Cruises Frog guide
Cruises from Tilbury, England and Southampton, England and Dover, England and Portsmouth, England
Southampton is Britain's main cruise port, with sailings to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Canaries and across the Atlantic. Dover, Portsmouth and Tilbury handle more.
Things to do in Tilbury, England and Southampton, England and Dover, England and Portsmouth, England
- WinchesterThe cathedral and Great Hall, twenty minutes from Southampton.
- SeaCity MuseumSouthampton's museum of the Titanic, whose crew came largely from the city.
- Portsmouth Historic DockyardHMS Victory, the Mary Rose and HMS Warrior, beside the ferry port.
- Stonehenge and SalisburyA morning trip from Southampton, often offered as a transfer stop.
- Dover Castle and the White CliffsAbove the Dover cruise terminal.
When to go
- Jan: low season
- Feb: low season
- Mar: shoulder season
- Apr: shoulder season
- May: high season
- Jun: high season
- Jul: high season
- Aug: high season
- Sep: high season
- Oct: shoulder season
- Nov: shoulder season
- Dec: low season
Spring to autumn is the main season, with weekly Northern Europe and Mediterranean departures. Winter sailings head for the Canaries and the Caribbean.
Flying in and getting to the ship
Long transfer: plan aheadSouthampton is about 70 miles (110 km) from Heathrow, about 1.5 to 2 hours by road; cruise lines and National Express run coaches, and private cars are common. Southampton Airport is 15 minutes away for domestic and short European flights. Dover is about 2.5 hours from Heathrow, and Tilbury about 1.5 hours.
Rental cars: Available, but one-way drop-offs at the ports are limited and driving is on the left; most people use a coach or car service.
The airport for Tilbury, England and Southampton, England and Dover, England and Portsmouth, England is London Heathrow (LHR), with 40 lounges to wait in before you board.
- Emirates LoungeLHR Terminal 34.9 ★
- Plaza Premium Lounge (T4)LHR Terminal 44.9 ★
- Plaza Premium Lounge (T5)LHR Terminal 54.9 ★
Ships sailing from Tilbury, England and Southampton, England and Dover, England and Portsmouth, England
4.2 ★Saga CruisesSpirit of Adventure2021 · 58,199 GT · 999 guests · Canary Islands · MediterraneanSpirit of Adventure is Saga's second new ship and a sister to Spirit of Discovery, built by Meyer Werft and delivered in September 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic held back her debut…
4.0 ★Princess CruisesMajestic Princess2017 · 144,216 GT · 3,560 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsMajestic Princess is the third Royal-class ship, delivered by Fincantieri in March 2017 and first outfitted for the Chinese-speaking market with a planned base in Shanghai. She…
4.0 ★Saga CruisesSpirit of Discovery2019 · 58,250 GT · 999 guests · Canary Islands · MediterraneanSpirit of Discovery was Saga's first purpose-built ship, delivered by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, in June 2019 and sailing from July that year. At 58,250 gross tons she…
3.8 ★Holland America LineNieuw Statendam2018 · 99,902 GT · 2,666 guests · Northern Europe · CaribbeanNieuw Statendam is the second of Holland America's three Pinnacle-class ships, built by Fincantieri, delivered in November 2018 and in service from December 2018. Her name…
3.8 ★Leaving May 2029CunardQueen Anne2024 · 114,188 GT · 3,000 guests · World cruisesQueen Anne is Cunard's newest ship, built by Fincantieri at Marghera as an extended version of the Pinnacle-class design used by Holland America Line. At about 114,200 gross tons…
3.8 ★CunardQueen Mary 22004 · 149,215 GT · 2,695 guests · Transatlantic · CaribbeanQueen Mary 2 is Cunard's flagship and, as of 2026, the only purpose-built ocean liner still in regular passenger service. Built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in France, she…
3.7 ★P&O CruisesArvia2022 · 185,581 GT · 5,200 guests · Canary Islands · CaribbeanArvia is Iona's Excellence-class sister, built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg and delivered in December 2022; at about 185,600 gross tons she is the largest ship serving the British…
3.7 ★P&O CruisesIona2021 · 184,089 GT · 5,206 guests · Northern Europe · Canary IslandsIona is an Excellence-class ship built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and the first ship for the British market powered by liquefied natural gas. Delivered in October…
3.7 ★CunardQueen Victoria2007 · 90,049 GT · 2,081 guestsQueen Victoria is a Vista-class cruise ship built by Fincantieri at Marghera, Italy, and the smallest ship in Cunard's fleet at about 90,000 gross tons and 2,081 guests. She…
