Southampton has five cruise terminals: Ocean and QEII in the Eastern Docks (Dock Gate 4), and City, Horizon and Mayflower in the Western Docks (Dock Gate 10). Your cruise documents and luggage tags will name the terminal. Get it right before you book a taxi or parking, because the two dock areas are a 40-minute walk apart and use different entrances.
Ships usually berth at the same terminal each time, but on busy days the port puts them wherever there’s space, so a ship can sail from one terminal and return to another. Check your documents again a few days before you travel.
The Five Terminals at a Glance
| Terminal | Berth | Dock gate | Postcode | Often used by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Terminal | 46/47 | Gate 4 | SO14 3QN | P&O Cruises |
| QEII Terminal | 38/39 | Gate 4 | SO14 3GG | Cunard, sometimes P&O and others |
| City Cruise Terminal | 101 | Gate 10 | SO15 1BS | Royal Caribbean, Celebrity |
| Horizon Cruise Terminal | 102 | Gate 10 | SO15 1AW | Norwegian, MSC |
| Mayflower Terminal | 106 | Gate 10 | SO15 1HJ | P&O and Cunard ships at times |
“Often used by” reflects typical patterns, not a fixed rule. Your cruise line’s documents are the final word.
How to Find Your Terminal
- Your e-tickets or boarding pass: the terminal is normally printed on them, along with your check-in time.
- Luggage tags: most lines print the terminal or berth on the tags they send.
- The cruise line’s app or website: check here a few days before departure in case of a change.
Eastern Docks: Ocean and QEII
Both are reached through Dock Gate 4 off the A33 near the city centre, close to Town Quay. Traffic on the approach can build up on busy turnaround days. Ocean Terminal is a regular home for P&O Cruises and QEII is closely associated with Cunard.
Western Docks: City, Horizon and Mayflower
These three share Dock Gate 10, reached along the A33 (West Quay Road). City Cruise Terminal is on the left after the gate; Horizon is straight ahead; for Mayflower you turn right at the mini roundabout after security. Mayflower is just over a mile from Southampton Central station, but there are no hotels within walking distance, so most people come by car or taxi.
Arriving by Car: Dock Gates and Approaches
All five terminals are reached from the A33, which runs along the edge of the docks. Follow the brown cruise signs as you come into the city. For Ocean and QEII, head for Dock Gate 4 near the city centre; for City, Horizon and Mayflower, go to Dock Gate 10 off West Quay Road. On a busy turnaround day, when two or three ships are in port, queues can build on the A33 from late morning. If you’re driving yourself, arrive at the time your cruise line gives you rather than early, as terminals can’t take everyone at once.
Arriving by Train
Southampton Central is the nearest station to all five terminals. It’s a short taxi ride to any of them, but walking with cruise luggage isn’t practical: Mayflower is just over a mile from the station and the Eastern Docks terminals are further. There’s usually a taxi rank at the station, though on busy cruise days there can be a queue. Pre-booking a car from the station, or coming by car all the way from the airport, avoids the wait.
Parking at the Port
Cruise parking is available at the docks, booked through your cruise line or the port’s own parking service. Prices depend on the length of the cruise, and the car parks fill up on busy days, so book early. Some passengers park off site and use a shuttle. If you’re flying in, none of this applies: a taxi from the airport takes you to the terminal door.
Dropping Off Your Luggage
At every terminal, porters take your cases at the kerb as soon as you arrive. Your cases need the cruise line’s luggage tags, which you normally print at home or receive in the post, showing your name and cabin number. Keep your passport, cruise documents, medication and anything valuable in your hand luggage. The cases are delivered to your cabin later in the afternoon.
Disembarkation Day
Ships usually arrive back in Southampton very early on the final morning, and passengers leave in groups through the morning according to the times the cruise line allocates. Your luggage will be waiting in the terminal’s baggage hall, sorted by tag colour or number. If you’ve booked a taxi home, give the driver your ship, terminal and disembarkation group. If you’re flying home the same day, leave plenty of time: from Southampton, a mid-afternoon flight from Heathrow or Gatwick is usually comfortable, and later from Stansted or Luton.
