Jayestravellingadventures

When I have booked a cruise that sails from Southampton. the first thing I do is look at car parking. Leaving it till the last minute can result in disappointment or an expensive bill. Thankfully there are a lot of different options available, and i have tried almost everyone of them so you don’t have too.

I have enlisted my favourite places to park as well as other popular options.

“Official” Parking =

When booking a cruise that departs from Southampton, you commonly have an option to get car parking included. For those that want more on board credit, finding alternate parking independently may be more beneficial. When travelling with others car sharing may be an option allowing you to choose more on board credit.

CPS and AB parking are both offered to cruise lines when selecting the parking option. Both are the most convenient. You can book these independently however, the spaces do fill up fast. If you would like to be more cost effective, then I would advise to complete more research. As I am able to walk and can cope with the mass amount of luggage I pack, I try to find alternate methods.

Check-list =

When I book other parking options, I always make sure they hit certain criteria’s. After all, you don’t want to come back from your luxury getaway to your wheels gone or you car stolen. Always look for the “Park Mark” award, this means that the car park is regularly assessed by Police Assessors to make sure it is secure and safe. Below is a list of each “Official” car park and the average pricing category.

CPS – Only on certain cruise lines – High Pricing

AB – Only on certain cruise lines – High Pricing

Triangle – Distance to your terminal – Medium Pricing

Portside – Meet & Greet – Medium Pricing

Airlynx – Park & Ride – Medium Pricing

Hotel with Parking – Variety to choose from – Medium Pricing

Park on Driveway – Bookable via an App – Low Pricing

West Quay – Multistory Shopping Centre – Low Pricing

**Before booking always check your cruise terminal to avoid travelling a distance to the ship. Check your booking as terminals can differ if ore than one ship is in port.

Cruise Terminals =

• City Cruise Terminal – Berth 101
• Horizon Cruise Terminal – Berth 102
• Mayflower Cruise Terminal – Berth 106
• Ocean Cruise Terminal – Berth 46
• QEII Cruise Terminal – Berth 38/39 (Gate 4)

Cruise Lines AB serve =

• Celebrity Cruises
• Disney Cruise Line
• Fred Olsen
• MSC
• Marella Cruises
• NCL
• Oceania Cruises
• Royal Caribbean
• Saga Cruises

Myself and others i know have gone with AB parking and have never received an issue. The convenience made boarding that little bit easier however, the price being on the expensive side it is one to consider. Head to their website by clicking the link below.

Port of Southampton Cruise Parking | Official Provider | ABParking

Cruise Lines CPS serve =

• Cunard
• P&O
• Princess

CPS is my go to when travelling on P&O, they are located right next to the ship so you only have to walk 10 steps to board. When travelling SOLO I do tend to contemplate parking as it is on the expensive side. They are definitely one of my favourites. Head to their website by clicking the link below.

Cruise Parking with CPS – Cruise & Passenger Services

“Non-Official” Car Parking =

For those who want to be more effective on cost then below are alternative options for you to consider.

Triangle Parking =

These are a car park company I use if I am sailing from Ocean Cruise Terminal with P&O, as It is located very close by. Sometimes you might not know what Terminal you are sailing from until a number of weeks prior to sailing, so this might become fully booked. If sailing from the QEII Terminal then it is a very simple 20 minute walk. Being more affordable it is one I will always consider. Find out more about Triangle Parking by clicking the link below.

Triangle Parking at Southampton Port | Parking for all cruise terminals (parkbcp.co.uk)

Quayside Multi-Storey =

Being one of the cheaper options and only a 20-30 minute walk to the cruise terminals, you are only charged £6 per 24hours. There is no pre-booking required as it is attached to a large shopping centre. This may be a problem in peak times as well as, there is traffic all day from shoppers. I found I was worrying about my car throughout my holiday whereas others may not worry about their car. Find out more about Quayside by clicking the link below.

Parking in Southampton | Westquay Shopping Centre (west-quay.co.uk)

Airlynx Park & Ride =

Being a cheaper option it is only 5 minutes away from the cruise terminal however, you will need to leave enough time to park and make a transfer. Using this once it was very straight forward and just like being at an airport. One that I will definitely use again. Find out more about Park & Ride by clicking the link below.

Southampton Cruise Parking | Cruise Car Parking at Southampton Port (airlynxparking.co.uk)

Rent a Driveway =

There is an app specially designed to rent someone’s driveway to park on whilst away. This is normally around half price of any “Official” Car Parks. I haven’t used the app personally but I do have friends which live in Southampton who allow me to park on their drive when going away for short cruises. (I never like to park on drives when on a 7+ night cruise). Always check the distance to the terminal, check if it is safe and convenient, as well as if you can manage to walk with your luggage. This is one way to save money and one I will use when I attend 4 night cruises. Find out more about Renting a Driveway by clicking the link below.

Southampton Parking | Guaranteed Spaces (justpark.com)

Meet & Greet =

The process is in the title, when at dock side you are met by a representative for the company. They take you car and park it in a secure cark park. Using these once I was a little hesitant when I watched my car be driven away by someone. Even with a dashcam I was still apprehensive, especially when I haven’t seen the location my car will be parked in. If you are happy with your car been driven by someone else and placed in a unknown location, then this is perfect for you. Find out more about Meet & Greet by clicking the link below.

Southampton Cruise Parking | Portside (portsidemeetandgreet.co.uk)

Hotels with Parking =

Myself and my family have used this option a few times. As we live 3 hours away from port, the Stay and cruise package is beneficial. Also you can have the option to book just a parking space outside a hotel and not a room. This is extremely useful incase you hit any traffic or there are any delays on the day. The Elizabeth House Hotel offers an amazing deal and one I always go back too. Find out more about Hotels with Parking by clicking the link below.

Home – Elizabeth House Hotel

Overall there are lot of options when wanting to park in Southampton, so you are always guaranteed to get some sort of parking. Always check the terminal you are sailing from, how secure the location is, and the distance from the ports if you struggle to mobilise. Also be careful on any potential scams, make sure you are 100% confident when booking.