{"id":100028,"date":"2026-10-26T08:02:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T08:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/?p=100028"},"modified":"2026-10-26T08:02:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T08:02:22","slug":"cruises-without-flying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/cruises-without-flying","title":{"rendered":"Cruises Without Flying: Every Way to Cruise From UK Ports"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"chb-post\">\n\n<p class=\"chb-updated\">Last updated: 26 October 2026 &middot; By Steve Joury, cargo trip advisor at CargoHolidays<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"chb-lede\"><strong>Cruises without flying start and end at a UK port, so you drive or take the train to the ship and sail straight out.<\/strong> Southampton, Dover, Portsmouth, Tilbury, Liverpool, Newcastle and other ports offer everything from three-night breaks to round-the-world voyages. Here&rsquo;s how to choose &ndash; and when a cargo ship is the better option.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"chb-cta-bar\">\n<a class=\"chb-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/sinformer-pour-une-croisiere-cargo\/\">Find a freighter voyage &rarr;<\/a>\n<a class=\"chb-btn chb-btn--ghost\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/vacances-sans-prendre-lavion-depuis-le-royaume-uni\/\">Holidays without flying<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"chb-keyfacts\">\n<p class=\"chb-keyfacts-title\">Key facts at a glance<\/p>\n<ul><li>No-fly cruises leave from ports across the UK, most from <strong>Southampton<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Popular itineraries: <strong>Norwegian fjords, Canary Islands, Mediterranean, Baltic and British Isles<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Longer trips include transatlantic crossings and world cruises.<\/li><li>Book early for school holidays and the best cabins.<\/li><li>For a quiet, small-scale crossing, a <strong>cargo<\/strong> is the alternative.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<nav class=\"chb-toc\" aria-label=\"Contents\">\n<p class=\"chb-toc-title\">In this guide<\/p>\n<ol><li><a href=\"#what-are-cruises-without-flying\">What are cruises without flying?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#uk-departure-ports-for-no-fly-cruises\">UK departure ports for no-fly cruises<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#best-itineraries-for-cruises-without-flying\">Best itineraries for cruises without flying<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#cruise-or-freighter-which-suits-you\">Cruise or freighter: which suits you?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#river-cruises-without-flying\">River cruises without flying<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#tips-for-booking-a-no-fly-cruise\">Tips for booking a no-fly cruise<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq\">Foire aux questions<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-cruises-without-flying\">What are cruises without flying?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Cruises without flying<\/strong> &ndash; often called &ldquo;no-fly cruises&rdquo; &ndash; begin and end at a home port, so there&rsquo;s no airport, no baggage limits and no jet lag. You simply arrive at the terminal by car, coach or train, check in and sail. For many British travellers, especially families and older passengers, it&rsquo;s the easiest way to take a holiday abroad.<\/p>\n<p>The UK has one of the best choices of no-fly cruising in the world, thanks to big cruise lines basing ships in Southampton all year.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"chb-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/southampton-port_635a7a46782be.jpeg\" alt=\"Cruises without flying &ndash; Southampton, the UK's main cruise port\" title=\"Cruises without flying &ndash; Southampton, the UK's main cruise port\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>Southampton is the UK&rsquo;s busiest departure port for cruises without flying.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"uk-departure-ports-for-no-fly-cruises\">UK departure ports for no-fly cruises<\/h2>\n<table><thead><tr><th>Port<\/th><th>Typical itineraries<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>Southampton<\/td><td>Fjords, Canaries, Med, Baltic, transatlantic, world cruises<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Dover<\/td><td>Northern Europe, fjords, Baltic, Canaries<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Portsmouth<\/td><td>Shorter European cruises, Atlantic islands<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>London (Tilbury)<\/td><td>Northern Europe, Iceland, Canaries<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Liverpool<\/td><td>British Isles, Ireland, Iceland, Norway<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Newcastle<\/td><td>Norway, Baltic, Iceland<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Rosyth \/ Greenock \/ Belfast<\/td><td>Selected Scottish and Irish departures<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\n<p>Schedules vary by season, so check the latest programmes before planning.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"best-itineraries-for-cruises-without-flying\">Best itineraries for cruises without flying<\/h2>\n<h3>Norwegian fjords (5&ndash;12 nights)<\/h3>\n<p>The classic short no-fly cruise: dramatic fjords, waterfalls and small towns. Summer brings midnight sun; autumn and winter offer a chance of the northern lights further north.<\/p>\n<h3>Canary Islands and Madeira (10&ndash;14 nights)<\/h3>\n<p>Winter sun without a flight, usually with a stop in Spain or Portugal and a day or two crossing the Bay of Biscay.<\/p>\n<h3>Mediterranean (12&ndash;21 nights)<\/h3>\n<p>Spain, Italy, Greece and beyond, sailing round via Gibraltar.<\/p>\n<h3>Baltic capitals and British Isles<\/h3>\n<p>Short sea routes linking great cities, with plenty of time ashore.<\/p>\n<h3>Transatlantic and world cruises<\/h3>\n<p>A transatlantic liner sails from Southampton to New York, and world cruises take three months or more. See our <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/croisiere-transatlantique-au-depart-du-royaume-uni\/\">transatlantic cruise from the UK<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"chb-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/cruises-without-flying-infographic-cargoholidays.jpg\" alt=\"Cruises without flying infographic &ndash; UK ports and itineraries\" title=\"Cruises without flying infographic &ndash; UK ports and itineraries\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>No-fly cruising from the UK at a glance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"cruise-or-freighter-which-suits-you\">Cruise or freighter: which suits you?