Cruises from Southampton

Our flagship, Queen Mary 2, Queen Anne and Queen Victoria frequently sail from Southampton to explore destinations such as the Mediterranean, the Greek Islands, and Norway’s Fjords.

Southampton is also the departure point for Transatlantic Crossings to New York, and Event Voyages such as The Literature Festival at Sea and the Festival of Food and Wine.

Browse our most captivating Southampton itineraries and enjoy planning your holiday right away. 

Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Anne sail from Southampton throughout the year, cruising to Europe, New York, Australia and many more locations.

Queen Elizabeth homeports outside the UK, visiting the Caribbean, Alaska and Central America.

Southampton has five cruise terminals: QEII, Ocean, City, Horizon, and Mayflower.

Queen Elizabeth II Terminal is accessed via Dock Gate 4. It is approximately 1 mile from Southampton Central railway station and local coach stations, and 5 miles from Southampton airport. Address is Test Road, Berth 38/39, Dock Gate 4, Eastern Docks, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 3GG.

Ocean Cruise Terminal is approximately 1 mile from Southampton Central railway station and local coach stations, and 5 miles from Southampton airport. Full address is Berth 46/7, Cunard Way, Dock Gate 4, Eastern Docks, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 3QN.

City Cruise Terminal is approximately half a mile from Southampton Central railway station and local coach stations, and 5 miles from Southampton airport. Address is Solent Road, Dock gate 8/10, Western Docks, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 1BS.

Horizon Cruise Terminal is approximately half a mile from Southampton Central railway station and local coach stations, and 5 miles from Southampton airport. Address is Berth 102, Herbert Walker Avenue, Western Docks, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 1HJ.

Mayflower Cruise Terminal is approximately half a mile from Southampton Central railway station and local coach stations, and 5 miles from Southampton airport. Address is Berth 106, Herbert Walker Avenue, Dock Gate 10, Western Docks, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 1HJ.

Southampton has great transport connections, including bus, rail and air. Guests within the UK can reach Southampton via the M3 and M27 motorways, and the port has parking available to pre-book. Alternatively, you can arrive by rail to Southampton Central (closer) or Airport Parkway stations, and reach your terminal by bus or taxi from there. If you live too far to drive, outside the UK or in the Channel Islands, you can fly either to Southampton Airport, to Bournemouth Airport (about an hour’s drive along the coast), or to any of the London airports, and get a road or rail connection from there.

Depending on your cruise, it can take anywhere between one night and a week to reach your first port of call! Our short breaks across the English Channel call into ports the day after you set sail, so you can start exploring European towns as quickly as possible. Our Norway cruises often begin with a sea day, so you will reach your first port of call two nights after you sail. Our Mediterranean voyages are similar; you’re likely to have a sea day before your first port call in Portugal or Spain. If you are on a World Voyage you may have a few nights before your first stop, and Queen Mary 2’s Transatlantic Crossings have a full 7 nights at sea before calling in to New York. Browse our cruise itineraries to find the cruise that suits you best.

Southampton is home to five cruise terminals: Ocean, QEII, Horizon, Mayflower, and City. You will find out which one your cruise disembarks from in the days leading up to sailing, and it will be shown on your boarding pass, which you can print out from My Cunard after check-in.

All cruise terminals have parking nearby, plus taxi ranks, accessible boarding, toilets and waiting lounges with ample seating. Some terminals also have priority lounges for qualifying guests. Food and drinks are available from cafés, snack bars, and vending machines at all terminals.

Yes. You’ll find a café serving refreshments within the departure lounge of each cruise terminal in Southampton (Ocean, QEII, Mayflower, Horizon, and City).

As well as serving hot and cold drinks, including selected alcoholic options, each outlet also offers a selection of sandwiches, cakes, and snack foods. Vending machines are also available.

Booking your cruise early is the best way to secure your desired stateroom and at a reasonable price. Cruises go on sale 2-3 years in advance so you can plan your holidays in with minimal stress, with balances due 90 days before sailing. Take a look at our most recently launched cruises, and start planning!

Promotions and offers are launched throughout the year for varying duration; if you want to be among the first to learn about our offers, you can sign up to our mailing list.

