The Cruise Atlas Start Planning
Cruise ship beside palm trees on a sunny Caribbean beachSunny harbour with a cruise ship in bright blue waterMediterranean harbour with boats and blue seaCruise ship sailing through a green Norwegian fjord

Cruise planning for UK travellers

Plan your first or next cruise without the jargon.

The Cruise Atlas helps you choose the right cruise line, ship, port and route with plain-English guides, practical comparisons and honest cost checks.

Start PlanningCompare Cruise Ships
New cruiserStart with the basicsShip choiceCompare cruise shipsCruise lineFind your best fitPort planningPlan the journey to the shipReal costCheck the extras

Destinations

Pick the place before the ship.

A good cruise starts with the kind of day you want ashore: beaches, old towns, fjords, food markets, warm evenings or easy no-fly sailing from the UK.

Palm trees on a tropical beach with turquoise water

Destination

Caribbean Cruises Guide

A UK traveller guide to Caribbean cruise routes, best months, island styles, cruise lines, hurricane season and practical booking tips.

Read guide
 Boats and buildings beside the sea in Santorini

Destination

Mediterranean Cruises Guide

Compare Mediterranean cruise routes, ports, seasons and cruise lines for a practical first cruise or culture-focused sailing.

Read guide
 Cruise ship sailing through a Norwegian fjord

Destination

Norwegian Fjords Cruises Guide

Plan a Norwegian Fjords cruise with advice on scenic routes, ports, cabins, weather, packing and who this peaceful itinerary suits best.

Read guide

Cruise ports

Know where the ship actually starts.

Airport distance, terminal location, hotels and city transfers can change the real cost and comfort of a cruise.

Browse Cruise Ports
Southampton cruise terminal and waterfront

Cruise Port

Southampton Cruise Port Guide

Where Southampton cruise port is, how to get there, which terminals to check, where to stay and what to do before a cruise.

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 Cruise ships docked at Barcelona cruise terminal

Cruise Port

Barcelona Cruise Port Guide

Where Barcelona cruise port is, how to get from the airport, terminal tips, where to stay and the best things to do before sailing.

Read guide
 Cruise ships docked at Civitavecchia port

Cruise Port

Rome Civitavecchia Cruise Port Guide

Where Civitavecchia cruise port is, how to get to Rome, airport transfer tips, where to stay and what to do before a cruise.

Read guide

Cruise ship finder

Find the ship that fits your holiday.

Search 64 popular and UK-relevant cruise ships by cruise line, size, launch year, passenger capacity and travel style.

Open Ship FinderCompare Lines
P&O Arvia cruise ship near Marseille P&O Cruises Arvia P&O Iona cruise ship in Cadiz P&O Cruises Iona Queen Mary 2 ocean liner in port Cunard Queen Mary 2 Icon of the Seas cruise ship Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas Swimming pool on the deck of a large cruise ship Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas MSC Virtuosa cruise ship MSC Cruises MSC Virtuosa Cruise ship docked at a port MSC Cruises MSC World Asia Celebrity Apex cruise ship Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Apex Cruise ship sailing at sunset Princess Cruises Star Princess

Cruise lines

Match the ship to your travel style

Big ships, premium dining, family facilities, quieter itineraries and no-fly departures all suit different travellers. Comparison pages keep the choice practical.

Compare Cruise Lines
1STBeginner shortlistBest Cruise Lines for First-Time CruisersCompare the best cruise lines for first-time cruisers by traveller type, including families, couples, no-fly UK travellers, food lovers, adults-only holidays and value seekers.SOUSouthampton choiceBest Cruise Lines from SouthamptonCompare the best cruise lines from Southampton for UK travellers, including P&O, Cunard, Princess, Royal Caribbean, MSC, Celebrity, Norwegian, Ambassador and Disney.P&OUK no-fly cruisesP&O CruisesA practical guide to P&O Cruises for UK travellers, covering no-fly routes, onboard style, dining, cabins, drinks and who it suits.RCBig ships & familiesRoyal Caribbean CruisesWho Royal Caribbean suits best, including families, big ships, entertainment, dining, cabins, private islands and value considerations.MSCValue & EuropeMSC CruisesA practical MSC Cruises guide covering value, ship style, families, dining, Mediterranean routes, drinks packages and costs to check.CCPremium couplesCelebrity CruisesCelebrity Cruises review for UK travellers, covering who it suits, ships, cabins, dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, Southampton sailings, packages and value.MAAll-inclusive fly-cruiseMarella CruisesA practical Marella Cruises guide for UK travellers, covering all-inclusive fly-cruises, flights, transfers, drinks, cabins, dining and who it suits.CUClassic ocean travelCunard LineWho Cunard suits best, including Queen Mary 2, transatlantic crossings, formal evenings, dining, cabins, Southampton departures and value.

First-time cruisers

Know what matters before you book.

Learn how cabins, drinks packages, gratuities, embarkation, excursions and sea days really work.

Read Beginner Guide

Budget checks

The cheap cruise is not always the cheapest trip.

Before you celebrate a bargain fare, add parking, hotels, drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions, tips and transfers. That is where the real comparison lives.

Travel Extras

Compare airport parking, hotels, lounges, excursions, luggage and packing products before you sail.

Compare the Extras

Plan without the panic

New to cruising? Start with the simple stuff.

Cabins, drinks, gratuities and embarkation can sound more complicated than they are. These two guides explain the bits people usually wish they had known before booking.