<\/h2>\n<table><thead><tr><th><\/th><th>No-fly cruise<\/th><th>Freighter voyage<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>Passagers<\/td><td>Hundreds to thousands<\/td><td>Up to 12<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Departure<\/td><td>UK port, fixed date<\/td><td>Usually continental port, flexible date<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Entertainment<\/td><td>Shows, pools, restaurants<\/td><td>Books, sea views, bridge visits<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Id\u00e9al pour<\/td><td>Families, fixed holidays, short breaks<\/td><td>Quiet ocean crossings, slow travel<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Doctor on board<\/td><td>Oui<\/td><td>Non<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\n<p>If you want a calm, authentic crossing with a handful of passengers, read <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/compagnies-maritimes-transportant-des-passagers\/\">shipping lines that take passengers<\/a> et <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/cargo-ship-travel-cost\/\">co\u00fbt d'un voyage \u00e0 bord d'un cargo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"river-cruises-without-flying\">River cruises without flying<\/h2>\n<p>Some river cruise companies offer no-fly packages where you travel to the ship by Eurostar or coach, then cruise the Rhine, Moselle, Seine or Danube. It&rsquo;s a good option if you&rsquo;d like a slower European trip without an airport. Check the travel arrangements carefully, as rail connections are sometimes only offered on selected dates.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"tips-for-booking-a-no-fly-cruise\">Tips for booking a no-fly cruise<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>R\u00e9servez \u00e0 l'avance<\/strong> for school holidays and balcony cabins.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check port parking<\/strong> or rail links &ndash; Southampton Central is a short taxi ride from the terminals.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Allow for the Bay of Biscay<\/strong> on southern itineraries &ndash; it can be rough; see our <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/seasickness-on-a-cargo-ship\/\">Guide sur le mal de mer<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Get cruise insurance<\/strong> &ndash; read <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/cruise-travel-insurance\/\">cruise travel insurance<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pack freely<\/strong> &ndash; no airline baggage limits, but cabin space is still limited.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"chb-tip\"><strong>Tip:<\/strong> Want to go further than a cruise reaches? Combine a no-fly cruise one way with a freighter the other, for example a liner to New York and a cargo ship home.<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"chb-related\" aria-label=\"Guides connexes\">\n<h2 id=\"related-guides\">Related cargo ship travel guides<\/h2>\n<div class=\"chb-grid\"><a class=\"chb-card\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/vacances-sans-prendre-lavion-depuis-le-royaume-uni\/\"><span class=\"chb-card-kicker\">Le \u00ab slow travel \u00bb<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-title\">Des vacances sans prendre l'avion depuis le Royaume-Uni<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-more\">Read guide &rarr;<\/span><\/a><a class=\"chb-card\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/croisiere-transatlantique-au-depart-du-royaume-uni\/\"><span class=\"chb-card-kicker\">Cruises<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-title\">Transatlantic cruise from the UK<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-more\">Read guide &rarr;<\/span><\/a><a class=\"chb-card\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/repositioning-cruises\/\"><span class=\"chb-card-kicker\">Cruises<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-title\">Repositioning cruises<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-more\">Read guide &rarr;<\/span><\/a><a class=\"chb-card\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/compagnies-maritimes-transportant-des-passagers\/\"><span class=\"chb-card-kicker\">Freighters<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-title\">Shipping lines that take passengers<\/span><span class=\"chb-card-more\">Read guide &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Foire aux questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"chb-faq\">\n<h3>Can you go on a cruise without flying from the UK?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Many cruises leave from UK ports such as Southampton, Dover, Portsmouth, Tilbury, Liverpool and Newcastle.<\/p><h3>Where do no-fly cruises go?<\/h3>\n<p>Popular itineraries include the Norwegian fjords, Canary Islands, Mediterranean, Baltic, British Isles and transatlantic crossings.<\/p><h3>What is the main UK cruise port?<\/h3>\n<p>Southampton is the UK&rsquo;s busiest cruise port.<\/p><h3>Are no-fly cruises cheaper?<\/h3>\n<p>You save on flights, but prices depend on the itinerary, season and cabin.<\/p><h3>What is the alternative to a cruise for crossing an ocean without flying?<\/h3>\n<p>A cargo ship voyage, carrying up to 12 passengers, is the main alternative.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"chb-booking\">\n<p class=\"chb-booking-title\">Want something quieter than a cruise?<\/p>\n<p>Sail with just a handful of passengers on a working cargo ship. Tell us where you&rsquo;d like to go.<\/p>\n<a class=\"chb-btn chb-btn--big\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/sinformer-pour-une-croisiere-cargo\/\">Find a freighter voyage &rarr;<\/a>\n<p class=\"chb-booking-small\">Free, no-obligation quote &middot; Reply within 48 hours &middot; <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/demandez-au-capitaine\/\">Demandez au capitaine<\/a> &middot; <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/comment-proceder-pour-une-croisiere-de-fret\/\">How booking works<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n    \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Can you go on a cruise without flying from the UK?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Yes. 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a.chb-btn{width:100%;text-align:center}}\n<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last updated: 26 October 2026 &middot; By Steve Joury, cargo trip advisor at CargoHolidays Cruises without flying start and end at a UK port, so you drive or take the train to the ship and sail straight out. Southampton, Dover, Portsmouth, Tilbury, Liverpool, Newcastle and other ports offer everything from three-night breaks to round-the-world voyages. [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99978,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single3.php","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1020],"tags":[1763,1764,1765],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100028"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100028"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100028\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100029,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100028\/revisions\/100029"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100028"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=100028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}