While the usual hotspots of the Mediterranean, America and Asia are sure-fire winners for a warm weather cruise, there are also lots of off-the-beaten-path voyages that are perfect for alternative summer getaways. And with plenty of cruise lines offering these unique summer adventures from British ports, you can enjoy non-traditional UK cruises without having to take a flight first.
We’ve curated a list of uncommon UK cruises options that take you beyond the tourist hotspots. These hidden treasures voyages are ideal if you’re looking for summer travel recommendations that let you experience a different side of cruising.
Discovering the Baltic Sea
While heading further north for your summer break may feel a little counterintuitive, a trip around the Baltic Sea is a wonderful opportunity to seek out undiscovered cruise destinations.
Why should the Baltic ports be on your radar as summer cruise destinations? Well, many of these cities have only opened up to tourism relatively recently. And while they are growing in popularity year on year, at the moment they’re still an uncommon UK cruise option. So the crowds will be fewer, giving you more space to see the sights, and you’ll definitely have something interesting to talk to friends and family about when you return!
Many of the Baltic ports such as Gdansk in Poland and Tallinn in Estonia have charming old towns to explore, where cobbled streets lead you past medieval buildings, picturesque town squares and beautiful waterfronts.
Fred. Olsen offers a 14-night Baltic cruise that calls at ports including Gdansk, Kiel, Helsinki and Visby. For a summer cruise itinerary that’s a bit longer, Regent Seven Seas has an 18-night trip that takes you from London to Copenhagen via ports including Gdynia in Poland, Klaipeda in Lithuania and Tallinn in Estonia.
Exploring the Channel Islands and Northern France
Keeping with a northern feel, the Channel Islands and northern French ports such as Dunkerque, Cherbourg and Honfleur are ideal if you want a cruise experience that immerses you in history. These ports are off the beaten track when it comes to cruise destinations, but they offer superb opportunities for coastal town exploration.
Guernsey and Jersey are an intriguing blend of English sensibilities in a French setting, making them a fascinating place to explore. With miles of gorgeous beaches and towns full of old-world charm, they’re also officially the sunniest place in the British Isles!
Just a short distance from the Channel Islands, the Normandy ports are intrinsically linked with the D-Day landings of World War II and as such are ideal destinations for those who want history to be part of their summer break.
Fred. Olsen and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are the cruise lines to consider if the hidden gems of the Channel Islands and Northern France are on your wish list.
Western European port cruises
The southern Mediterranean countries of Greece, Croatia, Italy and Turkey tend to steal the summer cruise limelight, so why not choose to opt for a cruise along the western side of Europe instead?
Ports on this European coast include France’s La Rochelle and Bordeaux, with the former being known for its three towers, and the latter being the place to go if you adore French red wine. The Spanish port of La Coruna is the gateway to the fabled pilgrimage town of Santiago de Compostela, whose old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its beautifully preserved Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings. Further south, stop at Lisbon for pastel-coloured buildings and pastel de nata, and wander around the Vila Nova de Gaia quarter in the vibrant city of Oporto where you can enjoy a glass (or two!) of Portugal’s most famous drink.
If this sounds like your ideal summer cruise itinerary, Ambassador Cruise Line has a summer voyage in France, Spain and Portugal that will tick all your boxes.
Summer adventures in Iceland
Who says Iceland has to be a winter destination? This island country is also a fantastic option for exclusive summer voyages. A summer cruise to Iceland won’t have the northern lights on its itinerary, but the geysers, mountains, fjords and charming villages will more than make up for it.
Ambassador offers an 11-night cruise that will take you to five Icelandic ports, while Regent Seven Seas Cruises has a 14-night cruise that also includes stopovers in the Orkney Islands, Denmark and Greenland as well as the Icelandic ports of Akureyri, Isafjordur and Reykjavik.
Keeping it local in the British Isles
Of course, for the ultimate lesser-known summer cruise from the UK, why not opt for a cruise that explores the British Isles themselves? We’re so lucky to live somewhere with a plethora of stunning coastlines, natural landscapes, amazing wildlife and fascinating history, and a cruise around our own home islands is a wonderful way to appreciate them.
A popular itinerary is visiting the secluded islands off the coast of Scotland such as the Faroe Islands, the Orkney Islands and the Hebrides, before heading over the Irish sea to visit ports such as Cobh or Ringaskiddy in Cork and Dun Laoghaire just outside Dublin. And the Northern Irish port of Belfast is a must for maritime history buffs, as the site of the Titanic’s construction – Ambassador Cruise Line offers several British Isles cruises that call here, giving you the chance to visit the world-famous Titanic Belfast museum.
A British Isles cruise is also a must if you enjoy spotting British wildlife such as puffins, seals, cormorants and skuas. If seeing dolphins in the wild is on your bucket list, going on a summer UK cruise optimises your chances of seeing them, with native harbour porpoises swimming alongside visiting bottlenose and common dolphins who have come to enjoy the warmer waters at this time of year. Both Fred. Olsen and Ambassador Cruise Line offer specific wildlife cruises, where ocean conservationists from ORCA will join you on deck to help you search the skies and seas. If you’re really lucky, you may even spot a whale or two!