Parking in Southampton ?

[LadyPCruiser]

Hi all! Can’t work out how to submit a new post….but have any of use got a good recommendation for car parking at Southampton? Any of use used Penguin Parking?

[Mervyn and Trish]

We always use either CPS or an overnight hotel that includes parking and transfers.

[screwy]

Always use CPS. Very safe and secure,Ok, not the cheapest but peace of mind counts.

[david63]

Not used Penguin Parking but have used Parking4Cruises a few times and are my preferred parking operator.

One thing that you do need to watch is with the length of cruise. If it is a short cruise CPS can be cheaper than P4C but P4C is cheaper for longer cruises - the break-even point is around 8 days.

CPS charge by the day (around £10 last time I checked, but may have gone up post Covid) whereas P4C charge a flat fee for drop off/collection and a much smaller daily fee.

[Stephen]

CPS always for us to.
We always travel down the day before. Plenty of choice of accommodation to suit all budgets in and around Southampton.

If you happen to get free parking or onboard credit with your cruise booking, check first how much the parking would cost if you were paying for it yourself as sometimes the onboard credit may be a better option, and of course vice versa.

https://www.cruiseparking.co.uk/

[Manoverboard]

We live in Dorset but always hire a Airport Transfer Specialist ... our mate Neil in this instance. He, unlike us, has back-up in the event we were to break down. For the London Airports we went the previous day and stayed in an adjoining Hotel.

[CaroleF]

Always CPS, they may be more expensive but they are well worth it in my opinion. Never had any sort of problem with them.

Carole

[LadyPCruiser]

Thank you fellow cruisers ! Really appreciate it!

[oldbluefox]

We always use CPS. It is more expensive than the others but it's convenient, especially when you return and with a long journey ahead of us we appreciate the convenience of walking out of the terminal and within minutes we are loading the car. They are well organised and we feel confident the car is safe and secure and not parked in a lay-by somewhere. For the extra we feel it's worth it for the peace of mind.
However we often look around to see if someone is offering the same level of service.

[towny44]

We always use CPS. It is more expensive than the others but it's convenient, especially when you return and with a long journey ahead of us we appreciate the convenience of walking out of the terminal and within minutes we are loading the car. They are well organised and we feel confident the car is safe and secure and not parked in a lay-by somewhere. For the extra we feel it's worth it for the peace of mind.
However we often look around to see if someone is offering the same level of service.

Parking4cruises offer an almost identical service to CPS and are generally cheaper, especially for longer cruises. And as you use the same luggage drop off as taxis, there is very little waiting unlike CPS at busy times.

[oldbluefox]

Thanks towny. Worth looking at.

[david63]

Thanks towny. Worth looking at.

I agree with Towny too - certainly for anything over 10 days.

The dropping off of luggage is quicker than with CPS and the dropping off of the car does require a short (depending on terminal) walk from the short stay car park and upon return there is not much difference between CPS and P4C - we always use a porter.

I have saved the best part of £200 by using P4C as opposed to CPS before now

[oldbluefox]

There is one company which does not service P&O. Which one is that? Can you remember to save me checking them out?
Penguin has some good reviews if you don't mind waiting for the minibus to take you out to Marchwood (?). For us we like to get on our way soon after returning.
Can I ask is Parking 4 Cruises in a secure compound or multi storey car park open to everyone. How does that work? Thanks in advance.

[david63]

Can I ask is Parking 4 Cruises in a secure compound

Yes - details here https://www.parking4cruises.co.uk/

[towny44]

P4C have a secure parking area only a short distance away up the Itchen just beyond St Mary's stadium. After luggage drop off you take your car to the short stay car park where P4C collect it and take it to their parking area, on return they bring it to the short stay car park where you collect it, both Ocean and Mayflower short stay are about the same distance from the terminal as CPS.
I think it is maybe ABP. parking at City terminal that you are thinking about, that does not handle P&O, but it does deal with RCI, Celebrity and any others that use Ciry Terminal.

[Ranchi]

I still use CPS they were excellent when something went wrong with the parking of our car.

[Ray B]

No need to use any parking at Southampton as our next holiday starts at Gatwick.
But a question, haven't checked this out. I still drive a big nasty Diesel car that comfortably gets me from Norwich to Southampton and back with still a good bit left in the tank. Now those who have an electric car I doubt would not get any where near to Southampton before needing a charge. The question is do CPS have facilities to charge electric cars whilst on holiday ready for the returning customer?

[Stephen]

No need to use any parking at Southampton as our next holiday starts at Gatwick.
But a question, haven't checked this out. I still drive a big nasty Diesel car that comfortably gets me from Norwich to Southampton and back with still a good bit left in the tank. Now those who have an electric car I doubt would not get any where near to Southampton before needing a charge. The question is do CPS have facilities to charge electric cars whilst on holiday ready for the returning customer?

No Ray

[david63]

I have just done a comparison of CPS and P4C for the back to back that we may be doing next year. In total it is 28 nights.

CPS = £324
P4C = £143

One thing to remember with P4C is that after your first parking all subsequent parkings have a 5% discount.

[barney]

I’m P4C as well.
Never had any issues and significantly cheaper than CPS, who I’ve never had issues with either.
Our next cruise, the difference is over £50 on a ten night cruise. That goes a fair way to paying for the overnight hotel.

[oldbluefox]

If I mention your names do you think I will get preferential treatment?

[Stephen]

If I mention your names do you think I will get preferential treatment?

Yes, you might keep your wheels