Britain is rarely considered a major cruising destination, but it’s booming

The British are going mad for domestic cruising, and that’s good news for Australians looking for increasing choices in chilly but interesting seas.

Britain is one of our favourite places but we seldom previously thought of it as a cruise destination.

That’s changing, however, with research by Cruise Critic showing that the greatest increase in interest in fly-cruising among Australians in 2025 was for the British Isles and Western Europe, up an impressive 270 per cent on 2024.

Meanwhile, the Expedition Cruise Network also reports strong growth in expedition cruising in the United Kingdom, with a survey among its operator members noting that younger travellers (the under-55s) are driving the market.

In 2025, cruise ships visited 57 ports across the UK and several more in Ireland. Among the cruise lines that visit are Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Silversea and Viking.

Then there are niche British lines such as Ambassador, Fred Olsen and Saga, which offer departures from smaller regional cities such as Aberdeen, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Tilbury (London) rather than Southampton, which is favoured by international lines.

Hebridean Island Cruises, which is represented in Australia by Cruise Traveller, has no fewer than 37 journeys in the Scottish Highlands and islands for the 2027 season.

Action-packed cities and historic ports are the appeal of many British Isles itineraries but expedition companies such as APT, Aurora Expeditions, HX, Lindblad, Seabourn and Scenic explore small ports and wild places, particularly in Scotland.

There has been, however, a doubling of cruise ship arrivals in Welsh ports over the past four years, with 84 cruise ships visiting in 2025. This year Viking Cruises will call into Welsh ports 25 times, up 40 per cent from last year.

The most-visited port is Holyhead, gateway to north Wales and Snowdonia National Park. Other Welsh ports include Cardiff, Fishguard, Milford Haven and Swansea.

Cruising takes in other offbeat destinations such as the Isle of Man, which received a record number of cruise visitors in 2025, up 21 per cent on the previous year. Nine of the 47 ships were visiting for the first time.

Policy, as well as popularity, is driving the boom. In 2025, the UK and Ireland began co-operating more closely under a “Cruise the British Isles” banner to promote and develop cruising. The UK government is also busy with the new UK Cruise Growth Plan to boost maritime tourism.

Ports have been undergoing upgrades. Dover can now handle much larger ships, and main cruise hub Southampton has added significant passenger capacity.

Last year 130 ships made 2500 ship calls and 2 million passenger day visits to UK ports, mainly over the summer months, with May the busiest time.

Because distances are relatively short, cruises in the British Isles have fewer days at sea than most. And because tourism is already well-developed, you get abundant shore excursion choices in port or can easily explore yourself.

Been already? A cruise gives you a different perspective on this great maritime nation and takes you to alternative destinations. It’s Britain but not as you expect it.