Cruise terminal

The cruise terminal can have last minute changes. Be sure to doublecheck on arrival in Southampton. I have stayed at Premier Inn West Quay and been pleased with my stay. Located near the bus station and a short taxi ride to any of the terminals. A large shopping mall across the street is convenient for any last minute items and has several restaurants. The hotel caters to a lot of cruise passengers and it shows. A large white board next to the elevators on the ground floor lists each ship in port and its docking location. A dedicated direct phone line makes calling for a taxi very easy. The cost was about £10 to the ship.

A quick glance at their website shows it well within your budget for that weekend.

We stayed at Premier Inn West Quay and, frankly, we were pleasantly surprised. Premier Inn is more of a "budget" chain, but it was anything but. We had a nice, clean, spacious, and comfortable room. It has a really convenient location; it's near the station where the bus from London drops you off, and it's a quick taxi ride to the terminals. I liked the large shopping center across the street -- a couple of decent restaurants, and shopping for last minute items you forgot are right there. There were a lot of cruise passengers. I could see it being the go-to place for cruisers.

I stayed at an Ibis, the budget one which was across from the more expensive Ibis

Was acceptable and ok. I would stay again.

It was a short walk to the port.

I'd opt for the Premier Inn. It's a basic chain but they're so confident in their rooms and beds that they offer a guarantee of a good night's sleep. If you don't have one you can put in a claim for a full refund. I like their beds and have always had a great sleep although I'm someone who can nod off in an economy seat within five minutes.