Southampton, United Kingdom — The Calm Before Boarding Day
Most people land, sleep, and head straight to the terminal. We found that a few nights in Southampton makes the whole cruise start smoother, especially after a long flight.
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Getting Oriented in Southampton
Southampton is easy to use as a landing pad because practical things sit close together: shops for anything you forgot, walkable historic streets, and a short path to the port. Instead of overplanning, we treated it like a reset—sleep, walk, eat something solid, and make boarding day feel routine.
Stay near Westquay or Town Quay, walk the city walls and the Bargate, eat one pub dinner, and then give yourself 30–45 minutes to reach the terminal on embarkation day. The point is removing friction.
A few easy “first day” wins
The medieval walls and Bargate give you history without a museum schedule. Westquay is the practical stop for pharmacy runs, forgotten travel items, and a quick lunch that doesn’t turn into a whole production.
Back to top ↑Where to Stay Before a Cruise
Southampton has multiple terminals (City, Mayflower, QE2, Ocean), and “walkable to port” depends on where your ship departs. In general, staying near Westquay or Town Quay keeps you close to food, errands, and easy taxi access if your luggage is heavy or the weather turns.
ibis / ibis budget Southampton Centre
Moxy Southampton
Novotel Southampton
voco Southampton by IHG
Harbour Hotel Southampton
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 when location matters more than comfort |
| Moxy Southampton | ~4★ | $75–$140+ (season-dependent) | ~15 min / ~1.2 km | Modern, easy walk to Westquay and the port |
| Novotel Southampton | 4★ | $70–$100 | ~10–12 min | Reliable mid-tier with good amenities |
| voco Southampton by IHG | 4★ | $120–$160 | ~0.5 mi | Comfortable upgrade; good “easy night” hotel |
| Harbour Hotel Southampton | 5★ | $180–$230+ | ~1.7 mi (transport) | Luxury waterfront experience; plan taxi/ride to terminal |
There is no universal hotel-to-terminal shuttle that works for every hotel and every terminal. If you are within about 0.5–0.6 miles and your luggage is manageable, walking is realistic; otherwise a short taxi ride removes a lot of boarding-day stress.
Pubs Near the Port and Hotels
If you want one “this feels like England” evening before you sail, keep it simple: pick a spot that is close, eat something solid, and head back early.
The Duke of Wellington
This is the kind of place that makes your first pint feel anchored in the city. Comfortable without trying too hard.
The Dancing Man Brewery
If you like craft beer, this is the obvious pick. Lively, close to the quay, and an easy “one-stop” evening.
The Red Lion
A strong dinner option in a historic setting. It’s the kind of place where a normal order still feels like you picked well.
Setting Sail — Two Weeks at Sea
Southampton is one of the easiest jump-off points for longer itineraries. We did back-to-back cruises on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, which gave us two different weeks: tapas bars and museums first, then fjords and waterfalls.
Stops we loved
Vigo, Lisbon, La Coruña, Bilbao, Rotterdam, Skjolden, Olden, and Haugesund. The combination worked because it gave us variety without changing hotels every night.
Excursions and onboard costs
Even when a cabin is covered, the extras stack up: excursions, gratuities, Wi-Fi/data, and the occasional specialty meal. Tracking it honestly is what makes the trip repeatable.
| Port & Experience | Vendor | Cost (USD per person) |
|---|---|---|
| Vigo — Santiago de Compostela (full day) | OptimusTours (OPT-65637235) | $78.60 |
| Bilbao — Guggenheim Museum | Self-guided | $21.12 |
| Olden — Glacier Express Shuttle Bus | Olden Adventure | $57.00 |
| Olden — RIB Boat Sightseeing | Olden Adventure | $98.00 |
| Haugesund — Åkrafjorden & Langfoss | Viator (BR-1267297799) | $98.30 |
| Skjolden — Fjord RIB Boat Tour | Adventure Tours Norway | $94.20 |
| 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 plan) | GigSky | $24.50 |
| Specialty dining — Giovanni’s Table | Diamond BOGO offer | $24.00 per meal |
| Daily drinks / coffee / snacks | — | $60–$75 total (two weeks) |
Southampton stay: $1,544. Cruise extras across two sailings: about $2,012. Total experience (five nights on land + two weeks at sea): roughly $3,550 for two people.
We sailed as Prime Casino Members, so base cabin fares were comped. If booking normally, fares change fast by season and cabin type.
Fourteen nights, eight ports, five countries, with lodging and most meals bundled while you wake up somewhere new.
