A taxi from Stansted to Southampton’s Ocean or QEII cruise terminal costs £172.96 in a saloon with Onward Travel Solutions, and £176.86 to the City, Horizon or Mayflower terminals. Each fare covers up to three passengers with three large cases, works the same in both directions, and is paid to the driver on the day.
Stansted is on the opposite side of London from Southampton, so this is one of the longer fly-cruise transfers: about 115 to 120 miles. It’s popular with passengers flying in from Scotland, Ireland and Europe on low-cost flights, and with groups who’d rather not take three trains with cruise luggage.
Fares by Terminal
| Terminal | Dock gate | Saloon fare |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Terminal | Dock Gate 4 (Eastern Docks) | £172.96 |
| QEII Terminal | Dock Gate 4 (Eastern Docks) | £172.96 |
| City Cruise Terminal | Dock Gate 10 (Western Docks) | £176.86 |
| Horizon Cruise Terminal | Dock Gate 10 (Western Docks) | £176.86 |
| Mayflower Terminal | Dock Gate 10 (Western Docks) | £176.86 |
Stansted to Southampton Cruise Taxi Prices
Full vehicle list to the Ocean and QEII terminals. Fares to the Western Docks terminals are a few pounds more; the booking form shows the exact price for your terminal.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Large cases | Stansted ↔ Ocean / QEII |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saloon | 3 | 3 | £172.96 |
| Estate | 4 | 4 | £198.35 |
| Executive | 3 | 2 | £232.52 |
| People carrier | 6 | 5 | £232.52 |
| 8-seater minivan | 8 | 8 | £257.91 |
| Executive minivan | 6 | 6 | £313.56 |
| 12-seat minibus | 12 | 10 | from £541 |
| 16-seat minibus | 16 | 14 | from £613 |
Cost per person
| Group | Vehicle | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 people | Saloon | £172.96 | £57.65 |
| 4 people | Estate | £198.35 | £49.59 |
| 6 people | People carrier | £232.52 | £38.75 |
| 8 people | 8-seater minivan | £257.91 | £32.24 |
Book the return from the ship at the same time and the return leg is 5% off: £337.27 for a saloon there and back to Ocean or QEII, instead of £345.92.
The Drive
The route is the M11 south, the M25 anticlockwise round the west of London and the M3 to Southampton, finishing on the A33 into the docks. Allow around 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes on clear roads. The western M25 is slow at peak times and on summer Saturdays when several ships turn round together, so for an embarkation day we’d suggest leaving plenty of margin.
Taxi or Train?
The fastest train goes via the Stansted Express and the Underground to London Waterloo, then out to Southampton Central, taking around three hours before you’ve got from the station to the docks. Coaches via Heathrow take over four hours. For a couple or a family the taxi is quicker and, split between you, competitive on price.
Southampton’s Cruise Terminals
Southampton has five cruise terminals in two separate dock areas, and the fare depends on which one you’re sailing from. Ocean and QEII are in the Eastern Docks through Dock Gate 4; City, Horizon and Mayflower are in the Western Docks through Dock Gate 10. Ships sometimes move terminal at short notice, so check your cruise documents and tell us the terminal when you book.
Not sure which terminal your ship uses? See our guide to Southampton’s cruise terminals.
Pickup at Stansted
Your driver meets you in arrivals at Stansted’s single terminal. Onward Travel Solutions tracks the flight and gives you one hour of free waiting from the time it lands.
Planning Your Day: Stansted to the Ship
This is a long transfer, so the timing matters more than on most cruise routes. Most cruise lines give you an arrival window at the terminal on embarkation day, and the ship won’t wait for late passengers. Work backwards from the end of that window, allowing two and a half hours on the road and a buffer for the M25. A typical plan for a flight landing at 8:00am:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 8:00 | Flight lands at Stansted |
| 8:00 to 8:45 | Passport control if arriving from abroad, then baggage reclaim |
| 8:45 | Meet your driver in the arrivals hall |
| 8:45 to 11:30 | M11, M25 round the west of London, M3 to Southampton |
| Around 11:30 | Arrive at the terminal, in time for a midday or early-afternoon slot |
An early-morning flight from Scotland, Ireland or Europe lines up well with this. A flight landing after about 11:00am leaves little room for delays, so most people on later flights stay overnight near Stansted or in Southampton and travel the next morning.
