Christmas Cruises 2026: Festive Sailings from Southampton

Christmas cruises from Southampton let you spend Christmas Day at sea or in a European port, with the ship decorated for the season. These are the festive sailings the cruise lines themselves list for December 2026 — dates and prices below are from the operators’ own sites, and fares change, so check the operator’s site before booking.

P&O Cruises — Christmas Scandinavian Escape (Aurora, R622)

P&O’s Aurora sails on a 14-night “Christmas Scandinavian Escape” from Southampton on 15 December 2026, returning on 29 December. Christmas Day is spent at sea, and the ship is back in Southampton on 29 December. P&O’s own site does not state a price for this sailing — agent listings quote fares, but those are not the operator’s own prices.

Fred. Olsen — Festive France & Belgium (Balmoral, L2640)

Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral sails a 6-night “Festive France & Belgium” cruise from Southampton on Thursday 10 December 2026, returning to Southampton. The sailing includes an overnight in Rouen, with a Seine sailing, and an overnight in Antwerp, with Christmas markets on the itinerary. From £1,099 per person on Fred. Olsen’s own site.

Fred. Olsen — German Christmas Markets (Balmoral, L2641)

Balmoral’s second festive sailing is a 6-night “German Christmas Markets” cruise from Southampton on Wednesday 16 December 2026, returning to Southampton. It includes an overnight in Hamburg, plus a call at Honfleur, with glühwein, lebkuchen and bratwurst on the Christmas-market theme. From £999 per person on Fred. Olsen’s own site.

Fred. Olsen — A Festive Celebration of Dance (Borealis, S2631A)

Borealis sails a 5-night “A Festive Celebration of Dance” cruise from Southampton on Sunday 13 December 2026, returning to Southampton. Dame Arlene Phillips and Ian Waite are on board for the sailing. From £1,199 per person on Fred. Olsen’s own site.

Tips for booking a Christmas cruise

• All four sailings above leave from Southampton and return there, so there are no flights to arrange.
• Prices are from the operators’ own sites and fares change — check pocruises.com or fredolsencruises.com before booking.
• P&O does not state a price for its Christmas Scandinavian Escape on its own site; agent-quoted fares are not the operator’s prices.
• Christmas Day falls at sea on the P&O sailing and on the Fred. Olsen German Christmas Markets sailing’s route; check each itinerary for where you will be on 25 December.
• Book early — festive sailings are limited, and the December dates are the only Christmas departures these lines list for 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Are there Christmas cruises from Southampton in 2026?

Yes. P&O’s Aurora sails on 15 December 2026, and Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral and Borealis sail on 10, 13 and 16 December 2026 — all from Southampton and back.

How much is a Christmas cruise in 2026?

Fred. Olsen’s festive sailings start from £999 per person (German Christmas Markets, 6 nights), £1,099 per person (Festive France & Belgium, 6 nights) and £1,199 per person (A Festive Celebration of Dance, 5 nights) on the operator’s own site. P&O does not state a price for its Christmas sailing on its own site.

Is Christmas Day spent at sea?

On P&O’s Christmas Scandinavian Escape, Christmas Day is at sea. Check each Fred. Olsen itinerary for where the ship is on 25 December.

How long are the Christmas cruises?

From 5 nights (Fred. Olsen Borealis) to 14 nights (P&O Aurora).