How early can we disembark the Disney Dream from Southampton?

[BBID]

Hi all,

We are first time Disney Cruisers. We have booked this Summer to set off from Southampton. I was wondering from those who have been on the Disney Cruise from Southampton, do you recall what time the ship had clearance for passengers to disembark.

We intend to carry our luggage off the ship. I'm looking at a flight at 9.40am from Southampton Airport but I am not sure if this is too tight even if I have heard Southampton airport is very quick to go through security. We don't have any luggage to check in at the airport.

Just wanted to get an idea if the earliest we can disembark is 8am or has anyone had any experience of disembarking earlier and if so, what time was your ship cleared by the port authorities for passengers to get off.

Thank you, in advance!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Hi all,

We are first time Disney Cruisers. We have booked this Summer to set off from Southampton. I was wondering from those who have been on the Disney Cruise from Southampton, do you recall what time the ship had clearance for passengers to disembark.

We intend to carry our luggage off the ship. I'm looking at a flight at 9.40am from Southampton Airport but I am not sure if this is too tight even if I have heard Southampton airport is very quick to go through security. We don't have any luggage to check in at the airport.

Just wanted to get an idea if the earliest we can disembark is 8am or has anyone had any experience of disembarking earlier and if so, what time was your ship cleared by the port authorities for passengers to get off.

Thank you, in advance!

It is always recommended you book a flight at noon or later, regardless of how close the airport is to the cruise terminal. Possibly 11:00AM but even that is not recommended. There is no guarantee that you will get to your flight on time if you select a 9:40AM flight. If there are any delays at all with the ship allowing guests off the ship, you could miss your flight.

 

[RedHead0186]

The time that guests will be able to disembark relies on several factors: getting into the pier, getting the ship cleared by local authorities, etc. So past performance is not always an indicator of what will happen in the future.

9:40am seems really early, for any airport. Even if everything goes right that's tight, and if something goes even a little bit wrong, you could be in trouble.

DCL does recommend flight times for disembarkation. It looks like the Southampton ones are for LHR, which wont' totally help you, but might give you an idea: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/ground-transportation/

 

[Mommb]

If all goes well, you might be able to make a 9:40 flight but the question isn’t whether it’s possible but whether it is very likely. Even if debarkation begins at 8 am, there could be a significant wait to exit the ship and to reach your transportation to the airport.

Disney recommends 11 am for the earliest flight departing from Fort Lauderdale, where the airport is similarly close to the cruise terminal, so I would use that as the absolute earliest reasonable flight time in Southampton.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I was on a DCL cruise from Southampton in 2023 and I also flew from Southampton airport.

They started express walk off around 7.30am on my cruise. If you are in the atrium and at the front of the line, you should be walking off the ship by 8am.

However, thats not the only issue.

Southampton is a major cruise port. Last year when I was getting off the ship there were 5 other ships in port. This caused a huge demand on local transport. I didnt book a taxi and just joined the taxi queue. I was waiting about 30 minutes for a taxi. I was fine, I was flexible with my plans that day, but some people in line with me missed their train.

Southampton airport is about a 20 minute drive from the cruise port. While it is a small airport, they still recommend arriving 2 hours before a flight, as you need to check in.

For a 9.40am flight, you should be arriving at the airport the latest 8am the latest.

To arrive at the airport for 8am you need to be getting in a taxi at 7.30am.

You have to walk from the ship atrium, through the gangway, into the terminal building and then out to the taxi pick up area. Its at least a 10 minute walk, depending on how many people are ahead of you and how fast you walk.

Its very doubtful you would be off the ship and in a taxi at 7.30am.

 

[elsawasajedi]

Southampton is not port Canaveral- it is not organized. we were cleared to get off probably around 730 but the transport sat a half hr/20 mins. we didn't get to the airport until at least 930-10am and heathrow is a large, large airport.

absolutely do not book a 940am.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Southampton is not port Canaveral- it is not organized. we were cleared to get off probably around 730 but the transport sat a half hr/20 mins. we didn't get to the airport until at least 930-10am and heathrow is a large, large airport.

absolutely do not book a 940am.

The OP said Southampton airport, which is not Heathrow. Southampton airport is a small regional airport located about 20 minutes drive from Southampton cruise port. Heathrow is the big international airport located near London about 2 hours drive from Southampton cruise port.

Also it depends on what transport the OP intends to take. Local taxis for local journeys, like to Southampton airport can be pre booked or you can wait in the standby taxi queue.

You can also walk to Southampton train station from the cruise port and take the train to Southampton airport.

 

[BBID]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

After further thought I think I will try and catch a flight back from Bristol airport. The train is still early but the flight is not till after noon. I'm travelling with two young children so was not overly keen to change around on trains to Gatwick or Heathrow. Seems like a direct train to Bristol from Southampton then a 18 mins journey by taxi to the airport.

Will probably still carry my own luggage off the ship and pre-book a taxi to the train station. Hopefully that will be a less stressful trip back after the cruise

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

After further thought I think I will try and catch a flight back from Bristol airport. The train is still early but the flight is not till after noon. I'm travelling with two young children so was not overly keen to change around on trains to Gatwick or Heathrow. Seems like a direct train to Bristol from Southampton then a 18 mins journey by taxi to the airport.

Will probably still carry my own luggage off the ship and pre-book a taxi to the train station. Hopefully that will be a less stressful trip back after the cruise

Before you commit to the train, make sure you are aware of strike days. There are still ongoing train strikes on UK rail network. I have signed up to https://www.southwesternrailway.com/ and get monthly emails about strikes and disruptions.

There is no direct bus to Bristol if there is a strike on your travel day.

National Express bus go from Southampton bus station to Heathrow, then you have to change buses to go to Bristol.

 

[BBID]

Bad Pink Tink 2.0, thank you for that tip, I will sign on for updates as well just in case.