Cruises from Southampton 2028

Where do Southampton cruises go in 2028?

Southampton is one of the world’s great departure ports — a place where you board in the late morning and are already at sea by early evening. In 2028, sailings from Southampton spread across the Norwegian fjords, the wider British Isles, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and well beyond. Voyages range from short breaks of 4 nights to grand round-the-world sailings of over 100 nights, with a median around 12 nights — enough time to properly settle into a ship and a destination. Most sailings are round trips returning to Southampton, though a meaningful share are one-way, finishing in ports such as New York, Reykjavik, Copenhagen, Lisbon and Miami. Where the voyage ends somewhere other than Southampton, a short domestic connection links both ends of the trip — and we can sort the flights either side as part of your package.

Which regions are most popular from Southampton in 2028?

The itinerary mix from Southampton in 2028 is broad, but a few regions clearly lead. Here is where the concentration sits, in order of popularity.

Norway

Norway is the headline destination from Southampton in 2028. Sailings head north into the fjords, making this the largest single destination group on the programme. The appeal is straightforward: you leave an English port, cross the North Sea, and arrive in some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the world — without a flight in either direction on a round-trip sailing. Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and P&O’s Arvia both feature prominently in the Norway programme, though several other ships make the run too.

Transatlantic crossings

A strong group of sailings cross the Atlantic — a voyage type that Southampton does better than almost any other port in the world. Queen Mary 2 is purpose-built for the open North Atlantic, and transatlantic crossings from Southampton to New York remain one of the classic journeys in cruising. These are one-way voyages, so the return leg is typically a flight; we can book that, along with any hotel nights at either end, as part of the same package.

British Isles

A significant share of the 2028 sailings explore the British Isles themselves — coastal and island itineraries that circle the UK and Ireland without venturing far. These are popular shorter sailings, and they suit travellers who want to see the coastline of the British Isles from the water rather than from a motorway.

Western Mediterranean and the Mediterranean Sea

The Western Mediterranean and the broader Mediterranean Sea together account for a solid share of 2028 departures. These longer sailings typically head south and east from Southampton before reaching sunnier waters. For travellers who want warmth and variety of ports, Mediterranean cruises in 2028 from Southampton offer a genuine alternative to fly-cruises from a European hub. All-inclusive Mediterranean sailings in 2028 are also available for those who want everything settled before they board.

Canary Islands and Portugal

Sailings to the Canary Islands and Portugal represent a warm-weather option that is closer to home for the ship than a full Mediterranean run. These are typically round-trip voyages from Southampton and sit in the shorter-to-mid-length bracket.

Round-the-world sailings

For the grandest commitment, a small number of round-the-world departures leave Southampton in 2028. These voyages — often exceeding 100 nights — call at ports across multiple continents. If a world cruise is on your list, these sailings are worth exploring early; the best cabin grades go first and fares reflect the full distance.

Arctic

At the more adventurous end of the programme, Arctic itineraries sail north from Southampton into some of the most remote waters accessible by cruise ship. These attract experienced travellers looking for something genuinely different from a standard summer holiday.

Which cruise lines sail from Southampton in 2028?

Six cruise lines operate from Southampton in 2028. Cunard and P&O Cruises lead by volume — which reflects Southampton’s deep history as the home port of both fleets. Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Explora Journeys and Celebrity Cruises complete the 2028 line-up, giving you a range from classic British-style ocean liners through to contemporary American and luxury boutique ships.

Which ships sail from Southampton in 2028?

Several well-known ships make up the Southampton fleet for 2028. Below are the ones with the most sailings on the programme.

Arvia — P&O Cruises

Arvia is P&O’s largest ship, delivered in 2022 and named in Barbados. At 185,581 GT, she carries a striking centrepiece: the SkyDome, a retractable glass roof spanning 970 m² over a pool and live performance stage — something genuinely unique at sea. There are 30-plus dining and bar venues on board, including Sindhu, The Epicurean, Keel & Cow and The Glass House, so you’re rarely eating in the same place twice. For cabin choices, see Arvia’s cabins and deck plans.

