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The best no-fly cruise lines
A no fly-cruise can take the stress out of your ocean voyage. For a start, there’s no need to worry about flight disruptions or luggage limits.
Thankfully, there are plenty of options available if you want to set sail from Southampton, Dover or Portsmouth.
Here we round up the most exciting no-fly itineraries with the cruise lines rated best by passengers.
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Saga Ocean Cruises
Saga, which caters exclusively for the over-50s, clinched the third highest customer score in our survey and is a Which? Recommended Provider. Every one of its ocean cruises departs from the UK; meaning you can venture as far as Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean without taking a single flight.
A full 50-day itinerary will take you on an epic voyage from Portsmouth to the likes of Colombia, Costa Rica and New Orleans (via Madeira).
Shorter trips include the Canary Islands, the Med and highlights of Scandinavia. Passengers liked that Saga’s cruises are all-inclusive; with everything from transfers (within a 250-mile radius of the departure port) to drinks and tips thrown in. Cabins also come with a private balcony as standard.
Read our full review of Saga Ocean Cruises to see how it measures up against its rivals.
Seabourn
Another opportunity to sail from home shores comes courtesy of all-inclusive luxury cruise line Seabourn. The 28-day Norwegian Fjords and Icelandic Intrigue cruise starts and ends in Dover, with bonus stops in Amsterdam and Scotland.
Highlights include a day in Svolvær, the colourful port town of the Lofoten Islands with a dramatic mountain backdrop.
Another voyage starting and ending in Edinburgh takes you deep into the Arctic with six days in the remote archipelago of Svalbard. You may even spot a polar bear. Seabourn scored the fourth highest customer score in our survey (84%); with passengers quick to praise the space on board and well-executed itineraries.
See which provider came out on top with the full results of our best and worst cruise lines.
Regent Seven Seas
With a solid customer score of 80%, the all-inclusive luxury cruise line was awarded the full five stars for the quality of its cabins and on-board facilities, amongst other things.
Regent Seven Seas may be based in Miami, but it offers several no-fly itineraries from the UK. Savour of Europe is one of the most varied; a 10-day voyage stopping in Amsterdam, Bruges and Paris.
Or 20 nights will take you on an adventure through Iceland, Denmark and Greenland - enjoying stark mountain scenery, steaming volcanic vents and hot springs along the way. Both cruises start and end in Southampton.
Virgin Voyages
If you’re short on time, Virgin Voyages offers a six-day cruise from Portsmouth to Amsterdam and Bruges.
You’ll overnight in Amsterdam, leaving plenty of time to explore its Golden Age canals and elegant 17th century streets, followed by a full day in Bruges.
Passengers particularly rated the food and drink, giving it the full five stars. There are more than 20 eateries on board and Michelin star chef-curated menus.
Noble Caledonia
There’s no need to put in the nautical miles for adventure: a UK departure is an opportunity to explore more of the beauty on our doorstep.
Sailing from Portsmouth, Noble Caledonia’s Best of British 14-night voyage visits many coastal gems including the unspoilt Isles of Scilly, the fine white sandy beaches of the Shetland Islands and the enigmatic Giant’s Causeway.
The Which? Recommended Provider topped our table this year with a score of 90%. The luxury brand’s small ships hold a maximum of 230 guests, allowing it to visit lesser-known ports that are off-limits for larger vessels.
Despite being one of the priciest brands in our survey, it still scored top marks for value for money - perhaps because its excellent excursions (also rated five stars) are included in the headline price.
