Caribbean Cruises from the UK

Caribbean Cruises Departing from the UK — What Is Available?

Every sailing departs from a UK port. Southampton accounts for the great majority of departures, with further sailings leaving from Tilbury in London and from Portsmouth. There is no need to fly before you board: you can travel by road or rail, step onto the ship, and be at sea the same day. Voyages range from 13 to 124 nights, with a median of around 28 nights, so whether you want a month-long Caribbean adventure or a longer grand voyage, there is a duration worth considering. Prices start from £902 pp*.

Where Do These Sailings Go?

The mix covers three main regions, and it is worth knowing which suits your plans before you choose a sailing.

Caribbean

The Caribbean accounts for the largest share of sailings. These are the classic warm-water itineraries — island-hopping voyages that call at ports across the Caribbean, ending in destinations such as Barbados, Antigua or New York. The Southern Caribbean also features for those who want to venture further into the region.

Transatlantic

A significant number of sailings are Transatlantic crossings — the classic ocean voyage between the UK and the Americas. These are mostly one-way sailings, and if yours ends abroad, our team can book the flight home, along with any hotels or transfers you need at either end.

World Cruises

A portion of these sailings are world cruises, where the Caribbean forms part of a much longer itinerary calling at ports across multiple continents. If you are considering one, our world cruises from Southampton page gives more detail, and our experts can talk you through the options.

One-Way or Round Trip — What Should I Expect?

These sailings are a genuine mix of round trips and one-way voyages, and a meaningful share do not return to the port they left from. It is worth checking the itinerary shape before you book. On a one-way sailing — particularly a Transatlantic crossing that ends in the Caribbean, or a world cruise leg — you will need a flight home. We can arrange that flight, plus hotels and transfers, as part of your booking so nothing is left to sort separately.

How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise from the UK Cost?

Fares begin at £902 pp* and vary considerably depending on the duration, the cruise line, the ship and the cabin grade you choose. Many sailings carry a reduction from their previously listed price — up to 33% on one departure, though most reduced sailings are closer to 2% off that cabin’s previous price. Fare tiers also vary by line: Cunard offers flexible fares with benefits such as a low 15% deposit, the ability to amend up to the balance due date, and complimentary shuttle buses at ports, as well as last-minute Saver fares for those who are happy to accept a pre-allocated cabin. Last-minute Cunard deals are worth checking if your dates are flexible. Norwegian Cruise Line’s higher fare tiers bundle a speciality dining package, a premium beverage package, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits. Whichever line you are considering, our experts can walk you through exactly what each fare tier includes so you are not paying for extras you already have — or missing ones you need.

Which Cruise Lines Sail to the Caribbean from the UK?

The leading lines are Cunard and P&O Cruises, each with a strong programme of departures. Ambassador Cruise Line is well represented for those who prefer a smaller, more traditional ship. Cruise1st Packages bring together cruise, flights, hotels and transfers as a single holiday. Norwegian Cruise Line also features for those looking at a different style of cruising. You can browse all cruises on our site, or narrow down from the full range of UK departures.

Which Ships Sail These Itineraries?

Queen Mary 2 — Cunard

Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only ocean liner — purpose-built for the North Atlantic, not adapted from a cruise ship design. She carries the first planetarium at sea: the Illuminations venue hosts stargazing shows alongside cinema screenings, concerts and lectures. On board there are 6 speciality restaurants, a Royal Court Theatre with West End-calibre productions nightly, and ballroom dancing in the Queens Room every evening. If you are choosing a cabin, the Queen Mary 2 cabins and deck plans page covers every grade in detail.

Cabin Grades on Queen Mary 2

• Britannia Inside (HB) — 14.8 m²: The only inside cabin with a view into Queen Mary 2’s atrium, making it noticeably brighter than a standard inside cabin.
• Britannia Solo Outside (KB) — 16.5 m²: Designed for solo travellers with no single supplement, with full Britannia service for one person.
• Britannia Balcony (BU, covered loggia) — 25 m²: A sheltered loggia instead of an open balcony, giving covered outdoor space and sea views in all weather.
• Queens Grill Grand Duplex Suite (Q1) — 208.9 m²: A maisonette spanning two storeys, with over 200 m² of private living space — more than twice the size of any other Queens Grill suite.

Iona — P&O Cruises

Iona is P&O’s flagship and the largest ship sailing year-round from Southampton, carrying up to 5,200 guests. Her signature feature is the SkyDome — a 970 m² retractable glass dome above a swimming pool — a venue that does not exist on any other ship. On board there are 18 dining and drinking venues, including Anderson’s gin bar, Sindhu, The Epicurean and The Chef’s Table. She is capable of running on LNG as well as conventional fuel, reflecting P&O’s commitment to reducing emissions. See the Iona cabins and deck plans for a full breakdown of grades.

