Cruise transfers
Southampton Cruise Terminal Transfers
Southampton is the UK's principal cruise port and the departure point for most P&O, Cunard, Princess, MSC and Royal Caribbean sailings. It has several separate terminals, so knowing which one your ship uses matters as much as the boarding time.
Distance from Raunds
Approximately 135 miles
Typical journey time
Around 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes from Raunds
Terminals
4 listed below
Terminal guide
Terminals at Southampton
Please confirm your terminal when you book — it determines exactly where we drop you.
- Ocean Terminal — commonly used by Cunard and larger visiting ships
- Mayflower Terminal — frequently used by P&O Cruises
- City Cruise Terminal — used by a range of lines including MSC
- Horizon Cruise Terminal — the newest terminal, used by P&O and others
Drop-off
Where we set you down
Each terminal has a covered drop-off directly outside where porters take your cases straight to the ship. We unload at the terminal door so you walk in with hand luggage only.
Pick-up
Meeting you on the way back
On disembarkation we collect from the same terminal, timed to your allocated luggage colour group rather than the ship's docking time.
Recommended departure times
When we suggest setting off
Boarding windows are usually allocated in your cruise documents and run from late morning into the afternoon. We plan the departure from the Nene Valley to arrive comfortably inside your window — commonly leaving four to five hours before it opens.
Your terminal is printed in your cruise line's boarding documents — please pass it on when you book.
Cruise luggage is heavy and plentiful; tell us case numbers so the right space is arranged.
Disembarkation is staggered by luggage label colour, so return collections are timed to your group.
FAQs
Southampton questions we are asked
- Which Southampton terminal will my ship use?
- It varies by cruise line and sailing. Your boarding documents state the terminal — send it to us with your booking and we will take you directly there.
- How much luggage can you take?
- Tell us how many cases you are travelling with when you enquire and we will make sure there is space for the whole party's luggage.
- What time should we leave Northamptonshire?
- Usually four to five hours before your boarding window opens, planned around the M1, M25 and M3.
- Can you collect us when we return?
- Yes. Book both legs together and we will time the collection to your disembarkation group.
Collecting from
Towns we travel from
We collect for this port from across the Nene Valley and wider Northamptonshire.
Request a Southampton quotation
Send us your address, travel date and party details and we will reply with a written, fixed quotation.