Key Aspects:
- Liberty of the Seas will depart from one cruise terminal but return to another for her Friday, September 25, 2026 sailing from Southampton.
- ABParking has notified guests with parking reservations about the terminal change, which the cruise line has requested for shore power availability.
- Traffic to the cruise port may also be challenging because of the annual Southampton International Boat Show that runs through September 27.
Guests embarking Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas on Friday, September 25, 2026 will want to pay special attention to their parking arrangements, as the 3,948-guest ship will be departing from one terminal but returning to another at the end of the 8-night sailing.
ABParking at the Port of Southampton has reached out to guests with spaces reserved for the sailing to alert them to the adjustment and what it means for parking before and after the cruise.
“We are writing to advise you of the parking arrangements for your upcoming sailing on Liberty of the Seas, which is scheduled to depart from Horizon Cruise Terminal on 25th September 2026 and returning to City Cruise Terminal on 3rd October 2026,” the email read.
“Please note that these arrangements have been requested by your cruise line, rather than ABParking, to allow shore power from the local grid to supply the ship while it is in port.”
Horizon Cruise Terminal and City Cruise Terminal are adjacent and approximately one-quarter of a mile apart, making it easy for guests to move between them.
Embarkation will be at the Horizon Cruise Terminal and ABParking advises guests to enter the port through Dock Gate 8 at the east end of Herbert Walker Avenue. Staff will be on hand to direct drivers to the proper parking lot, and porters will be available to collect luggage after parking.
For guests who have booked accessible (Blue Badge) parking, complimentary shuttle service that is also fully accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters will be available between the parking lot and the terminal.
Following the cruise, the ship will return to the City Cruise Terminal for debarkation and guests will have just a short walk to the appropriate parking lot.
ABParking also notes that guests should have their parking permits printed and clearly displayed as they arrive at the cruise terminal. This will keep traffic moving smoothly and minimize delays.
Local Event Will Also Impact Traffic
While the cruise terminal change has been requested by Royal Caribbean to permit shore power use for the September 25 embarkation, it should also be noted that the Southampton International Boat Show runs from September 18-27, 2026, and will cause more traffic congestion near the cruise terminals.
The show attracts roughly 100,000 visitors annually to Mayflower Park and the adjacent marina, next to the City Cruise Terminal.
Live music, attraction boats, a trade show, lectures, and water activities including a dive tank and both paddleboarding and kayaking sessions are all part of the event.
Guests driving to the Port of Southampton should stay alert to the possibility of road closures or delays and plan sufficient time to reach the terminal on time for embarkation and the ship’s departure.
Liberty of the Seas is scheduled to depart Southampton at 5 p.m. There are no changes expected for the ship’s departure or her itinerary with its visits to Le Havre (Paris), Bilbao, La Coruna, Vigo, and Cherbourg before the vessel returns to Southampton on Saturday, October 3.
Cruise Hive has frequently reported when local events may impact cruise traffic and guests’ plans to reach their cruise terminals. Different events such as parades, marathons, concerts, art festivals, and seasonal activities can all affect traffic near popular cruise ports, and cruise lines have been very clear that if guests are late to the terminal, they will not be permitted to board their ship.
The final boarding time for guests embarking a ship is often determined by the local governmental and port authorities and cruise lines must abide by those restrictions.
