This is the one five-star hotel within the UK’s busiest cruise port

If you have ever experienced the stress of a flight delay when flying to a cruise ship, you recognize how necessary it’s to reach a day early to make sure you don’t miss your cruise. My husband and I almost missed our cruise around Iceland a couple of years ago and vowed never to reach on the actual embarkation day again.

So when my friends and I booked an MSC cruise from Southampton, England, after seeing Taylor Swift in Edinburgh, we decided to spend the night before right on the port. Normally I might book a hotel in London so I could benefit from the city, but I didn’t need to cope with the opportunity of our automobile not showing up or us getting stuck in traffic, especially once I learned that Southampton is the UK’s busiest cruise port, with five terminals handling two million passengers a yr.

Although there are other five-star hotels in the world, Harbour Hotel Southampton is the just one right on the port. It is a destination in itself and proved to be the proper pre-cruise hotel. I’ll return to this hotel on future trips. Here’s why:

Rooms

I selected a room overlooking the marina with a non-public balcony. I used to be so near the water that I felt like I used to be already on the ship. Decorated in airy blues and whites with a juicy splash of orange, the room was beautiful and the balcony was huge. I used to be glad to have a couple of hours of sunshine so I could stretch out on one in every of the loungers and skim before the English rain set in. I didn’t get very far with my book though because the gorgeous views were just too distracting. I used the binoculars within the room to virtually explore the Solent and Isle of Wight and check out to seek out my cruise ship.

Each room on the Harbour Hotel Southampton incorporates a number of amenities, from a choice of sea-themed books (I used to be intrigued by the irresistible title Shark drunkwhich I even have to order myself) to the free gin in a phenomenal crystal decanter.

The bathroom was huge and had each a shower and separate shower, double sinks and all-natural, British-made Bramley toiletries.

Eat

Thanks to the hotel’s two excellent restaurants, you never even have to go away the premises.

HarBAR on 6.^th is a spacious, friendly space with panoramic views and an awesome menu. It also has a rooftop lounge and terrace that appears to be a well-liked meeting place for guests and locals to benefit from the view while having drinks and small and enormous dishes.

For lunch I settled into a snug chair by the ground to ceiling window and ordered fish and chips, which weren’t only delicious but the acquisition also supports R2R, a charity. I at all times wish to eat for a great cause.

For breakfast the following morning, I ordered an omelet made to order and helped myself to the irresistible buffet. I ate way an excessive amount of, especially considering that I can be on a cruise ship for lunch in a couple of hours.

On the evening of my arrival I had dinner at The jettya restaurant that, not surprisingly, makes a speciality of seafood, with a very surprising and revolutionary menu. Start with Jetty Bites and Cockle Popcorn, move on to Sashimi or Lobster Thermidor Souffle, and select from an almost not possible choice of mains equivalent to Thai-Style Seafood Curry, Cod & Crab, and The Jetty Hot Fruits de Mer. Plan to eat leisurely while having fun with the scenery.

For a special private dining experience, book one in every of the outdoor Jetty Pods, that are each enchanting and practical. Even when it began to rain, guests looked completely satisfied inside.

Both The Jetty and HarBAR on sixth offer their very own version of afternoon tea, which I might like to try next time I cruise from Southampton. This time, nevertheless, I opted for At a table as a substitute at one.

HarSPA and Club

A couple of years ago I discovered that a massage after a protracted flight (something I’d never done before because I at all times felt like I needed to get moving and explore immediately) was actually invigorating, so once I discovered that the Harbour Southampton hotel had a spa that was very talked-about with the locals, I booked a treatment for the afternoon.

The 60-minute Drift Away massage at Temple Spa was gorgeous and my masseuse Angelina really soothed my muscles which were stiff and sore from sitting all day.

Two things I particularly appreciated in regards to the spa—and it’s details like these that make the difference between a great spa and an awesome one—were 1) the special spa elevator that allowed me to get straight to the spa in my hotel robe without having to walk through the lobby, and a pair of) the undeniable fact that the spa consultation form asks, “Would you prefer silence or chat during your treatment?” I wish every spa took note of this, because there’s nothing worse than feeling pressured to make small talk with the therapist once you just need to loosen up. I can not inform you how much I appreciated the consideration for this query.

The hotel also incorporates a state-of-the-art fitness center and a heated indoor hydrotherapy pool.

When planning your next cruise, search for one which starts in Southampton. Spend the night here first and experience the proper transition from land to water.