The best cruises from Southampton in 2025
We’ve studied this year’s schedule for the UK’s busiest cruise city and picked some of our favourite voyages.
Southampton is the biggest cruise port in the UK, with millions of cruisers starting or ending their sailings in the south coast city every year.
With easy rail, road and air links to large swathes of England and South Wales, it’s easy to see how Southampton has grown into a behemoth of British cruising.
But the city’s popularity isn’t just down to its strategic location within the UK; it’s also perfectly positioned to serve as a starting point for a range of itineraries, including the Med, the Canaries, the Baltic, the Norwegian fjords and even the Canaries and North America.
With all these factors combined, it’s no surprise a host of lines – including Celebrity Cruise, Cunard, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn and more – sail from Southampton.
So, what Southampton-departing cruise should you book in 2025? Here are some of our favourites.
Celebrity Cruises from Southampton
Celebrity Apex returns to England’s south coast, taking Southampton as its base of operations in 2025 and 2026. This year, the ship runs a range of voyages to the Canaries, the Med, Norwegian fjords and Scandinavia.
Our choice: Celebrity has many sailings to sink your teeth into, but this 11-night Best of Scandinavia cruise caught our eye; it calls at Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn and Visby.
Cunard cruises from Southampton
Cunard's Queen Anne, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria all have sailing from Southampton this year. Destinations include the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, the Med, Northern Europe and North America.
Our choice: There’s no bad choice here. But if we can only pick one, it has to be the legendary transatlantic crossings aboard Queen Mary 2. Choose from a westbound or roundtrip sailing.
Fred. Olsen cruises from Southampton
Three ships in the Fred. Olsen fleet, Balmoral, Bolette and Borealis, sail from Southampton in 2025, with many voyages available, from 2-night mini-cruises to a 76-night roundtrip journey to South America and the Antarctic.
Our choice: While this epic trip to South America and the Antarctic sounds sensational, our pick is closer to home. This 9-night Scenic Islands & Coastlines of Scotland & Ireland aboard Borealis gets our vote.
MSC Cruises from Southampton
This year, you can book sailings from Southampton aboard Poesia, Preziosa and Virtuosa. Northern Europe and the Norwegian fjords make up most of the schedule, with a few sailings to the Canaries or the Med.
Our choice: MSC’s Northern Europe sailings are outstanding value with 4-night voyages from £352 per person, and Kids Sail Free offers available.
Norwegian Cruise Lines cruises from Southampton
No less than six NCL ships have cruises from Southampton in 2025: Aqua, Dawn, Jewel, Pearl, Prima and Star. You’ll have a choice of itineraries covering Northern Europe, the Norwegian fjords, the British Isles and the Med.
Our choice: This 11-night Northern Europe: Iceland, Scotland and Norway sailings aboard Norwegian Prima is almost a three-in-one, covering parts of the British Isles, the fjords and Iceland.
Oceania Cruises from Southampton
Oceania customers can sail aboard Insignia, Marina and Vista from Southampton in 2025. The itineraries are focused mainly on the British Isles, but you’ll find other destinations, including Western Europe and Iceland.
Our choice: The 12-night Epicurean Awakening sailing aboard Vista is the cruise to book for food and wine lovers. Guests will get a chance to visit Bordeaux, San Sebastian, Bilboa, La Rochelle, Paris (from Le Havre) and more.
P&O Cruises from Southampton
P&O has the deepest roots in Southampton. Arcadia, Arvia, Aurora, Britannia, Iona and Ventura all sail from Southampton in 2025, offering a range of destinations, durations and departure dates.
Our choice: No one does no-fly Med quite like P&O Cruises. Our pick goes to this 18-night Western Mediterranean voyage aboard Aurora, calling in Portugal, Spain and Italy
Princess Cruises from Southampton
Four ships in the Princess fleet, Emerald Princess, Majestic Princess, Regal Princess and Sky Princess, sail from Southampton this year, offering a range of cruises to the British Isles, the Med, Scandinavia, Western Europe and transatlantic voyages to the Caribbean and the USA.
Our choice: Embark on a discovery journey to Norway with this 16-day Land of the Midnight Sun and Summer Solstice cruise aboard Emerald Princess, which calls at eight Norwegian ports.
Regent Seven Seas cruises from Southampton
The ultra-luxury line has eight sailings from Southampton this year: five aboard Seven Seas Grandeur, two aboard Seven Seas Voyager and one aboard Seven Seas Navigator.
Our choice: Ideal for fans of the Gentleman's Game, Golf Spotlight by Annika Sorenstam is a 14-night voyage to golfing hotspots in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.
Royal Caribbean cruises from Southampton
In 2025, Southampton is the Independence of the Seas' base, with 16 sailings from the city. Royal Caribbean has focused its range of itineraries on Western and Northern Europe this year and cruises from two to 14 nights.
Our choice: Despite its name, this 12-night Discover the Canaries cruise takes in more than just the Spanish Atlantic islands. In addition to stops in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, you'll visit Bilbao, La Coruna, Lisbon and Madeira.
Silversea cruises from Southampton
Six-star cruise line Silversea will run a handful of sailing from Southampton in 2025, mainly aboard Siver Dawn. The destinations on offer focus on Northern and Western Europe.
Our choice: This 31-day Southampton to Reykjavik sailing aboard Silver Dawn is nearly a three-in-one cruise, covering the Baltic, a short Norwegian fjords portion and Iceland.
Didn't find what you were looking for?
Check out our full list of cruises from Southampton in 2025 and beyond.
