Currency
British Pound Sterling (GBP)
Language
English
Time Zone
GMT (UTC+0)
Best Time to Visit
May–Sep
Typical Duration
7-14 nights
Price Range
From $66 pp
Port Type
Departure & Port of Call
Tender Port
No
Southampton is the UK's premier cruise hub and gateway to Northern Europe, offering convenient access to continental destinations with excellent port facilities and transportation links.
Cruises that visit Southampton
- cruises to Southampton
- Southampton sailings
- Southampton cruises
- 2-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 3-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 3-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 3-night Disney Cruise Line cruise
- 3-night Disney Cruise Line cruise
- 3-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 3-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 4-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 4-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 4-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 4-night Disney Cruise Line cruise
- 5-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 5-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 5-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 5-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 5-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 5-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 5-night Disney Cruise Line cruise
- 5-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 6-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 6-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 6-night Disney Cruise Line cruise
- 6-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 6-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night Oceania Cruises cruise
- 7-night Disney Cruise Line cruise
- 7-night Explora Journeys cruise
Build Your Day in Southampton
Cruise calls are short. Set your ship's arrival time, pick the stops you care about, and we'll show whether they realistically fit before departure.
Ships typically depart around 6:00 PM
Usually about 10 hours ashore
Embarkation port — worth arriving early
Embarkation port — worth arriving early
Getting around:
Westquay
We visited Rolex, Lego, an awesome chocolate shop and a cool bookstore.
IKEA Southampton
Perfect all-rounder 👌 Good shopping Good food Good staff 10/10 experience
Open · Closes 9 PM
Mayflower Theatre
Great local receiving theatre with full on west end shows.
Marlands Shopping Centre
Great selection of stores & very friendly staff everywhere we went!
Open · Closes 10 PM
Shanklin Beach
Lovely beaches, water depth you can swim safely in, something for everyone.
Turtle Bay Southampton
Nothing but good times, good food, great service, great cocktails.
Primark
Clean, very easy layout and the clothes were modern and up to date
Open · Closes 8 PM
Southampton Common
Saturday morning runs, PT sessions, playground fun, funfairs and lots more.
Lepe Country Park
Water is clear and warm but has a lot of seaweed to wade through first.
Royal Victoria Country Park
The narrow beach is pebbles and is shallow enough for bathing.
Bill's Southampton Restaurant
Cool place, good food and drinks, quick and friendly service.
SeaCity Museum
Lots to read and some interactive activities for younger people.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Fri
New Forest Wildlife Park
The playground areas are extensive with great rope climbing.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Fri
Funky Flamingo Southampton - Lounge & Roof Garden
Great music, great cocktails, great vibe, and friendly staff.
Medbar Southampton
lush cocktails, lovely abigail served us and her service was top tier.
John Lewis & Partners
Fantastic department store expensive but a stunning range of everything.
Open · Closes 8 PM
Itchen Valley Country Park
Brilliant for all the family.good mix of free and paid activities.
Solent Sky
Lots of interactive things to do, great for children and adults.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Fri
Mayflower Park
An excellent exhibition with entertainment and full facilities
Duke of Wellington
Amazing live music on a Friday and such a friendly, welcoming place!
Orange Rooms Southampton
Love the place,amazing drinks,a nice dancing area and friendly staff :)
Tudor House & Garden
Makes for a great 90 minutes of learning history in an interactive way.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Sat
Cafe Thrive
Great service, fab coffee and a carrot and pistachio cake to die for.
Closes soon · 7 PM
Shirley District Centre
Lots of different shops and lots of cafés all close together,
Closed · Opens 7 AM Fri
Lee on the Solent beach
Ideal time for swimming one hour after low tide.
La Regata
Amazing atmosphere, great food, friendly staff, fast service.
Dancing Man Brewery
Great selection of beer, enthusiastic staff, interesting decor.
Calshot Beach
Great beach, perfect for swimming, paddle-boarding and kayaking
Papillon
Delicious food, yummy cocktails and a fab atmosphere.
Go Ape Southampton
Various challenging but fun courses suitable for all ages/abilities.
Closed · Opens 9:30 AM Fri
The Bargate
Fun place to visit, well kept,
Bacaro
The food was delicious, well-priced, and served promptly.
Figurati
Delicious food, tasty cocktails and a great atmosphere.
East Park
Squeaky clean, and safe for everyone to enjoy.
Hokkaido Japanese & Ramen
Great decor, buzzy atmosphere, attentive service and delicious food.
Southampton City Art Gallery
The gallery has an interactive area where you can draw or sketch.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Fri
Dark Arts Potion Bar
We had a great time, the atmosphere is amazing and the cocktails delicious.
The Jetty
The souffle are phenomenal, the catch of the day, a sea bass, was delicious.
High Score Arcades Southampton
Reasonable price for an hour of entertainment.
NOSH Restaurant
The food was excellent, the service outstanding.
Lepe Beach
Loads of parking, lively clean beach and a very big play area.
Weston Hard Woolston
Accessible toilets, cafe and water activities in summer are available
Woosabi
Unique food, friendly service and a chilled atmosphere.
