A Reading to Southampton cruise terminal taxi with OTS Taxi starts at £119 in a saloon, with the price fixed when you book. At just over an hour, Reading is one of the closest large towns to the port, and a private car takes you and your cruise cases from your door to the terminal in one easy journey.
Reading to Southampton Cruise Terminal Taxi Prices
Here are the one-way fares from Reading station, quoted live by the Onward Travel Solutions booking system on 21 October 2026 for a weekday pickup. They are fixed at booking.
| Vehicle | Seats and luggage | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon | 3 passengers, 3 large cases | £119 |
| Estate | 4 passengers, 4 large cases | £135 |
| People Carrier | 6 passengers, 5 large cases | £159 |
| Executive | 3 passengers, 2 large cases | £162 |
| 8-Seater Minivan | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £213 |
| Executive Minivan | 6 passengers, 6 large cases | £232 |
| 12 Seater Minibus | 12 passengers, 10 large cases | £347 |
| 16 Seater Minibus | 16 passengers, 14 large cases | £407 |
Shared by six, the people carrier is around £27 each, and a full 16-seater about £25 each. Quotes for Wokingham, Newbury and the rest of Berkshire are in our booking form.
Route and Journey Time
The driver normally takes the A33 south to Basingstoke and joins the M3, then follows it past Winchester onto the M27 into the docks. It is about 55 miles and usually takes 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. The M3 between Basingstoke and Winchester is generally free-flowing, but summer weekends bring holiday traffic towards the coast, so we allow extra time on peak sailing days.
Taxi or Train from Reading?
CrossCountry and South Western Railway services link Reading with Southampton Central, some direct, in around 50 minutes to an hour. You then need a taxi from Southampton Central to the cruise terminal. For one person with a small case that works well. For couples or families with large cruise luggage, a door-to-door car avoids two lots of loading and unloading, and the shared fare is often close to the cost of train tickets plus the station taxi.
Pickups from Reading and the Thames Valley
We collect from across Reading and the Thames Valley, including Caversham, Earley, Woodley, Tilehurst, Wokingham, Bracknell, Newbury and Henley-on-Thames. Basingstoke is also on the way to the port, so if friends are sailing with you from there, we can include an extra stop. Enter both addresses in the booking form and the fixed price is shown before you book.
Should You Drive and Park Instead?
Port parking is charged for every day of the cruise, so on a longer sailing it adds up quickly. With a pre-booked car from Reading there is no parking bill, no fuel and no need for anyone to drive the long way home after disembarking. Some passengers on very short sailings still prefer to park, so check the parking cost for your dates and compare it with our fixed fare.
Arriving for Embarkation
Your cruise line gives you an arrival or check-in time on your boarding documents. Terminals stagger arrivals across the late morning and early afternoon to keep queues short, so arriving much earlier than your slot usually means waiting. Book your pickup so you reach the port about 15 to 30 minutes before your allocated time, with extra margin for traffic.
At the terminal, porters take your large cases at the drop-off area and they are delivered to your cabin later, so you only carry hand luggage into check-in. Keep passports, medicines and anything you need for the first afternoon with you.
Getting to the Right Terminal
There are five cruise terminals at Southampton: Ocean and QEII in the Eastern Docks, and City, Mayflower and Horizon in the Western Docks. Your cruise line confirms which one your ship uses. Pass that on when you book and we will drop you at the right door. See our Southampton cruise terminals guide for maps and details.
Which Vehicle from Reading?
Because the journey is short, many couples are happy in a saloon. If you are travelling with friends and four large cases, the estate is the better fit. Office groups, families and wedding parties heading to the ship together often book an 8-seater or our 12-seater cruise port minibus.
Pickup Areas Around Reading
Within Reading we cover the town centre, Caversham, Earley, Whitley, Tilehurst and the business parks. Around Reading we cover Wokingham, Woodley, Bracknell, Theale, Newbury, Thatcham and Henley-on-Thames.
Coming Home
At the end of the cruise, your driver collects you outside the terminal and has you home in Reading in a little over an hour. For all routes to and from the port, see our main Southampton cruise terminal taxi page, and compare fares on our Southampton cruise port taxi prices page.
Cruise Transfers From Other Areas
We also run fixed-price transfers to the Southampton cruise terminals from Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford, Brighton and Chichester. After your cruise, see our transfers from the Southampton cruise terminal to Heathrow and to Gatwick.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a taxi from Reading to Southampton cruise terminal?
On 21 October 2026 our fixed fare from Reading station was £119 in a saloon, £135 in an estate and £159 in a people carrier. A 16-seater minibus was £407.
How long does it take to drive from Reading to Southampton cruise port?
About 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes for around 55 miles via the A33, M3 and M27.
Is there a train from Reading to Southampton cruise terminal?
Trains run from Reading to Southampton Central, some direct, but there is no station at the cruise terminals. You need a taxi or a long walk with luggage from Southampton Central.
Can we pick up a friend in Basingstoke on the way?
Yes. Add Basingstoke as an extra stop in the booking form and the fixed fare is updated before you book.
How early should we leave Reading?
With a normal drive of just over an hour, we usually suggest leaving about 1 hour 45 minutes before the check-in time on your cruise documents.
Do you have minibuses for groups from Reading?
Yes. 8, 12 and 16-seater vehicles are available for groups sailing together.
Get your fixed price and book in our online booking form, or message us on WhatsApp.