Mini Cruises From Southampton 2025/2026

Southampton Cruise Terminals

There are a number of cruise terminals in Southampton, with Mayflower, Ocean and QEII cruise terminals being the busiest. The latter underwent a £5m refurbishment to become the modern terminal it now is. Each terminal is approx. a 10-15 drive from Southampton Central train station.

Each passenger terminal in Southampton offers a range of facilities prior to guests boarding their ship including a dedicated luggage drop off area, as well as food and drink outlets for those waiting to board their cruise.

Three Day Mini Cruises

A three day mini cruise from Southampton is the perfect way to try out a cruise without having to spend long days at sea wishing you had tried a shorter trip beforehand. These short cruises combine allow you to spend time on the ship, discovering its huge range of amenities, as well as allowing you to spend a day visiting somewhere new like Le Havre or Bruges.

Some of these shorter trips may not even include a port stop. During the Covid pandemic, cruise brands started trips which simply headed out to see and ensured guests could still have a wonderful holiday, sailing around the UK, without needing to get off. Instead, you can enjoy the excellent service, dine at multiple speciality restaurants and enjoy live music and entertainment both during the day and in the evening.

Fly Cruises

Fly cruises are also possible from Southampton, allowing you to set sail for places like Amsterdam or Hamburg, enjoy both time on the ship and a few days in the city, before flying back home, or vice versa. These can be another great way to test the waters and see if a cruise is for you.

Popular Destinations

Even though it's just a few days, a short cruise can still take in some beautiful and popular destinations:

St Peter Port, Guernsey

Guernsey has that holiday feel but still has some very English charm. Arriving into St Peter Port, you'll likely dock a little out to sea and disembark the ship on small tender boats to get onto the island. You can wander round the local area at your own leisure, or join one of the many organised excursions like cycling tours, historic day trips and food focused trips too. Guernsey is usually featured in itineraries on most short cruises from Southampton.

British Isles

There are a number of shorter durations which sail around the UK, visiting ports like Stornoway, Lerwick, Liverpool and Belfast. UK cruises are great options if you want to visit certain areas just for a few hours, without spending lots on flights and hotel accommodation.

Le Havre

Le Havre is the gateway to Normandy and many tours run from here into the beautiful city of Paris. Explore the sights of the French capital like Notre Dame and the Louvre, or enjoy a day of shopping at your own leisure with coach transfers from the port into the heart of the city. Alternatively, the rich history of Normandy is also ideal for day trips to explore the past.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a popular destination on a short break cruise and to get here. From Southampton, companies like Cunard and MSC offer trips. Some ships will even stay overnight in the Dutch capital so that you can enjoy a late night, taking in the bars and restaurants on offer.

Northern Europe

Slightly longer journeys allow you to head up to areas like the Norwegian Fjords to explore the dramatic scenery and even the stunning Northern Lights. Expect cooler weather but you'll certainly want to book a balcony cabin for this sort of trip to relax and enjoy the views. The summer months between June and September are ideal for visiting Northern Europe and many Norwegian Fjords cruises are 6 or 7 nights.