Southampton Cruise Terminals from Poole & Bournemouth
Which Southampton cruise terminal is yours? Dock gates, postcodes, timings and luggage tips for cruisers from Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch.
Sailing from Southampton is one of the easy trips from Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch. There is no long haul up to London, just the A31 and M27 along the edge of the New Forest. What catches people out is not the drive. It is the terminal. Southampton has five cruise terminals across two separate docks, and each one has its own dock gate and its own postcode. Here is what to know before you go, so your holiday starts on the quay, not at the wrong gate.
Southampton's five cruise terminals at a glance
The port is split into the Eastern Docks, by Ocean Village at the bottom of the city, and the Western Docks, which run west along the River Test. Your terminal is printed on your cruise documents or e-ticket. If it isn't, ABP, which runs the port, publishes a cruise ship schedule for Southampton showing each ship and its berth.
| Terminal | Berth | Dock | Car entry | Satnav postcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Cruise Terminal | 46/47 | Eastern Docks | Dock Gate 4 | SO14 3QN |
| QEII Cruise Terminal | 38/39 | Eastern Docks | Dock Gate 4 | SO14 3GG |
| City Cruise Terminal | 101 | Western Docks | Dock Gate 8 | SO15 1HJ |
| Horizon Cruise Terminal | 102 | Western Docks | Dock Gate 10 | SO15 1AW |
| Mayflower Cruise Terminal | 106 | Western Docks | Dock Gate 20 (or 10) | SO15 0GN |
Berths, gates and postcodes are taken from ABP's passenger directions for each terminal, checked on 7 October 2026.
Why the terminal on your ticket matters
Two terminals can share a gate and still be a fair way apart. The Ocean terminal is just past the barrier at Dock Gate 4, while the QEII terminal is about a mile further along Test Road. On the Western Docks, Mayflower is about a mile inside Dock Gate 10. A satnav set to "Southampton Docks" can easily send you to the wrong side of the city.
So when you book, give us the terminal, not just "Southampton". Private hire cars can drop off directly outside each cruise terminal, so we take you to the terminal door and help you with the cases to the porters. It is worth checking your documents again a day or two before you sail, in case the berth has changed.
How long from Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch?
On a clear run it is about 45 minutes to an hour from BCP to the port, along the A31 and M27. Christchurch, Highcliffe and Mudeford are a little closer than Poole and Sandbanks, simply because they start further east.
The bigger variable is the port itself. On a busy embarkation day, when several large ships turn around at once, traffic builds on the approach roads and at the dock gates. We check the sailing day when you book and build the extra time into your pickup, and your confirmation shows the recommended pickup time.
Coming from Studland or Swanage this winter? The Sandbanks Ferry is out of service for its refit from 2 November for about seven weeks, so journeys from the Purbeck side go round via Wareham. Allow for that if you sail in November or December.
Timing: work back from your boarding window
Cruise lines give each cabin an arrival slot, sometimes called a boarding or check-in window, to spread passengers across the day. Arriving hours early rarely helps. Visit Southampton's passenger guidance warns that you may not be able to board straight away if you turn up early. The terminals have toilets, baby-changing and vending machines, but no other refreshment outlets, so a long wait is not much fun.
Tell us your slot when you book and we plan the pickup backwards from it: drive time, a margin for embarkation-day traffic, and time to unload at the kerb. You arrive in your window, not too early and not in a rush.
Luggage: choose the car by the cases
Cruise luggage is bigger than airport luggage: formal wear, evening shoes and often two weeks of clothes. Our cars take:
- Estate car: up to 3 passengers, 3 suitcases and 3 cabin bags.
- Small MPV: up to 4 passengers, 4 suitcases and 4 cabin bags.
- Large MPV or Mercedes V-Class: up to 7 passengers, 7 suitcases and 7 cabin bags.
Two people with two large cases each usually need a Small MPV or bigger. If you are not sure, tell us what you are packing and we will send the right car. You can see every vehicle on our fleet page. Travelling with children? Child seats are fitted free; see our family transfers page.
Fixed fares to Southampton's cruise terminals
Our fares to any of the five Southampton cruise terminals are fixed before you travel, with parking and drop-off charges included:
| Vehicle | Passengers | One way from BCP |
|---|---|---|
| Estate Car | 3 | from £90 |
| Executive Estate | 3 | from £100 |
| Small MPV | 4 | from £100 |
| Large MPV | 7 | from £125 |
| Mercedes V-Class | 7 | from £150 |
Fares from our published price list, checked on 7 October 2026, for pickups in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne, Highcliffe and Ferndown.
Port parking is charged for every day you are away, so on a week or a fortnight at sea a return transfer often compares well, especially split between two or more people. And on the way home there is no car park shuttle to wait for.
Coming home: disembarkation day
Book the return when you book the outbound. Give us the ship, the terminal and the date you dock. Ships usually come in early in the morning and passengers leave in groups through the morning, so once the ship gives you your disembarkation time, send it to us and your driver will be at the terminal when you come off. You walk out with your cases to a car that is already there, and head home to Poole, Bournemouth or Christchurch.
Sailing over Christmas or New Year?
If your cruise leaves or returns over the festive season, book the transfer early. On the main holiday dates a 50% holiday supplement applies to the journey fare: from 6pm on Christmas Eve, on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and from 6pm on New Year's Eve until 12 noon on New Year's Day. It is worked out on the fare before airport parking and drop-off charges, so those charges are not increased. Your full price is shown and fixed when you book. Our Christmas and New Year guide has the dates.
Flying in before the cruise?
If you are flying into Southampton, Bournemouth or a London airport before you sail, we can meet your flight and take you straight to the ship. Ask us for a quote. Our Southampton Airport page has the airport details, and our cruise transfers page covers Portsmouth, Dover, Tilbury and Bristol as well.
FAQs
Which Southampton cruise terminal am I sailing from?
It is on your cruise documents or e-ticket. Southampton has five: Ocean and QEII on the Eastern Docks, and City, Horizon and Mayflower on the Western Docks. ABP's cruise ship schedule also lists each ship's berth.
How long is the drive from Bournemouth to Southampton cruise terminal?
About 45 minutes to an hour on a clear run, along the A31 and M27. Busy embarkation days can add time around the port, and we build that into your pickup time.
How much is a taxi from Poole to Southampton cruise port?
Our fixed fare starts from £90 one way in an estate car, from Poole, Bournemouth or Christchurch to any of the five terminals. Parking and drop-off charges are included.
Can you drop us right outside the cruise terminal?
Yes. Private hire cars can drop off directly outside each Southampton cruise terminal, so we take you to the door of the terminal on your ticket.
Do you collect from Sandbanks, Highcliffe and the villages?
Yes. We pick up across BCP, including Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Sandbanks and Highcliffe, plus Wimborne and Ferndown.
Can we book the return for when the ship docks?
Yes. Book both legs together and tell us the ship and terminal. Send us your disembarkation time once you have it and your driver will be waiting.
Book your cruise transfer
Book now and add your ship, terminal and boarding window, or call 01202 028334. You can also message us on WhatsApp on 07346 811882 or email hello@sandbanks.taxi. For more on cruising from Dorset, read our guide to cruise transfers from Dorset.