The 10 best short break cruises from the UK – perfect for a long weekend

Want to try a cruise but not sure it’s for you? It’s a bit of a ­gamble, after all. What if, after a few days, you decide you’re not keen – but still have to stick out a week or more on board, and possibly 3,000 miles from home?

It’s a tricky conundrum for prospective cruisers – but the solution may be closer than you think. If you’re looking to escape for a few days why not try a short break cruise?

Most cruise lines offer “short cruises” which start at just four days duration, though that’s not really viable if you’ve got to fly to the Caribbean or Mediterranean first. Luckily, there is another way. Short break sailings from the UK typically last just two or three nights, and depart from and return to UK ports: perfect for a risk-free sample of life at sea.

It’s not just first-timers who can benefit from these micro-cruises: they’re also an ideal option for seasoned seafarers or city-breakers looking for a weekend escape that comes free of airport delays, lost luggage and budget airlines – and at a reasonable price, too. Many cruise lines even offer a door-to-ship pick-up option, so you don’t have to find a place to park.

These short cruises open up places such as the Channel Islands, the Normandy coastline and Bruges via their maritime ports of Le Havre, Cherbourg and Zeebrugge. There are plenty of excursions to choose from too, allowing passengers to tailor their cruise beforehand, or explore independently.

So, whether you’re looking for a first-time taste of cruising, a hassle-free minibreak, or a combination of the two, these excellent options offer the perfect way to spend a long weekend without boarding a plane.

1. MSC Cruises

Best for: Striking city architecture 

The beauty of Le Havre is that it’s one of Europe’s most walkable cities and is only an hour away by train from Paris but you will need to factor in the time getting to the station from the port. However the city itself is well worth exploring in its own right. A small bus called The Bee takes you on a 50 minute audio tour.

The Middle of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site  in honour of the buildings constructed after the war and you must see Le Havre’s “Eiffel Tower”, the cathedral built from concrete with a stained glass spire looks incredible from within.

MSC Cruises offers the three-night Le Havre cruise from £399 per person, on board Virtuosa, departing 24 May 2025 (round trip from Southampton)

2. English Holiday Cruises

Best for: A river cruise taster

Gloucester with its cathedral dating back to 681AD holding the Tomb of Edward II  is one of our most under visited cities. Its docks have lots of sensitively preserved corn and timber warehouses and a simply lovely mariner’s chapel. If you’re keen for a taster of small-ship or river cruising, the 22 passenger Edward Elgar provides an opportunity to do both of these for you.

This sailing journey along the Cotswolds escarpment, the upper Severn estuary and Forest of Dean, pauses for guided tours of Berkeley Castle and the Purton Hulks graveyard of 80 barge wrecks scuppered to shore there.

English Holiday Cruises offers the three-night Ship Canal Explorer cruise from £695 per person, on board Edward Elgar, departing April and October, (round trip from Gloucester)

3. P&O Cruises

Best for: An island escape 

If you want to feel you’re in France but still be in the UK then do visit Guernsey, the second largest of the Channel Islands. If you want a pleasant walk or hire to a bicycle, the island has an extensive network of green lanes under the name ‘Ruette Tranquille’, translated to ‘quiet street’.

Pedestrians and cyclists have priority, with the speed limit on these lanes set at 15 mph. St Peter Port is a charming town with narrow cobbled streets full of boutique shops and excellent restaurants along its waterfront. The 800 year old Castle Cornet offers an insight into Guernsey’s history with four museums and historic gardens.

P&O Cruises offers the three-night Guernsey cruise from £429 per person, on board Aurora, departing 7 July 2025 (round trip from Southampton)

4. Disney Cruise Line

Best for: Fun for all the family

Cherbourg is closely linked to French naval history and was the final stop of the Titanic as recalled at the Cité de la Mer, one of the main tourist attractions with its 17 aquariums and exhibitions and museums concerning human adventures under the sea.

Cherbourg prides itself on a vibrant local lifestyle and culture with its Italian-style theatre, art and historical museums, its basilica and the Ravalet, a stunning Renaissance style castle surrounded by a 17 hectare park, with ponds and a magnificent 19th century greenhouse.

Don’t leave without sampling various local dishes such as the roasted scallops and the famous “tartiflette au Camembert”

Disney Cruise Line offers the three-night France cruise from £1,715 per person, on board Disney Fantasy departing August 22 2025 (round trip to Cherbourg from Southampton)

5. Celebrity Cruises

Best for: A city break cruise

Rotterdam is famous for its beautiful and striking Dutch architecture on the Wilhelminapier however one of the most well-known buildings in the city is the modern ultra quirky Cube House which is always worth a visit.