Coming Home: Ship to Stansted
Ships usually arrive in Southampton very early on the last morning, and passengers leave in groups over the next few hours. When you book the return, give us your ship and the disembarkation time you’ve been allocated. Your driver will be at the terminal when you come out, and if disembarkation runs late, we’ll know.
Because the drive back to Stansted takes two and a half hours or more, we’d recommend a flight home no earlier than mid-afternoon. A morning flight on disembarkation day isn’t realistic from Southampton to Stansted.
Which Vehicle for Cruise Luggage?
Cruise cases are often larger than standard holiday luggage, and many passengers travel with formal wear and suit carriers. Use the large-case figures in the fare table, and if in doubt go one size up:
- Couple with two large cases: saloon.
- Couple with three or four cases, or a folding wheelchair: estate.
- Family or group of up to six: people carrier, with room for five large cases.
- Up to eight people: 8-seater minivan at £257.91, which is £32.24 each.
Is the Taxi Worth It From Stansted?
It’s a long way, and for a solo traveller the train or coach is cheaper. But the train means the Stansted Express, the Underground across London and a South Western Railway train, then a taxi from Southampton Central to the dock: three changes with cruise luggage on embarkation day. Split between four people, the estate works out at £49.59 each for a door-to-door transfer straight to your terminal.
Travelling With Children or Reduced Mobility
Add child seats in the booking form with the children’s ages. For a folding wheelchair, scooter or walking frame, mention it in the notes and choose the estate or people carrier. Your driver will help with loading, and on arrival at the terminal porters take the cases from the car.
Why Book With Onward Travel Solutions?
A fixed price agreed before you travel, flight tracking with an hour’s free waiting, the right terminal and dock gate on the booking, and an OTS team you can call if your ship changes terminal. You pay the driver on the day.
Staying Overnight in Southampton
If your flight lands late in the day, the calmest plan is to travel to Southampton the evening before and stay near the docks. Book your OTS Taxi from Stansted to your hotel instead of the terminal, then take a short local transfer to the ship in the morning. On the way home, the same applies in reverse if your flight is the day after you disembark.
Paying and Changing Your Booking
Nothing is paid online. The fare is fixed when you book and you pay the driver on the day. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup through Manage My Booking; inside 24 hours, call the OTS team. Child seats and extra stops can be added in the booking form.
Related Transfers
- Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- Southampton cruise terminals: which one is your ship?
- Luton to Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- London City Airport to Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- Heathrow to Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- Stansted Airport taxi: all routes and fares
Stansted to Southampton Cruise Taxi FAQs
How much is a taxi from Stansted to Southampton cruise terminal?
£172.96 in a saloon to Ocean or QEII, and £176.86 to City, Horizon or Mayflower, for up to three people.
Is the fare the same back to Stansted?
Yes, the fixed fare is the same in both directions.
How long does it take?
Around 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes on clear roads.
How far is it?
About 115 to 120 miles via the M11, M25 and M3.
What if my ship changes terminal?
Let us know as soon as you hear and we will update the drop-off. Fares differ by a few pounds between the Eastern and Western Docks.
Can I fly into Stansted on the morning of my cruise?
Yes, with an early flight. Aim to land by about 9:00am for a typical early-afternoon check-in, and allow longer on summer Saturdays.
Can I fly home from Stansted on the day I leave the ship?
Yes, but book a flight from mid-afternoon onwards. The drive takes two and a half hours or more.
Do you need to know my terminal?
Yes. The Eastern and Western Docks use different gates, and fares differ by a few pounds. Tell us if your terminal changes.
Book Your Stansted to Southampton Cruise Transfer
Enter your flight number, terminal and party size in the form at the top of the page to see the OTS Taxi price for every vehicle and book.