Cruises from Southampton

Many of the world's most popular cruise lines use Southampton as an embarkation port, with UK passengers enjoying choice from some of the best and most innovative cruise ships in the industry. Families will love the fun-filled ships and exciting itinearies of Royal Caribbean, with Independence of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas both set to offer sailings from Southampton in 2016, while ships including Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Escape and MSC Cruises' Splendida are also full of fun features for kids and adults like, and due to embark from the Southampton port throughout the year.

If you are seeking a more refined and relaxed cruise from Southampton, Celebrity Cruises' ships offer a fantastic option, with the cruise line's modern luxury creating a contemporary and stylish atmosphere. Other adult-friednly cruise lines sailing from Southampton in 2016 and beyond include Holland America Line, Cunard.

Alternatively, classic British cruise lines like P&O Cruises and Fred. Olsen also offer many cruises from Southampton. These two cruise lines are particularly tailored to the British market, with all payments on-board in pounds sterling, so if you like to enjoy a taste of home as you travel, these are the perfect cruise lines for you. You could even set sail from Southampton aboard P&O Cruises' breathtaking new ship Britannia, the largest cruise chip ever built specifically for the British market.

Destinations

There are cruises from Southampton to a host of European destinations. Enjoy a canal ride in Amsterdam, a stroll through Barcelona's beautiful Gothic Quarter or a trip to captivating Florence, home of the Renaissance. Journey in the footsteps of the tsars in historic St Petersburg and take advantage of a huge choice of itineraries. Perhaps you've always wanted to explore Norway's coastal towns and witness first-hand the country's dramatic fjords and glaciers, or take a trip to Finland's memorable capital of Helsinki? The beautiful Belgian city of Bruges is also yours to explore and is the ideal destination for the ultimate chocolate pilgrimage, while Denmark's vibrant capital Copenhagen offers culture, architecture, fun and nightlife in equal measure.

There are plenty of cruises from Southampton which allow you to explore the sun-kissed, cultural attractions of the Western Mediterranean, one of the most iconic of which is Rome, where you'll experience for yourself one of the world's most important architectural and artistic cities. Gibraltar is another popular port of call, offering you a taste of home and all the Mediterranean sun you could wish for, as well as a view to remember from the top of The Rock. Portugal's capital Lisbon, meanwhile, will captivate you, whether you explore its history or its trendy shopping districts. In the east Mediterranean, no destination beats Athens for sheer historical significance and archaeological intrigue, while Istanbul offers a heady blend of Asian and European cultures and iconic sites such as Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque. Haifa in Israel, meanwhile, is home to one of Europe's most beautiful ports and offers the ideal place to relax in the sun on Dado Beach.

Caribbean cruises from Southampton will typically call at memorable ports including Bridgetown, the sun-kissed capital of Barbados, where you'll have the run of picture-postcard beaches such as Bottom Bay, or the busier Brighton Beach, and enjoy a memorable shopping experience on Broad Street. St George's on Grenada is another popular port, where underwater scuba adventures await, as well as some fascinating historical attractions such as Fort George and Fort Fredrick. On Castries, St Lucia, you'll have the opportunity to explore the famous markets and take a look around Rodney Bay – the perfect area in which to soak up the Caribbean's maritime ambience. St Maarten, meanwhile, is the place where Dutch, French and Caribbean cultures meet and in the port of Phillipsburg, the island's capital, you can relax on Little Bay Beach or Great Bay Beach and indulge is some duty free shopping on Frontstreet.

Some cruise lines also offer cruises from Southampton to a number of worldwide ports such as New York, a popular destination for transatlantic cruises and one of the world's most iconic cities, and Dubai, The opulent jewel in the United Arab Emirates' crown and home to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Others offer cruises which visit North African ports such as Morocco's biggest and most memorable city, Casablanca, and Porto Novo on Cape Verde.