The Euromast observation tower will give you a stunning panoramic view of the city. The first viewing platform takes you up to 100 metres, then you can go a further 85 metres for extra bragging rights. There are many top-class museums but if you’re a shopaholic, nip into the city’s Market Hall, which features all kinds of fascinating outlets.

Celebrity Cruises offers the four-night Rotterdam and Bruges cruise from £798 per person, on board Celebrity Apex, departing August 21 2025 (round trip from Southampton)

6. Ambassador Cruise Line

Best for: Exploring the Normandy coast
Set sail on a voyage to the charming port town of Honfleur, where cobblestone streets wind through half-timbered coloured houses. If you can imagine the keys of a piano stood upright and painted in different colours with dancing reflections in the water this will give you some idea of the harbour basin.

Perched on France’s Normandy coast, you can explore galleries, savour French cuisine in ancient cafes and bistros and revel in the taste of Calvados, Normandy’s own brandy tipple. Honfleur’s maritime history and romantic atmosphere create an enchanting backdrop for a short getaway, offering an idyllic getaway along the scenic Normandy coastline.

Ambassador Cruise Line offers the three-night French Escape cruise from £340 per person, on board Ambience, sailing August 22 2025 (round trip from London Tilbury to Honfleur)

7. Fred Olsen

Best for: Beatles fans  

If you want to explore two cities then why not take this short cruise starting in the vibrant city of Liverpool with its incredible musical heritage. Take a Beatles bus tour, visit the Liver Building, explore the cathedral and dine or shop in the bustling, vibrant Royal Albert Dock. End in Southampton with its medieval walls and old town home to many of the city’s ancient gates and historic buildings extending down to the waterfront

This cruise is ideal for first time cruisers as you can enjoy the dining, evening entertainment and get taste of the cruising lifestyle.

Fred Olsen offers the two night mini cruise from £349 per person, on board  Bollette sailing January 4 2025 (One way voyage from Liverpool to Southampton)

8. Cunard

Best for: Canals and cafe culture 
Hamburg is crossed by hundreds of canals with cafes occupying half-timbered medieval merchant homes along the Nikolai canal. The city’s central Jungfer Stieg boulevard  is a grand promenade where you can visit for shopping and sightseeing and connects the Neustadt (new town) with the Altstadt (old town).

The Elbphilharmonie concert hall is one of the most striking buildings anywhere but the easiest way to explore the city sights and historic quarters like the HafenCity and the UNESCO world heritage Speicherstadt district is on a sightseeing tour with the strikingly coloured double-decker buses. You can book your tickets online before you go.

Cunard offers the two-night Southampton to Hamburg cruise from £229 per person, on board Britannia sailing March 28 2025 (round trip from Southampton to Hanburg)

9. Royal Caribbean

Best for: A cosy weekend break 

A visit to the Unesco World Heritage city of Bruges is not complete without a boat trip on the canals – the arteries of the city – but it is Burg Square that is truly the city’s soul. Take a half hour horse-drawn carriage through the cosy squares of the city centre, visit the Hanseatic Quarter where merchants operated from the from the 13th – 15th century and revel in the museum of Flemish Art.

The Rozenhoedkaai (Rosary Quay) provides one of the city’s loveliest views and do climb the 366 steps of the World Heritage site Belfort Tower for a stunning view over the city.

Royal Caribbean offers the three-night Bruges Weekend Getaway cruise from £399 per person, on board Ambience, sailing September 19 2025 (round trip from Southampton to Zeebrugge)

10. Majestic Line

Best for: wildlife and starry skies

If you feel you want a short break but not in a city then cruise around the sheltered waters of Mull giving stunning views of sea eagles and ancient castles, plus a chance to really appreciate the region’s magnificent coastal scenery. The cruise begins and ends in Oban, taking in Loch Linnhe, Glencoe, the Sound of Mull and Loch Sunart, including a visit to the community at Tobermory with its coloured houses. Come nightfall, the cruise anchors in secluded bays, where you’ll have only the seals and stars for company.

The Majestic Line offers the three-night A Taste of The Hebrides cruise from £1,360 per person, departing weekly from March to October 2025, on-board Glen Massan (round trip from Oban)

This article was first published in November 2023 and has been revised and updated.