Monday, November 22, 2010

Cruising from Southampton

By Jimmy McNulty


One of the world's most famous ports, Southampton served as the launching point for the Mayflower and the Titanic. Today, it's one of the busiest passenger ports and home to a waterfront dotted with restaurants, shops and curios.

The One Thing You Don't Want to Miss

The Southampton Maritime Museum, which chronicles the history of Southampton and its significant role as a port for ocean liners, the most famous being the Titanic. Not to be missed is the exhibit 'Titanic Voices', where visitors can hear the story of the tragic voyage in the words of survivors and those touched by the tragedy.

Things to Do

Browse the halls of The City Art Gallery, which was named the 'National Fine Art Museum of the Year' in 1994.

Take a guided tour of Old Southampton and walk along the medieval town wall.

Explore the more than 300 acres of open park space on the Common. It has an amazing collection of flora and fauna, so remarkable, in fact, that it has been designated a site of special scientific interest.

Shopping for Bargains

Southampton is a shopper's delight, with several shopping areas and a wide variety of retailers. The most popular shopping centre is WestQuay, located right in the city centre. It offers all the top retail brands, including John Lewis, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Gap, Sephora and many more. Alternatives to WestQuay are the Marlands, which offers an even larger selection, including homeware and toy shops, and Bargate, the place to go for urban, surf or beach attire, as well as the arcade, Sega Park.

Local Currency

The pound sterling (GBP) is the official currency. Traveller's cheques are widely accepted in banks and credit cards can be used in most places.

Every year there is an ever growing amount of cruises from Southampton. This increase means that Southampton 'the cruise capital of the UK' has more and more variety and value to offer customers. Without the hassle of flying, holiday makers are able to start relaxing immediately. Cruises from Southampton generally sail to the Mediterranean, the Baltics, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean.

There are over 200 cruises from Southampton every year. This figure is increasing year on year. As it's a deep water port, Southampton can also accommodate any type of cruise boat.




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