Cruise port London (City)

London (City) offers cruise passengers a picturesque and historically rich port of call, primarily via the Greenwich Ship Tier. Although the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury is also used for larger ships, Greenwich allows for a unique experience right in the heart of the city. Since London is a vast metropolis, careful travel planning is recommended for guests from the DACH region.

Airplane

London has several international airports that are easily accessible from the DACH region. London City Airport (LCY) is the closest to the Greenwich Ship Tier at approximately 13 kilometers and offers convenient transfer options. From there, you can reach the terminal by taxi in about 20-30 minutes. Heathrow (LHR) is about 40 kilometers away, with a taxi ride taking approximately 44 minutes and costing from around 65 GBP. A train connection with transfers from Heathrow Airport to Greenwich Pier takes about 1 hour and 1 minute. Gatwick (LGW) is located about 49 kilometers away, with a travel time of around 53 minutes by taxi from approximately 75 GBP. Private transfer services are available for all airports, providing comfortable and stress-free transport directly to the port or a pre-cruise hotel. For flights with longer travel times from the DACH region, an overnight stay in London on the day before embarkation is advisable to start the cruise relaxed.

Train

Greenwich station is very easy to reach thanks to its connection to the London rail network. From London Bridge, six trains per hour run to Greenwich on weekdays, enabling a quick connection to the city center. From Greenwich station, you can easily reach the Ship Tier on foot in a few minutes. Another efficient option is the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which provides connections from central London stations such as Tower Gateway or Bank and also serves the Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich stop, located directly at the pier. For travelers arriving from other parts of Great Britain or wishing to explore London before the cruise, hotels near the pier or in the center are available, all of which are well-connected to the public transport network.

Car

Arriving by car at the Greenwich Ship Tier is possible, but parking options in the immediate vicinity are limited and can be expensive. Greenwich is accessible via the M25 motorway (junction J2) and the A2. Please note that Greenwich lies within London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except Christmas Day) and charges a daily fee of £12.50 for vehicles that do not meet emission standards. This applies to all London boroughs. Short- and long-term parking can be found at providers in the surrounding area or at hotels offering Park-and-Cruise packages. For example, there are parking facilities at The O2 (Car Park 3) or at the Holiday Inn Express Greenwich. For a relaxed arrival, the use of Park & Ride offers outside the ULEZ or early booking of a parking space is recommended.

Check-in & Embarkation

Please note that you will usually receive a fixed time slot for check-in with your travel documents, which is binding for your embarkation. Plan sufficient time for the journey to the port accordingly and take into account that the latest embarkation time - depending on the cruise line and destination - is usually scheduled about one hour before the planned departure.

The same applies during the voyage: for shore excursions, you should be back on board no later than one hour before departure. Always pay attention to the current announcements and notices on board, as mooring and departure times can change at short notice.