Compare & book Cruise from the UK(1,949)
Which UK ports are cruises departing from?
The UK’s busiest cruise terminal is Southampton, with over three million passengers departing from or stopping there in 2025. But many other cruise ports in the UK, including Belfast, Dover, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greenock, Liverpool, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Rosyth and Tilbury, also serve as departure points for sailings.
Where can I sail to on a cruise from the UK?
Roughly halfway between southern and northern Europe, the UK is extremely well located when it comes to cruise destinations.
To the north, the Baltic Sea, the Norwegian Fjords and the Christmas markets of Belgium and the Netherlands are all within easy reach. Slightly further afield, Iceland is another possibility.
To the south, you can head to the Canaries; the Atlantic coast of France, Portugal and Spain; and the Mediterranean. And nearer to home, you can also sail around the British Isles.
If you’re happy to fly home (instead of taking a round-trip voyage), you can also hop on a repositioning voyage to the Caribbean, North America, Africa and the Middle East, but your choice will be more limited.
What cruise lines sail from the UK?
The UK is one of the world’s biggest markets for cruises. Figures by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) show that 2.4 million Brits took a holiday at sea in 2024 – behind only the US and Germany.
As a result, many cruise lines position one ship (and sometimes more) at a UK port for at least part of the year. And operators with deeper roots in the UK, like P&O Cruises, sail primarily from the UK.
Here are some of the lines sailing from the main UK ports in 2026:
- Southampton: P&O Cruises, Cunard, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Explora Journeys and Silversea
- Tilbury (London): Ambassador Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Azamara Cruises
- Dover: Holland America Line, Seabourn and Carnival Cruise Line
- Liverpool: Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, Ambassador Cruise Line and Crystal Cruises
- Portsmouth: Ambassador Cruise Line, Azamara Cruises, Virgin Voyages and Fred. Olsen Cruise Line
- Belfast: Ambassador Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Seabourn
- Edinburgh: Windstar, Scenic and Silversea
- Dundee: Ambassador Cruise Line
- Bristol: Ambassador Cruise Line
- Greenock: HX (Hurtigruten) Expeditions and Seabourn
- Newcastle: Ambassador Cruise Line
Cruises from the UK: frequently asked questions
Who are cruises from the UK best for?
Obviously, if you have a strong dislike of flying, cruises from the UK are perfect for you. This also extends to families with young children who might find airports and hours in the air taxing.
Cruises from the UK are ideal for people living within easy reach of the UK’s south coast, with hundreds of sailings departing from Southampton, Dover and Portsmouth every year.
Do I need a passport on a cruise from the UK?
Yes, even if you’re only sailing to the British Isles or are not planning to leave the ship. Cruise lines require guests to take a passport with them regardless of the itinerary.
Can I use British pound on board when sailing from the UK?
The onboard currency is linked to the cruise line, not the departure port. For example, you can pay using British pound on a P&O Cruises ship wherever you sail to or from. On the other hand, Princess Cruises' onboard currency is the US dollar, even on a British Isles sailing.
Can I drive to my UK departure port?
Absolutely. Most UK ports have parking facilities. And you can sometimes find cruise deals that combine a sailing from the UK and port parking. Some nearby hotels can also offer discounted or free parking for the duration of your cruise.
If you can’t drive, coaches and trains are another option. You can also fly to a nearby airport, although that cancels out some of the benefits of cruising from the UK.
What’s the luggage allowance when cruising from the UK?
More than you’ll likely ever need. Most cruise lines have some form of luggage allowance, but they bear no resemblance to the meagre ones you’ll find on planes.
P&O Cruises, for example, allows “as many bags as can comfortably fit in your cabin” (if each one is no more than 23kg). Fred. Olsen Cruise Line allows up to 90kg in bags of no more than 20kg each. MSC Cruises allows two bags of up to 23kg per guest.
Check the specifics with your cruise line before bringing your entire wardrobe with you.
Cruise from the UK
