Southampton shopping

We are doing B2B cruises in June 2015 with Southampton as starting and ending for both. We're looking to go to a nearby store and buy soda to bring back to the ship. Any ideas for closest stores? We would need to take a taxi as I cannot walk any great distances. Would this be much of a hassle? We will need to get off the ship anyway between the cruises so we thought this would be a way to spend some of the time. Thanks for all your info!!!

Hi,

How are you planning to travel to Southampton for the first leg?

And what ship or cruise line?

JB :)

We stay at the Premier Inn West Quay and always use ASDA for convenience. It is a large good-value supermarket nearby, with an excellent selection of drinks - both alcoholic and non-a and we always find what we want in there. There is also a large Marks and Spencer in the same area. I'd be happy to give you directions from where you are staying.

We are on the Royal Princess 6/15. We will take Princess' transfer from Heathrow for the start of the 1st cruise, Baltic Heritage 6/14/15. We will be back in Southampton on Friday, 6/26, for the end of that cruise and the start of the British Isles cruise. So we were wondering where to go that day while everyone else is leaving and/or arriving. All suggestions/info are appreciated.

We're looking for some kind of store to buy soda or whatever. Taxi rides would not be a problem.

You'll have no opportunity to shop en-route from the airport, ship's transfers are non-stop from airport to ship. There are limited shops in the Heathrow arrivals halls & prices are not keen. So your best bet is to buy sodas etc at your first port-of-call.

For your 'tween-cruises:

Princess use Ocean Terminal & Mayflower Terminal, neither is convenient for shops so most folk would take a taxi. There'll be taxis lined-up at the pier, but bear in mind these a metered taxis & rates are quite high. Fine for taking you into town, no more than £10, but if you want to do sight-seeing or drive out of the city, best to pre-book either http://www.westquaycars.com or http://www.smithsforairports.co.uk.

From either terminal best shopping will be the big West Quay Mall. This is also right by the main shopping street, called Above Bar, and the historic Bargate, which was the main entrance to the old walled city. The Tudor House & gardens, Medieval Merchant's House & other minor sights are the other side of the city wall & Bargate. so if you want a lazy day in the city, take a taxi to the Bargate & get your shopping last-thing. Several taxi ranks by the Mall.

Or if you just want sodas, wine, etc,

From Mayflower Teminal to the Asda (part of Walmart) grocery store in Portland Terrace - there's a taxi rank outside for a return taxi.

Or from Ocean Terminal there's a Tesco Express in Ocean Way, Ocean Village, about 3/4 of a mile from the ship. If you take a taxi, get the driver to wait cos there's no nearby taxi rank.

Or spread your wings a little, & take a train to somewhere like Salisbury/Stonehenge or Winchester.

I've marked those cruise terminals & shops on this map

https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=Herbert+Walker+Ave&daddr=asda+near+Portland+Terrace,+Southampton,+United+Kingdom+to:WestQuay+Shopping+Centre,+Southampton,+United+Kingdom+to:50.8969656,-1.3991399+to:Cunard+Rd+to:Ocean+Way&hl=en&ll=50.898432,-1.403933&spn=0.022195,0.066047&sll=50.896611,-1.393268&sspn=0.005549,0.016512&geocode=FRfBCAMdcDPq_w%3BFYbDCAMdQInq_yFInaX3_2E1vinZ1mYstHZ0SDFInaX3_2E1vg%3BFSq6CAMdMofq_yEDx2vE120z1ylVsjTUsHZ0SDEDx2vE120z1w%3BFUWgCAMdnabq_ynbnQiqy3Z0SDGBfjrIWqZpZg%3BFUGRCAMdJqHq_w%3BFZeeCAMd5r3q_w&oq=Ocean+Way&t=h&mra=ls&via=3&z=15

JB :)

John Bull,

Thanks so much for all the great info you have and share.

We will be joining Oasis of the Seas Oct. 15 for its trip back to Florida. Because it is the second day (it starts in Rotterdam) we need to check in before 1700 it seems.

My question to you is since the ship does not sail until 2359, what is there to do in Southampton after 1900? Anything to see or schmooze around at night? I assume we can leave the ship after we check in.

My DW has heard there is a Forbidden Planet in Southampton. Any idea where in relation to the Port itself?

Thanks ever so.

John Bull,

 

Thanks so much for all the great info you have and share.

 

We will be joining Oasis of the Seas Oct. 15 for its trip back to Florida. Because it is the second day (it starts in Rotterdam) we need to check in before 1700 it seems.

 

My question to you is since the ship does not sail until 2359, what is there to do in Southampton after 1900? Anything to see or schmooze around at night? I assume we can leave the ship after we check in.

 

My DW has heard there is a Forbidden Planet in Southampton. Any idea where in relation to the Port itself?

 

Thanks ever so.

Oct 15th is a Wednesday.

Oasis is due to berth at City Cruise Terminal (berth 101).

Ship's departure time isn't yet quoted on the port schedule

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

Oasis is a large lady and I suspect she'll actually sail on the high tide.

This may be shortly after your latest boarding time (high tide 4.30pm, but Southampton has a unique double tide which extends the deep-water hours).

Or it may be on the high tide at about 5am next day - no other ships are shown at the berth on the 16th, and 23.59 is often quoted for an overnite in port.

Forbidden Planet is in the city centre, about a 10-15 minute walk from your cruise terminal. Hours are 9am to 6pm.

Your point-of-reference is The Bargate, the original northern entrance to the walled city.

- The big West Quay shopping mall is on the cruise terminal side of the Bargate.

- Forbidden Planet is just a few yards beyond the Bargate in Hanover Bldgs.

- The city's few historic sights (Tudor House & Gardens, Medieval Merchant's House, etc) are south of the Bargate.

- The main traditional shopping street (Above Bar) runs north from the Bargate.

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/uploads/media_items/southampton-map-including-qe2-mile.original.pdf

(cruise terminal is just off-map, bottom left)

If your arrival time in Southampton & the weather suit, visiting Forbidden Planet would tie in nicely with exploring the old town & emptying your wallet in the shopping centre.

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/visit/visitor-info

For the evening :

English National Ballet at the Mayflower Theatre

http://www.mayflower.org.uk/whatson.asp

A modern take on Shakespeare's Othello at the Nuffield Theatre (about 3 miles).

http://www.nuffieldtheatre.co.uk/whats-on

In the party mood? Modern complex of nightclubs, casino, music bars, restaurants, IMAX etc at Leisure World, a 10 minute walk from the ship.

https://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2899507-leisure_world_southampton-i#

A number of traditional old pubs in the old part of town & walkable, including the Duke of Wellington

http://southampton-pubs.co.uk/dukeofwellington/

& the Red Lion

https://plus.google.com/118004643307541995679/about?hl=en .

Wide selection of restaurants, some clustered in High Street (walkable) & Oxford Street, and another casino in the former Terminus Rail Station at the end of Oxford St.

Bear in mind that it starts getting decidedly chilly in the evenings in October.

JB :)