• Larger Inside Cabin OA — 15 m², sleeps 2. More floor space than the standard inside grades; genuinely room to spread out.
• Deluxe Balcony Cabin EA — 20 m², sleeps 2. Your own outdoor space for fresh sea air, away from the shared decks.
• Family Sea View Suite BA — 40.3 m², sleeps 2. Private balcony available only in suite grades, not standard sea-view cabins.
• Suite B4 — 40.3 m², sleeps 4. Dramatically more living space than any balcony or sea-view cabin, suitable for families or those who simply want room to breathe.

Queen Mary 2 — Cunard

Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only true ocean liner — purpose-built with reinforced hull plating for the open North Atlantic, not adapted from a standard cruise ship. That distinction matters: she handles long Atlantic passages in a way no ordinary cruise ship can match. On board, you’ll find the only planetarium at sea, where the Illuminations venue projects star shows as you cross the ocean. The Royal Court Theatre stages nightly productions, the Queens Room hosts ballroom dancing each evening, and 6 speciality restaurants give you plenty of choice beyond the main dining rooms. For full cabin options, visit Queen Mary 2’s cabins and deck plans.

• Britannia Inside cabin HB with atrium view — 14.8 m², sleeps 2. The only inside cabin with a view of the ship’s atrium — brighter and more open than standard inside grades.
• Britannia Solo cabin outside KB — 16.5 m², sleeps 1. Designed exclusively for solo travellers with no single supplement.
• Britannia Balcony cabin BU, covered loggia — 25 m², sleeps 2. A sheltered loggia rather than an open balcony, letting you enjoy fresh air and sea views in any weather.
• Queens Grill Grand Duplex Suite Q1 — 208.9 m², sleeps 2. A maisonette across two floors — the largest suite on board and more than double any other Queens Grill suite.

Queen Anne — Cunard

Queen Anne joined the Cunard fleet in 2024, making her the newest ship in the line-up from Southampton. She carries 5 specialty restaurants — Aji Wa for Japanese cuisine, Tramonto for Italian and Sir Samuel’s steakhouse among them — alongside the Mareel Wellness & Beauty Spa, which includes a Himalayan salt sauna, cold therapy room, hydrotherapy pool and thermal suite. The Bright Lights Society show bar brings state-of-the-art technology and world-class performers into a single venue. Cabin choices are set out in full on Queen Anne’s cabins and deck plans.

• Britannia Inside cabin IA — 13.7 m², sleeps 2. A personal cabin steward available 24 hours a day, with daily turndown service.
• Britannia Deluxe Ocean-view cabin EA — 21.9 m², sleeps 2. Around 3 m² more than a standard ocean-view cabin, with a separate seating area.
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A1 — 21.9 m², sleeps 2. Exclusive access to Britannia Club Restaurant with a reserved table — a more intimate dining experience than the main restaurant.
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 — 133.8 m², sleeps 2. The largest suite category on board, more than twice the size of the Master Suite.

Queen Victoria — Cunard

Queen Victoria carries a Royal Court Theatre with private boxes — the first such theatre at sea — staging West End-style productions nightly. Her three-tiered Grills dining system (Queens Grill, Princess Grill and Britannia Club) ties your dining experience directly to your stateroom category, so choosing your cabin here is also choosing how you’ll eat. The Winter Garden lounge, with its retractable glass roof and indoor water sculpture, is a signature space that has no equivalent on any other ship. For cabin options, see Queen Victoria’s cabins and deck plans.

Britannia — P&O Cruises

Britannia spreads entertainment across 15 decks, with the Headliners Theatre featuring LED immersive technology, the Limelight Club for cabaret and the Crystal Room for dancing. Thirteen restaurants and cafés include menus contributed by Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and James Martin, alongside The Epicurean and Sindhu. The Oasis Spa offers a hydrotherapy pool, heated loungers and steam grottos, while The Reef kids club covers ages 2–17. Cabin grades and deck layouts are on the Britannia cabins and deck plans page.

What fare options are available?

Different cruise lines package their fares differently, and knowing what each tier includes can make a significant difference to the total cost. Here is how the main lines structure their fares for 2028 Southampton sailings.