Boom Battle Bar Southampton
Fun atmosphere, lovely drinks & pleasant staff.
Blue Jasmine Wine & Tapasía
Great attention to detail in food presentation and each bite was delectable.
Smokin' Barrels Pub
We found a friendly comfy bar with friendly service, and superb food!
Weston Shore Promenade
Pebbly beach safe for swimming.
The Dirty Barrel
Great music, brilliant beers, fantastic staff.
Edison's Coffee & Wine Southampton
Lovely coffee, friendly staff, nice light and relaxing atmosphere.
Closed · Opens 8 AM Fri
Miss Ellie's Cafe
Popped in after a walk along the river, great food and very friendly hosts.
Closed · Opens 8:30 AM Fri
The Nest Coffee House
Always immaculate vibes, great coffee, lovely staff, and good food.
Closed · Opens 7 AM Fri
Edo Asia
The service was impeccable, making it a truly memorable dining experience.
Moura's
The food, atmosphere and service were all outstanding.
Make & Brew
Lovely community cafe, great coffee and food with friendly service
Closed · Opens 9 AM Fri
God's House Tower
A unique and interesting venue to have an art and cafe.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Fri
Good Things
Coffee excellent, staff excellent, atmosphere excellent, food excellent!
West Quay Retail Park
Great spacious shopping centre with a vast array of shops and restaurants.
Open · Closes 8 PM
Hamble Common Beach
Clean, tidy and quiet, very small!
North Section of Southampton Town Walls
The wall blends into city wonderfully.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Sat
Medieval Merchant's House
I particularly enjoyed the fact that it’s not overly commercialized;
Closed · Opens 10 AM Mon
Beatnik Emporium
Great selection, reasonably priced, lots of one of a kind pieces.
Closed · Opens 10:30 AM Fri
Westquay South
Clean, airy, lots of shops.
Open now
Shirley Retail Park
Inexpensive paid parking lots as well as supermarket parking facilities.
Open now
Southampton Old Wall
Would definitely recommend.
Palette Cafe 拾色咖啡
Closed · Opens 7:30 AM Fri
Hartnett Holder & Co
Very impressed with the service we received together with delicious cuisine.
Hatch & Barrel
Friendly service, amazing coffee and yummy pastries!
Restaurant AO
Service, wine pairing and taste of the food is fantastic.
Comptons Cocktail Bar
Beautiful atmosphere, amazing traditional cocktails a lovely venue.
Goatee beach
Great open public space well equipped to enter the water .
West Quay Shopping Centre
Great place, lots of various shops and reasonably priced for parking
Open 24 hours
Aspire Restaurant and Brasserie
You reminded us what good eating is without paying a fortune.
Closed · Opens 12 PM Fri
The Southampton Ghost Walk
Did this last night, loved it informative and theatrical and fun.
Opening hours are indicative — always confirm before you go. Travel times are estimates from Google Maps.
Southampton
is an embarkation port. Many cruises start or end here —
it's worth arriving a day early or extending your stay to explore beyond a single port day.
About Southampton
Southampton stands as one of Northern Europe's premier cruise hubs, welcoming nine major cruise lines including Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Oceania Cruises. With over 550 upcoming cruises and strong year-round sailings peaking during the summer months, this port offers exceptional variety whether you're embarking on your voyage or arriving as a port of call. Seven-night itineraries dominate the schedule, with convenient access to beloved European destinations like Le Havre, Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Zeebrugge.
As both a major embarkation point and port of call, Southampton provides cruise passengers with flexibility and choice. Those boarding here enjoy seamless check-in procedures and easy access to the port terminals, while visitors arriving by ship can step ashore to explore England's maritime heritage and vibrant waterfront. The port's excellent rail connections and proximity to London make it an ideal starting point for extended European adventures or a rewarding destination in its own right.
As both a major embarkation point and port of call, Southampton provides cruise passengers with flexibility and choice. Those boarding here enjoy seamless check-in procedures and easy access to the port terminals, while visitors arriving by ship can step ashore to explore England's maritime heritage and vibrant waterfront. The port's excellent rail connections and proximity to London make it an ideal starting point for extended European adventures or a rewarding destination in its own right.
Cruise Lines at Southampton
- MSC Cruises (270 cruises)
- Norwegian Cruise Line (82 cruises)
- Explora Journeys (78 cruises)
- Oceania Cruises (71 cruises)
- Royal Caribbean International (59 cruises)
- Celebrity Cruises (22 cruises)
- Silversea (20 cruises)
- Disney Cruise Line (17 cruises)
Cruises Departing From Southampton
Cruises Visiting Southampton
Ship Schedule at Southampton
Southampton Location
Other Cruise Ports in England
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Southampton a major port?
Southampton is Britain's largest cruise port, located at the head of Southampton Water with a rich maritime history.
What are notable sights in Southampton?
Bargate, medieval architecture, Houndwell Park, and the waterfront offer cultural experiences.
Is Southampton a good port for cruises?
Yes, it is a major cruise hub with excellent facilities and connections.