December Cruises from Southampton

What Can You Sail to from Southampton in December?

Southampton in December is one of the most versatile departure points in Britain. The port is within easy reach by road or rail from most of the country, so there is no airport queue and no check-in scramble — you simply arrive, board, and the sea does the rest. Sailings range from 4 nights to 31 nights, with a median of around 11 nights, meaning there is something here whether you want a short festive break or a proper winter escape. Most sailings return to Southampton; a small number — including some transatlantic crossings — end in New York or Hamburg, so a flight home is needed for those, and Cruise1st can book that leg alongside your cruise.

Where Do December Sailings from Southampton Go?

Round Britain and Festive Coastal Voyages

The largest share of December departures from Southampton stays closer to home, exploring the English coastline and British waters. These sailings are a natural fit for anyone who wants a proper festive atmosphere at sea — decorated ships, Christmas dinners in the restaurant, New Year’s Eve sailings with parties on deck — without travelling far from home. You can come by train or car, board in the afternoon, and be at sea that evening. If you have never tried a winter coastal sailing, this is the gentlest introduction there is.

The Canary Islands — Sunshine in December

The second busiest direction from Southampton in December is the Canary Islands. These sailings typically take around two weeks and head south past the Iberian coast, calling at island ports before returning to Southampton. It is the classic British winter-sun cruise: warm days, unhurried ports, and the comfort of a large British-flagged or internationally recognised ship. P&O Cruises and Cunard Line both have Canary Islands departures this December, and P&O Canary Islands cruises in particular have a long following among British travellers.

Portugal

A handful of December sailings from Southampton call along the Portuguese coast, often as part of a longer Iberian itinerary. Portugal in December is mild and far quieter than in summer, which suits travellers who prefer to see a place rather than a crowd. These sailings pair well with the Canary Islands route and are worth considering if you want a port call with a different character alongside the islands.

Transatlantic Crossings and Beyond

For something more ambitious, a handful of December departures make transatlantic crossings, and one sailing reaches the Caribbean. The transatlantic sailings are predominantly operated by Cunard aboard Queen Mary 2, which was purpose-built for the North Atlantic crossing and handles winter seas in a way no converted cruise ship quite manages. These itineraries end in New York or Hamburg rather than returning to Southampton, so factor in the return journey — our team can arrange flights, hotels and transfers to complete the trip. If you are drawn to a longer crossing, our transatlantic cruises page has the full picture, and New York cruises from Southampton gives you the Cunard-specific options in detail.

Which Cruise Lines Sail from Southampton in December?

Four cruise lines sail from Southampton in December, each with a distinct character. Cunard leads the fleet by sailing count this month, followed closely by P&O Cruises. Cruise1st Packages also feature, combining the cruise with flights, hotels and transfers as a single holiday. Here is a brief guide to what each line offers.

Cunard — White Star Service and Ocean Liner Tradition

Cunard operates the most December departures from Southampton, and the fleet includes some of the most distinctive ships afloat. Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only purpose-built ocean liner — not a cruise ship adapted for the crossing, but a vessel engineered from the keel up for the North Atlantic. On board, the first planetarium at sea, called Illuminations, hosts stargazing shows alongside cinema screenings and lectures. Six speciality restaurants, a Royal Court Theatre with West End-calibre productions, and nightly ballroom dancing in the Queens Room give you a full evening’s programme every night at sea.

Queen Victoria brings her own character: the Royal Court Theatre is the first at sea to feature private boxes, the largest ballroom afloat hosts Cunard’s Gala evenings with a live orchestra, and tiered dining across Britannia, Princess Grill and Queen’s Grill restaurants makes this the most traditional class-dining experience sailing today. Check the Queen Victoria cabins and deck plans if you are weighing up grades.

Queen Anne joined the fleet in 2024, completing Cunard’s four-Queens lineup. She brings Art Deco interiors and British White Star Service in a freshly designed hull. The Mareel Wellness Spa spans an entire upper deck, with a Himalayan Salt Sauna, cold therapy room, hydrotherapy pool and a glass-domed Pavilion pool venue. Dining runs to 15 restaurants, among them Sir Samuel’s steakhouse, Aji Wa Japanese dining, and the Golden Lion pub, which is helmed by Michelin-starred chef Michael Roux. See the Queen Anne cabins and deck plans before you decide on a grade.

