WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO FLY?
❋ Thousands of British cruise passengers now choose to cruise from the UK because you can load up your car, avoid airport chaos and take as much luggage as you like. There are also an increasing number of itineraries, including short European breaks, Iceland, the Norwegian fjords, the Mediterranean and the Canaries. There are one-way sailings for those happy to fly home (or vice versa), as well as lots of voyages around the UK itself.
❋ Southampton is the largest passenger port in the UK and it’s worth considering an overnight stay there before or after your cruise. There’s one of the best fine-art collections outside London, plus great pubs, restaurants and cultural centres, including God’s House Tower in the heart of the old town, and a brilliant maritime museum to get you in the mood to cruise. Find out more at visitsouthampton.co.uk.
❋ Other regional ports include Tilbury, Dover (which Seabourn will sail from in 2023), Newcastle, Belfast, Liverpool and Rosyth. Fred Olsen Cruises (fredolsencruises.com) offers a wide selection of sailings from around the UK, including a five-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on Bolette, departing Newcastle on 27 May 2023, from £799pp, and a 19-night Canada in the Fall cruise on Borealis, departing Liverpool on 3 October 2023, from £3,399pp.
❋ British cruise line Ambassador’s (ambassadorcruiseline.com) home port is at Tilbury, but its new ship, Ambition, will also sail from Newcastle, Dundee, Belfast,
Liverpool, Bristol and Falmouth, meaning UK guests will have shorter distances to travel. A 10-day sailing around the British Isles, departing 19 July and 2 September 2023 from Tilbury, costs from £1,039pp.