⚓ Why Southampton Is Worth a Stop
Most travelers treat Southampton as a boarding point. But spending a few nights here before your cruise can make a huge difference — especially if you've just flown in from overseas.
Southampton mixes port-city history with simple, everyday English life.
- Walk the medieval city walls and pop into the Bargate, once the entrance to the city.
- Spend an afternoon at Westquay, the modern shopping area with plenty of places to grab lunch, do laundry, or pick up forgotten travel items.
- Try a local micro pub for a pint — many are small, friendly, and far less crowded than big chains.
ibis / ibis budget Southampton Centre
~3★ • $50–$70 • 10–15 min walk (~0.6 mi)
Very budget; basic amenities; ideal if location > luxury.
Moxy Southampton
~4★ / ~8.5 very good • $75–$140+ • ~15 min walk / ~1.2 km
Modern, stylish, eco-certified — short walk to both Westquay and the cruise port.
Novotel Southampton
4★ • $70–$100 • 10–12 min walk
Comfortable mid-tier with good amenities.
voco Southampton by IHG
4★ upscale • $120–$160 • ~0.5 mi
Upscale amenities; comfortable stay.
Harbour Hotel Southampton
5★ • $180–$230+ • ~1.7 mi (transport likely)
Top luxury & waterfront experience.
See full hotel comparison
| Hotel | Star / Rating | Typical Night Rate (USD) | Walkability / Distance to Port | Pros / Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ibis / ibis budget Southampton Centre | ~3★ | $50–$70 | ~10–15 min (~0.6 mi) | Very budget, basic amenities, suitable for travelers who prioritize location over luxury |
| Moxy Southampton | ~4★ / ~8.5 very good | $75–$140+ (season-dependent) | ~15 min / ~1.2 km | Modern, stylish, eco-certified; short walk to Westquay & port |
| Novotel Southampton | 4★ | $70–$100 | ~10–12 min | Comfortable mid-tier with good amenities |
| voco Southampton by IHG | 4★ / upscale | $120–$160 | ~0.5 mi | Upscale amenities, comfortable stay |
| Harbour Hotel Southampton | 5★ | $180–$230+ | ~1.7 mi (transport) | Top luxury & waterfront experience |
- Which terminal matters: Southampton has multiple cruise terminals (City, Mayflower, QE2, Ocean, etc.), and walkability varies depending on which you dock at.
- No universal shuttle: There is no reliable hotel-to-terminal shuttle service that covers all hotels. Many guests use taxis or walk.
- Walking estimates: For hotels ~0.5-0.6 mi away, walking 10–15 minutes is realistic if your luggage is manageable.
- Traffic factor: On embarkation day, early in the morning, road traffic may slow things.
Start at the Duke, wander to Dancing Man for a craft pint, detour to The Red Lion for dinner, and finish at The Grapes — where seafarers have swapped stories for centuries.
🍻 The Duke of Wellington
★ 4.5/5If you want your first pint on English soil to feel historic, start here. Exposed beams, golden ale, and the murmur of locals — just a short walk from Town Quay/port. Hearty pub plates and good beer/wine selection.
🍺 The Dancing Man Brewery
★ 4.3/5Micro-brewery + pub with a quirky menu and good atmosphere. House-brewed ales and a lively crowd a short stroll from the quay. Slightly pricier than basic pubs — worth it if you love craft beer.
🍽️ The Red Lion
★ 4.2/5Grade II* historic gem in the city center with good reviews for food (fish & chips, burgers, ribs), value, and ambience. Classic mains and that cozy, wood-panel vibe that makes you linger.
⚓ The Grapes Public House
★ 4.0/5Historic pub with local lore, right by the docks and often one of the first pubs cruisers spot. Basic prices, salty stories, and a celebratory pre-sail buzz.
Between cruise prep and sightseeing, these are the small comforts that make Southampton feel simple and easy to navigate.
☕ Morning Coffee — E Bakehouse
154 High St, Southampton SO14 2BT
Great espresso and croissants; a quick walk from the Moxy before boarding day.
🧺 Everyday Errands — Foyes Corner Launderette
216 Shirley Rd, Southampton SO15 3FL
Clean, coin-operated, simple to use. Boots Pharmacy nearby at Westquay for any last-minute essentials.
🍺 Evening Spot — The Witch's Brew Micro Pub
220 Shirley Rd, Southampton SO15 3FL
A friendly neighborhood pub right next door to the launderette — local ales, conversation, and easy vibes before embarkation.
All of these can be done without a car — just trains, ferries, or short tours.
Salisbury & Stonehenge — The Stonehenge Tour
If you're in Southampton, a day trip to Salisbury and Stonehenge is one of those must-do adventures that's surprisingly easy and totally doable without a car. You'll ride a train, hop on a countryside bus, and spend the day between a medieval city, an Iron Age fort, and one of the world's most famous mysteries.
- Start your morning at Southampton Central Station
- Direct train to Salisbury — about 30 minutes each way
- Standard adult ticket: £11–£14 one way
- Save with Railcards (Two Together, Senior, Family & Friends)
- Green hop-on-hop-off bus from Salisbury Station
- Links Station ⇄ Old Sarum ⇄ Stonehenge
- Buy combo ticket at stop or online
- We paid £85 total for two people
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Return train Southampton ↔ Salisbury | £22 ( $27 USD ) |
| Stonehenge Tour Bus + Old Sarum Combo | £85 ( $105 USD ) |
| Coffee & snacks | £10–£15 ( $12–$18 USD ) |
| Total for two | ≈ £120 ( $150 USD ) |
Isle of Wight — A Perfect Day Across the Solent
Just half an hour from Southampton, the Isle of Wight feels like stepping into another world — coastal walks, seaside pubs, and that slow island rhythm that makes a single day feel like a weekend.
