Tilbury cruise terminal - Car parking

[ExRes]

Loads of time to sort things out as our cruise isn't until next summer but just wondering if anyone on here has had experience of on site car parking at Tilbury, we can book directly with our cruise company but it's one we've not cruised with before nor a terminal that we've used so not aware of any potential pitfalls

Thanks for any advice

 

[thejuggler]

In the cruising world Tilbury is a small port with parking adjacent to the terminal building (it can be viewed on Google Streetview). Unlike Southampton the options for car parking not booked through the cruise company are limited.

For many cruise lines CPS are the principal company at Southampton and they also operate parking at Tilbury. At Southampton its a valet system where you drop your car and it is then driven offsite to a car park, the cars are then returned to the port the day before you arrive back. At Tilbury it looks to operate like ABP in Southampton where you park up and leave the car where it is for the duration of your trip.

I've only ever cruised from Southampton, but always choose the cruise company appointed parking purely for convenience. Our next trip is in a few weeks and parking is through ABP. I know I'll drive to the dock, park my car, luggage will be collected whilst at my car and I will then walk to the ship. On return the car will be where I left it. I could use a valet or offsite option, but the savings aren't enough to tempt me.

 

[Amos]

We sailed from Tilbury in 2022,and as @thejuggler has said, the parking situation was fairly easy.The car park is a reasonable size,and is across the road from the main terminal.IIRC we left our cases at a collection point in the car park from where they were delivered to the cabin.As you may expect,there was quite a large queue to check in,but went fairly quickly.The only issue we had was trying to remember where we parked upon our return .I haven’t cruised from any other port,so cannot compare,but it was a reasonably easy experience.

 

[ExRes]

In the cruising world Tilbury is a small port with parking adjacent to the terminal building (it can be viewed on Google Streetview). Unlike Southampton the options for car parking not booked through the cruise company are limited.

For many cruise lines CPS are the principal company at Southampton and they also operate parking at Tilbury. At Southampton its a valet system where you drop your car and it is then driven offsite to a car park, the cars are then returned to the port the day before you arrive back. At Tilbury it looks to operate like ABP in Southampton where you park up and leave the car where it is for the duration of your trip.

I've only ever cruised from Southampton, but always choose the cruise company appointed parking purely for convenience. Our next trip is in a few weeks and parking is through ABP. I know I'll drive to the dock, park my car, luggage will be collected whilst at my car and I will then walk to the ship. On return the car will be where I left it. I could use a valet or offsite option, but the savings aren't enough to tempt me.

We sailed from Tilbury in 2022,and as @thejuggler has said, the parking situation was fairly easy.The car park is a reasonable size,and is across the road from the main terminal.IIRC we left our cases at a collection point in the car park from where they were delivered to the cabin.As you may expect,there was quite a large queue to check in,but went fairly quickly.The only issue we had was trying to remember where we parked upon our return .I haven’t cruised from any other port,so cannot compare,but it was a reasonably easy experience.

Thanks @thejuggler and @Amos for the information, I think booking direct with the cruise line is going to be the simplest and best course and I'll get it done over the weekend, nice that it's so close to the terminal as I don't want to end up like I did with Dover a few years back in some tacky off site facility, I much preferred Southampton where I could see the car from one of the ships lounges, until we sailed that is .....

 

[philthetube]

Yes, literally cross the road and into the car park which has tall fencing around it and appears secure.

 

[thejuggler]

Just back from our cruise from Southampton and used ABP. Car was parked 50m from the terminal and ship, luggage was taken by porter from the car and next time I saw it was at the cabin a few hours later.

Only downside was on return we docked at a different terminal so the ship could use shorepower rather than burning fuel for power generation whilst alongside. We therefore had to take a short bus ride along the quay back to the car park, but buses were plentiful.

 

[ExRes]

After an unexpected phone call a couple of weeks ago from a friend in the travel business we now find ourselves on the Ambassador Ambience for a three week toddle round the mediterranean, we found the terminal pretty easily, although a couple of road signs could have a little more prominence, really handy having a full size Asda so close for killing time and getting any last minute bits and pieces, they also have a fuel station for anyone needing a top up for their trip home and there's also the option of a McDonalds right next door. Parking was quick and easy, other than one chap who seemed to have forgotten how to move his car, parking and baggage staff were helpful and friendly and, as we had free parking thrown in, very decently priced ..... it doesn't match Southampton of course but beats the Dover tip we ended up with a few years back

The area of the terminal we used was clean and they got everybody through quickly and efficiently, not much seating but it was made clear that was the case and not to turn up before your booked check in time, that's where Asda & McDonalds really come in as you have somewhere else to go waiting your time allowing you to get to Tilbury without panic

Shame about the overall condition of the Terminal, it needs a lot of TLC but I guess it has limited use so nobody is likely to chuck money at it

 

[ExRes]

Just a final word on this subject for anyone due to, or thinking of, using Tilbury, we arrived back yesterday and thanks to a sensible disembarkation plan encountered no problems whatsoever, luggage was all readily available and a good supply of trolleys and staff to give advice/help if anyone needed it, a number of passengers were suffering mobility problems and they looked to be having no shortage of assistance, no problems with the car parking either which was being cleared efficiently by staff, overall a hassle free experience both arriving and departing