With lots of different options for Southampton cruise car parking, it can be difficult to know where to start looking. Equally, you want to know that you’ve chosen the right option for you, and to know that you’re guaranteed a parking space when you arrive!
That’s why I’ve put together this handy Southampton Cruise Terminal car parking guide, which will arm you with all the information you need to make the best decision for you.
For the busy reader, my top 3 choices for cruise parking at Southampton are:
| Car Park | Location | Transfers | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triangle Car Park | Adjacent to Ocean Cruise Terminal | Not needed for Ocean Cruise Terminal. Short taxi to other terminals | From £69 per week |
| AB Parking | Multiple locations | Adjacent to the cruise terminal | From £114 per week |
| West Quay Multi-Storey | Harbour Parade, SO15 1ST | 15 minute walk to most terminals. Taxi required for Mayflower or 30 minute walk | £5 per 24 hours |
Car Parks at Southampton Cruise Terminal
These options are perfect for those who don’t mind paying a little extra to be inside the cruise terminal area
Triangle Car Park
I can highly recommend Triangle car park. You need to book the car park in advance but it’s secure, you get to park your own car and keep your keys.
The only downside to Triangle car park is that it’s only walkable to Ocean Cruise Terminal, so if you’re departing from a different terminal, you’ll need to arrange for a taxi/Uber to take you.
AB Parking
AB Parking are the official car parking provider for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Fred Olsen, Norwegian, MSC, Saga and Disney cruise lines.
AB Parking operates on a booking basis, but you must be travelling with one of the cruise lines above or you cannot use this car park.
The best thing is you get to park your car yourself and keep your keys!
Valet Options
There are many benefits to valet parking. For one, you’re obviously not parking your car, which means you get to drive very close to where the ship is so there is no need for additional transportation.
A professional driver will help you get your bags out of your car, take some photos, and park it in a secure car park. We’ve used this service and found it to be quite slick, although there can be a bit of a wait if lots of people turn up at once.
My only concern with valet parking is that you’ve lost control of your vehicle, as someone else is parking it and holds your keys. We’ve never had an issue, but I’m always paranoid about coming back to a big scratch on my car!
CPS
Only passengers cruising with Cunard, P&O or Princess can book CPS parking at Southampton. I’ve only cruised with P&O from those three cruise lines, but if you book a Select rate and choose the car parking as your benefit, that is with CPS.
You’re given a barcoded receipt upon arrival, which you must keep with you, as this is scanned to find your car key when you pick your car up after the cruise.
Portside Meet and Greet
Portside Meet and Greet are a family run business in Southampton. You can book parking with them no matter what cruise line you’re departing with.
Note that Portside Meet and Greet have land on the outskirts of Southampton, so your car isn’t being driven to an adjacent car park. This may not be an issue for most people, but it’s worth bearing in mind.
Keys are not kept at the same location as your car, so you can be rest assured your car is safe while it’s there.
Car Parks at Hotels
There are many hotels that offer a cruise parking package when booking your stay with them. I have handpicked what I consider to be the top 3 based on personal experience, or from feedback from family, friends and strangers at the bar on board the ship!
The great thing about these packages is that you book your hotel stay with cruise parking, and it also includes transfers to/from the hotel. I have information like this and more on my Southampton hotel guide.
You also park your car yourself and keep your keys, which might save you a bit of time after disembarking.
Holiday Inn Express
The Holiday Inn Express has its own car park, and you can book a “Park, Stay, Cruise” package, which includes your hotel room, parking for up to 15 nights and return taxi for 2 adults.
Not only does this take out the hassle of booking separate parking for your cruise, it also covers the hassle of organising transport to the cruise terminal!
Leonardo Royal Hotel
The Leonardo Royal Hotel, which is on my recommended list of hotels in Southampton, has its own car park with 179 spaces available on a first come, first served basis.
The car park is charged at £14 per 24 hour period, which is quite expensive but very convenient if you’re staying at the hotel before or after your cruise.
As space is limited here during busier times of the season, it’s worth having a backup car park in mind. Luckily the Harbour Parade car park is adjacent to the hotel.
DoubleTree by Hilton
The DoubleTree by Hilton is a little further out of town at 4.5 miles away from Ocean Cruise Terminal.
However, it does have a big car park and when booking a room via purpleparking.com or justpark.com, you can add parking and transfers to your hotel stay.
The DoubleTree is located next to the M27 at the start of the M3, so getting to it is very straightforward. Plus, with it being further out of town but conveniently located next to the motorway, you won’t need to drive through the Southampton traffic yourself.
Prices for the hotel stay of course varies throughout the year and day of the week you’re staying, but a hotel stay with parking and transfers will cost approximately £200.
Other Car Parking Options
West Quay Multi-Storey
Honestly, if you’re just looking for a convenient, cheap parking option, then you’ll struggle to beat the West Quay Multi-Storey.
There are 2500 parking spaces available, and at just £5 per 24hr period, you can go on a week’s long cruise and park for £35!
The car park is pretty centrally located for all the cruise terminals but is closest to the Horizon Terminal, which is a 15 minute walk away. But grabbing a taxi or Uber will take less than 10 minutes (traffic permitting) to any terminal.
Driveway Rental
There are numerous websites where people list their driveways as being available to rent for a period of time. This can be a great solution if you’re looking to park somewhere off the road, with a little more privacy.
The concept is simple, you need somewhere to park your car, and the owner of a house is looking to make a little money. It’s mutually beneficial, especially if the owner of the house is looking for someone to park on their drive while they’re on holiday themselves.
The downside to this is you are likely to be parked further away from the cruise terminal than almost all the options on this list. That being said, if it’s cheaper to park on someone’s drive, then that offsets the extra taxi/Uber cost.
I’ve used these websites numerous times when looking for an inexpensive, convenient solution for parking, including concerts and airports. I’ve never used them for a cruise, however, so I can’t comment on the options for Southampton driveway rentals.
The driveway rental websites I recommend are: