timings to ensure prompt arrival at the cruise terminal. If we do amend the timings we will contact you in advance. We strongly recommend checking your emails prior to your departure in case we have contacted you with a pick up time amendment.
Southampton arrival
There are four cruise terminals at Southampton. In normal circumstances the coach will take around 75 - 100 minutes to travel from Windsor to Southampton, arriving between 1:30pm and 2:00pm. At Southampton you will step off the coach and walk straight to the check-in desk. Porters will take care of your luggage, ensuring it is delivered directly to your cabin. Make sure you use the luggage label in your cruise pack to facilitate this.
Guaranteed Departure Dates
We guarantee to run this service on all dates listed. Book early to avoid disappointment, this is a very popular cruise transfer service. If your date is not listed above but you are interested in using this service, International Friends will add dates if we have confirmed interest from 10 or more travellers. We find that the Roll Call facility of Cruise Critic is an excellent way of promoting this transfer service.
Or, if you'd prefer the option of a private transfer, available for 1 or more people please click here
Helpful Information
London & Heathrow to Southampton via Windsor Castle
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).
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 cruise ship, which could result in a stressful start to your holiday! And no one wants that!
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.
My flight arrives at Heathrow Airport on the morning of my tour, how can I join this service?
Our collection time for Heathrow hotels is 09:00AM – 09:45AM, so if you are arriving on a flight on the morning of your tour, please make sure that you have plenty of time to get to your collection point after your flight lands, bearing in mind that it can take up to 1 hour to get through passport control and collect your luggage.
Once you have your luggage you will need to make your way to your collection point by either taxi (the journey will take up to 10 minutes) or by using the hotel shuttle bus (the journey will take up to 20 minutes). The following website has further information about hotel shuttle buses.
The collection points are based on the Airport Terminal your flight lands at, please see below:
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My flight lands at Terminal 2 or 3 – Collection Point: Hilton Garden Inn, Heathrow Terminal 2, Longford TW6 1AH
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My flight lands at Terminal 4 – Collection Point: Hilton Heathrow Terminal 4, TW6 3AF
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My flight lands at Terminal 5 – Collection Point: Sofitel Heathrow Terminal 5, TW6 2GD
Please contact us at [email protected] for further assistance. Could you please note at the time of booking if you arrive on the same day as your booked tour.
My flight arrives or departs from Gatwick – can you pick me up or drop me off there?
Unfortunately Gatwick is not in London and not in our collection or zone. You will need to make your way in Central London for pick up. If you are arriving into Gatwick please contact us and we will advise on the best transfer options for you.
What happens if my flight is delayed and I cannot get to the meeting point on time?
As our collection time for Heathrow hotels is 09:00AM – 09:45AM, we ask that customers are ready to go at 09:00AM. When you book you will be given an emergency contact number on your E-ticket. We advise that you contact us on this number to inform us of your new arrival time so that we can best advise the options available to you. At Heathrow Airport our collections take place in a 30 minute time period. If you do contact us and are running 10-15 minutes late we would advise you to go to one of the hotels scheduled for a later pick up time. Please note our scheduled Shore Excursions and transfers are shared options and the final departure times cannot be delayed for late arrivals, however we will always assist you in making your way to the ship. As a general guide we would not recommend our shared service for anyone arriving at Heathrow less than 2 hours before the pick up time. In all cases refunds on shared transfers cannot be applied to missed transfers due to late flight arrivals or delays in luggage collection or passport control. In this situation you will need to check if it is possible to make a claim through your airline or your travel insurance. If your flight arrival timings are too near to the shared transfer departure time we would strongly recommend you book a private transfer. With private transfers the departure time can be delayed.
What time will I be collected from my hotel?
Once you have informed us of the address of the hotel or other accommodation you will be staying at, we will give you a collection time within a window of 30 minutes. We will inform you of any changes to your collection time 4 days before your tour. If you do not hear from us, then your collection time has not changed.
How will I identify the International Friends staff?
We do not wish you to get cold or wet whilst patiently waiting for us to arrive, so please remain inside the hotel lobby and your driver or guide will come into the hotel to collect you. They will know your name and will be carrying a sign with “International Friends” and the name of your tour.
How long will my journey take?
Pickups in Central London begin at 07:00am and are completed by 08.15am. We will then collect from Heathrow Airport accommodations between 09:00am - 09:45am. The journey to Windsor from Heathrow takes approximately 30 minutes. The journey will take approximately 75 - 100 minutes or slightly less to travel from Windsor to Southampton, arriving at the cruise terminals between 1:30pm and 2:00pm.
Are entries into the attractions included in my ticket price?
Entry to Windsor Castle is included in your tour price, on arrival at Windsor Castle your guide/driver will collect your tickets from the ticket collection desk and hand them to you.
Are audio guides provided at Windsor Castle?
To make the most of your time at Windsor Castle, you can pick up one of the free multimedia guides at the start of your visit. The multimedia guide is available in 10 languages.
For more information about the attraction on your tour, please visit the below link -
- Windsor Castle - https://www.rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle
How much walking is involved in this tour?
Your guide or driver will meet you inside the lobby of your chosen hotel and will assist you with your luggage, the vehicle will park as close as is safely and legally possible.
The walk from the coach park to Windsor Castle is uphill and takes approximately 15 minutes, there are also steep inclines within the castle walls which may not be suitable for passengers with mobility issues.
Once you have arrived at the port there will be a short walk of about 100 yards from the vehicle to the terminal.
What should I wear?
British weather can be variable and so guests are advised to check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. It is recommended to bring some warm clothes with you especially in the winter months and layers are good for adapting to the ever-changing weather conditions. It is a good idea to wear appropriate footwear as there is walking involved on our tours. England is known for its rain so it is advisable to bring a waterproof jacket or umbrella with you.
How many people will be joining this tour?
This tour is a shared transfer and there will be a maximum of 36 people on your tour. We will provide a luxury, air-conditioned touring coach, with plenty of space for everyone and their luggage.
Is food and drink included in my tour?
Food and drink is not provided on this tour. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch with you. Cold food and drink can be eaten on the coach. Hot food is not permitted and all hot drinks must have a lid. All rubbish is to be taken with you.
My chosen hotel is not on your list of pick up points, can I still use this service?
We collect from all London city centre and selected Heathrow airport hotels. Occasionally we are unable to pick up at certain hotels because they are not in London city centre or Heathrow airport. Please email us at [email protected] and we will advise if we can collect at your hotel, or direct you to the closest pick up point.
Will I get to my ship on time?
Our Shore Excursions and Transfers are all designed especially for passengers going to and from the cruise ship. Our itineraries are based on the ships arrival and departure times. Many ships will give allotted check in times, this is to help stagger passenger arrivals at the terminal and is more an indication of the earliest time they wish you to arrive. All of our tours aim to have passengers at the ship by 2:00pm (ship departure time is usually at around 5:00pm). In the unlikely event of there being delays out of our control, such as traffic problems, we will liaise directly with the ships ground handling team and keep them updated on our progress and expected arrival time at the port.
We would not offer an itinerary that did not allow passengers to get to their ship in time for its departure.
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.