We booked a transfer from Heathrow to Southampton through Onward Travel Solutions, Ltd. When our reservation was confirmed, we received an e-mail with detailed instructions on how to meet our driver as we did choose, for a nominal amount, the meet and greet option and would book again with this company.
While in Southampton we spent an evening at Hunter's Lodge that we can recommend for what we consider a reasonable cost that is clean comfortable, in a quiet location and a 15 minute or so walk to the center of town. The included breakfast was quite good. We can also recommend a pub called Cowherds that is a short taxi ride from Hunter's. See both reviews on Trip Advisor.
I'll start by saying that we took a cruise on the Journey in October of 2007 and this cruise was as different as night and day. This cruise was a vast improvement.
7093 tiny bathroom, not too far from an elevator