How did you get from London to Southampton?

[DrivesLikeMario]

carefully? quickly? http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Alright, enough of those kind of answers! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif Seriously, how did you get to Southampton and would you recommend it to others? Did you take the train, Princess' transfers or a private car?

Thanks for the help! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

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'04 2 wk. land cruise to WA
'04 Monarch of the Seas
'04 Coral Princess
'03 Monarch of the Seas
'02 Adventure of the Seas
'02 Ecstasy
'01 Radiance of the Seas
'01 Grand Princess
'01 Viking Serenade
'00 Grand Princess
'99 Viking Serenade
'98 Elation

[ssbeagle]

We used the Princess transfers. They picked us up at our hotel and took us to Southampton and from the ship back to the airport. It's about a 2 to 3 hour ride from London depending on the traffic.

Grand Princess
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=32CD32&cdt=2004;04;04;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
Tahitian Princess
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=32CD32&cdt=2004;11;23;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[Estelle]

SS Beagle - do you remember what the transfers cost? We are doing roundtrip out of Southampton next summer staying in London for a day or 2 before the cruise and have been trying to figure this out too!

Thanks!

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2005;7;21;17;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000
Until the Golden Princess



Golden Princess July 2005
Mariner of the Seas April 2004
Celebrity Infinity September 2001
Disney Wonder June 2000

[Flyer]

We've taken Princess transfers and it worked great. I Don't remember the cost but one perk since we were in London three days early allowed us to be on the first bus out. If I understood correctly they next boarded those who arrived two days early and finally those that stayed at other hotels but bought Princess transfers.

Not sure if this is the norm but I liked leaving first. Also I think the drivers are timed to arrive at staggered times which makes boarding faster.

Years ago, on an Alaska cruise we were on Princess transfers and the driver arrived too early. She was told (by management) to entertain us until they were ready to board. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Can you imagine a driver who was not a tour guide trying to tell us all about Seward, AK? Not much there in the first place. LOL. It was fun though!

[Tania]

The three of us used www.london-transfers.com (http://www.london-transfers.com)

At the time in 2002, it was the same price as Princess transfers for three and much more convenient. We were picked up at our central London hotel and arrrived in Southampton 90 minutes later.

* Star Princess 07/04 * Grand Med
Diamond Princess 03/04 Mexican Riviera
Sun Princess 12/03 Southern Caribbean
Grand Princess 12/02 Western Caribbean
Royal Princess 08/02 Western Europe & Iberia
Ocean Princess 08/01 Alaska
Pacific Princess 12/00 Holy Land & Greek Isles
Carla C. 03/83 Southern Caribbean

[Desert Nurse]

I used Ray's Transfers (www.london-transfers.com (http://www.london-transfers.com)) for both legs of our transfers. There were three of us, and it was less expensive to use a private car than Princess' transfers. You can't beat someone waiting at the airport with a sign with your name on it after a long flight! After the cruise we went to London for several days and enjoyed having the car waiting when we got off the ship.

Cricket

Diamond Princess, Mexico, 9/25/04
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;9;25;12;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800

Island Princess, Hawaii 3/20/05
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=da70d6&cdt=2005;3;20;12;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800

[Tania]

LOL...great minds think alike...at the same time no less...

* Star Princess 07/04 * Grand Med
Diamond Princess 03/04 Mexican Riviera
Sun Princess 12/03 Southern Caribbean
Grand Princess 12/02 Western Caribbean
Royal Princess 08/02 Western Europe & Iberia
Ocean Princess 08/01 Alaska
Pacific Princess 12/00 Holy Land & Greek Isles
Carla C. 03/83 Southern Caribbean

[vince_g]

Lady Jag,

Check the Cunard board... there are postings there that will show you all your options.

Vince

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;6;5;18;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000
June 5th - Queen Mary 2 Westbound Transatlantic


http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;11;22;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
November 22nd - Sun Princess 10 night Eastern Caribbean

[DrivesLikeMario]

Thank you so much everyone! I'll check into all these options and the Cunard Board too. Thanks again!! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

--------------------------
'05 Golden Princess, West. European Capitals
'04 2 wk. land cruise to WA
'04 Monarch of the Seas
'04 Coral Princess
'03 Monarch of the Seas
'02 Adventure of the Seas
'02 Ecstasy
'01 Radiance of the Seas
'01 Grand Princess
'01 Viking Serenade
'00 Grand Princess
'99 Viking Serenade
'98 Elation

[DrivesLikeMario]

p.s. - Estelle - Which cruise are you going on? We're on the July 31st cruise. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

--------------------------
'05 Golden Princess, West. European Capitals
'04 2 wk. land cruise to WA
'04 Monarch of the Seas
'04 Coral Princess
'03 Monarch of the Seas
'02 Adventure of the Seas
'02 Ecstasy
'01 Radiance of the Seas
'01 Grand Princess
'01 Viking Serenade
'00 Grand Princess
'99 Viking Serenade
'98 Elation

[hrob777]

We used http://www.nationalexpress.com/neh.cfm
from Heathrow to Southampton. I expect they also have London service. It was relatively cheap. They also give a senior discount.

