Published 5 November 2026 | Updated 5 November 2026 by Kate Acaster
Southampton cruise parking is booked through one of two firms, and your ship’s operator decides which. P&O, Cunard and Princess passengers use CPS, a valet service that P&O says costs £9.50 to £20 a day, depending on the length of the sailing. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Fred. Olsen, Norwegian, MSC and Saga passengers book with ABParking, which Associated British Ports (ABP) runs. CPS needs at least 35 days’ notice.
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Southampton cruise parking: who books it for your ship
ABP runs the port of Southampton and says its five terminals handle more than 500 ship calls and 3 million passengers a year. Parking is split by ship operator, so check the table before you search for a space.
| Provider | Cruise lines | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| CPS | P&O Cruises, Cunard, Princess | Valet only. You hand over the keys at the terminal. |
| ABParking | Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Fred. Olsen, Norwegian, MSC, Saga | You park in a port car park and keep your keys. |
CPS stands for Cruise and Passenger Services. ABParking says it does not operate parking for P&O, Cunard or Princess, so those passengers should contact CPS on 0345 071 3939. If your line isn’t on either list, ask it which provider to use before you book anything.
CPS valet parking for P&O and Cunard: how it works
CPS is valet parking. You don’t drive into a car park. You arrive at your terminal and are sent to a drop-off lane to unload your bags. Porters help if you need them. You then check the car in and hand over the keys, and a driver takes it to a secure long-stay car park until you’re back.
P&O says prices run from £9.50 to £20 a day, depending on the length of the sailing. Book at least 35 days before departure. You can reserve a space from 72 hours after you book your cruise. P&O recommends booking as early as possible, and Cunard warns that availability isn’t guaranteed. On P&O’s Select Price fare you can choose parking as your benefit, included on round trips of seven nights or more. Cunard lists complimentary spaces as an optional Cunard Fare benefit, subject to availability. On P&O, Saver and Early Saver fares don’t include it.
On your return, collect your bags, clear customs and go to the key collection point. Marshals then point you to the car. See P&O’s parking help article, its car parking page and Cunard’s parking page for the full rules.
“P&O publishes only a range and sends you to CPS for the exact price. It depends on how long you sail, which means a week away and a fortnight away won’t cost the same per day. I’d ring CPS with your exact dates three days after you book your sailing, because that’s when you can first reserve a space.”
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
A car towing a trailer needs two spaces and is charged for both. If your cruise returns to a different terminal from the one you left, CPS moves the car for you, except for wheelchair accessible vehicles that the driver operates from a wheelchair. For those, CPS arranges an assistance taxi instead. CPS doesn’t offer free parking to Blue Badge holders. Anyone with mobility needs is sent to a mobility receiving lane.
ABParking for MSC, Royal Caribbean and other lines
ABParking is a different model. You drive into a car park inside the port estate, walk to the terminal and keep your keys for the whole cruise. The firm says the walk takes two to three minutes, that every car park is locked and patrolled, and that all of them hold the Park Mark Safer Parking Award. Its own page places the car parks at the Horizon and City terminals, so ask about the walk if you sail from Ocean or Mayflower. Prices depend on your dates, so see ABParking for a quote.
ABParking: check your ship and date before you book
Up to five cruise ships can arrive at Southampton on the same day, and ABParking warns that booking for the wrong ship or date can get you turned away at the gate. Blue Badge spaces are separate and must be booked in advance. ABParking says it refunds in full if your sailing is cancelled or you can’t travel, with the money back in three to five working days.
