We are proud to lead the way in delivering an outstanding experience for our cruise partners and their customers. With Europe’s leading cruise turnaround port and a range of strategically located ports around the UK, our experience is second to none.
We remain at the forefront of cruise by continuously investing in our people, our partnerships and sustainable infrastructure.
Across its network of 12 ports, Associated British Ports (ABP) delivers for its cruise partners exciting destinations, excellent connectivity, and a wealth of experience.
The ABP Cruise ports of Southampton, Teignmouth, Plymouth, Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, Barrow, Ayr, Troon, Hull, Lowestoft, and Ipswich offer multiple access points to the best of the British Isles and options for regional UK departures.
Cruise from Southampton
Southampton is Europe’s leading turnaround cruise port and was voted Best Port at the 2024 Cruise Critic Awards.
Southampton has a long-established global cruise reputation. ABP continuously invests in its cruise infrastructure, recently investing £80m, with sustainability at its core. This commitment to the future of cruise, combined with the port’s unrivalled sea, land and air access, cements its reputation as Europe’s leading cruise turnaround port.
The port’s five cruise terminals welcomes more than 500 cruise ship calls and 3 million passengers annually from major cruise lines including Aida, Azamara, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Silver Sea, Regent Seven Seas and Tui.
To cater for the growing demand of cruise passenger trade, ABP Southampton continues to invest in shoreside and marine facilities and operations, infrastructure, operational teams and developing partnerships beyond the port.
Through its commitment to achieve net zero by 2040, the port is taking significant steps to ensure sustainability is core to the future of cruise, having invested in the UK’s first commercial shore power facility.
Cruise Facilities
Southampton is an established cruise hub and works with partners across the port to deliver a premium service to cruise lines, enabling the Port of Southampton to seamlessly deliver turnaround and transit calls.
Five conveniently located cruise terminals - Our dedicated team works with partners to tailor each terminal to the needs of each cruise line.
Terminal refurbishments - Each terminal has undergone multi-million-pound refurbishments, enabling the port to cater for the world’s largest and smallest
vessels.
Latest Airbridge technology – our airbridges provide passengers with an easy ship to shore walkway.
Fuel bunkering - the port facilitates both conventional and future fuel bunkering.
Shore power capability – Shore Power is available at both Horizon Cruise Terminal and Mayflower Cruiser Terminal, providing zero emissions at berth. This 16 Mva supply was the first of its kind in the UK.
Quayside space – Our quayside space allows cruise vessels to easily replenish supplies in preparation for the next cruise. With the use of mobile cranes, we can support containers to be lifted on and off vessels.
Waste services – Our partnership with Veolia Waste Services ensure cruise lines can safely and conveniently dispose of waste from the cruise vessel and in good time before the cruise departs the port. We work with Veolia to provide a barge service to and from the cruise vessels to the recycling centre located opposite the port.
Cruise Terminals
Our five cruise terminals are designed for smooth passenger flow, allowing travellers to begin their holiday as soon as they arrive. The bag drop area is outside the terminal, and once their luggage is dropped off, passengers are welcomed inside to check in and go through security before boarding their vessel.
The port is divided into two main docks: the Eastern Docks and the Western Docks. The Eastern Docks have two cruise terminals: the QE II Terminal and the Ocean Cruise Terminal. In the Western Docks, there are three cruise terminals: Mayflower, Horizon, and City Cruise Terminal. The entrance to the port is monitored by our security team, who may conduct security checks on passengers before they enter.
Eastern Docks
Passengers should enter the Eastern Docks through Dock Gate 4 for the Queen Elizabeth II Cruise Terminal and Ocean Cruise Terminal.
Western Docks
Passengers should enter the Western Docks through Dock Gate 10 for the City and Horizon Cruise Terminals and Dock Gate 20 (if driving) for the Mayflower Cruise Terminal. For pedestrian access please enter the port at Dock Gate 10 to access all three cruise terminals.
Parking onsite for passenger convenience
ABParking is the only official cruise car parking provider with on-site car parks located within the secure port estate providing car parking for the following cruise lines: Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea Cruises. For more information about ABParking – click here or call 02380 488 870.
Connectivity
Southampton has unrivalled connectivity by sea, land, and air, making access to and from the port effortless.
Heathrow and Gatwick International airports are just over an hour away and Southampton Airport is just a short distance from the port, offering short-haul international and national flights.
The M3 and M27 motorways are easily accessible from the port via dual carriageway M271. All five cruise terminals have short and long stay car parks.
Southampton Central train station provides regular connections to the rest of the UK and is only an hour from central London. The train station is a 15-minute walk from City and Horizon Cruise Terminals, and 30 minutes’ walk for Mayflower and Ocean Cruise Terminal. For the QEII Cruise Terminal it is best to take a taxi from the train station.
ABP welcomes around
2 million Cruise passengers per year across our portsABP has
12 Cruise destinations within its networkContribution to the UK economy
£2 million per cruise visit to SouthamptonStaying in Southampton
Visit www.visitsouthampton.co.uk to find a list of the great things to do and see and places to stay before your cruise from Southampton.