Our pre-cruise time in London is over, so we’ll leave our hotel and head to London Waterloo station to take a direct train to Southampton where we’ll board our cruise ship, Regal Princess, and start our 12-night cruise.

Watch the full video here: British Isles Cruise – Ep. 4: Pros & Cons! London to Southampton train to board our Princess cruise

Hotel Review

Hilton DoubleTree Tower of London

We stayed here for four nights and had a generally good experience:

• The Pros: The location is unbeatable—right by the Tower of London, Underground station, and the hop-on-hop-off bus. The room was a “nice basic room” with a mini-fridge and a good-sized bathroom.
• The Cons: We were initially placed in a room under heavy construction. The communication from staff was poor, taking over 90 minutes to resolve the issue.
• The Verdict: Despite the initial hiccup, we would stay here again due to the convenience and comfort once the room was settled.

The Great Train Debate

London to Southampton

Many travelers opt for expensive private transfers, but we wanted to test the train from Waterloo Station to Southampton Central.

• Cost Savings: The train cost about a quarter of the price of a private car.
• Logistics:
  • Getting to the Train: We took a London Black Cab from the hotel to Waterloo for roughly the same price as an Uber. We’ve heard taking the Underground with large luggage is very difficult.
  • Waiting Game: At Waterloo (which is quite large), platforms aren’t announced until shortly before departure, which can be nerve-wracking for “newbies”.
• Onboard Experience:
  • Luggage: Standard racks only fit carry-on sizes, so we were directed by train staff to put our luggage on the seats next to us. If possible, we recommend trying to find the specific seats with extra floor space if you have large suitcases.
  • Ride: It’s a 90-minute direct journey. Note: The train sways significantly, which caused Kari some motion sickness.

Verdict: If you are comfortable managing your own bags, the train is a fantastic way to save money for your cruise budget!

It’s Time to Cruise!

Boarding at Southampton

Upon the train arriving at Southampton Central, we took a short, inexpensive taxi ride to the Ocean Cruise Terminal.

• Luggage Drop-off: This was the most efficient system we’ve seen. Luggage is placed directly onto a secure conveyor belt after a quick tag check.
• The Green Lane: Because we had Princess Medallions shipped to our home in advance, we used the “Green Lane” for quick check-in, which took only a couple of minutes.
• First Steps Onboard: After boarding the Regal Princess, we immediately headed to the pool deck and then to lunch. We then completed the mandatory Muster Drill—a task we urge everyone to finish early to avoid being the “slacker” called over the loudspeaker!

What’s Next?

We’ll cruise the British Isles over 12-nights, stopping in several great ports and enjoying the wonderful Regal Princess cruise ship!

Video: