Southampton is the UK's busiest cruise port, with five passenger terminals spread across two dock areas. Which one you sail from depends on your cruise line and ship — and it can change by season — so it is worth checking before you travel. Here is a plain-English guide.
Southampton's five cruise terminals
- Ocean Cruise Terminal — Eastern Docks (SO14 3QN)
- QEII Terminal — Eastern Docks (SO14 3GG)
- City Cruise Terminal — Western Docks (SO15 1HJ)
- Mayflower Cruise Terminal — Western Docks (SO15 1HQ)
- Horizon Cruise Terminal — Western Docks (SO15 1AW), the newest, opened in 2021
One important note: Horizon and QEII are different terminals — Horizon is the modern Western Docks building, while QEII is over in the Eastern Docks. And it is always written "QEII", never "QE2".
Which line uses which terminal
These are the typical assignments — but always confirm on your e-ticket, as ships move between terminals through the season:
| Cruise line | Usual terminal(s) |
|---|---|
| Cunard | Ocean (occasionally Mayflower) |
| P&O Cruises | Mayflower, Horizon or Ocean |
| Royal Caribbean | City |
| MSC Cruises | Horizon or Mayflower |
| Princess Cruises | Ocean or City |
| Celebrity Cruises | Ocean |
| Norwegian (NCL) | City or Ocean |
| Disney Cruise Line | Ocean or Mayflower |
We have a dedicated transfer page for each line with the exact terminal detail: Cunard, P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Princess, Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney.
Why the terminal matters for your transfer
The Eastern Docks (Ocean, QEII) and Western Docks (City, Mayflower, Horizon) have different access roads and dock gates. A driver who turns up at the wrong docks on a busy turnaround morning can cost you 20 stressful minutes you do not have before check-in closes. That is why we always ask for the terminal from your e-ticket when you book — so your car goes straight to the correct forecourt.
Whichever terminal you are sailing from, our Southampton cruise transfers drop you right at the door. Flying in first? We also cover cruise-to-airport transfers and Heathrow, Gatwick and London pickups.
The bottom line
Southampton's five terminals can be confusing, but your e-ticket removes all doubt: it names the terminal and your check-in window. Tell us both when you book and the rest is handled — fixed price, meet and greet, and a driver who knows every dock gate in the port.
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