[GottoCruise]

Lady Jag -
We're on the July 31 Golden too ---I started a Roll Call.........

Until Pacific Princess
Islands of the Pacific Theater

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;07;25;12;00;00&timezone=GMT+0900

Until Golden Princess Western European Capitals

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;07;31;12;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000

Until Golden Princess British Isles

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;08;10;12;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000

[Jim & Louise]

Hi,

I lived in the UK until a couple of years ago.....I'd probably say that the train would be the way I would go for a trip like that. Should take approx 2 hours and be relativley cheap.

Don't go through a TA for this though - if you do you genrally get ripped off. Recently a TA wanted to charge a friend of mine over a hundred GBP for a ticket that was readily available on the internet for less than forty.

Try : www.thetrainline.com (http://www.thetrainline.com) - I think you need to register to log in, but you should get an OK price.

Jim

[Desert Nurse]

Hey Tania!

We must be twins separted at birth. How odd to have the same post at exactly the same time.

Cricket

Diamond Princess, Mexico, 9/25/04
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;9;25;12;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800

Island Princess, Hawaii 3/20/05
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=da70d6&cdt=2005;3;20;12;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800

[Estelle]

Lady Jag -

We're on the cruise before yours leaving on July 21st - still haven't found anyone else going on this sailing yet.

The trip from London to Southampton on the train is not a problem (unless we have too many bags to lug around!) but we will be flying back home on the day we return and I don't think there are any direct routes from Southampton to Heathrow. I know we can go back to London and then get the Heathrow Express but it doesn't sound apprealing at the end of a long trip - and my husband stresses out about getting to airports on time (long before Sept 11th this was an issue for him).

Can we just take the Princess transfer one-way for the trip back home?

Thanks!

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2005;7;21;17;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000
Until the Golden Princess



Golden Princess July 2005
Mariner of the Seas April 2004
Celebrity Infinity September 2001
Disney Wonder June 2000

[vince_g]

Next Saturday we'll be taking the bus (National Express) from London to Southampton for 1 GBP each. National Express website sells 'funfares' on selected routes and runs. How can you beat paying $3.65 to get 2 people from London to Southampton?!

Vince

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;6;5;18;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000
June 5th - Queen Mary 2 Westbound Transatlantic


http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;11;22;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
November 22nd - Sun Princess 10 night Eastern Caribbean

[GottoCruise]

Estelle - Yes - you can take the Princess transfer from Southamptin to LHR - one way only.
You could alternatively arrange for a driver to pick you up at the port in Southampton - no problem -- it will probably be about the same as the Princess transfers for 2, and you will not have to do the Princess "bus" .....
I'm planning to arrange my transfers privately, but closer to sailing time -
I did this before, to and from Dover, and everything worked out fine. I don't remember the service I used, but I have it down someplace - closer to our timeframe I'll do a search to find the best/most reasonable service ...We might arrive (at least 1 day) earlier in Southamptin and stay near the Port ...we are planning to do our own air - I'd rather not fly in the same day we embark... - it's much too early to start looking into the details---will wait until about 4 months prior...
We are doing the July 31 & Aug. 10 on the Golden -
....I've a daughter and family living in central London - hopefully she will direct us to a good transfer service...
Stay in touch and we can compare notes---I have a Roll Call for my sailing on the "Roll Call" board - and I see you do too.
Vince-G - Yes - that price is unbeatable - however I really don't like "schlepping" luggage around and transferring to a taxi from the train to the ship etc.....rather pay a reasonable fare and be picked up and delivered - and have someone else "lug the luggage". A private transfer would be very cost effective if there were 4 passengers sharing...for 2 it will probably be approx. the same as the Princess Transfers - We will watch the rates and the exchange rate of the British pound and decide closer to sailing time --we have more than a year to go..things can change
GotToCruise aka Renee

Until Pacific Princess
Islands of the Pacific Theater

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;07;25;12;00;00&timezone=GMT+0900

Until Golden Princess Western European Capitals

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;07;31;12;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000

Until Golden Princess British Isles

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;08;10;12;00;00&timezone=GMT+0000

[DrivesLikeMario]

Gottocruise - How nice to be able to do back-to-backs on the Golden! Wish we could, but we're pushing it as it is with my DH's time off from work. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif I'll look for your roll call and join in. Sorry we won't be on the same sailing, Estelle, but I hope you have a terrific cruise!

I agree that the National Express sounds like the best deal, but I don't think I'm willing to haul around all our luggage (family of 4).

I, too, would rather be picked up and dropped off in a private car vs. any other mode of transportation, but I might give in and buy the Princess transfers for just the trip from Southampton back to LHR. I just hate to pay $304 for a one-way transfer on a bus! Those transfers make me feel like one of the 'cattle' in the 'herd'! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

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'05 Golden Princess, West. European Capitals
'04 2 wk. land cruise to WA
'04 Monarch of the Seas
'04 Coral Princess
'03 Monarch of the Seas
'02 Adventure of the Seas
'02 Ecstasy
'01 Radiance of the Seas
'01 Grand Princess
'01 Viking Serenade
'00 Grand Princess
'99 Viking Serenade
'98 Elation