Cunard fare tiers offer genuine flexibility. The standard Cunard Fare includes a choice of stateroom number, priority for upgrades, a low 15% deposit with a flexible balance payment date, the ability to amend your booking up to the balance due date, and complimentary shuttle buses at ports. If you book late, the Saver fare gives you the lowest available price in return for paying in full on booking and accepting a pre-allocated stateroom — a straightforward trade-off if you are not particular about cabin position. Fare types such as on-board credit packages, coach transfers and car parking bundles are also available on selected Cunard sailings. See all Cunard sailings from Southampton for the current range.

P&O Cruises — Classic British Cruising

P&O Cruises brings the largest selection of ships to Southampton in December. Aurora is the classic mid-sized P&O ship with a distinctly British character — unhurried, comfortable, and well suited to European coastal itineraries. She sails straight from Southampton, so there is no need for a connecting flight or a transfer. If you want more space, see the Aurora cabins and deck plans for the grade breakdown.

Iona is P&O’s largest ship, offering a wide range of dining, entertainment and cabin grades. The Iona cabins and deck plans page shows the full layout. Ventura rounds out the P&O fleet on these December departures — check the Ventura cabins and deck plans for cabin options. Arcadia is also in the mix; her cabins and deck plans are worth a look if you prefer an adults-only environment. P&O Cruises from Southampton covers the full year-round programme if December doesn’t suit.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines — Smaller Ships, More Ports

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines brings 4 December sailings and operates smaller ships than Cunard or P&O, which means the line can call at ports that larger vessels cannot reach. If getting into the heart of a destination matters more to you than the ship’s onboard facilities, Fred Olsen is worth a close look.

MSC Cruises — International Flair

MSC Cruises contributes 4 December sailings, all aboard MSC Preziosa. Preziosa is defined by Swarovski crystal staircases and a cobbled Italian piazza running through her public spaces — a noticeably different aesthetic from the British lines. Vertigo, one of the longest waterslides at sea, sits alongside a 4D cinema, an F1 simulator, a Platinum Theatre and a bowling alley. At the top of the ship, the MSC Yacht Club delivers butler service, a private pool deck and exclusive dining for guests who want a ship-within-a-ship experience. Starlink Wi-Fi runs throughout. MSC Cruises from Southampton are detailed on the MSC Cruises from Southampton page.

MSC Preziosa Cabin Grades

• Deluxe Inside Cabin Fantastica — 16 m², sleeps up to 4. That is 4 m² more than the standard inside grade, which makes a real difference on a longer sailing.
• Premium Ocean View Fantastica — 20 m² with a window, 3 m² larger than the deluxe ocean-view option.
• Balcony Aurea — 18 m² cabin plus a 4 m² private balcony, larger than the standard balcony grades.
• Grand Suite Aurea — 38 m² with an espresso machine, premium minibar and walk-in wardrobe; sleeps up to 4.
• MSC Yacht Club Executive & Family Suite — 40 m² with a separate living room and up to 3 beds; the most spacious Yacht Club option for families.

See the full MSC Preziosa cabins and deck plans for deck-by-deck positions.

What Are the Queen Mary 2 Cabin Options?

Queen Mary 2 has one of the most varied cabin ranges afloat — from solo cabins with no single supplement to a two-storey suite. Here is a quick guide, ordered from the most compact to the most spacious:

• Britannia Inside cabin HB (atrium view) — 14.8 m², sleeps 2. The only inside cabin with a view into the ship’s atrium, which is brighter and more open than a standard inside grade.
• Britannia Solo cabin KB — 16.5 m², designed for 1 guest with no single supplement. Full Britannia comfort for a solo traveller.
• Britannia Balcony cabin BU (covered loggia) — 25 m² with a sheltered loggia rather than an open balcony, so you get fresh air and sea views even in variable weather.
• Queens Grill Grand Duplex Suite Q1 — 208.9 m² across two storeys; the largest suite on board, more than twice the size of any other Queens Grill option.

The full range, including mid-tier Britannia Club and Princess Grill grades, is on the Queen Mary 2 cabins and deck plans page.

What Do Aurora’s Cabins Look Like?

