Hi Kelly! Thank you for consulting planDisney before your upcoming Disney Cruise Line vacation.
While I haven’t been on a
transatlantic voyage, I have been on two Disney European sailings and dream of a third! I loved the seaside towns, iconic landmarks, and rich history. You’re going to have a wonderful time exploring Europe.
I think it’s wise to arrive a few days early to acclimate to the time change. You have a few
transportation options. The first is to head back to either London Gatwick International Airport or London Heathrow International Airport and take Disney Cruise Line transportation to the port. Guests should plan to meet back at the airport at 11:00 AM for departure. If you choose this route, a
Disney Cruise Line agent can add transfers to your reservation and tell you the meeting location at your preferred airport.
Another option is to take the train to Southampton. I actually did this when we sailed from Dover. It was easy to reserve our tickets online, and we arrived on time. There are frequent trains from London to Southampton Central Station. The London Waterloo high-speed train operated by Southwestern Railway runs every 30 minutes, with a journey time of around 75 minutes.
At this time, Disney Cruise Line doesn’t have any pre-cruise Port Adventures scheduled. When we were in London, we enjoyed the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus. Some routes had a tour guide narrating the trip. It was lovely to be able to ask questions as we passed historical landmarks. My four-year-old son still talks about our ride on the London Eye. I have some fantastic pictures of the city. You’ll feel like Peter Pan and Tinker Bell flying to Neverland when you see Big Ben in the distance. It’s truly amazing!
I hope this information helps point your compass in the right direction. Please let us know if you have any more questions as you finalize your plans. My pals and I are always ready to help!
SEAS the adventure!
Tracie