Getting from London Airport to Southampton Cruise Port Hotel…any advice?

I’ll be taking a cruise from Southampton in April 2025, flying in from LAX. Planning to arrive a day or two early, so I’m looking for a hotel near the cruise terminal to avoid any issues if my flight is delayed. Does anyone have a good hotel recommendation nearby?

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“Planning to take a cruise from Southampton in April 2025, flying from LAX. Need to arrive a day or two early and stay near the terminal in case of delays. Any hotel recommendations?”

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Are you looking for a hotel close to the cruise terminal in Southampton or Heathrow? I’ve stayed in Southampton a few times before a cruise and recommend either the Premier Inn at West Quay shopping center or the Moxy Hotel. Both are near a big shopping area with restaurants, and it’s a short taxi ride to the cruise terminals. Premier Inn is affordable and nice, and Moxy is a solid choice too.

My partner and I have a cruise out of Southampton soon. We’re getting there two days early and staying at the Premier Inn at Terminal 4 at Heathrow. We picked it for the great price – £101 for two nights! We plan to take the National Express bus to Southampton on the morning of the cruise.

Which London airport are you flying into?

Marlo said:
Which London airport are you flying into?

Heathrow Airport, London.

Keller said:

Marlo said:
Which London airport are you flying into?

Heathrow Airport, London.

There are quite a few hotels near Heathrow, or if you’re okay with a higher price, you could look around Waterloo. It’s where trains to Southampton depart, so it’s a good spot for connections.

I flew in two days early and split my stay – first night at the Ruby Lucy near Waterloo Station, then the Moxy in Southampton the second night. It worked out well because I avoided a long trip while jet-lagged and was already in Southampton for the cruise. Moxy was decent, though I think some other locations of the brand are a bit better.

The ibis budget Southampton Centre is great – simple, clean, and affordable. There are two ibis hotels in Southampton, but this one’s my favorite. You can even walk from the bus station to the cruise port if needed. A few restaurants are nearby, and there’s a McDonald’s for quick coffee or snacks. Bring a plug adapter/converter if you’re coming from the US. Booking in advance gets you good deals.

Just came back from a cruise from Southampton last month! We flew into Terminal 3 at Heathrow, then took the free underground shuttle to Terminal 4 and stayed at the Hilton since we got a good deal. (Heads up, food was a bit pricey.) To get to Southampton, we used the National Express bus from Heathrow, then stayed at the Holiday Inn overlooking the harbor. Good breakfast there, and an easy cab ride to the port. If you’re at the City Terminal, you can even walk over.

We’ve tried the train from Waterloo, but if you have big suitcases, it can be tough to manage on the train. The National Express bus is easier for luggage because the driver stores it below, but it does have to deal with road traffic, which can cause delays. We learned the hard way last time, taking the bus on the last Monday in August, a holiday – traffic was terrible heading south!