United Kingdom Cruises: Sailings, Embarkations & Ports of Call

166 ships from 32 cruise lines

United Kingdom cruises at a glance

Waterways Cruise lists 1,188 upcoming sailings on 166 ships from 32 cruise lines visiting United Kingdom, calling at 71 places. Cruises can start in Southampton, London, Dover, Leith, Portsmouth, Belfast and 2 more and end in Southampton, London, Dover, Leith, Portsmouth, Belfast and 2 more. Of 1,189 upcoming sailings, 434 start in the United Kingdom and 429 end there. More British Isles cruises.

Request exclusive rates Read the United Kingdom cruise port guide → Sailing data updated October 31, 2026

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Compare United Kingdom cruise lines

See every United Kingdom cruise line by ocean and river and by ultra-luxury, luxury, premium and contemporary style, with fares, cruise lengths, ships and ports.

About United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a compact, history-dense archipelago where a cruise can trace Roman walls, medieval castles, industrial cities, and wild coastlines. It rewards travelers who want substance over spectacle and honest storytelling. The main risk is crowds and heritage-tourism queues; the solution is small-group or private shore excursions, early entry, and a willingness to linger in less-famous towns. Because so many cruise lines visit the UK, the risk of feeling herded is real—so choose a smaller or premium ship, book private guides for the big sights, and walk when you can.

Typical routes

  • Ocean round-Britain and British Isles cruises
  • Small-ship coastal and island cruises

Ports overview

The UK is one of Europe's most varied cruise destinations. Ocean cruises circle Britain and Ireland, often starting from Southampton or Liverpool. Smaller ships reach the Hebrides, Orkney, and the west coast of Scotland. River cruising is limited compared to the Rhine or Danube, but the Thames and Caledonian Canal offer intimate alternatives.

Cruise season

April through October; May, June, and September are best for daylight and mild weather. The Caledonian Canal season runs from late April to mid-October.

Find your United Kingdom sailing

Upcoming sailings calling at United Kingdom, earliest departure first.

1,188 Sailings Found
Copenhagen, Denmark

29 Days One-Way from Copenhagen to Southampton

Disembarks Southampton

Ends in United Kingdom. Also visits Denmark, Norway, Iceland

Caribbean Princess

Departs
July 7th 2028
Duration
28 nights
From
$4,325
per person, double occupancy
Ports of call: +16 more ports
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Reykjavik, Iceland

11 Days One-Way from Reykjavik to Southampton

Disembarks Southampton

Ends in United Kingdom. Also visits Iceland

Seven Seas Mariner

Departs
July 7th 2028
Duration
10 nights
From
$25,798
per person, double occupancy
Ports of call: +3 more ports
View Voyage & Fares Request a Quote
Reykjavik, Iceland

21 Days One-Way from Reykjavik to Oslo

Port call

Visits United Kingdom. Also visits Iceland, Norway

Seven Seas Mariner

Departs
July 7th 2028
Duration
20 nights
From
$46,798
per person, double occupancy
Ports of call: +11 more ports
View Voyage & Fares Request a Quote

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Reykjavik, Iceland

14 Days One-Way from Reykjavik to Oslo

Port call

Visits United Kingdom. Also visits Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands

Crystal Serenity

Departs
July 9th 2028
Duration
13 nights
From
$10,700
per person, double occupancy
Ports of call: +3 more ports
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Reykjavik, Iceland

24 Days One-Way from Reykjavik to Copenhagen

Port call

Visits United Kingdom. Also visits Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands

Crystal Serenity

Departs
July 9th 2028
Duration
23 nights
From
$16,000
per person, double occupancy
Ports of call: +11 more ports
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Hamburg, Germany

14 Days One-Way from Hamburg to Malaga

Port call

Visits United Kingdom. Also visits Germany, France, Spain

ms Europa 2

Departs
July 10th 2028
Duration
13 nights
Request Exclusive Rates
Ports of call: +5 more ports
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Copenhagen, Denmark

15 Days One-Way from Copenhagen to Dover

Disembarks Dover

Ends in United Kingdom. Also visits Denmark, Sweden, Norway

Seabourn Quest

Departs
July 11th 2028
Duration
14 nights
From
$10,753
per person, double occupancy
Ports of call: +4 more ports
View Voyage & Fares Request a Quote
Copenhagen, Denmark

