The UK leads the way in terms of cruises re-entering service this spring and summer, with many lines planning ex-UK programs.
Here’s what’s new:
Disney Cruise Line
Ship: Disney Magic
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,750
Built in: 1998
First Voyage: “Summer 2021”
Port of origin: Liverpool and Southampton
Travel plans: “Staycation at Sea”
Vaccinations needed? Not
Disney magic will be based in the United Kingdom during the summer. The Disney Cruise Line ships will offer “staycation at sea sailings” for two, three and four nights from Liverpool and Southampton, exclusively for local residents.
Reservations are expected to open on April 19.
Celebrity Cruises
Ship: Celebrity Silhouette
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,894
Built in: 2011
First Voyage: 3 July 2021
Port of origin: Southampton
Travel plans: Portland, Inverness, Kirkwall, Glasgow, Belfast and Liverpool
Vaccinations needed? Yes
Celebrity Cruises going back to Great Britain in July, with domestic shipping aboard the Celebrity Silhouette.
The Solstice class ships will sail from Southampton, offering six to eight night itineraries around the British coastline.
Saga Cruises
Ship: Spirit of Discovery
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,000
Built in: 2019
First Voyage: 27 June 2021
Port of origin: Tilbury
Travel plans: British Isles, Scottish Highlands, and Norwegian Fjords
Vaccinations needed? Yes
Ship: The spirit of adventure
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,000
Built in: 2020
First Voyage: 26 July 2021
Port of origin: Tilbury
Travel plans: 15 nights to Newcastle, Newhaven, Dundee, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Ullapool, Cruise St Kilda, Greenock, Belfast, Douglas, Holyhead, Bristol and Falmouth
Vaccinations needed? Yes
Saga Cruises offers a new United Kingdom summer 2021 program aboard its two ships, Spirit of Adventure and Spirit of Discovery.
Both ships will be based at Tilbury, offers cruises to the British Isles, Scottish Highlands, and even Norwegian Fjords. The first cruise is scheduled for June 27 and will be exclusive to fully vaccinated guests.
MSC Cruises
Ship: Virtuous MSC
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,888
Built in: 2021
First Voyage: 20 May 2021
Port of origin: Southampton
Travel plans: A series of short cruises followed by a seven night cruise visiting “England’s favorite destination”
Vaccinations needed? Not
MSC Cruises will also offer a special cruise in Great Britain this summer, using the new MSC Virtuosa.
The vessels built in 2021 will offer various short breaks and week-long cruises around the British Isles starting May 20.
Both vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests will be accepted, but the crossing is only available to residents of the UK.
Royal Caribbean International
Ship: Anthem of the Seas
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,100
Built in: 2015
First Voyage: 7 July 2021
Port of origin: Southampton
Travel plans: Short “Ocean Getaways” are followed by longer cruises to the British Isles
Vaccinations needed? Yes
Royal Caribbean International announces cruises in the UK for the summer.
The company will base Anthem of the Seas in Southampton, offering short voyages to everywhere and longer voyages to the British Isles.
Royal Caribbean is also offering 999 free cabins to emergency services professionals, as a way of acknowledging their “extraordinary efforts” in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virgin Voyages
Ship: Scarlet woman
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,800
Built in: 2020
First Voyage: 6 August 2021
Port of origin: Portsmouth
Travel plans: “Summer Soiree Series”
Vaccinations needed? Yes
After canceling his entire summer in the United States, Virgin announced a new British program for 2021.
Starting August, The new Scarlet Lady will offer short cruises everywhere from Portsmouth, in England.
Called the Summer Soiree Series, the cruise will only be available to fully vaccinated UK adults.
P&O Cruises
Ship: Britannia
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,611
Built in: 2015
First Voyage: 27 June 2021
Port of origin: Southampton
Travel plans: Sail around the coast of England
Vaccinations needed? Yes
Ship: Iona
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 5,200
Built in: 2020
First Voyage: 7 August 2021
Port of origin: Southampton
Travel plans: Sail around the coast of England
Vaccinations needed? Yes
P&O Cruises announces the return of service will begin with a new program of shipping in the UK.
Sailing from Southampton, the company will offer sea cruises around the UK coast, exclusive to fully vaccinated locals. Two ships will be used initially, the British flagship and the new Iona.
Cunard line
Ship: Queen Elizabeth
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,092
Built in: 2010
First Voyage: July 2021
Port of origin: Southampton
Travel plans: British Isles
Vaccinations needed? Yes
Cunard is also preparing a series of British voyages for the summer. Queen Elizabeth will sail from the Harbor of Southampton, offers cruises around the British Isles.
Three different itineraries are available for residents of Great Britain, who need to be fully vaccinated before boarding.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Line
Ship: Borealis
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,320
Built in: 1997
First Voyage: 5 July 2021
Port of origin: Liverpool
Travel plans: Scenic Cruises in the British Isles, including the islands of Shetland and Orkney and the Isles of Scilly
Vaccinations needed? TBD
Ship: Bolette
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,380
Built in: 2000
First Voyage: 16 August 2021
Port of origin: Dover
Travel plans: Scenic Cruises in the British Isles, including the islands of Shetland and Orkney and the Isles of Scilly
Vaccinations needed? TBD
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is back in operation with a new cruise program around the British Isles for the summer of 2021.
With 11 sailings, the itinerary includes departures from Dover and Liverpool, on board brand new ships – Bolette and Borealis.
Both ships will offer scenic cruises taking in the best of the British Isles, including the islands of Shetland and Orkney and the Isles of Scilly.
The company has not determined whether COVID-19 vaccination will be required for guests
Viking Cruises
Ship: Viking Venus
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 930
Built in: 2021
First Voyage: 22 May 2021
Port of origin: Portsmouth
Travel plans: “Beautiful Beaches of England”
Vaccinations needed? Yes
Viking Cruises will launch service from the UK in May, with the new Viking Venus.
The luxury yacht company recently announced plans to offer special cruises along the British coast, sailing from Portsmouth.
This new program is only available to residents of the UK and includes an eight night ocean itinerary called England’s Scenic Shores.
Princess Cruises
Ship: Princess
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,600
Built in: 2014
First Voyage: 31 July 2021
Port of origin: Southampton
Travel plans: Scenic cruises and cruises with stops at UK ports of call including Liverpool, Belfast and Greenock
Vaccinations needed? Yes
Ship: Princess Heaven
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,600
Built in: 2019
First Voyage: 30 August 2021
Port of origin: Southampton
Travel plans: Scenic cruises and cruises with stops at UK ports of call including Liverpool, Belfast and Greenock
Vaccinations needed? Yes
Princess Cruises also revealed plans to sail in the UK later this summer. The Carnival-owned brand will offer a series of short breaks and a week-long cruise aboard the MedallionClass, Princess Regal and Princess Heaven.
Both ships will offer scenic cruises and cruises with stops at UK ports of call including Liverpool, Belfast and Greenock, with itineraries ranging from three to seven nights.
According to Princess, the trip will only be available to UK residents and guests who are vaccinated against COVID-19.
Marella Cruises
Ship: TBD
Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): TBD
Built in: TBD
First Voyage: Summer 2021
Port of origin: TBD
Travel plans: British Domestic Shipping
Vaccinations needed? TBD
On social media posts, Marella Cruises announced it will join a long list of brands offering UK-based domestic programs this summer.
Additional details are not yet available but will be released soon.