Southampton has five cruise terminals. From west to east: Mayflower (Berth 106), Horizon (Berth 102), City (Berth 101), Ocean (Berth 46) and QEII (Berths 38/39). Cruise lines are not permanently assigned to specific terminals. The only reliable way to confirm which terminal your ship uses is the berth number printed on your cruise documents or e-ticket.
The terminal names sound logical; the berth numbers don’t follow any obvious sequence; and last year’s experience may not apply this year. The table below gives the current picture. The section after it explains the one thing that matters more than any of it.
The five terminals at a glance
| Terminal | Berth | Dock gate | Docks area | Typical users |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayflower | 106 | Gate 10 | Western Docks | P&O, Princess, Cunard |
| Horizon | 102 | Gate 20 | Western Docks | MSC, Norwegian |
| City | 101 | Gate 20 | Western Docks | Celebrity, Fred. Olsen |
| Ocean | 46/47 | Gate 4 | Eastern Docks | P&O (Iona/Arvia), Cunard, Princess |
| QEII | 38/39 | Gate 4 | Eastern Docks | Cunard (QM2), Princess, P&O, Saga, Marella, boutique lines |
All five terminals are operated by Associated British Ports (ABP). Each can accommodate one cruise ship at a time. If a cruise line has two ships in port on the same day, they will dock at two different terminals.
The terminals, one by one
Mayflower Terminal: Berth 106, Dock Gate 10
Address: Berth 106, Dock Gate 10, Herbert Walker Avenue, Southampton, SO15 1HJ
Located in the Western Docks, one of the port’s most regularly used terminals. Refurbished with modern check-in counters and ample short-stay parking directly opposite the building.
Typical users: P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Cunard.
Horizon Terminal: Berth 102, Dock Gate 20
Address: Berth 102, Dock Gate 20, Southampton, SO15 1AW
The newest of the five terminals, opened 2019. Modern check-in halls, good passenger flow, covered parking nearby.
Typical users: MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line.
City Cruise Terminal: Berth 101, Dock Gate 20
Address: Berth 101, Western Docks, Southampton, SO15 1BS
Closest of the five terminals to Southampton city centre. Handles large ships with efficient embarkation and disembarkation. Shares Dock Gate 20 with the Horizon Terminal.
Typical users: Celebrity Cruises, Fred. Olsen.
Ocean Cruise Terminal: Berth 46/47
Address: Berth 46, Cunard Road, Southampton, SO14 3QN
Located in the Eastern Docks, identifiable by its distinctive wave-shaped roof. Designed for some of the world’s largest cruise ships. P&O uses this terminal frequently alongside Mayflower, and on days when P&O has two ships in port, you’ll find one at each.
Typical users: P&O Cruises (Iona, Arvia), Cunard and Princess.
QEII Cruise Terminal: Berths 38/39, Dock Gate 4
Address: Berths 38/39, Dock Gate 4, Southampton, SO14 3GG
The historic home of Cunard and the terminal used for transatlantic crossings on Queen Mary 2. Also used by Fred. Olsen, Saga and smaller boutique lines. Located in the Eastern Docks alongside the Ocean Terminal. Both are accessed via Dock Gate 4.
Typical users: Cunard, Princess, P&O, Fred. Olsen, Saga Ocean Cruises, Marella, boutique expedition lines.
The one thing that matters more than any list
Cruise lines are not permanently tied to specific terminals. P&O sails from both Mayflower and Ocean on different sailings. Cunard uses QEII but occasionally moves to other terminals. MSC has used City, Horizon and others depending on the schedule.
Terminal assignments can also change in the weeks before departure. Your paper booking documents may show one terminal; the e-ticket sent closer to departure may show another.
The only reliable source is the berth number on your final e-ticket or your cruise line’s app. When you arrive in Southampton, electronic signs at each dock gate display the ship name and terminal. If you’re unsure, follow the signs for your ship name rather than the terminal name.
For real-time terminal information on the day, the ABP MyPort app shows which berth each ship is using and updates if assignments change at short notice. Worth downloading before you travel.
Western Docks vs Eastern Docks: why it matters
Getting the docks area wrong can add 20-30 minutes to your journey. The two areas are on opposite sides of the port and are not connected internally.
- Western Docks (Mayflower, Horizon, City): accessed from Dock Gate 10 (Mayflower) or Dock Gate 20 (Horizon and City). Follow signs from the M271 or A3024 into Southampton.
- Eastern Docks (Ocean, QEII): accessed from Dock Gate 4. Follow signs for Eastern Docks from the A33 into the city.
Electronic signs on the approaches to Southampton will confirm which terminal your ship is at. If you’re being dropped off by taxi or transfer, give the driver your ship name as well as the terminal name. Experienced Southampton drivers navigate by ship name rather than terminal number.
Parking at each terminal
All five terminals have dedicated cruise parking, operated by ABP and pre-bookable online. Prices are broadly similar across terminals but vary by season. Pre-booking is consistently cheaper than turning up on the day, and spaces at popular terminals sell out weeks ahead in peak season.
For a detailed comparison of parking options, prices and off-site alternatives, see our guide to parking at Southampton cruise port.
Getting to each terminal
For detailed transfer options from Southampton train station, airports and London, our guide to getting to Southampton cruise port covers all the options. For the train station specifically, see our guide to getting from Southampton train station to your ship.
One point worth noting: the taxi fare between the Western and Eastern Docks is around £10-15 and 10-15 minutes. If you’ve been dropped at the wrong docks area, a taxi across is faster than any alternative.
What to expect inside the terminals
All five terminals share the same basic setup: check-in desks, luggage drop zones, security screening and a Ceano’s café. The newer terminals (Horizon especially) feel more modern; QEII is the most historic and the most associated with the Cunard transatlantic experience. The differences are cosmetic. The process is the same at all five.
Common Questions
How do I find out which terminal my ship is using?
Check the berth number on your final e-ticket or your cruise line’s app. Don’t rely on your initial booking documents as terminal assignments can change closer to departure.
Is Cunard always at QEII terminal?
Usually, but not always. QEII is Cunard’s traditional home at Southampton but terminal assignments can shift. Confirm the berth number with your booking documents.
Are P&O always at Ocean terminal?
P&O uses both Ocean (Berth 46) and Mayflower (Berth 106) depending on the sailing. If P&O has two ships in port on the same day, they use separate terminals. Check your specific sailing’s berth number.
Which terminal is closest to Southampton city centre?
City Cruise Terminal (Berth 101) is the closest to the city centre.
What’s the difference between Western and Eastern Docks?
They’re two separate port areas on opposite sides of Southampton. Western Docks (Mayflower, Horizon, City) are accessed via Dock Gate 10 or 20. Eastern Docks (Ocean, QEII) are accessed via Dock Gate 4. Getting to the wrong one adds 20-30 minutes to your journey.
Can I walk between terminals?
Not practically. The terminals are spread across a large working port. Within the Western Docks, Horizon and City are close to each other. Between Western and Eastern Docks, a taxi is the only sensible option.
Related guides
For everything else about cruising from Southampton, our cruises from Southampton hub covers itineraries, cruise lines and departure dates. For first-timers, our first cruise from Southampton guide covers embarkation day step by step. For passengers with accessibility requirements, our Southampton cruise port accessibility guide covers step-free routes and parking at all five terminals. If you’re considering other UK departure ports, our guides to Dover, Harwich and no-fly cruises cover the alternatives.
About the author
This guide was written by Jo Pembroke, senior cruise writer at About2Cruise. Jo has sailed from all five Southampton terminals and has made the Eastern/Western Docks mistake exactly once.
Last Updated: 10 June 2026