Cruises
Ocean, river and expedition cruising, from a first week in the Mediterranean to the Norwegian fjords, the Caribbean or a voyage to Antarctica.
- Typical length
- 7 to 14 nights, longer for world voyages
- From the UK
- Round trip from Southampton, or fly to join the ship
- Included
- Your cabin, meals and entertainment; on some lines drinks and tips too
- Best booked
- 12 to 18 months ahead for the widest choice of cabins
A cruise is the easiest way to see a lot without unpacking more than once. You wake up somewhere new most mornings, and your room, your restaurants and your evening are all waiting on board.
The choice is enormous, and the cruise line matters more than almost anything else. A week with Royal Caribbean and a week with Silversea are completely different holidays, even on the same route. So is a river cruise on the Danube and an expedition ship off Antarctica.
We start with you: who's going, how you like to spend your days, what you'd rather avoid. Then we match the line, the ship, the itinerary and the cabin, and take care of the flights, hotels and transfers either side.
Ways to cruise
Five quite different holidays share the word cruise. Knowing which one suits you is the first step.
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Photo by Becky Fantham on Unsplash Ocean cruising
Big, resort-style ships with pools, theatres, kids' clubs and a dozen places to eat. Great value, great for families, and the widest choice of routes.
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Photo by Dana Sarsenbekova on Unsplash River cruising
Small, calm ships that moor in the heart of towns along the Rhine, Danube, Douro, Seine and Nile. Excursions are usually included and the pace is gentle.
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Photo by Paul Bill on Unsplash Luxury and small ships
A few hundred guests at most, suites, fine food, drinks and tips included, and smaller harbours the big ships can't reach.
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Photo by Erik Esly on Unsplash Expedition
Purpose-built ships with naturalists and Zodiac boats for Antarctica, the Arctic, Svalbard and the Galápagos.
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Photo by Hugh Whyte on Unsplash Sailing ships
Tall ships and sailing yachts under canvas, to smaller islands in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.
Life on board
Choosing your cabin
Inside cabins are the best value; ocean-view cabins have a window; a balcony gives you your own private outdoor space; suites add room to spread out and, on many lines, extra perks. We look at the deck plan with you: midship and lower decks feel the least movement, and some cabins sit under a busy pool deck.
Eating and drinking
Meals in the main restaurants and buffet are included. Speciality restaurants usually cost extra, and drinks packages vary a lot from line to line: some include them, some sell them, and a few are all-inclusive from the start. We'll tell you what's worth paying for on your ship.
Days in port
Most days you'll be somewhere new. Ships either dock or tender you ashore by small boat. You can join the ship's excursions, explore on your own or book something private, and we can arrange that before you go.
Our cruise lines
From big family ships to small luxury and the rivers of Europe. Tell us how you like to holiday and we'll match the line, the ship and the cabin.
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Big ships, lots to doBooked by our clients
Marella Cruises (TUI)
Drinks and tips included as standard, with fly-cruises from airports around the UK.
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Big ships, lots to doBooked by our clients
P&O Cruises
British through and through, with ships sailing round trip from Southampton and no flights needed.
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Big ships, lots to doBooked by our clients
Royal Caribbean
The biggest ships at sea, with water parks, surf simulators, ice rinks and Broadway-style shows.
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PremiumBooked by our clients
Virgin Voyages
Adults only, with no buffets, no main dining room and tips and Wi-Fi included.
Big ships, lots to do
- Marella Cruises (TUI)Booked by our clientsDrinks and tips included as standard, with fly-cruises from airports around the UK.
- P&O CruisesBooked by our clientsBritish through and through, with ships sailing round trip from Southampton and no flights needed.
- Royal CaribbeanBooked by our clientsThe biggest ships at sea, with water parks, surf simulators, ice rinks and Broadway-style shows.
- Carnival Cruise LineLively, fun-first ships, most at home in the Caribbean.
- Celestyal CruisesThe Greek islands and the eastern Mediterranean on smaller, relaxed ships.
- Costa CruisesItalian style on big ships around the Mediterranean.