- Red Jet (28 min) – high-speed passenger ferry to West Cowes
- Vehicle Ferry (60 min) – scenic crossing to East Cowes
- Cost: £26–£32 return per adult
- Cowes Floating Bridge: £1.50 each way
- Cowes Marina Walks – cafés & boutiques
- Osborne House – Queen Victoria's summer home
- The Needles & Alum Bay – chalk cliffs
- Godshill Village – thatched cottages
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Red Jet return ferry | £28 ( $34 USD ) |
| Cowes Floating Bridge | £3 ( $4 USD ) |
| Southern Vectis Day Rover Bus | £10 ( $12 USD ) |
| Osborne House Entry | £23 ( $28 USD ) |
| Lunch + Drink | £25 ( $31 USD ) |
| Dessert + Aperol Break | £15 ( $19 USD ) |
| Total | ≈ £100 ( $120 USD ) |
Bournemouth — Sun, Sand & Easy Seaside Living
Just half an hour by train from Southampton, Bournemouth is where locals go to slow down and soak up the sun. It's a classic English beach town — long promenades, garden cafés, bike paths by the sea, and plenty of spots to eat, sip, and just breathe in the coastal air.
- Trains from Southampton Central to Bournemouth
- 30–40 minutes each way
- Advance fares: from £4.40 one way
- Save ⅓ with Railcards
- Walk through the Gardens – fountains & bridges
- Hang out on the Beach – golden sand
- Ride a Bike or E-Scooter – flat promenade
- Oceanarium – quick cool-down
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Train (return) | £9–£26 ( $11–$32 USD ) |
| Lunch + Drink | £25 ( $31 USD ) |
| Dessert + Aperol Break | £15 ( $19 USD ) |
| Deck chair / bike hire | £10 ( $12 USD ) |
| Total | ≈ £55–£75 ( $65–$90 USD ) |
From Southampton, many cruise itineraries pair perfectly for a two-week adventure — one week through Spain and Portugal, followed by another through the Netherlands and Norway.
Our back-to-back cruises aboard Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas included stops in:
Vigo 🇪🇸 | Lisbon 🇵🇹 | La Coruña 🇪🇸 | Bilbao 🇪🇸 | Rotterdam 🇳🇱 | Skjolden 🇳🇴 | Olden 🇳🇴 | Haugesund 🇳🇴
It was two very different experiences in one journey — tapas bars and art museums one week, fjords and waterfalls the next.
Even when your cabin is covered, the extras add up quickly. Here's what we actually spent while onboard and in port — including the exact vendors we used.
| Port & Experience | Vendor | Cost (USD per person) |
|---|---|---|
| Vigo, Spain — Full-day trip to Santiago de Compostela | OptimusTours (OPT-65637235) | $78.60 |
| Bilbao, Spain — Guggenheim Museum visit | Self-guided | $21.12 |
| Olden, Norway — Glacier Express Shuttle Bus (Olden → Briksdal Glacier) | Olden Adventure | $57.00 |
| Olden, Norway — RIB Boat Sightseeing | Olden Adventure | $98.00 |
| Haugesund, Norway — Åkrafjorden & Langfoss Waterfall Excursion | Viator (BR-1267297799) | $98.30 |
| Skjolden, Norway — Fjord RIB Boat Tour | Adventure Tours Norway | $94.20 |
| La Coruña & Lisbon — Explored independently | Self-guided | — |
| Taxes & Port Fees (per 7-night cruise) | Royal Caribbean | $220.00 |
| Gratuities (per 7-night cruise) | Royal Caribbean | $252.00 |
| Wi-Fi + Mobile Data (15-day Europe plan) | GigSky | $24.50 |
| Specialty Dining — Giovanni's Table | Royal Caribbean Diamond Member BOGO Offer | $24.00 per meal |
| Daily Drinks / Coffee / Snacks | — | $60–$75 total over two weeks |
| Category | Description | Total (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton Stay | 5 nights at the Moxy Hotel, meals, transport & tours | $1,544 |
| Cruise Taxes & Fees | Spain + Norway sailings | $444 |
| Gratuities (2 cruises) | Automatic tips | $504 |
| Excursions & Museums | Spain & Norway ports | $895 |
| Wi-Fi / Data | 15-day Europe plan | $49 |
| Dining & Drinks | Specialty dining + onboard snacks | $120 |
| Total — Two Weeks at Sea | For 2 people, all extras combined | ≈ $2,012 |
Adding our Southampton stay, the entire experience — five nights on land plus two weeks at sea — totaled about $3,550 for two people.
We sailed as Prime Casino Members, so our cabins were fully comped — base fare, food, and entertainment were included at no cost.
For travelers booking similar itineraries, expect base fares between $1,000 – $1,800 per person, per week, depending on season and cabin type.
Even at standard rates, this kind of back-to-back itinerary still delivers incredible value: 14 nights, 8 ports, 5 countries — with meals, lodging, and entertainment bundled in.
For roughly the cost of one mortgage payment, we experienced:
- 8 ports across 5 countries
- Iconic stops from Stonehenge to the Guggenheim
- Fjord rides, local wines, and sunsets at sea
- A balance of organized tours and slow-travel days