The Best Cruise Magazines in the UK (2026)

The best cruise magazines in the UK in 2026 are Cruise & Travel (formerly Cruise International), World of Cruising and the independent Sail Away for holiday inspiration, plus Ships Monthly and Shipping Today & Yesterday if you love the ships themselves. Most come out every two months or monthly, in print and digital editions, and several can be read for free or very cheaply if you know where to look.

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A lot has changed since the last round-up of cruise magazines UK readers could rely on. Some titles have been renamed, some have merged and a few have quietly disappeared. This guide covers what is actually still being published, how often it comes out, how to read it, and which magazine suits which kind of cruiser.

Cruise magazines in the UK at a glance

Details below were checked in October 2026. Publishers change schedules and prices often, so check before you subscribe.

The best cruise magazines for holidaymakers

1. Cruise & Travel (formerly Cruise International)

If you only buy one cruise magazine, this is the obvious starting point. It describes itself as the UK’s highest-selling cruise magazine and is published by The Chelsea Magazine Company. The title was long known as Cruise International, and you will still see that name on its app and on some digital newsstand listings, so don’t be confused if you search for one and find the other.

Each issue mixes ship reviews, destination features, news on new ships and itineraries, and practical advice for planning a cruise. It comes out six times a year, with occasional special editions such as an annual cruise planner. At the time of writing, single digital issues on Pocketmags were around £5.99 and the publisher’s own app offered a digital subscription of about £19.99 a year, though prices can change. Print copies are sold in larger newsagents and supermarkets, or by subscription.

2. World of Cruising

World of Cruising is a long-running UK title built around ship reviews, destination guides and planning tips. Its own website now offers the magazine as a digital edition, and its publisher lists six issues a year plus an annual cruise directory. It has often been distributed through cruise agents as well as by subscription, so you may already have been sent a copy if you have booked through a travel agent. Check the World of Cruising website for the current subscription options, as these have changed over time.

3. Sail Away

Sail Away is the newest name on this list. It launched in October 2023 as an independent UK cruise brand and has grown into a print magazine backed by a website, YouTube channel and podcasts. Because it is not owned by a large publishing group, it tends to have a chattier, more opinionated tone, including reader polls and an opinion supplement.

The print magazine comes out six times a year with a cover price of around £6.95. Subscription agent isubscribe listed a 12-month (six-issue) print subscription at £39.99 including delivery at the time of writing.

4. Your Holiday & Cruise Magazine

Published by Kent-based Atlantic Print Media, this is now an online magazine with a twice-yearly digital issue and regular email updates. It covers wider holidays as well as cruises, so it suits readers who split their time between land-based trips and sailings. It is a lighter read than the newsstand titles but a handy free source of ideas.

Magazines for ship lovers and maritime enthusiasts

Holiday magazines tell you where to go. These titles are for people who care about the ships: who built them, which ones are being renamed or sold, and how today’s fleets compare with the liners of the past.

5. Ships Monthly

Published by Kelsey Media, Ships Monthly calls itself Britain’s best-selling monthly magazine for ship lovers. It covers cruise ships alongside ferries, merchant ships and naval vessels, with plenty of photography and fleet news. It is a good choice if you like knowing what is happening behind the brochures, such as new ship deliveries, ships moving between brands and older vessels heading for scrap. Print and digital editions are available.

6. Shipping Today & Yesterday

This monthly magazine has been owned by Sundial Magazines since 2023, and from the January 2026 issue it incorporated the long-running Sea Breezes. That makes it the main home for maritime history readers, with features on classic liners, ferries and cargo ships alongside modern shipping news. If you used to buy Sea Breezes, this is now where its content lives.

Trade and international cruise magazines

These are written mainly for people who work in cruise, but curious passengers often enjoy them for an early look at new ships and industry trends.

7. Cruise & Ferry Review

Formerly known as International Cruise & Ferry Review, this UK-produced trade title publishes two issues a year (Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter in 2026), with a sister title on ship interiors. Articles are largely written by or with senior executives from cruise lines, ports and shipyards. Much of it can be read online through the Cruise & Ferry website.

8. Cruise Industry News Quarterly

A US trade magazine published four times a year, focused on shipbuilding, operations and the business side of cruising. A one-year international subscription was listed at $110 at the time of writing, and print subscribers also get the digital edition. Some of it is heavy going for a holidaymaker, but it is very good on future ship orders.

