Coach and Minibus Hire in the United Kingdom

Coach transfers to and from cruise ports

Cruise transfers turn on one time: the arrival slot the cruise line gives your group. Work back from it to the airport, hotel or station, and allow for the long road legs that most British ports involve.

Southampton: name the terminal

Southampton has five cruise terminals in two docks, and each has its own coach bays. The dock gate depends on the terminal: Gate 4 for Ocean and QEII, Gate 10 for City and Horizon, Gate 20 for Mayflower. Put the terminal on the booking, not just the port.

Heathrow to the port is about 68 miles, usually between an hour and a quarter and an hour and a half. A coach collecting a group from a Heathrow forecourt needs a permit and slot booked through the West Ramp Coach Park. For a flight landing on sailing day, allow for immigration and baggage before promising a boarding time.

Setra high-capacity coach, exterior
Setra high-capacity coach, exterior

The other ports

Dover's two cruise terminals are about 75-80 miles by road from central London; Gatwick is about 80 miles away. Liverpool's landing stage is in the city centre, about 9 miles from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, and the port asks groups to arrive at their embarkation time, not before.

At the Port of Tyne in North Shields, coaches drop off at the terminal entrance, about 8-9 miles east of Newcastle city centre. Greenock Ocean Terminal is about 14 miles from Glasgow Airport.

Rules that apply

  • Southampton's five cruise terminals all have dedicated coach bays, from 18 at QEII to 28 at Mayflower
  • Dover's Cruise Terminals 1 and 2 have taxi ranks outside and are about 75-80 miles by road from central London
  • Greenock Ocean Terminal is a 3-minute walk from the town centre, with trains to Glasgow Central in about 35-40 minutes

Collecting from the ship

Disembarkation takes longer than people expect. Book the coach for the time the cruise line gives your group, and keep passengers together until everyone has their luggage.

Questions

How early should we reach the port?

At the time the cruise line allocates. Liverpool's port suggests 2 to 3 hours before departure. Turning up well before your slot can mean queuing outside.

Can one coach do an airport pickup and a port drop on the same day?

Yes, if the times fit. The coach waits for the group at the airport, then drives straight to the terminal.

Will all the luggage fit?

Cruise cases are bulky. A full-size coach has underfloor lockers. In a minibus, a full group with cruise luggage may need a larger vehicle, so give the number of cases when you ask for a quote.

Cities

Vehicles