Getting to Southampton could be Mega Cheap…………..But Mega Boring!

I’m lucky enough to be going on a couple of cruises this year both from Southampton. I have my family cruise booked for October with Royal Caribbean on the Explorer of the Seas which we are all really looking forward too. I have also just found out that I have won a place to spend 2 nights on the Celebrity Edge on the 13th May 2019. As you will know if yu have spoken to me or read my updates Celebrity is my Favourite cruise line and I cant wait to see the Edge which just looks amazing!

So as soon as I found I out a won a place I set about booking my travel down to Southampton from weher I live in Middlesbrough. The options open to me are –

1, I could drive but it’s a 600 Mile Round Trip and looks like it would take me 5 1/2 without stops so I’m not keen on that option plus we are being looked after on the cruise and have all drinks included for the 2 nights so I dont think driving back when getting off the ship early would be a sensible option plus I would have diesel and port parking to pay.

2, I can fly down on the day and then retrun after leaving the ship this would of been my prefered option as I have done this before and it is so easy. I could fly like this –

13th May 2019

Fly Newcastle 0840 arrive Southampton 1000 ( Times are perfect )

15th May 2019

Fly Southampton 1525 arrive Newcastle 1640 ( A bit of hanging around but not too bad )

I would need parking so that would be around £30 and then the small matter of the flights with luggage included is a mere £261.75………Yes that’s right it was not a typo o my part! ( needles to say as we only get so much travel allowance I wont be doing this option )

3, Another option I have done before is get the train the day before so I have looked at the 12th May 2019 and can do Darlington at 1110 and then after 2 changes on route I would arrive Southampton at 1700 so 5 1/2 hours then I would return on the 15th May 2019 from Southampton 0946 direct to Darlington arriving 1513. I dont mind the train it is a long journey but someone else is driving and you are comfy and can stretch your legs. The cost is £128 for both journey and if I factor in a Night at the Premier Inn in Southamptonthen that is ony £31.50 on saver rate I can do that for £159.50 and wont be to far over my allowance.

4, Now this is the option that I refer to in my title! I have heard of but never used a service called the MEGA bus! If you have never heard of them they are the big blus buses with a big yellow face on the back.

So out of interest I thought I would just have a look and see if I could get anything within my allowance so I would not have to put any of my own money towards the travel, Could I well the answer is YES. So If i leave Middlesbrough at 0945 in the morning and then do several stops I would arrive at Southampton 1915 yes 1915. It takes 9 1/2 hours which does seem a bit brutal and on the return it is the same leaing Southampton 0750 and arriving back to Middlesbrough 1715. It does seem to take forever so my first thought was to dismiss it but then I looked at the price outbound it is a mere £15.17 anfd back it is even less at £8.71 so even with a £1 booking fee it comes out at wait for it……………………….£24.88 OMG so if I add the Premier Inn on again that gives me a total of £56.38 and that is I have a room on my own! If I share then I can do it for £40.63 which way under my allowance!

It is So cheap, Mega cheapd but I just dont know if I could travel that long on a bus without going mad. I also wonder how they manage to make any money on a 600 mile round trip at £24.88 per person.

Could you or would you do it? I think even though the price is amazing I’ll plump for option 3 and do the train and hotel but hopelly I might of opened up another ption to a few of you that might make Mega savings!

If anyone has done it please drop me a line to let me know what the journey was like as I may do in the future. I might even make the family do it when we go in October!