Terminal Changes
Ships do occasionally change terminal, especially at peak times, and a ship can arrive back at a different terminal from the one it sailed from. Cruise lines notify passengers by email or through their app. If you’ve booked a transfer with Onward Travel Solutions, let us know as soon as you hear, and we’ll update the booking. Fares differ by only a few pounds between the Eastern and Western Docks.
Cruise Hotels Nearby
If you’re arriving the day before, stay somewhere with an easy run to your terminal. The city centre and the area around West Quay are convenient for the Western Docks; hotels near Town Quay suit the Eastern Docks. There are no hotels within walking distance of Mayflower, so plan a short taxi in the morning.
Tips for a Smooth Embarkation
- Check your terminal twice: once when you book transport, and again a few days before you travel.
- Arrive in your allocated window: arriving hours early usually means waiting in a queue outside the terminal.
- Keep essentials in hand luggage: passports, boarding documents, medication, chargers and something for the first afternoon, as cases can take a few hours to reach your cabin.
- Allow for Saturday traffic: summer weekends often see several ships turning round at once, and the roads into the docks get busy.
- Save the cruise line’s port-day number: if you’re delayed on the way, let them know as well as your driver.
Ocean or QEII: Which Is Which?
The two Eastern Docks terminals are close together but separate buildings with their own drop-off areas, so it’s worth checking which one you need even though they share Dock Gate 4. Ocean Terminal is at berth 46/47 on Cunard Road; QEII is at berth 38/39. Your driver will take you to the right building, but have your documents to hand at the gate in case security asks for your ship’s name. The same applies in the Western Docks, where City, Horizon and Mayflower share Dock Gate 10 but sit at different berths along the quay.
Getting There From a London Airport
Onward Travel Solutions runs fixed-fare transfers to every terminal. Saloon fares for up to three people with three cases, from our booking system:
| From | Ocean / QEII | City / Horizon / Mayflower |
|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | £110.46 | £116.32 |
| Gatwick | £129.99 | £134.87 |
| Luton | £147.57 | £151.48 |
| Stansted | £172.96 | £176.86 |
| London City | £174.91 | £172.96 |
Fares are the same on the way back from the ship. Larger vehicles are available for families and groups, and the booking form shows every option for your terminal.
- Heathrow to Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- Gatwick to Southampton cruise port taxi
- Luton to Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- Stansted to Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- London City Airport to Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- Ocean Terminal taxi
- QEII Terminal taxi
- Mayflower Terminal taxi
- Southampton cruise terminal taxi: all routes
Southampton Cruise Terminal FAQs
How many cruise terminals does Southampton have?
Five: Ocean, QEII, City, Horizon and Mayflower.
Which Southampton terminal does Cunard use?
Cunard is most often at the QEII Terminal, though its ships have also used Mayflower. Check your documents.
Which terminal does P&O use?
P&O Cruises often sails from Ocean Terminal, and sometimes from Mayflower or QEII.
Which terminal do Royal Caribbean and Celebrity use?
They are often at City Cruise Terminal in the Western Docks.
Where do MSC and Norwegian sail from?
Usually the Horizon Cruise Terminal at berth 102.
Can my ship return to a different terminal?
Yes, it happens on busy days. Check your disembarkation details before booking a return taxi, and tell us if the terminal changes.
Do porters take my luggage at the terminal?
Yes. Porters take tagged cases at the kerb, and they’re delivered to your cabin later on embarkation day.
What time do ships arrive back in Southampton?
Usually very early on the final morning, with passengers leaving in groups through the morning.
Is there parking at the cruise terminals?
Yes. Book cruise parking in advance through your cruise line or the port’s parking service, as it fills up on busy days.
Source: terminal details compiled from published Southampton cruise terminal guides and Onward Travel Solutions’ own transfer bookings. Always confirm your terminal with your cruise line.