3.5 ★Norwegian Cruise LineNorwegian Star2001 · 91,740 GT · 2,298 guests · Northern Europe · MediterraneanNorwegian Star is a Dawn-class ship of about 91,700 gross tons carrying 2,298 guests at double occupancy; at 294 meters long she was built close to the limit for the original…
3.3 ★Leaving Aug 2029P&O CruisesArcadia2005 · 84,342 GT · 1,952 guestsArcadia is a Vista-class ship built by Fincantieri at Marghera, Italy, and originally intended for Holland America Line and then Cunard before Carnival assigned her to P&O…
3.3 ★P&O CruisesAzura2010 · 115,055 GT · 3,096 guestsAzura is Ventura's sister, a modified Grand-class ship built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and the only one of the class with a duck-tail stern. Named by Darcey Bussell, she…
3.3 ★Fred. Olsen Cruise LinesBalmoral1988 · 43,537 GT · 1,275 guests · Canary Islands · MediterraneanBalmoral was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and entered service in 1988 as Royal Cruise Line's Crown Odyssey, later sailing for Norwegian Cruise Line and Orient…
3.3 ★P&O CruisesBritannia2015 · 143,730 GT · 3,647 guests · CaribbeanBritannia is a Royal-class ship built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, sharing her design with Princess Cruises' Royal class, and the flagship of P&O Cruises since she entered…
3.3 ★P&O CruisesVentura2008 · 116,017 GT · 3,192 guestsVentura is a Grand-class ship built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and, on entering service in April 2008, one of the largest cruise ships built for the British market. Named by…
3.2 ★Ambassador Cruise LineAmbience1991 · 70,285 GT · 1,400 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsAmbience is the flagship of Ambassador Cruise Line, built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and delivered in 1991 as Princess Cruises' Regal Princess, one of a pair of ships with…
3.2 ★Ambassador Cruise LineAmbition1999 · 48,123 GT · 1,248 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsAmbition was completed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in 1999 as Mistral for Festival Cruises and later sailed as Grand Mistral, Costa neoRiviera and AIDAmira. Ambassador bought…
3.2 ★P&O CruisesAurora2000 · 76,152 GT · 1,878 guestsAurora is the oldest and smallest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet, built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, as an enlarged version of the earlier Oriana, with a tiered stern and…
3.2 ★Fred. Olsen Cruise LinesBorealis1997 · 61,849 GT · 1,299 guests · World cruises · Canary IslandsBorealis was built by Fincantieri in Trieste and entered service in November 1997 as Holland America Line's Rotterdam, the sixth ship of that name and HAL's flagship for 22…Quick answers
Which cruise ships sail from Tilbury, England and Southampton, England and Dover, England and Portsmouth, England?
On Cruises Frog, 19 ships sail from Tilbury, England and Southampton, England and Dover, England and Portsmouth, England: Spirit of Adventure (Saga Cruises), Majestic Princess (Princess Cruises), Spirit of Discovery (Saga Cruises), Nieuw Statendam (Holland America Line), Queen Anne (Cunard), Queen Mary 2 (Cunard), Arvia (P&O Cruises), Iona (P&O Cruises), Queen Victoria (Cunard), Norwegian Star (Norwegian Cruise Line) and 9 more.
Which cruise lines sail from Tilbury, England and Southampton, England and Dover, England and Portsmouth, England?
Saga Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Cunard, P&O Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Ambassador Cruise Line sail from Tilbury, England and Southampton, England and Dover, England and Portsmouth, England.
What is the best-rated ship sailing from Tilbury, England and Southampton, England and Dover, England and Portsmouth, England?
Spirit of Adventure (Saga Cruises), at 4.2 out of 5 in Cruises Frog's editorial ratings.
Which airport do you fly into for a cruise from Tilbury, England and Southampton, England and Dover, England and Portsmouth, England?
London Heathrow (LHR). Lounge Frog lists 40 open lounges there for the wait before boarding.
Related news about Tilbury, England and Southampton, England and Dover, England and Portsmouth, England
- MAIB final report on fatal Arvia elevator accident sets out five safety issues and Carnival UK changes
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has published its report on the death of a crew member aboard P&O Cruises' Arvia in October 2025, with one recommendation to Carnival UK.
Ships