Advertisement

Eight small ship cruises to explore the British Isles and beyond

On Silversea's Silver Wind you could pass under Tower Bridge - Simon Harvey Photography Ltd - www.simonharveyphotography.com
On Silversea's Silver Wind you could pass under Tower Bridge - Simon Harvey Photography Ltd - www.simonharveyphotography.com

On her maiden voyage in March 2018, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas became the largest passenger ship ever built, carrying nearly 9,000 people (passengers, plus crew) and offering more than 40 restaurants and bars.  

While huge cruise ships provide a host of on-board facilities, such as water slides, West End-sized theatres, climbing walls, zip lines and shopping centres, smaller ships offer a more intimate experience.

Often referred to as ‘boutique ships’, they pride themselves on exemplary personal service and can visit ports that larger vessels cannot reach, thus avoiding the crowds. Embarking and disembarking is a breeze and queuing plays no part in your holiday. Here are eight examples of small-ship trips around Britain.

A majestic voyage

You’ll be treated like royalty on board Hebridean Princess. In fact, the Queen herself chartered this 50-passenger ship in 2006 for a holiday around Scotland to mark her 80th birthday.

Like her majesty and her family, you’ll visit islands, lochs and remote mainland areas aboard this floating country house, enjoying exceptional service, fine food and wine, and admiring some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes.

Deck of the Hebridean Princess
Admire views on deck in surroundings fit for the Queen on board Hebridean Princess

A seven-night Exploring the Outer Isles cruise sails from Oban. From £4,310pp, all-inclusive, departing September 17, 2019 (01756 704704; hebridean.co.uk).

Birds and blooms

Are you an avid gardener or birdwatcher, or do you simply fancy admiring Britain’s coastal beauty? Then a springtime voyage aboard the 118-passenger MS Hebridean Sky may appeal. Starting in Plymouth, it takes in the Isles of Scilly, Lundy, Skomer, Llandudno, Peel, Holy Loch and Fairlie. Excursions include Abbey Gardens on the Scottish island of Tresco and Benmore Botanical Garden on the Cowal Peninsula. As for birds, you’ll spot plenty around Lundy and Skomer including puffins, guillemots and razorbills.

A seven-night Birds and Blooms of Britain cruise on board Hebridean Sky departs from Plymouth. From £3,450pp, all-inclusive, departing May 9, 2019 (020 7752 0000; noble-caledonia.co.uk).

From Tower to Tower

Starting and ending at Tower Bridge, London, you can travel the whole way around Britain and Ireland on board the 315-passenger Silver Wind, one of the few ships boasting a Berlitz five-star rating.

Duguld Stewart Monument Edinburgh - Credit: Getty
Look out over Edinburgh's attractions on a Silversea cruise Credit: Getty

Highlights include a Cornish pub lunch in Falmouth, a cultural walk in Dublin and a visit to the Giant’s Causeway from Belfast. You’ll also get a glimpse of life in an Iron Age Village on the Isle of Lewis, join a tour to Balmoral Castle from Aberdeen and take in the sights of Edinburgh.

A 12-day cruise on board Silver Wind sails from Tower Bridge. From £4,590pp, departing May 13, 2020 (0844 251 0837; silversea.com).

Get into the swing

Golf enthusiasts should love this. As well as tickets to The Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, a voyage with Azamara Club Cruises includes five rounds at top courses such as Royal Birkdale and the Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry.

Royal Portrush - Credit: Getty
Royal Portrush offers a very scenic round of golf Credit: Getty

When not teeing off, there are stately homes, castles and gardens to explore, as well as the delights of Edinburgh, Londonderry, Dublin, the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Waterford and Liverpool. In Invergordon you can sample wee drams at whisky distilleries and in Belfast you can see where the Titanic’s fateful voyage was launched and explore castles featured in Game of Thrones.

The 12-night British Isles and The Open voyage sails from Leith. From £5,719pp, departing July 17, 2019 (0844 493 4016; azamaraclubcruises.co.uk).

Belles of Britain

With a maximum of 212 passengers, travelling around the British Isles on Windstar's ship Star Breeze is akin to sailing on a private yacht. Its Belles of the British Isles cruise includes late-night stays in Belfast and Dublin.

Carreg Samson Dolment Abercastle Pembrokeshire - Credit: Getty
Carreg Samson Dolment Abercastle Pembrokeshire Credit: Getty

You’ll tour a whisky distillery in Oban, visit Picton Castle in Wales and search prehistoric sites in Pembrokeshire, including hill forts, stone circles and standing stones.

A 10-day Belles of the British Isles Windstar cruise, available through Iglu Cruise, sails from Edinburgh. From £4,446pp, departing September 15, 2019 (020 3811 7738; iglucruise.com).

Coast to coast

The 2019/20 season will be Saga Sapphire's last before the 720-passenger ship leaves the fleet. Join her circumnavigation of Britain in April 2020 and you’ll be taken from the Scottish Highlands and Orkney Islands to the Jurassic Coast and Channel Islands. Cities visited include Newcastle, Belfast and Liverpool, and Dorset’s seaside town of Poole. On-board highlights include a Highland feast at Fort William and a Beatles sail-away party from Liverpool.

A 15-night Coast to Coast cruise sails from Dover and includes chauffeur service up to 250 miles. From £3,223, departing April 21, 2020 (0808 274 8279; travel.saga.co.uk).

The Ha'Penny Bridge, Dublin - Credit: Getty
Go for a stroll over Dublin's Ha'Penny Bridge Credit: Getty

French flair and Irish charm

If you’re planning a trip to Dublin what better way to get there than aboard Le Boreal. This 264-passenger mega-yacht features interiors designed by Jean-Philippe Nuel, and you’ll be treated to delicious French cuisine.

After leaving London and a stop-off in Dover, you’ll sail along Dorset’s Jurassic Coast and explore the rugged bays and coves of the Scilly Islands. The ship will then make its way to Ireland, visiting Glengarriff and Kinsale before arriving in Dublin.

A seven-night English Shores to Ireland cruise departs from London. From £2,319 for a seven-night English Shores to Ireland cruise, departing May 17, 2020 (0808 23 43 802; en.ponant.com).

Skomer Island seen from Marloes Head - Credit: Getty
Soak up the beauty of Skomer Island Credit: Getty

Explore more shores

Seabourn Quest can take you on a voyage from the thermal waters of Bath to the hot springs of Iceland. After ports of call around the British Isles, she heads north with an on-board expedition team to explore the geysers and volcanoes of the land of fire and ice.

The itinerary begins in Dover, taking in Bath (from Bristol), Skomer Island (Wales), Scotland’s Orkney Islands and Summer Isles, followed by five Icelandic ports, ending in the capital Reykjavik. A sleek, modern ship with 450 passengers, Seabourn Quest is famed for her award-winning dining venues – the Thomas Keller steakhouse is a favourite.  

A 15-day British Isles and Iceland cruise sails from Dover. From £4,999pp all-inclusive, departing May 17, 2019 (0344 338 8615; seabourn.com).