Swan Hellenic minerva

[bozo5404]

Hi we are new to this message board and also new to

Cruising. We are sailing in May 2013 Swan Hellenic

Minerva "Baltic Splendour". Can anyone advise the best

way from Heathrow to Portsmouth Cruise Terminal.

If we take National Express coach how far is it to the

boat--walking distance or do we need additional transport

to the Minerva? Thanks very much for any help.

 

Rusty

[sddsddean]

No personal experience with Portsmouth, so take what I say with a pinch of salt! As far as I can tell, the Cruise Terminal at Portsmouth is right in the middle of this map above the 'Byng' of George Byng Way marked with a green A.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=50.811792,-1.088269&hl=en&sll=50.811819,-1.088333&sspn=0.007186,0.018861&t=h&mra=mift&mrsp=0&sz=16&z=16

 

I've looked on the National Express site and you can't book for May yet, but used a Tuesday in March and there are coaches every 2 hrs or so that stop at the cruise terminal (Portsmouth International Port on the NE site). Journey is 2hrs 30 mins and current cost is £16.60 single. Heres the NE site for your ref http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx

 

Simon

[John Bull]

From Heathrow to Portsmouth cruise terminal, the National Express coach is definately the best public transport.

If your flight arrives at T1 or T3, its a well-signed short walk to central bus station. If you arrive at T4 or T5, you board the coach in the concourse outside your terminal.

But it's important to check your terminal before you book your coach tickets. Ideally give yourselves 90 minutes from your scheduled flight arrival to complete airport formalities, but if you are delayed your tickets are good for the next coach, subject to available seats (this concession only for journeys from airports).

 

Most coaches are direct, with a journey time of 3 hrs. But at certain times of day you'll need to catch the coach to Victoria coach station & change there, although that adds only 15 minutes to your journey time.

Fares are about £17, no seniors rates.

 

Book to Portsmouth International Port. This is a combined terminal for cross-channel ferries & cruises. You'll be dropped at the terminal door, no need for additional transport. :)

 

The same journey by train isn't good. It involves a shuttlebus to a mainline station at Woking, then a train to Portsmouth & Southsea station, then a taxi to the port.

 

A private transfer such as www.smithsforairports.com will cost about £100 for the car

 

Ifr you have the time, Portsmouth is an interesting naval city and seaside resort with plenty to interest the visitor for several days.

 

JB :)

 

Edit. Dammit, Simon beat me to it - again :(:D

Simon says 2.5 hrs, I say 3hrs. We're both right - depending which Heathrow terminal your aircraft uses

And yes, Simon, your map is correct. .;)

[bozo5404]

Many thanks to you both, JB and Simon. Information is

very helpful. Wish Swan Hellenic would be a little more

helpful about transportation options to Portsmouth--

it's still early so maybe more specifics will be forthcoming.

We are just worriers. Thanks again.

Rusty

[sddsddean]

Thanks for the confirmation I'd got the right place JB. The Portsmouth Port website is a bit vague! BTW, would you be a good egg and send me your e mail address (mines in my signature).

 

Cheers

 

Simon

[John Bull]

Thanks for the confirmation I'd got the right place JB. The Portsmouth Port website is a bit vague! BTW, would you be a good egg and send me your e mail address (mines in my signature).

 

Cheers

 

Simon

 

Hi Simon,

Dunnit.

On Windows 8 :eek:

So you might not get it :rolleyes:

 

JB :)

[John Bull]

Many thanks to you both, JB and Simon. Information is

very helpful. Wish Swan Hellenic would be a little more

helpful about transportation options to Portsmouth--

it's still early so maybe more specifics will be forthcoming.

We are just worriers. Thanks again.

Rusty

 

Almost-certainly Swan-Hellenic will offer coach transfers from Heathrow to the port. I used to drive coaches for a local operator & have driven many such transfers to Portsmouth - not for Swan Hellenic, they're new to Portsmouth, but for other small ships such as those of Fred Olsen.

But almost-certainly their transfers will cost way more than the scheduled Nat Express coach, for a virtually-identical service other than the luggage limitations on Nat Express (two 44lb suitcases per passenger, plus hand luggage - not strictly enforced, but consider other options if you have way more luggage).

Although the train is more expensive at about £28, and involves a shuttlebus (incl. in the fare) to Woking rail station, then a direct train to Portsmouth & Southsea station, then a £10 taxi-hop to the port, the train service is every thirty minutes & no need to pre-book. So it can be an excellent Plan B if other arrangements fall apart.

 

A couple of little pointers re the Baltic.

Virtually all ports are very easy to visit on your own - no need for an expensive excursion if you like to do your own thing & don't mind doing a bit of research, such as on Cruise Critic's "Northern Europe & Baltics" forum.

There are two exceptions:

 

St Petersburg. The jewel in any Baltic cruise.

If you want to do your own thing, unaccompanied, you will need a complicated & expensive visa. Virtually no-one goes down that road.

But although cruise line literature gives the impression that you can only see St Pete's visa-free if you sign up for a ship-sponsored tour, you can tour so much better by booking direct with a loical accredited tour company - they too offer visa-free tours, and the experience is so much better because they operate in minibuses (vans) with a maximum 16 in each group & can give a much more personal service, including trips on the metro & hydrofoil - difficult or impossible with 50 in a ship-sponsored group. Check out http://www.alla-tour.com/ and http://www.spb-tours.com/ and http://st-petersburg-tours.ru/ and others - we used Alla but all have excellent reputations.

You can tour with them at their regular prices if there are at least 8 in the party - that might be difficult with such a small ship, so best to register your interest with all of them. No money up-front, youi pay at the start of the second day.

 

Berlin from Warnemunde. If you want to take the opportunity to visit Berlin, its a long & time-consuming journey & you don't want to waste your limited time by waiting for trains, ho-ho buses etc. So best to bite the bullet & fix a tour.

 

Spend your budget on St Pete's, and Berlin if appropriate. Plenty of savings by doing your own thing at the other ports.

Just MHO, as always.

 

JB :)