Port of Southampton
The UK’s Leading Cruise Embarkation Port
Southampton operates 5 dedicated world-class cruise terminals handling departures for Cunard, P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, MSC, and Princess Cruises.
Ferries from Port of Southampton
2 ferry routes on FerryConnect. Tap a route for timetables, operators and booking.
| To / from | Crossing time | Operators | Carries |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Cowes (Isle of Wight) | 55m – 1h | Red Funnel | Cars & foot |
| West Cowes (Isle of Wight) | About 28m | Red Funnel | Foot only |
Sailing patterns from Port of Southampton
- Southampton → East Cowes (Isle of Wight)
Daily departures every 60 minutes from March to October and every 90 minutes from November to February.
Source: Red Funnel Southampton–East Cowes route page, checked 2026-10-02
- Southampton → West Cowes (Isle of Wight)
Weekdays: 21 sailings from Southampton (05:30 – 22:30), every 35 minutes at the busiest times and about every 70 minutes in the middle of the day. Saturdays 24, Sundays and bank holidays 14.
Times above are for 24 November 2026 – 10 January 2027. Red Funnel runs refit timetables 2 – 23 November 2026 and 11 January – 1 February 2027. Until 29 October 2026 six sailings each way are cancelled while Red Jet 6 is repaired.
Source: Red Funnel Red Jet timetable (24 Nov 2026 – 10 Jan 2027), checked 2026-10-28
Passenger Terminals
Ground Transport & Railway Links
Southampton Central railway station (1 mile) — Direct trains to London Waterloo in 75 mins
M27 & M3 motorway links directly to the docks
Southampton Airport (SOU) — 15 mins by taxi or direct train
Official on-port parking provided by ABParking and CPS (Cruiseparking). Valet and long-stay options bookable in advance.
Dedicated rapid chargers in the multi-storey and surface lots at Horizon and Ocean terminals.
Nearby Ferry Ports
Cruise Terminals & Embarkation
Five cruise terminals: Horizon, Mayflower, City, Ocean and QEII. Check your cruise documents for your terminal, as lines and ships are allocated by sailing.
London Heathrow (LHR) is about 65 miles away (roughly 75–90 minutes by coach or private transfer, traffic permitting). Southampton Airport (SOU) is about 15 minutes by taxi.
Southampton Central station is 1–1.5 miles from the docks, with direct South Western Railway trains to London Waterloo in about 75 minutes. A short taxi ride links the station and terminals.
Official ABParking and Cruise & Passenger Services (CPS) secure parking operate on port grounds, including valet drop-off. Book ahead for peak sailings.
Hotels near the terminal gates include the Holiday Inn Southampton, Leonardo Royal Grand Harbour and Ennio’s Boutique Hotel.
Travel times are typical and depend on traffic. Check parking rates and terminal allocations with the port or your cruise line before travelling.
Ferry Routes from Port of Southampton
Port Logistics & Accommodation
Essential bookings for your crossing through Port of Southampton.