Cruises From Liverpool 2026/2027
Cruises From Liverpool: Our Guide For 2026 & 2027
By Paul, My Budget Break · Last updated 5 October 2026
Cruises from Liverpool leave from Liverpool Cruise Terminal on Princes Parade, right beside the Royal Liver Building, and the two lines you can actually board here are Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Ambassador Cruise Line. From the Mersey they head round the Scottish islands and Ireland, up to Iceland and even Greenland, out to the Azores, and south to the Canaries and the Mediterranean.
It's hard to think of a better place in the UK to start a cruise. The terminal is in the city centre, not on an industrial estate miles away, so you can wander the waterfront in the morning and be on deck watching the Three Graces disappear by teatime. For anyone in the North West, North Wales, the Midlands or Yorkshire, it's also a lot closer than Southampton. Below, we've covered who sails from Liverpool, where they go, how to get to the terminal and where to park.
Liverpool Cruises At A Glance
- Terminal: Liverpool Cruise Terminal, Princes Parade, Liverpool L3 1DL
- Location: city centre waterfront at Pier Head, around 20 minutes' walk from Lime Street station
- Cruise lines starting here: Fred. Olsen (Bolette, Borealis) and Ambassador (Ambition)
- Adults only: Borealis and Ambition are both adults only, so most cruises from Liverpool are child-free
- Typical length: 6 nights (Scottish islands) up to 26 nights (the Mediterranean)
- Record year: Liverpool expected 135 cruise calls from 118 ships in 2026, its busiest year yet
- Parking: no long-stay car park at the terminal; cruise parking is at Q-Park Liverpool ONE with a shuttle
Cruise Lines Sailing From Liverpool
Why Cruise From Liverpool?
The Best Sailaway In Britain
Few UK ports can match pulling away from Pier Head with the Liver Birds watching over you. Grab a spot on the top deck, a drink in hand, and wave the city goodbye.
A City Break Thrown In
The terminal is a short walk from the Albert Dock, the Cavern Quarter and dozens of hotels. Arrive a day early and turn your cruise into a cracking weekend away.
Easy By Train
Lime Street has direct trains from Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and London, and the terminal is just a short taxi hop away. No car and no flights required.
Scotland, Ireland & Beyond
Liverpool's spot on the west coast means you're quickly among the Hebrides, Ireland and the open Atlantic, with Iceland and the Azores within easy reach.
Where Can You Cruise From Liverpool?
Here's a quick guide to the main types of cruise from Liverpool, how long they usually take and when to go. Itineraries change every season, so treat it as a starting point.
| Destination | Typical length | Best time to go | Who sails it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish islands & British Isles | 5 to 8 nights | May to September | Fred. Olsen, Ambassador |
| France (Brittany, Bordeaux, Normandy) | 10 to 12 nights | May to September | Ambassador |
| Iceland & Greenland | 11 to 14 nights | June to September | Fred. Olsen, Ambassador |
| Norway & the Northern Lights | 7 to 15 nights | Summer for fjords, autumn for the lights | Ambassador |
| Azores & Madeira | 14 nights | May to September | Fred. Olsen |
| Canary Islands | 14 nights | November to March | Fred. Olsen |
| Spain, Portugal & Morocco | 13 to 16 nights | Autumn to spring | Fred. Olsen |
| Mediterranean | 16 to 26 nights | Spring and autumn | Fred. Olsen |
Liverpool Cruise Guide
The Cruise Lines Sailing From Liverpool
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen sails from Liverpool on two ships. Bolette takes families and tends to do the longer, sunnier trips in winter and spring, such as the Canaries, southern Spain and North Africa. Borealis is adults only and picks up the more adventurous summer itineraries, from Scottish island hopping to the Azores and Greenland. Expect smaller ships, a relaxed pace, plenty of scenic cruising and the kind of ports the mega-ships can't squeeze into.
Read our full guide to Fred. Olsen Cruises.