- Disney Cruise LineDisney stories, characters and shows at sea, with some of the best kids' clubs afloat.
- MSC CruisesBig modern ships with a Mediterranean feel, and the MSC Yacht Club, a private ship within the ship.
- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)Freestyle cruising: no set dining times, no formal nights and plenty of restaurants to choose from.
- Princess CruisesClassic big-ship cruising, well known for Alaska, with the MedallionClass app smoothing the way on board.
Premium
- Virgin VoyagesBooked by our clientsAdults only, with no buffets, no main dining room and tips and Wi-Fi included.
- AzamaraSmaller ships that stay longer in port, with late nights and overnights ashore.
- Celebrity CruisesModern luxury: contemporary design, very good food and the striking Edge-class ships.
- CunardOcean liners, the transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2 and black-tie evenings.
- Holland America LineClassic, unhurried cruising with live music, longer voyages and Alaska expertise.
- Oceania CruisesMid-size ships known for some of the best food at sea.
- Viking CruisesAdults-only, culture-led voyages by river and ocean, with no casinos and no kids' clubs.
Smaller ships
- Fred. Olsen Cruise LinesBooked by our clientsSmaller ships that reach smaller ports, many sailing from UK ports.
- Ambassador Cruise LineSmall, adult-focused ships sailing round trip from UK ports.
- Saga CruisesBoutique ships for the over-50s, with travel to the port included.
- Star ClippersTall ships under full sail to smaller islands and harbours.
- Windstar CruisesSmall ships and sailing yachts with a relaxed, casual luxury.
Luxury
- Crystal CruisesClassic, gracious luxury cruising on two ships.
- Explora JourneysOcean-front suites and a quiet, contemporary luxury from the family behind MSC.
- Regent Seven SeasAll-suite ships where flights, drinks, tips and shore excursions are all included.
- SeabournIntimate ultra-luxury ships and expedition voyages to the poles.
- SilverseaUltra-luxury and expedition voyages, with a butler for every suite.
Expedition
- HurtigrutenThe Norwegian coastal voyage and expedition cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica.
- PonantFrench luxury expedition yachts, as far as the North Pole on Le Commandant Charcot.
River cruises
- AmaWaterwaysRiver cruising with wellness, active excursions and the double-width AmaMagna.
- Avalon WaterwaysRiver ships built around panorama suites with wall-to-wall windows.
- Emerald CruisesContemporary river ships in Europe and Asia, and small luxury yachts.
- Riviera TravelWell-paced river cruises and escorted tours, popular with British travellers.
- UniworldBoutique river cruising with lavish, one-of-a-kind interiors.
Ships our clients have sailed on
From our bookings, newest first.
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Legend of the Seas
Launched 2026
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Star of the Seas
Launched 2025
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Resilient Lady
Launched 2022
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Iona
P&O Cruises · Launched 2020 · 5,206 guests
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Britannia
P&O Cruises · Launched 2015 · 3,647 guests
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Ventura
Launched 2008 · 3,300 guests
Where to cruise
The same ship can be in the Caribbean in winter and the Mediterranean in summer. These are the favourites, and the months they're at their best.
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April to October
Photo by A Perry on Unsplash The Mediterranean
Barcelona, Rome, the Greek islands, Dubrovnik and the French Riviera, often with a day at sea in between.
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November to April
Photo by Christian Lendl on Unsplash The Caribbean
Island after island of white beaches, from Barbados and St Lucia to the Bahamas and Mexico's coast.
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May to September
Photo by admiratio on Unsplash The Norwegian fjords
Geiranger, Flåm and Bergen, sailing deep into the mountains, with long light evenings in summer.
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May to September
Photo by Michael Jerrard on Unsplash Northern Europe and the Baltic
Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn and Helsinki, with plenty of sailings round trip from Southampton.
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All year
Photo by Giorgia Romiti on Unsplash The Canary Islands
Winter sun close to home: Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Madeira.
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March to December
Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash Europe's rivers
The Rhine and Danube past castles and vineyards, the Douro's port country, and Christmas markets in December.
