Why sail from your local cruise port?

This post could be endless as there are many great reasons and if you find the perfect itinerary for you then why sail from somewhere else?

I have done fly-cruises as well as cruises from my local port in Southampton. There are many pros and cons for each but, to sail from your local cruise port has some advantages.

Stress Free

Those who haven’t cruised before, or you might just be anxious about the whole journey, travelling to your local port might allow you to feel less anxious as you can be familiar with the area.

Booking a taxi which will drop you off right at the port entrance, allows you to relax right up to check in. You will worry less about losing your luggage or missing your flight.

If you are driving and happen to experience the worst luck of breaking down, you can either leave your car for someone to collect and get a taxi or you can arrange for recovery which can drop you and your car at the port.

Convenience

With having no hassle to find airport parking, checking flight times, or experiencing delayed flights, you simply drive to your port and climb onboard. Being local you can arrange taxis, lifts, parking, or hotels for the night before, at your convenience.

Being close gives you less chance of something going wrong causing you to be delayed. Giving plenty of travel time to ensure a smooth journey also gives you a stress free start to your holiday.

Luggage restrictions

You will happy to hear that cruises are more relaxed when it comes to luggage. If you are one to dress up every night (like I do), then you will want to take your dresses or suits, which can take lots of room as well as add weight to your luggage.

On your booking you will be notified of a weight restriction for your luggage which are normally 23kg however, P&O state on their website for the Luggage Allowance ‘Forget luggage restrictions! Unlike flying, there are no strict luggage allowance rules in place when you board your ship in Southampton. While no item of individual luggage should weigh more than 23kg, you’ve the freedom to bring as many bags as you can comfortably fit into your cabin.’

When I sail from Southampton I always pack my hydro drinks as well as an empty back pack, 2 suitcases (1 large and 1 medium), as well as a carry on bag. I always try to be cautious of the weight, as I would want to cause any of the porters injury. My suitcase has been branded with the ‘Warning, Heavy’ sticker before, but they didn’t charge me extra or ask me to take anything out.

Just be mindful that there are some prohibited items which can be found on their website, as these can jeopardise the safety of staff and passengers. Read what some of them are below;

https://mycruise.blog/2024/06/08/items-that-are-commonly-confiscated/

Security

When going through airport security it can seem quite daunting. Have I packed the right stuff in my suitcase? Do I have anything that is prohibited in my hand luggage? I know I have packed everything correctly but I still have these questions running through my mind.

With your local cruise port, you simply hand your luggage to the porters outside the terminal and as quickly as you handed them over, they are waiting outside your cabin.

There are no restrictions thankfully regarding liquids in your hand luggage, so that instantly minimizes the worry. Queuing doesn’t seem as long as what it does in the airport as, the port has a very simple and effective system. There are two queues that you will need to join, one which allows you to check in and the other to go through security. If you arrive at the port early you may need to enter a separate queue until you are able to go inside the terminal. The port authorities are use to the volume of people on embarkation day and are just amazing in my opinion.

Delays

Everyone knows about delays when flying, it isn’t uncommon for at least one flight to be delayed each day. Although you are likely to be on a chartered flight, your flight may still become delayed or even cancelled.

I have done multiple fly cruises and haven’t had one cancelled as of yet. I have been onboard when flights have been delayed by an hour to two and the ship has waiting for them to board. However, ships can only wait around for so long before they need to leave. If you can fly out the day before then i would definitely recommend it.

Always make sure you have a cruise specific travel insurance as that can cover flights as well as cruises. You never know what might happen on the journey to the airport.

Price ££

Although fly-cruises may seem cheaper at the time of booking, you might not notice the hidden costs that will be required. Some of these may include;

Airport parking or transport
Flights (if not included)
Additional Luggage (if not included)
Food and drink in the airport
Hotels if travelling the day before
Transfers (if not included)
Fast track security/Airport lounges

Once these have all been added up as well as other extras not mentioned, it might cost the same or more than cruising from a local port. The money saved could go towards spending money or a cheeky pamper in the Spa.

There’s no waiting

When boarding at your local port, your holiday starts as soon as you step foot onto the ship. You dont need to wait to get your holiday started! Waking up and travelling to Southampton I am extremely exited, as I know in 3 hours I will be on the ship and able to relax. Where as when flying, I want to firstly get to the airport, then get on the flight and then get onboard before i can think about relaxing.

As soon as you step onboard you can grab food in the buffet (this can be busy on embarkation day), you can sunbathe, walk around the ship, and do so much more compared to flying.

There are lots of pros and cons when it comes to comparing fly cruises and sailing from a local port. Find out more below:

https://mycruise.blog/2023/05/06/dont-mind-flying-do-a-fly-cruise/

https://mycruise.blog/2024/02/17/sail-from-southampton/