9 of the best round the UK cruises for 2021

Cruise holidays are back for vaccinated Brits this summer. While cruise lines are keeping it local there’s the chance to explore exciting spots from the Isles of Scilly to Scotland – or simply stay onboard for fabulous food and entertainment at sea.

With departures from a huge range of ports including Dover, Newcastle, Tilbury, Liverpool and Southampton this summer, there's no need to brave an airport if you want a holiday that feels like a proper getaway.

We take a look at nine cruise lines to find out what UK trips they're offering and when – plus the booking and COVID requirements to keep everyone onboard safe.

1. Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Silhouette returns to Southampton with a Kelly Hoppen interiors upgrade for six, seven and eight-night UK round-trips in July and August, sailing at a capacity of 50%.

One of the suites onboard Celebrity Silhouette (Image: Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises) Courtesy of Michel Verdure/Celebrity Cruises

One of the best is an eight-nighter calling at Liverpool before heading to Scotland for Greenock (a train hop from Glasgow), Kirkwall on Orkney (with its UNESCO-listed stone circles and tombs) and Inverness for Loch Ness (pictured below) and the Highlands.

Loch Ness (Image: nitsawan katerattanakul/Shutterstock) nitsawan katerattanakul/Shutterstock

Celebrity’s new Always Included policy means drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities for all.

Any requirements? Guests over-18 must be fully vaccinated while children aged 2-17 need a negative PCR test.

Details: An eight-night UK cruise round-trip from Southampton costs from £1,449pp, based on two sharing, departing 6 August; book at Celebrity Cruises.

READ MORE: Unusual places to stay in the UK

2. Virgin Voyages

Long-awaited Scarlet Lady has abandoned its US launch and Caribbean cruises for a UK Summer Soirée of staycations-at-sea.

From August it hosts three and four-night coastal voyages from Portsmouth, giving Brits the first chance to sample what Virgin Voyages are calling an “Epic Sea Change” in cruise style.

Scarlet Lady, Virgin Voyages (Image: Courtesy of Virgin Voyages) Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

With limited capacity and no port stops, Virgin promises DJs, live music, sunrise and sunset yoga plus 20 restaurants including vegan, Mexican, Korean barbecue and street food at no extra charge.

There are no gratuities or Wi-Fi fees either and this adults-only ship’s outlandish cabins include Rock Star Quarters and Mega Rock Star suites.

Any requirements? Fully vaccinated over-18 UK residents only, thermal imaging before boarding, masks mandatory in public spaces.

Details: A three-night Long Weekender costs from £499pp, based on two sharing, departing 13 August; book at Virgin Voyages.

3. Princess Cruises

Regal Princess and Sky Princess's OceanMedallion system means you can board, open your cabin door, order drinks and book restaurants and events using an app.

This summer’s cruises, with limited capacity, include seven-day return trips from Southampton calling at Liverpool, Belfast, Greenock and Portland, Dorset.

Regal Princess (Images: Courtesy of Princess Cruises) Courtesy of Princess Cruises

For extra protection guests can only visit ports on organised excursions, including the Lake District (pictured below) from Liverpool, Giant’s Causeway from Belfast and Loch Lomond from Glasgow.

Buttermere in the Lake District (Image: Michael Conrad/Shutterstock) Michael Conrad/Shutterstock

Next year British Isles cruises are expected to return to 12 nights, taking in Guernsey, Cork, Dublin and Le Havre as well as three Scottish ports.

Any requirements? UK-resident fully vaccinated guests only. Masks required where social distancing cannot be observed. Travel insurance mandatory.

Details: A seven-night Summer Seacation costs £689pp, based on two sharing, or £899 with an all-inclusive option, departing 23 September; book at Princess Cruises.

READ MORE: Our guide to Guernsey

4. Marella Cruises

Marella Explorer’s Sail The South Coast from Southampton calls at Dover for excursions to Canterbury (pictured) and Portland for Abbotsbury Swannery and Gardens.

Canterbury with Marella Cruises (Image: Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock) Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock

Explorer 2, below, offers a seven-night British Delights cruise from Newcastle calling at Greenock, Holyhead in north Wales, Dundee and Leith near Edinburgh.

Marella Explorer 2 (Image: Courtesy of Tui/Marella Cruises) Courtesy of Tui/Marella Cruises

Marella Explorer is the bigger of the two ships with 10 restaurants and 10 bars, a sun deck pool, spa, theatre, cinema and sports deck. It has UK itineraries June to September while adults-only Explorer 2 has UK trips July to September.

To reduce capacity no inside cabins will be used on either ship.

Any requirements? Over-18s must be fully vaccinated, under-18s must have a negative test result, under twos cannot sail.