Last-minute cruises are also a good way to save money on your cruise fare, however staterooms will be limited and you may not get the exact one you’d like. These cruises typically see reduced prices within a few weeks of sailing. You can browse and book our current Late Saver cruises via our cruise finder.

There are plenty of hotels and B&Bs in Southampton and the surrounding areas, should you wish to stay over for a night or two before your voyage. Current hotel examples, at the time of writing, include The Moxy, Holiday Inn, and Harbour Hotel.

You could also stay over in London, and spend some time taking in the highlights of the capital. If you'd like to arrange your hotel stay with Cunard, we can add on a Cunard hotel package in partnership with several London hotels. Simply call us to add one to your booking, or add one online when you book your cruise.

Southampton city centre is very close to the cruise terminals; depending on which berth your ship is at, it’s up to a half hour walk. Westquay Shopping Centre has a wide variety of eateries, including Italian, Greek, Japanese and burgers, to name but a few. A little further into town is the high street, also with several pubs and restaurants to choose from. Alternatively you can walk along the front towards the Red Funnel ferry terminal, where several restaurants and local pubs can be found in a historic, waterfront setting.

Southampton is famous for its ports, Medieval architecture, and maritime history. You can catch a glimpse into this past all around the city, from the walls that once separated Southampton from the Solent to buildings such as the Tudor House & Garden, Bargate, and the 13^th Century God’s House Tower. The oldest building still in use, however, is St Michael the Archangel Church, founded in 1070. You can find this on St Michael’s Square in the city’s Old Town.

Home to two universities, and one of the greenest cities on the South Coast, Southampton is also a thriving cultural hub. The SeaCity Museum, John Hansard Gallery, and Southampton City Art Gallery are just some of its top attractions for a culture fix. But if it’s nature you’re after, make a beeline for the city’s 300-acre Common. Just a short stroll from Southampton’s centre, this gargantuan park offers the opportunity to lose yourself among tall trees, lakes, and wild woodland. It’s a perfect way to escape the urban bustle.

The city is also known as a great place to eat, drink, and shop, with many brands, bars, and restaurants, many within or near WestQuay Shopping Centre. 

Surprisingly for a city on the South Coast of England, Southampton doesn’t have a beach.

Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, has a shingle beach that you can reach from Southampton using the high-speed Red Jet service, which takes around 25 minutes each way. It’s a pretty place to explore over a couple of hours, with some interesting shops as well as some nice cafés, bars, and restaurants.  

Alternatively, you can take a train to Bournemouth (approximately 50 minutes from Southampton Central railway station), where you’ll find several sand beaches, lined by a beachfront promenade that’s great for walking. 

Southampton is a great place to indulge in some retail therapy.

Many of the city’s shops can be found under one roof in its three-tier shopping mall, WestQuay as well as numerous restaurants located around the city centre, including pubs, and Italian, Greek, Asian, American, and Mexican eateries. Among the sleek glass and steel walkways here you’ll find a host of high-street brands, including the popular M&S and John Lewis, both of which also have an on-site café.

You’ll find a further selection of stores in Southampton’s pedestrianised shopping precinct, the Marlands shopping mall, and WestQuay retail park. There’s also an IKEA in the city centre, and gift shops within the city’s art galleries and museums. 

With a thriving shopping scene, a blend of galleries and museums, and no shortage of green spaces, Southampton is a great city to explore.

The city’s two art galleries, the John Hansard Gallery and City Art Gallery, are both free to enter and within a stone’s throw of one another in the Cultural Quarter. You also have the SeaCity Museum nearby, where you can discover Southampton’s Titanic story through a series of interactive exhibits.

In the Old City of Southampton, you’ll find the city’s famous Medieval walls and its most historic buildings. The Tudor House & Garden, the Medieval Merchant’s House, and St Michael’s Archangel Church, which dates back to 1070, are all located in this part of town.

Southampton is also home to a charming collection of historic pubs including the Duke of Wellington, the Red Lion, and the Dancing Man, which offers unique own-brand beers in a beautiful stone building that was at one time a working wool mill.

The Isle of Wight is also accessible in under half an hour by taking the Red Jet from Southampton to Cowes.