Portsmouth port has long been an established and well known maritime location and an increasing number of cruise lines are choosing to depart from there.
It is also the second busiest channel ferry port in the UK and has frequent services to Le Havre, Cherbourg and St Malo in France, The Channel Islands and also the Isle of Wight.
However it is an exciting place in its own right and if you are considering a cruise from Portsmouth then it might be a good idea to check out the city before you go.
Getting to the port is easy enough and there is car parking facilities right next to the terminal. If you are leaving from London by car then take the M3 or A3, from the South West take the A31, West Midlands the M3 or A34 and Bristol and south Wales the A36.
These all lead to the M275 which will take you straight to the port or you can even get a train directly from London Victoria or Waterloo (which will take around 85 minutes) or even Cardiff if you are leaving from Wales.
Many people tend to travel down to their departure point on the day that they are due to board the ship however by leaving earlier and staying in the city then you take a lot of the stress out of your holiday plus of course as mentioned above you can see what goes on in this city.
Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth!
Indeed, the city has many attractions that can keep you occupied before you leave on your cruise. The HMS Victory is housed here and for anyone who doesn’t already know its rich history it was used by Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Something that not many people know is that legendary Victorian author Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth and his birth house is still there complete with museum so this is definitely something to look into if you are staying in Portsmouth.
With such a buzz associated with Portsmouth these days the Gunwharf Quays was built to try and capitalise on the trendiness of the area. The complex features around 30 bars, a multiplex cinema as well as bowling and is a good way to pass the time before you embark on your cruise.
The port itself has all the usual amenities present including bars and cafés, Wi-Fi spots, baby changing facilities, shops and a recently installed Bureau de Change if you need to change currency whilst there.
Cruise lines with itineraries departing from Portsmouth include Swan Hellenic, Hebridean Island Cruises, Voyages of Discovery and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.