Details: A three-night Sail The South Coast costs £399pp based on two sharing, departing 25 and 28 June; a seven-night British Delights cruise costs £855pp based on two sharing, departing 6 August; book at Tui.

5. Disney Cruise Line

Disney Magic’s two, three and four-night UK staycation cruises have reduced capacity but a full cast of Disney characters for non-stop fun including Broadway-quality shows and fireworks at sea – even on two-night trips from Tilbury, Southampton, Newcastle and Liverpool.

Captain Minnie Mouse onboard (Images: Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line) Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

All cruises are round-trips and there are no ports calls but there’s plenty to do including kids’ clubs, pools, waterslides and splash zones plus Disney movie screenings. There are adult-only lounges, live music, nightclubs, gym, pool and whirlpool. Dining experiences are particularly entertaining.

Disney Magic cruise ship (Image: Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line) Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Any requirements? UK residents only. Fully vaccinated adults and under-18s with a negative test result. All guests must take an antigen test at the terminal. Daily temperature and health checks. Masks required, testing available.

Details: A two-night UK Staycation costs £645pp based on two sharing, departing 29 September; book at Disney Cruise.

6. Hurtigruten

Expedition cruises on the Norwegian-based line’s refurbished MS Maud will explore off the beaten track destinations such as Rathlin Island, near the Giant’s Causeway on Northern Ireland’s Antrim coast, the white sand beaches of Iona and Staffa islands, Fishguard in Pembrokeshire and the Isles of Scilly (pictured below).

Ruined abbey on Tresco, Isles of Scilly (Image: Kath Watson/Shutterstock) Kath Watson/Shutterstock

Two 13-day returns from Dover with 10 possible landings include an English-speaking team for expeditions and lectures. Excursions, Wi-Fi and mealtime drinks are included and there are restricted guest numbers.

MS Maud Hurtigruten (Image: Courtesy of Hurtigruten) Courtesy of Hurtigruten

A similar 2022 itinerary will be available.

Any requirements? Negative test required before embarkation. Fever scan and rapid test upon embarkation and outside restaurants. Face masks and social distancing in public areas.

Details: A 13-day Remote Islands, Natural Wonders and A Diverse Coastline costs from £3,329pp, based on two sharing, departing 15 August and 10 September; book at Hurtigruten.

7. Royal Caribbean

Anthem of the Seas is a destination in itself with bumper cars, roller-skating, skydiving and surfing simulators, loads of restaurants and nightly live entertainment.

Anthem of the Seas (Image: Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International) Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

So there’s plenty to do on non-stop four-night Ocean Getaway cruises. There are also five, six, seven and eight-night British Isles itineraries with calls at Liverpool, Belfast, Greenock and Kirkwall – depending on length.

All are return trips from Southampton at reduced capacity.

Any requirements? UK residents only from 7 July to 29 August. Over-18s must be fully vaccinated. Health questionnaire 24 hours before departure.

Details: A five-night British Isles Cruise to Belfast and Kirkwall costs from £599pp, based on two sharing, departing 15 July; book at Royal Caribbean.

8. Hebridean Island Cruises

One of the best off the beaten track operators, Hebridean Island Cruises specialises in sailing Scotland’s west coast from Oban.

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Fifty-guest Hebridean Princess is noted for its service and locally sourced food, plus walking tours over mountains, lochs and beaches. September’s Gaelic Heritage cruise also calls at Northern Ireland – Bangor, Belfast, Ardfern – and the Isle of Man’s Peel and Douglas. Laphroaig Distillery, Mount Stewart House, the Titanic Exhibition and other excursions included in the price.

Any requirements? Vaccinations required unless exempt. Lateral flow tests before and during the cruise. Masks in public areas.

Details: A seven-night Gaelic Heritage cruise costs from £4,930pp based on two sharing, departing 7 September; book at Hebridean.

9. P&O Cruises

New ship Iona (lead image) heads for the Scottish islands on its maiden season.

Its seven-night British Isles round-trips from Southampton get up close to namesake island Iona and hug the coast around the Isle of Mull, Sound of Jura, Isle of Arran and Fingal’s Cave.

Fingal's cave, Staffa, Scotland (Image: TTphoto/Shutterstock) TTphoto/Shutterstock

There are also seven-night Voyage To The Sun cruises around the Channel Isles and French coast until mid-September, all at 40% capacity.

There are no ports stops to visit but you can travel the world in restaurants featuring menus by Marco Pierre White, French pâtissier Eric Lanlard and Spanish chef José Pizarro.

Any requirements? Fully vaccinated UK residents only. Social distancing, travel insurance and masks mandatory, plus regular testing onboard.

Details: A seven-night Iona British Isles cruise costs from £1,598pp, based on two sharing, departing 21 August, round-trip from Southampton; book at P&O Cruises.

Main image: Courtesy of Herman-IJsseling/P&O Cruises