12 of the best UK cruises The Times Jeannine Williamson, Cruise expert 12 of the best UK cruises Keen to discover destinations closer to home and avoid the airport queues? Our expert has done the legwork to bring you the best British cruises The Majestic Line's six-night Scotland cruise visits Eilean Donan alamy Jeannine Williamson , Cruise expert Wednesday October 14 2026, 5.00am BST , The Times Listen 0:00 / · 11:24 min Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save W hy endure crowded airports, baggage restrictions or the uncertainty of delayed flights when you can begin your holiday much closer to home? Round-trip cruises from the UK offer an increasingly wide choice of ships and itineraries, with departure ports around the country. Once on board there's no further travelling to organise; simply unpack once and let the ship take you from one destination to the next. Whether you want to voyage around the coastline of mainland Britain or explore the British Isles, these are the best cruises for you for the year ahead. All recommendations within this article are informed by independent expert editorial opinion. This article contains affiliate links and links to our in-house travel agency, Times Holidays, all of which will earn us revenue. Editors' choice Best for families Royal Caribbean ships are packed with everything from adrenaline-pumping activities and clubs for children aged three and older to peaceful adults-only enclaves Best for solo travellers Fred Olsen offers a really warm welcome, with a large number of single cabins —including some with balconies — and dedicated social and dining events for solo travellers Best for inclusions Saga's lead-in fares don't look the cheapest but cover generous inclusions such as door-to-door chauffeur service, travel insurance, all meals and drinks, wifi and tips Best for luxury Regent Seven Sea Cruises' all-inclusive luxury offering covers everything from free-flowing drinks and excursions to laundry services Best for couples Princess Cruises builds on its The Love Boat legacy — its ships were used as the backdrop for the TV drama — with extras such as champagne breakfast on the balcony and romance packages with a couple's massage Best for a small ship experience The Majestic Line's four atmospheric vessels carry 11 or 12 guests and include two lovingly converted former fishing boats Expert's verdict Ambassador Cruise Line offers more cruises from the UK than any other line, with departures from Tilbury, Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol and Portsmouth. I recommend the short-break and themed cruises, such as Battle of the Bands and A Tribute to the 90s, as a great way to dip your toe into cruising from the UK How to book Click the “Book now” button to start organising your trip with our in-house travel agency Times Holidays or one of our affiliate partners 1. The British Isles: Our 30th Anniversary Cruise, Saga The Saga trip starts with a visit to Edinburgh Getty Images Best for adults Top stories 1 Starbucks 'explores takeover' of Chipotle Mexican Grill US business Raise a toast and celebrate Saga Cruises' 30th anniversary in 2027 on this special 12-night commemorative round-trip from Dover aboard Spirit of Discovery. Covering the British Isles, the cruise begins with a visit to Edinburgh , before calling at Shetland, Liverpool then continuing to Ireland. A visit to the maritime city of Belfast coincides with the anniversary day, and there will be special celebrations to mark the occasion. The fare includes special premium wines — available on all 2027 Saga cruises throughout the milestone year — as well as door-to-door home pick-up service and an included excursion in every port. Read our expert guide to the best cruise lines for first-timers Advertisement 2. Southampton to Hamburg, Cunard Cunard's Queen Anne Christopher Ison for Cunard Best for cruising in style Top stories 1 Rental tracker: have rents gone up or down in your area? Property & Home If you've always wanted to dip your toe into the glamorous world of Cunard, here's your chance. From the institution of afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters to dancing in the glamorous ballroom, savour for which everything Cunard is famedon a cruise from Southampton. In 2027, all four Cunard ships — Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, Queen Anne and Queen Mary 2, the world's only true ocean liner — will be setting out on round trips from the UK. An ideal starter is the two-night hop to Hamburg on Queen Anne (the newest ship in the fleet), with a full day at sea providing a chance to explore the vessel and discover what Cunard is all about. Best cruises from Southampton 3. Scenic Summertime Scottish Isles, Fred Olsen The Fred Olsen cruise will pass Rum and Eigg in the Inner Hebrides getty images Best for wildlife spotting Most commented 1 Pope Leo facing more tests to see if lung cancer has spread Europe 129 comments 2 New cod on the block: the best British fish to eat sustainably Environment 11 comments 3 Sculpted stags in the garden — and other news in pictures Photography 22 comments 4 Three in ten of super-rich consider leaving Britain over tax fears Companies & Markets 12 comments 5 Tomorrow's world on display Universal Register 1 comment Representatives from the marine charity Orca will join a ten-night round-trip from Southampton around the coast of Scotland aboard Balmoral, helping to keep a lookout and maximise wildlife-spotting opportunities; passengers can also learn about orcas and play a part in assisting with conservation work. The ship will explore the rugged landscapes of the Hebridean Islands, with sights including the rocky outcrop known as the Old Man of Storr on Skye, and cruise past the isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna, which are rich in birdlife. Balmoral will also voyage through the Sound of Mull, visited by seals, otters, porpoises, basking sharks, whales and more than 260 species of birds. Advertisement You can now search for and book your next cruise with Times Holidays 4. Autumn Legends of the British Isles, Ambassador Cruise Line Tobermory on Mull is a stop on the Ambassador cruise Getty Images Best for value for money Board the 1,400-passenger Ambience for a 12-night round-Britain cruise from Tilbury and you'll travel around the entire UK coastline, stopping at seven ports in Scotland, Ireland and the Isles of Scilly. Highlights include a full day to explore tranquil St Mary's, the largest of the Scilly Isles, famed for its striking granite rock formations, and Tobermory, a