Facts checked October 2026 against operator sources. Prices and times change, the booking page wins.
The first purpose-built new cruise terminal in Southampton for 40 years, and the closest to Town Quay and the Red Funnel ferries.
Address and how to find it
Ocean Cruise Terminal, Berth 46/47, Cunard Road, Southampton SO14 3QN. Enter Dock Gate 4, take the third exit at the first roundabout, 100 yards then left. On foot: 0.2 miles from Dock Gate 4, 4 minutes. Bus: Platform Tavern and NOCS stops about 0.3 miles away; Town Quay (QuayConnect) 0.4 miles.
Opened
9 May 2009, built for £19m under a 20-year ABP and Carnival UK agreement; designed for 4,000 passengers a day.
Cruise lines
P&O (Britannia, Iona, Arvia), AIDA (AIDAperla, AIDAprima), Princess on some calls. Assignments are not fixed, so trust the terminal named in your boarding documents.
Getting here on embarkation day
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton Central | Taxi from the rank (south exit) or walk | 1.5 miles, about 30 minutes on foot, 5 minutes by taxi |
| Southampton Airport | Taxi, or train to Southampton Central (7-16 minutes) then taxi | about 20 minutes, 4.6 miles |
| Heathrow | Pre-booked car via M3, or National Express route 032 to the coach station then taxi | 1 h 25 by car; 1 h 25 to 1 h 50 by coach |
| Gatwick | Pre-booked car, or train via Clapham Junction to Southampton Central | 1 h 45 by car; about 2 h by train |
| London Waterloo | South Western Railway to Southampton Central, then taxi | 1 h 12 to 2 h by train |
Parking
CPS on site; the Triangle car park on Cunard Road (270 spaces, park and ride or valet) is next door. Every terminal has a short-stop drop-off lane at the entrance for unloading luggage. See cruise parking in Southampton for prices and the off-site alternatives.
Next step: get to the terminal without the queue
Pre-booked cars meet you at Heathrow, Gatwick or Southampton Central and drive straight to Ocean Cruise Terminal. Prices are fixed when you book, drivers track the flight, and the car waits if you are late. Taxis from the rank at Southampton Central cost around £10 and take 5-10 minutes.
Port transfers: KiwitaxiCompare drivers: GetTransferSleep near the port the night before
Most ships board between 11:00 and 15:00. A hotel within a mile of the docks turns embarkation day into a short taxi ride, and several of them sell park-and-cruise packages with parking for the length of the voyage.
Hotels near the terminals: Booking.comHostels and budget rooms: HostelworldWalking distances and drive times are from ABP's passenger directions dated July 2025; line assignments from the ABP provisional schedule for October 2026 to January 2027.
What is nearby
Straight-line distances from the terminal building.