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May to September
Photo by Benton Sherman on Unsplash Alaska
Glaciers, whales and wild coast through the Inside Passage, with the chance to add a rail journey.
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November to March
Photo by Birger Strahl on Unsplash Antarctica
The ultimate expedition: icebergs, penguins and the White Continent, from Ushuaia across the Drake Passage.
Destinations we'd suggest
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Egypt Winter sun on the Red Sea and the temples of the Nile, a short flight from home.
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Croatia Walled cities, island harbours and clear Adriatic water along the Dalmatian coast.
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Santorini White villages on a volcanic cliff, a flooded caldera below and the best-known sunset in Greece.
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Barbados Calm west coast beaches, rum shops and Friday fish fry, with a welcome that feels like home.
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Rome Two thousand years of history on every corner, best seen with a fork in hand.
How we help
- The right line and ship
- Matched to how you travel, not the other way round, from big family ships to small, quiet luxury.
- The right cabin
- Deck plans, cabin position and the cabins to avoid, with the grade that suits your budget.
- Before and after
- Flights, a hotel before you sail, transfers to the port, and extra nights at the end.
- Paperwork and check-in
- Passports, visas and the line's online check-in, so nothing is left to the last minute.
- Protected
- ABTA protected, and ATOL protected when your cruise includes flights.
Questions about cruises
Do I need a passport for a cruise?
Yes, for almost every cruise, including round trips from Southampton, because the ship calls at ports abroad. Some routes also need visas or travel authorisations; we'll tell you what applies.
What's included in the price?
Your cabin, meals in the main restaurants and buffet, most entertainment and the use of the pools and facilities. Drinks, speciality restaurants, Wi-Fi, excursions and tips are often extra, depending on the line; on luxury lines most of them are included.
Are tips or service charges added?
Many lines add a daily service charge per person to your onboard account, others include it in the fare. It differs a lot, so we'll show you exactly what your line does.
What do I wear on board?
Daytime is relaxed. Some lines have one or two dressier evenings a week and a few still have black-tie nights; others have no dress code at all.
What if I get seasick?
Modern ships have stabilisers and most people feel very little. A cabin low down and in the middle of the ship moves the least, and river cruises hardly move at all.
Are cruises good for children?
Very. Big ships have kids' and teen clubs, water parks and family cabins. Some lines are adults-only, so the choice of line matters.
Is a balcony worth it?
On scenic routes like the fjords or Alaska, or a longer cruise, many people say yes. On a busy port-intensive week an ocean-view cabin can be just as good.
What insurance do I need?
A travel insurance policy that includes cruise cover, for things like missed departures and being unwell at sea. We can point you to a provider.
Where should we take you?
Tell the team what you have in mind and we'll come back with ideas, usually the same day. The team reads every request.
- 01WhereA place, a few ideas, or a hotel you love
- 02WhenA month or exact dates, and how flexible you are
- 03FlightsWhich airport suits you, or none at all
- 04WhoEveryone going, with children's ages
- 05SpendA rough idea for the whole trip
- 06The detailsBoard, hotel rating, facilities, the kind of place
Photos by AO NURA, Becky Fantham, Dana Sarsenbekova, Paul Bill, Erik Esly, Hugh Whyte, nicola dowie, An Nhien, Dorian Mongel, A Perry, Christian Lendl, admiratio, Michael Jerrard, Giorgia Romiti, Jakub Żerdzicki, Benton Sherman and Birger Strahl on Unsplash.
Ship photos from Wikimedia Commons: Marella Voyager by Pjotr Mahhonin, CC BY-SA 4.0; MS Arvia by Gérard, CC BY-SA 4.0; Icon of the Seas by Corey Seeman, CC BY-SA 4.0; Resilient Lady by Dicklyon, CC BY 4.0; Legend of the Seas by BlueChase1333, CC0; Star of the Seas by Zarateman, CC0; Resilient Lady by Dicklyon, CC BY 4.0; Iona by A Guy Named Nyal, CC BY-SA 2.0; Britannia by kees torn, CC BY-SA 2.0; Ventura by Branwal100, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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