Gatwick to Southampton

There's a direct train to the Southampton main station and you can get a bus from round the corner or a taxi to the cruise port, if that's where you are going.

It's 80 miles so car transfers will be costly and would do well to beat the train for speed.

I would never think of taking anything OTHER than the direct train from terminal to city centre.

Direct trains to Southampton leave Gatwick Airport at 9 minutes past each hour, and take just under 2 hours to get there.

Before 9am on a weekday the walk up fare (Anytime Single) is £20, at all other times the walk up fare (Off Peak Day Single) is £19.20.

If you book even just a few days ahead you might get the 2 hour journey for £6- but I really don't recommend that coming off a flight.

In the context of the whole cruise vacation the difference between £20 and £6, for the risk involved (as the £6 advance fare is tied to a specific fare) is totally negligible.

It is here more for the information of others, who may be coming the other way off the cruise to Gatwick.

I want to book a private car service to take my husband and me from Gatwick to Southampton.
Any references?

The one which is often recommended on this forum is Blackberry Cars. This is their cruise port page- LGW to SOU is 3rd down- https://www.blackberrycars.com/southampton-airport/

A lot of people on this forum have used them for various journeys, and all reports are good, whereas the one below merely has the airport recommendation.

The one on the airport website is Airport Cars- https://www.airportcars-gatwick.com/

Nothing against Blackberry Cars, they do have a good reputation. Our experience has been that using a car service based in the destionation city works very well. They usually know the best routes to save time, and often provide good informaiton about resturants, things to do, and such at the destination.