London to Southampton**Transportation and lodging on
 

WE will be sailing on the Royal Princess Sept. 3. WE are going over to the UK a couple of days early to visit with my husband's sister. What is the best mode of transportation from London to Southampton?<BR>Also, how close is the Holiday Inn on Herbert Walker to the cruise ship dock?<BR>The rate on that was $144 taxes included.<BR>Thanks!!!

I just returned from sailing the Royal Princess from Southampton. Our cruise was delayed one day because of a medical evacuation on the previous cruise, so Princess put us all up in London and bused us over. However, frequent train service is available from Waterloo station in London.

Hi Croozinsuz,<BR>A good mode of transport is the train. London Waterloo to Southampton Central takes 1 hr 15 minutes, from there it's a short drive to the docks. The Holiday Inn isn't far at all from the docks. All hotels in Southampton are only a 5 min drive away. Not sure about the Herbert Walker, though there is a nice hotel: Grand Harbour Hotel (De Vere). If you don't want to take the train, there's always the National Express coaches. They go straight from the London airports and will take you to Southampton. I'd allow a 2-3 hrs to be on the safe side - the M25 motorway can be a pain

I agree with previous posters, the train is the way to go. From the station it is a very short taxi ride to the Holiday Inn which is the nearest hotel to the cruise ships dock entrance. BTW the De Vere is just over the road from the Holiday Inn

Thanks to your great information we have booked the Holiday Inn on Herbert Walker. And with the money that we saved taking the bus we are able to stay right at the dock area.<BR>Thank you all SO MUCH!!