London is one of the world’s most exciting and diverse cities, which is why millions of tourists visit it every year, many by cruise ship. On a walking tour around Central London, each step seems to provide more access to rich history; one is surrounded by breathtaking architecture, great shopping, restaurants, pubs, and theatre that rivals–and some say exceeds–Broadway.
PORT OF SOUTHAMPTON
The primary cruise ship port for London visitors is the Port of Southampton, which serves nearly two million passengers a year. This busy port is Europe’s leading cruise ship port and is located about 80 miles from Central London, taking approximately two hours to get to by car and about an hour and a half by rail to Waterloo Station in London. Many cruise passengers book excursions with their cruise line and take a private bus or van to London. Additionally, Southampton has its own airport, Southampton International Airport, and both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are within easy reach.
The Port is the homeport for Cunard and P&O, and currently the following major cruise lines offer cruises that begin, end, or port in Southampton:
- AIDA
- Royal Caribbean
- Celebrity
- MSC
- Azamara
- Norwegian
- Silversea
- Saga
- Fred Olsen
- Oceania
- Costa Cruises
- Crystal Cruises
- Cunard
- P&O
Royal Caribbean’s 4400-passenger Anthem of the Seas is the largest cruise ship ever to port at Southampton. To see the current cruise ship schedule for Southampton, click here.
PORT OF DOVER
The Port of Dover, located in England’s oldest county, is also known as the Garden of England or England’s Gateway to Europe, and it is a major port for cruise lines. Located in the southeast corner of England, it is, after the Port of Southampton, one of the busiest cruise ports in Northern Europe. Currently the Port of Dover services over 200,000 cruise passengers a year. This port is located only 70 miles southeast of London.
At present, 25 individual cruise lines dock at the Port of Dover, including major cruise lines–such as Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Disney–as well a number of smaller cruise lines–such as Saga, Fred Olsen, AIDA, and Seabourn–which also frequently bring passengers to Dover. To see the current schedule for cruise ships to Dover, click here.
There are two cruise terminals at Dover: Terminal One operates out of a historic 100-year-old former railway station that has been beautifully renovated into a state-of-the-art facility. It retains many of the old station’s classic architectural features, while providing passengers the amenities and comforts of a modern departure lounge.
Terminal Two is the larger of the two terminals and looks more like an international departure lounge at a modern airport. It was built in 2000 and provides unobstructed views of the harbor, the famed White Cliffs, and Dover Castle.
Both Southampton and Dover provide cruise ship passengers with the ability to visit London and return to their ships in one day. We recommend that passengers visit London by taking the high-speed railway. Once in London, passengers can enjoy such amazing sites as the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, the London Eye, and the remarkable shopping found at Harrods and on Bond Street, plus so much more.
CRUISE SHIP ACCIDENTS IN ENGLAND
The majority of cruise lines that bring passengers to and from English ports, such as Southampton and Dover, require that claims against them be filed, not in England, but in Miami, Florida, in a United States Federal Court. This often can pose an enormous burden, both financially and logistically for injured people, who have to hire lawyers in another country to represent them in a foreign court. That is precisely what the cruise lines count on. They hope that for those considering lawsuits, the prospect of having to travel to Miami to litigate a case will seem too daunting, and they will simply give up.
At Aronfeld Trial Lawyers, we focus on the rights of injured passengers and hold cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Cunard, Norwegian, Silversea, Disney, MSC, and others accountable when their carelessness causes a passenger to slip or fall onboard the ship, in a tender boat, or on an excursion. We also have sued cruise lines for assault, battery, and sexual assault against passengers, caused either by crew members or other passengers. We understand the complex legal procedures of suing a cruise line and how to effectively apply international maritime law, along with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence.
If you have been hurt on a cruise, call our office today and speak with an experienced maritime accident attorney. We provide free initial legal consultations by phone, toll-free at 1-866-597-4529 (from within the United States) or 305-441-0440, or by email at [email protected], or SKYPE and FACETIME. We get our clients compensation for time lost from work, reimbursement of medical bills, loss of cruise, and travel expenses, as well as money for pain and suffering. Call us today–we are ready to help you.