Aurora has a compact but well-considered range. In order from inside to suite:

• Larger Inside Cabin OA — 16 m², sleeps 2. Around 2 m² more floor space than the standard inside grade.
• Larger Sea View Cabin KB — 16 m² with a sea-facing window; again, 2 m² more than the standard sea-view option.
• Deluxe Balcony Cabin EA — 23 m², noticeably more floor space than the entry-level balcony grade.
• Suite B1 — 48 m² with dedicated butler service included; personalised in-suite attention that is not available in any balcony or sea-view grade.

Deck positions and the full cabin breakdown are on the Aurora cabins and deck plans page.

Are There Christmas and New Year Cruises from Southampton?

Yes — December departures from Southampton include Christmas sailings and voyages that carry passengers through New Year’s Eve at sea. Festive sailings are popular with families who want to avoid the effort of hosting at home, and with couples who prefer a ship’s party atmosphere on 31 December to a local venue. Ships are decorated for the season and typically serve a full Christmas dinner and a New Year’s Eve celebration. If you want something shorter — a long weekend or a 4- or 5-night mini break over the festive period — our Christmas mini cruise from Southampton page covers the compact options.

For all-inclusive pricing over Christmas, where drinks, gratuities and selected extras are bundled into the fare, the all-inclusive Southampton Christmas cruises page lists those sailings specifically. And if you are already thinking about Christmas at sea in the following year, Christmas cruises 2027 and all-inclusive Southampton Christmas cruises 2027 are also available to browse and book.

Broader Christmas cruise options across all UK ports are on our Christmas cruises from the UK page, and the complete Christmas cruises 2026 programme covers every departure regardless of port.

How Much Do December Cruises from Southampton Cost?

Prices start from £427 pp* for a December departure from Southampton. Most sailings on the programme carry a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade — on a small number of departures the saving reaches up to 24%, though a saving of that size applies to a single departure; more typical reductions across reduced sailings run at around 6%. It is worth checking the individual sailing rather than assuming the headline discount applies across the board.

Cunard’s Saver fare — which requires full payment at the time of booking in exchange for a pre-allocated stateroom — is a straightforward route to the lowest price if you are flexible about your exact cabin position and ready to travel soon. For the widest range of price points at short notice, our last minute cruises from Southampton page is updated regularly.

Why Book Your December Cruise with Cruise1st?

As one of the UK’s leading cruise specialists, Cruise1st has expert knowledge of every line and ship sailing from Southampton this December — not the kind of general travel agent overview you get from a high-street booking, but real familiarity with how Queen Mary 2’s grades differ from Cunard’s entry price, or why a Fred Olsen sailing might suit someone who has done the Canary Islands on a large ship before.

Every departure from Southampton is a no-fly cruise — you can drive or take the train directly to the terminal, and our team can arrange parking or a train transfer as part of the booking. For the 3 one-way sailings that end in New York or Hamburg, we can book flights home, hotels either side and transfers, so the return journey is handled in the same booking as the cruise. That kind of joined-up arrangement is what our Cruise1st Packages are built for.

Our team is on the phone before you book, ready to talk through cabin grades, fare tiers and what each line’s inclusions actually mean in practice. Rated 4.5/5 on Trustpilot from over 7,000 reviews, and backed by ABTA and ATOL protection, Cruise1st gives you genuine peace of mind alongside the booking. Browse all cruises from Southampton or the broader cruise programme if you want to compare December with other months.

Top December Cruise Options and Alternatives

December is one of the month’s most in-demand periods from Southampton, but if the sailings here do not align with your dates or budget, there are strong alternatives nearby. November cruises and November sailings from Southampton cover the month before, with a similar mix of Canary Islands and coastal routes. Once the new year begins, January cruises are one of the most popular months to sail — prices can ease after the festive peak and ships are quieter. For anyone planning further ahead, December cruises from Southampton in 2027 are already bookable.

If you want a longer sailing — or something that goes further — our world cruises from Southampton page covers extended voyages that depart from the same terminal. And for a quick break without a full commitment, 3-day mini cruises from Southampton make excellent use of a long weekend in December. 2027 sailings from Southampton are also available across all seasons if you are planning well ahead.

December cruises across all UK ports, not just Southampton, are on the wider December cruises page. And for a broader look at the season, our winter cruises programme runs from November through to February across every fleet and departure point. All-inclusive Christmas and New Year cruises for 2027 are another option worth bookmarking early.

*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.