Cruises from Southampton in December 2027

What Can You Expect from a December 2027 Southampton Cruise?

December from Southampton is one of the most varied months in the cruising calendar. Sailings range from 4-night festive short breaks to 33-night ocean crossings, with a median of around 12 nights — long enough for a proper holiday without committing to a world voyage. Almost all sailings return to Southampton, so there is no one-way logistics puzzle to solve. The 2 one-way departures that end elsewhere do require a flight home, but our team can arrange that alongside hotels and transfers so it stays one tidy booking.

Where Do December 2027 Southampton Cruises Go?

Closer to Home: England and the British Isles

The largest share of December departures stays closer to home, exploring the coastline of England and the British Isles. These are the sailings that suit a festive break — a few nights at sea over Christmas, often with themed dining and on-board celebrations, before returning to Southampton refreshed. If you have never tried a short cruise, this is the easiest way to start: no airport, no early morning taxi, just drive or take the train to the port.

Canary Islands Cruises

The Canary Islands are the second most popular choice in December, and it is easy to see why: these Atlantic island sailings put you well clear of northern European winter while still departing from Southampton without a flight. Itineraries in this region typically run around two weeks, giving you time to explore the islands properly. If you want to look at Canary Islands cruises across the whole of 2027, or prefer a fly-cruise version, we have dedicated pages for both.

Transatlantic Crossings

A handful of December sailings cross the Atlantic — proper ocean crossings rather than island-hopping, and a world apart from flying. Queen Mary 2 is purpose-built for the North Atlantic and is the natural choice here: see the ship section below for what makes her different from a converted cruise ship. Two of these crossings disembark in New York, so a flight home is needed — our team can book it, along with any hotels and transfers at either end. You can also browse all transatlantic cruises in 2027 or look specifically at P&O’s transatlantic programme for 2027.

Western Mediterranean and North Africa

For something further south and more sun-certain, there are sailings heading into the Western Mediterranean and towards North Africa. These round-trip itineraries return to Southampton, so the no-fly benefit applies throughout.

Caribbean

There is also a sailing reaching the Caribbean — a longer voyage for anyone wanting to spend part of December genuinely far from home. Check the sailing details for the disembarkation port, as longer itineraries of this kind may be one-way.

Which Cruise Lines Sail from Southampton in December 2027?

P&O Cruises leads the December programme by number of departures, followed closely by Cunard. Cunard is particularly strong if you are drawn to the transatlantic crossings or a classic ocean liner experience. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines adds a smaller-ship alternative, and MSC Cruises also has a December departure from Southampton in 2027. Between them, the four lines cover a wide range of styles, ship sizes and itinerary lengths — which is where expert advice from our team makes a real difference rather than booking blind.

If you want to focus on a single line, we have dedicated pages for P&O Cruises 2027 departures from Southampton and for MSC Cruises from Southampton in 2027.

The Ships Sailing in December 2027

Ventura — P&O Cruises

Christened by Dame Helen Mirren, Ventura has sailed from Southampton since 2008 and remains one of P&O’s most popular ships. More than 60% of her cabins feature balconies, so the odds of waking up to a sea view are firmly in your favour. On board, The Glass House by Olly Smith is the place for wine-matched small plates, Sindhu delivers British-Indian fusion, and The Epicurean offers a fine-dining menu built around British ingredients. The Arena Theatre runs West End-style productions nightly, with the Havana late-night club and nine bars keeping things lively after the show.

Ventura’s cabin grades range from a 16 m² Larger Inside Cabin through a 15 m² Sea View Cabin and a 29 m² Superior Deluxe Balcony Cabin up to the 69 m² Penthouse Suite — the largest suite grade available on board. See the full options on the Ventura cabins and deck plans page.

• Larger Inside Cabin OB — 16 m², sleeps 2. A touch more floor space than the standard inside grade, without the sea-view price premium.
• Sea View Cabin LB — 15 m², sleeps 2. Natural light and an unobstructed sea view — the defining step up from an inside cabin.
• Superior Deluxe Balcony Cabin DA — 29 m², sleeps 2. Your own private outdoor space, ideal for watching port approaches from deck.
• Penthouse Suite A1 — 69 m², sleeps 2. More than twice the floor space of a standard suite and the largest grade available on Ventura.

Britannia — P&O Cruises

Named by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015, Britannia is the most quintessentially British ship afloat, sailing year-round from Southampton. Thirteen restaurants and cafés on board carry menus contributed by Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and James Martin — a dining line-up that would hold its own on shore. Evenings centre on the Headliners Theatre with its LED immersive technology, the Limelight Club cabaret, and the Crystal Room. For cabin grades and deck layouts, the Britannia cabins and deck plans page has everything you need.

Queen Mary 2 — Cunard

Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only ocean liner — built specifically for the North Atlantic crossing, not adapted from a cruise ship hull. That distinction matters at sea in December: her deeper draft, reinforced bow and more powerful engines make for a steadier crossing than a cruise ship of equivalent size. On board, Illuminations is the first planetarium at sea, hosting stargazing shows, cinema screenings and lectures. Six speciality restaurants, the Royal Court Theatre with West End-calibre productions, and nightly ballroom dancing in the Queens Room give you something to look forward to each evening. The Queen Mary 2 cabins and deck plans page covers the full range from Britannia Inside to the Grand Duplex Suite.

