Thanks to its iconic capital city of London, England is high on most people’s travel wish list. London is incredible with its diverse food scene, historic landmarks, world-class museums, and top rated theater productions. However, England is so much more than just London, and a cruise to England is an effortless and in-depth way to experience this beautiful country.
Our itineraries that sail to and from England include British Isle Cruises, Ireland and Iceland Cruises, and cruises that embark from Amsterdam and Dublin. In addition, some of our other ships sailing northern Europe or transatlantic itineraries also make port of call stops in England. Both the ports of Dover and Southampton offer shore excursions to London. Like we said earlier, though, there is much more to an England cruise than just London. Here’s what you can expect when you take a cruise to England on one of our fabulous ships.
A cruise to England will take you to some of the highlights of the country, including its biggest cities and sprawling countryside. Along the way you’ll see landmarks of both the manmade and natural kind.
One of the most breathtaking natural scenes in England is found right by the cruise port of call of Dover, at the White Cliffs of Dover. This vertical piece of earth is known for its gleaming white color jutting up over 300 feet in the air while the water of the Strait of Dover laps against its base.
A cruise to England will likely take you to the south and east coasts of the county. This region is home to some of the England’s most breathtaking country landscape. Drive through rolling green hills dotted with ships, old wall ruins, and villages lined with quaint architecture and cobblestone streets.
Visit some of London’s most famous landmarks and learn more about the history of the country during your cruise to England. Tour the Tower of London, gaze at Big Ben and the Parliament buildings, take a ride on the London Eye, stop for a pint in a traditional pub, and walk through Trafalgar Square.
These two cities are located right next to each other on the western coast of England. They are especially famous for their football clubs (that would be soccer to U.S. folks): Manchester United and Liverpool F.C. Both cities also have a bustling downtown, historic music scenes, and pretty parks.
Our England port of calls put you right next to some of the top activities and sights to do and see in England. During a cruise to England, our ships pull into port along the southern and western coasts of the country. You’ll be close to London when in Southampton, and right in the middle of vibrant city centers when stopped in Dover and Liverpool.
Southampton, England
Liverpool, England
Dover, England
The best shore excursions on an England cruise stop are ones that showcase the country’s vast history and modern culture (including its trendsetting pop culture) alongside England’s beautiful natural scenery.
An England cruise port of call in Liverpool lets you walk in the footsteps of four famous musicians: John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Liverpool is where the Beatles began. See their childhood homes, tour one of the first clubs they played, and visit the “Beatles Story” on historic Royal Albert Dock.
One of the most picturesque castles in England is Leeds Castle, located less than 40 miles from Dover, which makes it an easy shore excursion to do during a cruise to England. Leeds Castle was built in 1119 and is situated on small island in the middle of a river-fed lake in the city of Kent.
Take a shore excursion that includes a traditional English tea and enjoy sightseeing in the countryside before stopping at a manor for a quintessential English experience: afternoon tea. You’ll sip delicious tea while sampling delicacies like scones with clotted cream and petit fours.
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The England cruise itinerary you should choose depends on what ports of call you want to visit and what else you want to experience on your cruise. All of our cruises to England include additional countries, whether they’re located in the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland) or beyond.
For Liverpool, you can take a transatlantic cruise from Florida to Dublin, Ireland, that stops at Liverpool as well as the gorgeous Azores islands along the way. Most of our Ireland cruise also stop in Liverpool.
If you’re lusting after seeing the white cliffs of Dover, look for cruise itineraries that sail from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Many of these stop in Dover before or after visiting other ports of call around the British Isles before returning to Amsterdam. Our Ireland, England, and Scotland cruise itineraries on Celebrity Reflection that sail from Dublin also usually make a port of call stop in Dover.
Depending on your England cruise itinerary you may visit only Liverpool or Dover, but if you’re looking for more English ports of call, our British Isles Cruises out of Amsterdam nearly always visit both Liverpool and Dover. On these itineraries you’ll also occasionally find an additional port of call in Portland, located in the county of Dorset on England’s southwest coast.
As for Southampton, you’ll find that port of call at the start or end of numerous types of northern Europe itineraries. We offer England cruise itineraries that sail from Southampton, which is located on the southern coast of England and is the closest cruise port to London. Embarking from Southampton and finishing your cruise there makes it convenient to do one of our city stays in London. During your City Stay, you’ll have ample time to explore London while having expert-led tours arranged for you and staying in Celebrity-approved hotels that are luxuriously appointed and conveniently situated for optimal sightseeing ease.
Since Southampton serves as either a starting or ending point for cruises, you’ll rarely find it combined with other England cruise ports. Instead, use it to give yourself more time to explore London before or after one of these exciting itineraries: Scandinavia and Russia, Norwegian Fjords, Canaries and Azores, Western Mediterranean, Transatlantic, and Northern Europe Capital Cities.
Cruises to England typically sail during the spring and summer months. Pack accordingly for a rainy climate, though you should expect some sunshine and warm weather during that time as well.