Southampton cruise terminals and dock gates
The port has five terminals, two in the Eastern Docks and three in the Western Docks. Your cruise line tells you which terminal and what arrival time before you travel, and the terminal can change. Visit Southampton advises checking at least 24 hours before sailing. ABP says its security team may check passengers at the port entrance, so keep your documents to hand. The table shows each gate and the walk from Southampton Central, according to ABP. Pedestrians use Dock Gate 10 for all three Western Docks terminals.
| Terminal | Dock gate | Walk from Southampton Central |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean | Gate 4 (Eastern Docks) | About 30 minutes |
| Queen Elizabeth II | Gate 4 (Eastern Docks) | Take a taxi |
| City | Gate 10 (Western Docks) | About 15 minutes |
| Horizon | Gate 10 (Western Docks) | About 15 minutes |
| Mayflower | Gate 10 from the A33, Gate 20 from the M271 (Western Docks) | About 30 minutes |
From the A33 West Quay Road, follow signs for Dock Gate 10. For Horizon, ABP says to turn right at the roundabout after the gate. For City, turn left after the gate. For Mayflower from the A33, turn right at the roundabout and follow the signs. From the M271 and Redbridge Road, use Dock Gate 20, a two-mile drive through the docks. For Ocean and Queen Elizabeth II, follow the A33 Platform Road to Dock Gate 4, where a manned gate directs you.
Southampton cruise terminal drop-off
Each terminal has a passenger drop-off area and a short-stay car park, according to the port. It says long-stay parking must be booked in advance, and it doesn’t publish a short-stay price. ABP says the bag drop area is outside the terminal. Once your bags are handed over, you go inside to check in and clear security. The port asks you to arrive at your allocated time. If you’re early, P&O says you can drop your luggage from midday and come back at your arrival time.
Getting there without a car
Southampton Central is the nearest mainline station, and taxis wait on both sides of it. ABP gives walking times of about 15 minutes to City and Horizon and about 30 minutes to Mayflower and Ocean, and advises a taxi for Queen Elizabeth II. Its Ocean page adds a free bus from the station to Town Quay, then a 15 to 20 minute walk. Visit Southampton says a taxi from the station to the port usually takes under 10 minutes. If you’d rather pre-book a car, read our guide on whether you need to book an airport transfer in advance.
Flying in: Southampton Airport, Heathrow and Gatwick
Southampton Airport is about five miles from the port, and trains run from Southampton Airport Parkway station to Central. ABP says Heathrow and Gatwick are just over an hour away. Our Gatwick terminals guide covers getting in and out of that airport.
More cruise guides
If your cruise includes a flight, read our P&O fly-cruise check-in guide. New to cruising? Our first-time cruise tips from a cabin attendant cover life on board. Leaving a car for a flight rather than a ship? See our guide to how far ahead to book airport parking. Terminals, gates, prices and rules come from ABP, ABParking, P&O, Cunard and Visit Southampton, checked on 5 November 2026. The port’s pages for Horizon, Mayflower, Ocean and City give each terminal’s directions. Operators can change terminals and car-park terms, so confirm both with yours.
Southampton cruise parking FAQs
How much is cruise parking at Southampton?
P&O says its CPS valet parking costs £9.50 to £20 a day, depending on the length of the sailing. ABParking quotes prices by date when you book.
Can I park at the cruise terminal without booking?
Not for the length of a cruise. The port says long-stay parking at every terminal must be booked in advance. Each terminal has a short-stay car park and a drop-off area, but the port doesn’t publish a short-stay price.
Which firm do I book Southampton cruise parking with?
It depends on your cruise line. P&O, Cunard and Princess passengers book with CPS, and Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Fred. Olsen, Norwegian, MSC and Saga passengers book with ABParking.
How far ahead must I book with P&O or Cunard?
At least 35 days before departure, through CPS. You can reserve a space from 72 hours after you book your sailing, and you must confirm it with CPS at least 35 days before departure.
Which Southampton cruise terminal is my ship at?
The operator tells you, and it can change. Visit Southampton advises checking at least 24 hours before sailing.
Can someone drop me at the Southampton cruise terminal?
Yes. Each terminal has a passenger drop-off area, and the bag drop is outside the terminal. Use Dock Gate 4 for Ocean and Queen Elizabeth II, Dock Gate 10 for City and Horizon, and Dock Gate 10 or 20 for Mayflower, depending on your route.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
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