• Britannia Inside Cabin HB — 14.8 m², sleeps 2. The only inside cabin with a view into Queen Mary 2’s impressive atrium — brighter and more open than a standard inside.
• Britannia Solo Cabin KB (outside) — 16.5 m², sleeps 1. Designed for solo travellers with no single supplement and full Britannia comfort.
• Britannia Balcony Cabin BU (covered loggia) — 25 m², sleeps 2. A sheltered loggia rather than an open balcony, giving you covered outdoor space in all weathers.
• Queens Grill Grand Duplex Suite Q1 — 208.9 m², sleeps 2. A two-storey maisonette with more than 200 m² of private living space — the largest suite on board.

Cunard’s fare options are worth understanding before you book. The Cunard Fare gives you choice of stateroom number, priority for upgrades, a low 15% deposit, flexible balance payment, the ability to amend your booking up to the balance due date, and complimentary shuttle buses at ports. It is available on all sailings regardless of when you book, and comes in versions that bundle on-board credit, coach travel to Southampton, or car parking. If you prefer to pay in full upfront and take a pre-allocated stateroom, the Saver fare offers the line’s lowest available price on later availability. Our team can talk you through which fits your situation.

You can also explore Cunard Queen Mary 2 world cruises in 2027 if a longer voyage appeals.

Queen Anne — Cunard

Launched in 2024, Queen Anne is Cunard’s newest ship and the most recent addition to the four-Queens fleet. She brings Art Deco interiors and Cunard’s signature British White Star Service in a contemporary package. The Mareel Wellness Spa spans an entire upper deck, with a Himalayan Salt Sauna, cold therapy room, hydrotherapy pool and the glass-domed Pavilion pool venue. Fifteen restaurants include Sir Samuel’s steakhouse, Aji Wa Japanese dining and the Golden Lion pub helmed by Michelin-starred chef Michael Roux. See Queen Anne’s cabins and deck plans for the full range of staterooms. You can also look at Cunard world cruises in 2027 for longer itinerary options across the fleet.

Queen Victoria — Cunard

Queen Victoria carries the Royal Court Theatre — the first theatre at sea to feature private boxes — where West End-calibre productions run nightly. She also holds the largest ballroom at sea, used for Cunard’s famous Gala evenings with a live orchestra, and for white-gloved afternoon tea service. The tiered dining across Britannia, Princess Grill and Queen’s Grill restaurants makes her the most traditionally class-structured dining experience in the fleet. Cabin options are detailed on the Queen Victoria cabins and deck plans page.

P&O Arcadia and Aurora

Arcadia and Aurora are both adults-only P&O ships, suited to anyone who wants a quieter atmosphere on board. Both sail from Southampton and offer a more traditional cruising experience. Full cabin details are on the Arcadia cabins and deck plans page and the Aurora cabins and deck plans page.

MSC Preziosa — MSC Cruises

MSC Preziosa is MSC’s contribution to the December Southampton programme. Her size means a wide range of dining and entertainment options on board. Cabin choices are covered on the MSC Preziosa cabins and deck plans page. For the broader MSC Cruises Southampton programme, see MSC Cruises from Southampton in 2027.

Are There Discounts on December 2027 Southampton Sailings?

Some December 2027 departures from Southampton are reduced from their previously listed cabin prices — up to 31% off on one departure, with most reduced sailings closer to around 10% off that cabin grade’s previous price. Fare types such as early-saver and last-minute offers appear across the lines, and Cunard’s Saver fare is specifically designed to give the lowest available price in exchange for a pre-allocated stateroom and full payment upfront. Our experts can tell you which sailings currently carry a reduction and which fare tier suits your booking style.

Looking for a Festive Short Break?

If a full two-week holiday is more than you need in December, there are shorter sailings from Southampton that work well as festive breaks. Christmas mini-cruises from Southampton are a popular choice — a few nights at sea with Christmas or New Year celebrations on board, returning before the new year. Durations start from 4 nights, so it is entirely possible to squeeze a cruise in around other December commitments.

How to Book Your December 2027 Southampton Cruise with Cruise1st

Cruise1st is one of the UK’s leading cruise specialists, and that means something practical when you are booking a December sailing: our experts know the difference between a Cunard Saver fare and a Cunard Fare with on-board credit, know which cabin grades on Ventura give you a balcony without the full suite price, and can tell you at a glance whether a particular departure is better value than it looks. Call us before you book and you get a real cruise expert on the phone, not a general travel agent reading from a brochure.

Because every departure here leaves from Southampton, you need no flight to join the ship. Most of Britain can reach Southampton by road or rail, making these genuinely no-fly holidays. If you want to make more of the trip — a hotel in Southampton the night before, transfers from your home, travel insurance, or even a Cruise1st Package that wraps everything into one — we can put that together for you. For the 2 one-way sailings that end away from Southampton, we can also arrange the flight home and any hotels you need at the far end.

All bookings are protected by ABTA and ATOL, and Cruise1st holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.5/5 from more than 7,000 reviews.

Browse the full range of 2027 cruises from Southampton if you want to compare December against other months, or see what December 2026 from Southampton looked like for a sense of how the programme shapes up year on year. You can also look at everything we offer across all 2027 cruises.

Other Departure Months and Related Pages

December is one of the most distinctive months to sail from Southampton, but if your dates are flexible, the year-round programme is worth a look. P&O Cruises 2027 from Southampton and P&O Cruises across 2027 cover the full P&O calendar, while world cruises in 2027 from Southampton are there if you want something longer. For Mediterranean itineraries across 2027 more broadly, Mediterranean cruises in 2027 is the place to start.

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.