Hello! I am traveling on Anthem of the Seas this June. We have most everything sorted, but I am stuck on the return trip because there are too many options, and I'm terrified of making the wrong choice.
We are traveling with 2 adults, and 2 children (age 5, and 7), and flying out of Gatwick the day after we arrive in Southampton, staying at the Premier Inn North Terminal.
Here are some things that stress me out:
1) Is it better to take a train, coach, or car to our hotel by Gatwick?
2) How do I know what time to book it for, since I cannot guarantee the time we are able to get off the ship?
3) Will it be difficult to find an uber to the train station after getting off the ship? Google maps says it is a 30-45 minute walk, is it actually walkable to the train station if it is difficult to find a car?
4) Do I have to pre-book tickets, or would it be easy to take a train?
We are hoping to go back into London for the some of the day, although worried our kids will be too exhausted (again, worried about advance planning; because with kids you just don't know; although, it doesn't seem like there is anything near the airport area, so we kind of don't have a choice but to go to touristy area of London). Do we go to the hotel first and hope for early check-in/bag storage, or do we take a train from Southampton to London Waterloo/Victoria, store our bags there, tour, and then take a train to Gatwick?
Other things I'm considering- once I figure out how to get to Gatwick, maybe we take a train to Brighton instead and just have a wander around?
Or book a private transfer from the cruise port and stop by Windsor? But I worry we will just be too tired to enjoy it.
Please help! Thank you so much.