Yes, you can spend Christmas at sea without going near an airport. Several cruise lines sail from Southampton through December, from short Christmas market trips to Hamburg, Le Havre and Zeebrugge to longer winter-sun voyages to Madeira and the Canary Islands. The best-value dates are usually early December. Sailings that cover Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve cost noticeably more and sell out first. When we checked on 14 November 2026, Christmas cruises from Southampton started from £377 per person for 6 nights, and the 8-night Christmas and New Year sailing was from £900 per person.
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Christmas cruises from Southampton at a glance
- Cheapest we found: MSC Preziosa, 6 nights from 18 December 2026, from £377pp. You are home on Christmas Eve.
- Christmas Day on board: MSC Preziosa’s 8-night Christmas & New Year Getaway from 24 December 2026, from £900pp.
- Winter sun: P&O Britannia, 14 nights to Madeira, the Canaries and Lisbon from 7 December 2027, from £800pp.
- Christmas markets: early and mid-December sailings call at ports such as Hamburg, Le Havre, Zeebrugge and Rotterdam.
- Book early: the Christmas week and New Year sailings are the most expensive and the first to fill.
Christmas cruises from Southampton in December 2026
These are the December 2026 no-fly sailings from Southampton we found at Cruise Nation. All four are on MSC Preziosa and sail to northern European ports, so think festive markets and cosy days at sea rather than sunshine.
| Cruise | Departs | From |
|---|---|---|
| 7-night Northern Cities & Culture MSC Preziosa · Early-December markets trip View deal |
Fri 4 Dec 2026 | £412pp |
| 7-night Iconic European Cities MSC Preziosa · Christmas markets season; back 18 Dec View deal |
Fri 11 Dec 2026 | £399pp |
| 6-night Northern Pearls MSC Preziosa · Back on Christmas Eve View deal |
Fri 18 Dec 2026 | £377pp |
| 8-night Christmas & New Year Getaway MSC Preziosa · Christmas and New Year on board View deal |
Thu 24 Dec 2026 | £900pp |
If you want to be home for Christmas Day, the 6-night sailing from 18 December gets back on Christmas Eve. The 24 December sailing is the one to pick if you want to wake up on board on Christmas morning and see in the New Year at sea.
Christmas and New Year cruises from Southampton in 2027
Planning further ahead often means a better choice of cabins. These December 2027 sailings from Southampton were already on sale when we checked:
| Cruise | Departs | From |
|---|---|---|
| 6-night Northern Europe P&O Britannia · Le Havre and Hamburg View deal |
Wed 1 Dec 2027 | £464pp |
| 14-night Madeira, Canary Islands & Lisbon P&O Britannia · Winter sun, back 21 Dec View deal |
Tue 7 Dec 2027 | £800pp |
| 7-night Northern Europe MSC Preziosa · Le Havre and Zeebrugge View deal |
Sun 12 Dec 2027 | £509pp |
| 7-night Northern Europe MSC Preziosa · Christmas Day on board View deal |
Sun 19 Dec 2027 | £843pp |
| 7-night Northern Europe MSC Preziosa · New Year’s Eve on board View deal |
Sun 26 Dec 2027 | £949pp |
For Christmas Day on board in 2027, look at MSC Preziosa’s 7-night sailing from 19 December. The 26 December sailing covers New Year’s Eve and returns on 2 January. P&O’s 14-night Britannia voyage from 7 December is back in Southampton on 21 December, in time for Christmas at home after two weeks of winter sun.
Which kind of Christmas cruise suits you?
Christmas markets cruises
Short sailings to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France are the most popular December cruises from Southampton. Hamburg’s Christmas markets are a favourite, and calls at Zeebrugge often include a trip to Bruges. Our guide to MSC Christmas markets cruises from Southampton goes through the ports in more detail. Pack warm layers: the North Sea is cold and can be choppy in December.
Winter-sun cruises to the Canaries and Madeira
If you would rather swap the cold for sunshine, longer sailings head south to Madeira, the Canary Islands and Lisbon. They are usually 12 to 14 nights, because it takes a couple of days at sea to cross the Bay of Biscay in each direction. P&O and Fred. Olsen both offer Canaries and Madeira cruises around Christmas.
Christmas and New Year on board
Sailings that cover 25 December or 31 December are the most festive, and the most expensive. Expect decorated ships, a Christmas Day lunch, carols and special entertainment, plus a party or countdown at New Year. If the date matters to you, check the exact day the ship is at sea or in port before you book.
Prefer to fly? Christmas fly-cruise deals
If you are happy to fly, December fly-cruises to the Mediterranean and the Canaries add a hotel stay before you sail. These were among the Christmas deals listed at Cruise Nation when we checked:
| Cruise | Departs | From |
|---|---|---|
| 2 nights in Rome + 7-night Western Mediterranean Hotel stay plus cruise View deal |
Tue 15 Dec 2026 | £649pp |
| 2 nights in Nice + 7-night Western Mediterranean Christmas Christmas in the Med View deal |
Fri 18 Dec 2026 | £779pp |
| 3 nights in Tenerife + 7-night Canaries & Madeira Winter sun View deal |
Thu 17 Dec 2026 | £799pp |
Check the departure airport and exactly what is included before you book.
Tips for booking a Christmas cruise from Southampton
- Book as early as you can. The Christmas and New Year sailings are the first to sell out, and the cheaper inside cabins go first.
- Compare the total cost. Prices shown are per person, based on two sharing. Check whether gratuities and drinks packages are included.
- Bring your passport. December sailings from Southampton call at ports outside the UK.
- Plan the journey to the port. Our guide to driving to Southampton cruise terminal covers the postcodes and routes, and our Southampton cruise parking guide compares car parks. Book parking early for the Christmas week.
- Allow for winter weather. Give yourself extra time on the roads, and accept that a port call can be changed or cancelled in bad weather.
Frequently asked questions
Are there Christmas cruises from Southampton?
Yes. Several cruise lines sail from Southampton in December, including MSC and P&O. Options range from 6- and 7-night Christmas market cruises to northern Europe to 14-night winter-sun voyages to Madeira and the Canaries.
How much does a Christmas cruise from Southampton cost?
When we checked in November 2026, December sailings from Southampton started from £377 per person for 6 nights. Sailings over Christmas Day and New Year started at around £843 to £949 per person for 7 to 8 nights. Prices change often, so check the live price.
Can I spend New Year on a cruise from Southampton?
Yes. MSC Preziosa’s 8-night sailing from 24 December 2026 and its 7-night sailing from 26 December 2027 both include New Year’s Eve on board.
What is the best Christmas cruise from the UK for Christmas markets?
Look for short sailings in early or mid-December that call at Hamburg, Zeebrugge (for Bruges), Rotterdam or Le Havre. They are usually cheaper than the Christmas week itself, and the markets are in full swing.
Prices were checked on 14 November 2026 and are per person, based on two sharing, for the lowest available cabin grade. They can change at any time. Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Looking for more ideas? See this week’s UK cruise deals, our Black Friday cruise deals and more UK cruise port guides.