Cunard fares

Cunard offers several fare types for its 2028 sailings. The flexible Cunard Fare gives you choice of stateroom number, priority for upgrades, a low 15% deposit with flexible balance payment, and the ability to amend your booking up to the balance due date, along with complimentary shuttle buses at ports. Fare types such as OBC with drinks, coach transfers with drinks, and car parking with drinks bundle in different extras depending on how you plan to arrive at Southampton. A Saver fare — for those who are flexible on stateroom allocation and willing to pay in full on booking — delivers a noticeably lower base price. Our team can walk you through which Cunard fare tier suits your circumstances.

Princess Cruises fares

Princess Cruises offers Standard and Plus fare tiers for its 2028 sailings. The Princess Standard fare covers the cruise itself; Princess Plus adds 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each with a daily limit of 15 drinks, MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating. Drop & Go fare types are also available for those who can commit at short notice. If you’re considering Princess for 2028, the Princess 2027–2028 season gives a broader view of what the line has on offer across both years.

Norwegian Cruise Line fares

Norwegian Cruise Line keeps its base fare lean — the Brochure tier covers the cruise only, with no packages included. Moving up, the Free at Sea fare adds beverages and a speciality dining package for guests 1 and 2, plus a Wi-Fi package and shore excursion credits of US$50 per port. The Free at Sea Plus tier extends those benefits further, with a premium beverage package and an expanded dining package. NCL’s flexible dining approach — no fixed dining times, multiple venues — suits travellers who prefer to eat when they like rather than at an assigned table.

Are there any discounts available on Southampton 2028 sailings?

Some 2028 Southampton sailings carry reduced fares. Where discounts apply, they are measured against the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing. The headline reduction reaches up to 24% on one departure, though that figure applies to a single sailing; across the sailings where any reduction is in place, the typical saving sits around 6%. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find a lower price elsewhere after booking with Cruise1st, we’ll match it.

Getting to Southampton from Australia

Southampton is in the south of England, around 80 minutes from London by train. For travellers flying in from Australia, the practical choice is to fly into London and travel down to the port — a domestic hop, not a complex transfer. We can book the full sequence: your international flights, a hotel the night before departure, the transfer to the port and any hotels you need at the other end if the voyage is one-way. It all goes on one booking as a Cruise1st Package, so nothing is left for you to sort separately.

If your 2028 cruise ends somewhere other than Southampton — New York, Reykjavik, Copenhagen, Lisbon or Miami, for instance — we book the return leg as part of the same package. Miami and Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) are about half an hour apart, so a voyage ending in Florida can connect onward from either; it’s worth checking both for dates and return flight options. Our Australian cruise experts, available seven days a week, can compare the options and put it together for you.

What about round-the-world cruises from Southampton?

Southampton is one of a small number of ports in the world from which you can board a genuine round-the-world sailing. The 2028 programme includes world cruise departures from Southampton — typically voyages well over 100 nights that call at ports across three or more continents. These are not sampler itineraries; they are extended voyages designed for travellers who want the full journey. Cabin availability on world cruises sells down quickly, particularly in the upper grades, so it pays to enquire early. Our team can advise on which sailings are available, what’s included in the fare, and how to structure the travel from Australia around a voyage of that length.

Also sailing in 2028

The 2028 Southampton programme sits within a broader year of cruising. If you’re keeping your options open, all 2028 cruises gives you the full picture, and New Year 2028 cruises are worth a look if you want to start the year at sea. Closer to home, 2028 sailings from Melbourne and Princess Cruises from Sydney in 2028 are available if a local departure suits you better. Princess Cruises from Fremantle in 2028 is another option for West Australian travellers. For those thinking about 2027 rather than 2028, Southampton 2027 sailings are also on sale and worth comparing. If the Mediterranean is the draw regardless of departure port, Mediterranean cruises in 2028 gives you sailings from multiple embarkation points. All-inclusive 2027 Mediterranean cruises remain available too, if an earlier departure works better. Travellers considering Princess specifically may also want to look at Princess Cruises around Australia in 2028 or the broader Princess 2027–2028 season launch. And if you’re curious about earlier years for planning purposes, Princess Cruises around Australia in 2027 and Southampton 2026 sailings are useful reference points.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.