Disembarkment advice please!

[allatsea97531]

We are going on our first ever cruise next year on the MSC Virtuosa. We will be flying down from Edinburgh to Southampton the night before the cruise, leaves at 8pm the following night, we are in yacht club, s should get a speedy embarking, does anyone know roughly when we might be allowed on board approximately?

 

The bigger problem is if we need to book a hotel on our return. The ship is due to arrive at 7am back into Southampton, but apparently the latest flight from Southampton to Edinburgh leaves at 1.30pm, will we have loads of time to make that flight?

 

Also, which hotels would you recommend and any tips about taxis would be welcome  - a lot of horror stories online saying a lot of taxis are unreliable and that you should book taxis well in advance - how far ahead would be sensible? Thanks everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[perakcruiser]

1 hour ago, allatsea97531 said:

will we have loads of time to make that flight?

No problem at all. 

[showingdiva]

Yes, you will have plenty time to make that flight.    Disembarkation on Virtuosa usually goes by deck, the lowest first (although would question whether it actually works that way in reality with that number of people).   You could always self-disembark with your luggage, which is early.

 

If you want / need to stay in a hotel - either Premier Inn West Quay, which is near the Horizon Terminal, or something near the airport.  I do exactly the same journey, but by train.   I've never had a problem with taxis in Southampton - I always seem to end up with a driver who has been to Edinburgh / knows someone who lives in Edinburgh.

[insidecabin]

Done MSC from Southampton a few times.

 

They try to use Berth 102 Horizon terminal.

Keep an eye on Southampton VTS for upto date information cruise lines are a bit slow with changes.

MSC had City terminal on the app for a year after the change.

 

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

 

The nearest hotel is the Novotel (7-10min walk depending on luggage).

Ibis and Ibis budget also on same site.

They are 10-15min walk to the town for pubs etc. TGI is next door as is a M.)

 

Holiday Inn Herbert walker also close when the port gate 8 is open.

 

The other nearish hotels

premier Inn,

moxi,

Leonardo Royal

 

we like the Travelodge central as it is very near the shops restaurants and bars.

 

Loads of other boutique type places and harbour hotel at the luxury end.

 

Taxi from near hotels should be £5-£7 some try to charge £10.

Radiocabs and Uber for private hire, there are hackney cabs the prices are similar on the meter for the short trips.

 

Embark they have a YC tent between the doors and escort to front of security, 

This year they have started quite early 10:00-10:30.

 

Disembark.

1:30 flight should be no problem YC escort off, might be a line for the taxis, it moves quick or pre-book once you have a time.

 

 

 

 

[insidecabin]

Should have added we never rush off the ship, we let the crowds clear, by around 10am most have left, just hang out in the YC lounge after breakfast.

There will be no/short line for taxi easy get to the airport for 11am.

 

It's a free for all disembark loads think self will be quicker and people ignore there times, will be a long line for the first hour and crazy in the terminal and outside with people looking for taxis busses and getting to the carpark

 

Depending on date/itinerary it may be multi embarkation so not everyone is disembark.

(The 7n northern Europe  seeing some great prices again this year)

[Stokie33]

We disembarked on the Roth Sept with no issues, but will be even better for you being in yacht club.

 

When we got off at 9am people were already queuing to get on, look at the blogs on YouTube to familiarise yourself with the ship and how things work, someone on our 4 night cruise got to the terminal at 9.50 and was in yacht club at 10.10.

 

You won’t have any issues getting off as the butler’s were escorting everyone off

[allatsea97531]

We have chosen the Leonardo Royal, we prefer a king sized bed. Ordinarily, we would pick Premier Inn, but they no longer assure KS beds and although Travelodge do promise king size, the recent Tripadvisor  reviews have been dire! Thanks everyone.

[insidecabin]

39 minutes ago, allatsea97531 said:

We have chosen the Leonardo Royal, we prefer a king sized bed. Ordinarily, we would pick Premier Inn, but they no longer assure KS beds and although Travelodge do promise king size, the recent Tripadvisor  reviews have been dire! Thanks everyone.

Easy to the mall and there is a hole in the wall by the pig for a shortcut up to the high street restaurants.