9. Porthole Cruise and Travel

Porthole is a long-established American consumer cruise magazine with a glossy, lifestyle-led style. New issues appear roughly every two months on digital newsstands such as PressReader. Its prices, deals and ship coverage lean towards the North American market, so treat it as inspiration rather than a UK booking guide.

Free cruise line magazines worth knowing about

Some of the best cruise reading is free if you have sailed before. Cruise lines use magazines to keep past guests interested, and these often preview new itineraries before they reach the newsstand titles.

• P&O Cruises: the Peninsular Club magazine is a benefit for members from the Pacific tier upwards. If you are weighing up which ship to sail on next, our guide to P&O Cruises ships compared is a useful companion.
• Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: the line has published a lifestyle magazine for members of its Oceans loyalty scheme, with copies also left in cabins on board.
• Other lines: most major cruise lines with UK offices send brochures, newsletters or loyalty magazines to past guests. Make sure your marketing preferences allow post if you want to receive them.

Remember that cruise line magazines are marketing material. They are great for itinerary ideas, but they will not compare one line fairly against another.

Where to buy or read cruise magazines in the UK

1. Newsagents and supermarkets: larger WHSmith branches, especially at railway stations and airports, are the most reliable place to find Cruise & Travel, Ships Monthly and other niche titles on the shelf.
2. Direct subscription: buying from the publisher or a subscription agent usually works out cheaper per issue than the cover price, and the magazine arrives before it reaches the shops.
3. Single digital issues: Pocketmags, Zinio and publisher apps let you buy one issue at a time, which is handy if you only want the issue covering your next destination.
4. All-you-can-read apps: Readly and PressReader offer large libraries of magazines for a monthly fee. Titles come and go, so check the cruise titles you want are included before you sign up.
5. Your local library: this is the tip most guides miss. Many UK library services give members free access to digital magazines through apps such as Libby or PressReader. Ships Monthly, for example, is distributed on the OverDrive and Libby platform, so it is worth checking what your council’s library offers before paying for anything.

Which cruise magazines have closed or changed name?

If you remember titles from older lists of cruise magazines UK readers used to buy, here is what we found when checking in 2026:

• Cruise International now trades as Cruise & Travel.
• International Cruise & Ferry Review is now Cruise & Ferry Review.
• Sea Breezes has been folded into Shipping Today & Yesterday from January 2026.
• Your Holiday & Cruise Magazine continues, but as an online magazine with a twice-yearly digital issue.
• Into The Blue, Blue Horizons, YourCruise and Cruise Ahoy: we could not find current 2026 issues of these titles, so we have left them out. Some were agency or loyalty newsletters rather than newsstand magazines.

How to choose the right cruise magazine

Think about what you want from it. If you are planning your next holiday, Cruise & Travel or Sail Away will give you the most ideas per page, and pairing them with our guide to cruise deals for 2027 and when to book will help you turn inspiration into a well-priced booking. If you prefer to sail from home, look out for features on no-fly cruises, such as our guide to Norwegian fjords cruises from the UK. If you love the ships themselves, Ships Monthly is the one to pick. And if you only read occasionally, a library app or a single digital issue is better value than a full subscription.

For day-to-day tips and roll calls, our guide to the best cruise forums and online communities covers where cruisers swap advice online.

FAQs

What is the best-selling cruise magazine in the UK?

Cruise & Travel, the title formerly known as Cruise International, describes itself as the UK’s highest-selling cruise magazine. It is published six times a year in print and digital.

Can I get cruise magazines for free?

Often, yes. Cruise lines send loyalty magazines to past guests (P&O Cruises’ Peninsular Club magazine is a perk of the Pacific tier, for example), and many UK library services let members read digital magazines free through apps such as Libby or PressReader.

Is Cruise International magazine still published?

Not under that name. The magazine now trades as Cruise & Travel, and its app and Pocketmags listings still carry the old Cruise International name in places.

Where can I buy cruise magazines in the UK?

Larger WHSmith branches and supermarkets stock the newsstand titles. You can also subscribe direct from the publisher, buy digital issues on Pocketmags, Zinio or the publisher’s app, or read them as part of an all-you-can-read service such as Readly or PressReader.

Which magazine is best for ship enthusiasts rather than holidaymakers?

Ships Monthly and Shipping Today & Yesterday are aimed at people who love ships themselves: fleet news, maritime history, ferries and photography. They both come out monthly.