town on the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides where paintbox-coloured buildings line the main street. Members of the marine charity Orca will join the cruise to keep an eye out for dolphins, porpoises and whales and talk about the organisation's conservation work. Best cruises for families 5. The British Isles featuring the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Silversea The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Alamy Best for golf fans Advertisement Teatime or tee time? Whichever you prefer, this ten-night round-trip voyage from Southampton has plenty to tempt you. Golfers can play at four outstanding courses — Royal Liverpool, Kent's Prince's Golf Club and Castle Stuart and Dumbarnie in Scotland — through a partnership with PerryGolf. Food lovers can savour a cream tea at the Port Sunlight model village in Merseyside and learn to make traditional Cornish pasties in St Mawes. The voyage coincides with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Premier Grandstand tickets for the rousing spectacle are available. 6. Weekend Getaway Cruise, Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas Michel Verdure Best for short breaks If you fancy a weekend getaway at sea, this two-night cruise to Paris (from Southampton to Le Havre) is the way to go. You'll nip across the Channel and still have time to stroll along the Champs-Élysées and stop at a café for some coffee and macarons. Alternatively, stay on board and enjoy the fun-filled Freedom of the Seas, where the raft of exciting attractions includes a surf simulator, ice-skating rink and rock-climbing wall. While you might not be travelling far, you can sample international cuisine from around the globe at more than a dozen restaurants. Our expert guide to the best Caribbean cruise lines 7. British Isles with France & Belfast, Princess Cruises The Ring of Brodgar in the Orkney Islands, which Princess Cruises visits alamy Best for number of ports Advertisement Circumnavigate the UK and beyond on this itinerary that features ten ports of call including Cornwall, Cork, Dublin , Belfast and Glasgow . You will travel round-trip from Southampton on Majestic Princess, also visiting the Orkney Islands, home to the greatest concentration of prehistoric sites in Europe, including the mysterious Ring of Brodgar and 5,000-year-old Skara Brae. From the next stop, Invergordon, head to Loch Ness and Culloden Moor, the site of the last battle fought on British soil. You'll also dock in Le Havre for trips to Paris or Normandy before heading home. Discover the best Greek island cruises 8. Celtic Dreams, Oceania Cruises Uig Sands on the Isle of Lewis getty images Best for island exploration Discover the mainland and more on this 11-night round-trip from Southampton aboard Oceania Marina. Enjoy the rugged landscape, heathered moors and ruined castles of Shetland before cruising to the Orkney Islands. After that you'll head to the Hebrides and the Isle of Lewis and Harris; sample a wee dram at a distillery or buy some of the island's hardwearing tweed. Oceania Marina also visits Ireland, with stops in Belfast and Cork, with other ports including Newcastle, Liverpool and Falmouth. Best Croatia cruises Advertisement 9. Enchanted Scotland, Regent Seven Seas The Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool Alamy Best for all-inclusive cruising Cruise the nation's shorelines in ultimate comfort on this 12-night, round-trip Southampton cruise aboard Seven Seas Splendor, with a line known for its luxury sailings. Shore excursions, unlimited drinks, laundry service, wifi and tips are all included, and the top suites come with butler service. Taking in England, Scotland and Ireland, a UK highlight is taking a sunset champagne cruise on the River Mersey in Liverpool, while Dublin brings the opportunity to make scones and soda bread at the Ballyknocken Country House & Cookery School, run by the TV chef Catherine Fulvio. Best cruise-and-stay holidays 10. British Isles, P&O Cruises The P&O Cruises trip stops at Dunmore East in Ireland Getty Images Best for off-the-beaten-track ports Showcasing a wide mix of destinations interspersed with six restful days at sea, this 14-night round-trip Southampton cruise is on the adults-only Arcadia. Headline cities including Belfast and Glasgow are featured alongside more unusual stops, such as the Irish fishing port of Killybegs, famed for making carpets that graced the floors of Buckingham Palace and the White House, and the Welsh town of Holyhead, with its rectangular Roman fort. Spend sea days trying out some of Arcadia's 15 bars and restaurants, checking out the nightly entertainment scene or chilling out in the spa. Best cruises with fewer than 200 passengers 11. Gardens by the Sea, Noble Caledonia David Wynne's statues in Abbey Gardens, Tresco. Noble Caledonia's UK cruise takes in the Isles of Scilly alamy Best for small-ship cruising Garden lovers will be in their element on this ten-night summer cruise from Scotland to the south coast of England, which also takes in Ireland, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and Isles of Scilly . The cruise from Oban to Portsmouth is on the intimate 100-passenger Hebridean Sky. On the privately owned Scottish island of Gigha you can visit the gardens of Achamore House, renowned for its azaleas, rhododendrons and exotic plants. You'll also venture to the renowned Abbey Gardens on Tresco, where more than 20,000 plants from over 80 countries thrive in the island's warm microclimate. The cruise will be accompanied by the garden designer and broadcaster Diarmuid Gavin. noble-caledonia.co.uk Discover the best Christmas cruises 12. Isle of Skye and the Inner Hebrides, the Majestic Line Passengers aboard the Majestic Line's Glen Massan will see sights including Eilean Donan alamy Best for slow travel Decked out in gleaming wood and brass, the Glen Massan is a former fishing boat that tootles around sea lochs, around Argyll and the Hebrides first. Cosily converted to carry 11 guests, this six-night cruise explores the Isle of Skye and Inner Hebrides to reach places only accessible by small boats. Island-hop the Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, Canna and Muck, and explore dramatic fjord-like lochs to see the landmark castle of Eilean Donan perched on a tidal island. themajesticline.co.uk Best Mediterranean cruises We regularly reassess and refresh this list, adding the latest advice and inspiration Have you been on a great UK cruise? 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