29 Days One-Way from Copenhagen to Dover

Disembarks Dover

Ends in United Kingdom. Also visits Denmark, Sweden, Norway

Seabourn Quest

Departs
July 11th 2028
Duration
28 nights
From
$19,023
per person, double occupancy
Ports of call: +13 more ports
View Voyage & Fares Request a Quote
Copenhagen, Denmark

37 Days Copenhagen, Denmark Round Trip

Port call

Visits United Kingdom. Also visits Denmark, Sweden, Norway

Seabourn Quest

Departs
July 11th 2028
Duration
36 nights
From
$23,598
per person, double occupancy
Ports of call: +15 more ports
View Voyage & Fares Request a Quote
Southampton, United Kingdom

10 Days One-Way from Southampton to Ijmuiden

Departs Southampton

Starts in United Kingdom. Also visits Norway, Netherlands

Seven Seas Voyager

Departs
July 13th 2028
Duration
9 nights
From
$21,798
per person, double occupancy
Ports of call: +1 more port
View Voyage & Fares Request a Quote
Belfast, United Kingdom

13 Days One-Way from Belfast to London-Tilbury

Departs Belfast Disembarks London

Starts and ends in United Kingdom. Also visits Ireland

Viking Sky

Departs
July 14th 2028
Duration
12 nights
From
$8,299
per person, double occupancy
Ports of call: +7 more ports
View Voyage & Fares Request a Quote
Reykjavik, Iceland

88 Days One-Way from Reykjavik to Bridgetown

Port call

Visits United Kingdom. Also visits Iceland, Greenland, Canada

Seabourn Venture

Departs
July 15th 2028
Duration
87 nights
From
$112,145
per person, double occupancy
Ports of call: +13 more ports
View Voyage & Fares Request a Quote

Where United Kingdom cruises start and end

Embarkation ports (15)

Aberdeen (100) (cruises from) · Belfast (215) (cruises from) · City of London (40) (cruises from) · Dover (144) (cruises from) · Dundee (20) (cruises from) · Greenock (114) (cruises from) · Inverness (13) (cruises from) · Islay (3) (cruises from) · Kyle of Lochalsh (4) (cruises from) · Leith (256) (cruises from) · Liverpool (77) (cruises from) · London (117) (cruises from) · Portsmouth (86) (cruises from) · Southampton (476) (cruises from) · Troon

Disembarkation ports (15)

Aberdeen (100) · Belfast (215) · City of London (40) · Dover (144) · Dundee (20) · Greenock (114) · Inverness (13) · Kyle of Lochalsh (4) · Leith (256) · Liverpool (77) · London (117) · Oban (24) · Portsmouth (86) · Southampton (476) · Tilbury

166
Cruise ships
32
Cruise lines
71
Places ships visit
17
Embark / disembark places

Ships by type: 139 ocean 20 river 14 expedition · a ship that visits several places here is counted once; an expedition ship that also sails as an ocean ship appears under both types.

Plan your United Kingdom cruise

United Kingdom cruise port guide

Cruise ports, what to see, history and practical advice.

United Kingdom cruise port guide →

More British Isles cruises

Ireland · Jersey · Guernsey · Scotland

British Isles cruisesBritish Isles cruise ports

Frequently asked questions about United Kingdom cruises

How many places do cruises visit in United Kingdom?

71 United Kingdom places are visited by 166 ships from 32 cruise lines.

When is the best time to take a United Kingdom cruise?

April through October; May, June, and September are best for daylight and mild weather. The Caledonian Canal season runs from late April to mid-October.

Sources and further reading

Background on United Kingdom draws on these references. Sailing, fare and port data come from cruise line itineraries and are refreshed regularly.

Created by the Waterways Cruise content team and reviewed and fact-checked by , Sr. Cruise Travel Agent and Founder of Waterways Cruise.

Published September 9, 2026 · Last updated October 31, 2026

Fares, availability and itineraries change often. Confirm current details with your cruise line or a Waterways Cruise agent before you book.

Cruise Disclosure

Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.

We work hard to make sure everything on this website is accurate and up to date. However, some information may be incomplete or inaccurate, including details supplied by third parties or otherwise outside our control, and we cannot be held responsible for such errors. We work with 41 cruise line operators, that are providing cruises on 585 ships visiting 1,731 ports across 7,194 unique cruises, creating 13,822 itineraries. This is a great deal of data to continually update daily from our suppliers. If a pricing error, misrepresentation, or omission occurs, we reserve the right to adjust the pricing, correct the information, or cancel or decline any booking made in error, with notice to you. Thank you for your understanding!