Ambassador Cruise Line
Ambassador specialises in no-fly cruises from regional UK ports, and its ship Ambition carries up to 1,200 guests on adults-only sailings from Liverpool. Itineraries range from short British Isles breaks and Hebrides cruises to France, Iceland and Arctic Norway. It's comfortable, friendly and good value, and a popular choice for first-time cruisers who don't fancy a floating city.
Visiting, Not Departing
Liverpool is a hugely popular port of call. In 2026 the port expected 135 cruise calls, with ships from Cunard, Princess, MSC, Disney, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Norwegian, Viking and more. Most of these are on round-Britain or Northern Europe cruises that start in Southampton, Dover or abroad, so you can't usually board them here. If one catches your eye, check whether it starts from Southampton instead.
A Bit Of History
Liverpool was once the gateway to the world. Cunard ran its transatlantic liners from here for decades, and its grand headquarters, the Cunard Building, still stands on the waterfront as one of the Three Graces. Sailing out past it is a nice nod to where British cruising began.
Cruises From Liverpool FAQs
The cruise lines that regularly start cruises in Liverpool are Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, on Bolette and the adults-only Borealis, and Ambassador Cruise Line, on the adults-only Ambition. Lots of other big names visit Liverpool as a port of call, including Cunard, Princess, MSC, Disney and Royal Caribbean, but you can't usually start your cruise on those ships here.
Liverpool Cruise Terminal is on Princes Parade, Liverpool L3 1DL, on the River Mersey right next to the Royal Liver Building at Pier Head. It's in the city centre, about a 20 minute walk or 5 minute taxi ride from Liverpool Lime Street station.
There's no long-stay car park at the terminal itself. Fred. Olsen and Ambassador both use the Q-Park at Liverpool ONE, with a meet-and-greet team and a minibus to take you and your luggage to the ship. Book it in advance through your cruise line or the parking operator. Private car parks and driveways bookable through YourParkingSpace or JustPark can be cheaper, especially on longer cruises.
For mainline trains, Liverpool Lime Street is the main station, about 20 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by taxi. On the Merseyrail network, Moorfields is the closest station and is roughly a 10 minute walk to the terminal.
Cruises from Liverpool range from around 5 or 6 nights for a Scottish islands or British Isles break, to 12 to 14 nights for Iceland, Greenland, the Azores or the Canary Islands, and up to 26 nights for a long Mediterranean voyage.
Your options are limited. Ambassador's Ambition and Fred. Olsen's Borealis are both adults only. Fred. Olsen's Bolette does accept children aged 12 months to 17 years, but there's no kids' club on board. For a cruise with kids' clubs and water parks, look at sailings from Southampton or a fly cruise instead.
Yes, on the right itinerary. Ambassador has Arctic Norway Northern Lights cruises from Liverpool calling at places like Tromsø, Alta and Narvik, and Iceland sailings in autumn can also give you a chance. Sightings are never guaranteed, so look for itineraries that spend several nights in the far north.
Yes, for almost every cruise from Liverpool. Even a British Isles cruise will usually call at Dublin, Cork or Belfast and often a French or Norwegian port too. Make sure your passport is valid for the countries on your itinerary before you book.
Definitely, if you can. The terminal is right in the city centre, so you can spend the day before at the Albert Dock, the Museum of Liverpool or The Beatles Story, have a night out, and then stroll to the ship in the morning. Several hotels are within walking distance of Pier Head.
Short British Isles and Scottish islands cruises are usually the lowest priced cruises from Liverpool. Last minute deals also appear on longer sailings that haven't sold out, so if you're flexible on dates and cabin type it's worth checking within 8 to 10 weeks of departure.
Our Top Tips Before You Book
- Book Iceland, Greenland and summer sailings early. There are only a few departures a year and the unusual itineraries sell first.
- Sort parking before you go. There's nowhere to leave your car at the terminal itself.
- Check who's allowed on board. If you're travelling with under-18s, make sure your ship isn't adults only.
- Arrive the day before. It's Liverpool. You'll have a great night and a stress-free morning.
- Make sure it's protected. Book with an ABTA member for extra peace of mind.