Cabin Grades on Iona

• Larger Inside Cabin (OA) — 17 m²: One of the roomier inside cabins on the ship, giving more space than standard inside grades.
• Sea View Cabin (LB) — 19.5 m²: Natural light and an unobstructed sea view via window or porthole — a clear step up from an inside cabin.
• Balcony Cabin (GB) — 17.7 m²: The roomiest of the standard balcony grades, with roughly 1–2 m² more floor space than comparable options.
• Suite (B4) — 40.3 m²: Dedicated butler service throughout your voyage, with personalised attention not available in any balcony or sea-view cabin.

Arvia — P&O Cruises

Arvia launched in 2022 and is the largest ship ever built for the British market. She shares the SkyDome concept with Iona — 970 m² of retractable glass covering a performance stage and swimming pool — and carries more than 30 dining and bar venues, including Sindhu, The Epicurean, The Glass House and the Keel & Cow gastropub. The Arvia cabins and deck plans page shows how the grades are laid out across the ship.

Cabin Grades on Arvia

• Larger Inside Cabin (OA) — 15 m²: More floor space than the standard inside grades, giving noticeably more room.
• Family Sea View Suite (BA) — 40.3 m²: A private balcony is included — outdoor space not available in standard sea-view cabins.
• Deluxe Balcony Cabin (EA) — 20 m²: Your own balcony for fresh air and sea views, away from the shared decks.
• Suite (B4) — 40.3 m²: Around 40–49 m² of living space — dramatically more than any balcony or sea-view cabin, sleeping up to 4 guests.

Britannia — P&O Cruises

Britannia is a well-established P&O ship sailing from Southampton, offering a classic British cruising experience across a range of itineraries. The Britannia cabins and deck plans page covers the full range of cabin options if you are weighing up grades.

Queen Victoria — Cunard

Queen Victoria is home to the Royal Court Theatre — the first theatre at sea to feature private boxes — where West End-calibre productions run nightly. The largest ballroom at sea hosts Cunard’s Gala evenings with a live orchestra, and white-gloved afternoon tea is served daily. Dining is tiered across Britannia, Princess Grill and Queen’s Grill restaurants, making Queen Victoria the most traditional class-dining experience at sea. Browse the Queen Victoria cabins and deck plans before you book.

Aurora — P&O Cruises

Aurora is a mid-sized, classic ship with a distinctly British feel. She sails from Southampton and offers a more intimate sailing experience compared to P&O’s larger vessels. See the Aurora cabins and deck plans for cabin options.

Ambience — Ambassador Cruise Line

Ambience is Ambassador Cruise Line’s flagship, offering a traditional, smaller-ship experience from the UK. For a closer look at what is on board, the Ambience cabins and deck plans page covers the full cabin range.

Sailing from London or Southampton?

Some sailings leave from London itself — from Tilbury (London) — which is convenient if you are travelling from the south-east or the city. Southampton is a short journey away by road or rail and has a far wider choice of departures, so it is worth checking both. Southampton is the main hub for Cunard, P&O, Ambassador and the other lines.

Is a Caribbean Cruise a Good Holiday for Solo Travellers?

Several cabin grades are specifically designed for solo cruisers. Queen Mary 2’s Britannia Solo cabin (grade KB, 16.5 m²) is built exclusively for solo travellers with no single supplement, giving full Britannia-class service without the extra cost that solo passengers often face. Our team can advise on which sailings and which lines offer the most solo-friendly fares — it is worth a conversation before you book.

What Can I Do at the Ports?

Caribbean itineraries typically give you full days ashore in port, and how you spend them is entirely up to you. Going independently is always an option; joining an organised shore excursion is the easier choice if you want to make the most of limited time in a new place. Some lines, including Cunard, include complimentary shuttle buses at ports as part of certain fare tiers. Our team can also arrange tours as part of your overall holiday package — particularly useful when a voyage ends abroad and you want a few days’ sightseeing before flying home.

Make It a Complete Holiday

We are cruise specialists — every offer is a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package. Our team can build flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance around your cruise, as a bundle or a fully custom holiday. If your voyage ends in Barbados, Antigua, New York or elsewhere abroad, we sort the flight home and any nights you want either side, all on one booking. Explore our Cruise1st Packages for ready-built options, or call us and we will put something together for your trip specifically.

Rated 4.5/5 on Trustpilot from over 7,000 reviews, and fully ABTA and ATOL protected, Cruise1st has been helping UK travellers book Caribbean cruises for years. Browse all cruises from the UK if you want to compare this region with others, or see our cheap round-the-world cruises from the UK if a longer voyage appeals. For no-fly options closer to home, Norwegian fjords cruises from the UK are another popular choice from Southampton. If you are thinking about a longer voyage, world cruises from the UK cover the extended programmes in more detail.

*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.