Practical cruise-port guides, stories and original photography.
Aberdeen is a growing Scottish cruise port with a modern deep-water South Harbour for ships around 300m, smaller North Harbour cruise berths, tender anchorage, compulsory pilotage and operational shore power at selected North Harbour berths.
Belfast is Northern Ireland's principal cruise port, offering access to Titanic Belfast, the city's maritime heritage, political history and excursions along the Antrim coast.
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a small tidal Northumberland cruise port with a 90m ship limit inside Tweed Dock and offshore anchorage for larger cruise vessels using a tender landing pontoon close to the town centre.
Bristol's cruise terminal is at Royal Portbury Dock, around 10 miles from the city centre, providing alongside calls and access to Bristol, Bath, Wells and the wider South West.
Cardiff is a commercial enclosed-dock port on the Severn Estuary, capable of handling smaller cruise calls subject to lock, tide, berth and vessel restrictions, with the Welsh capital only a few kilometres from the port.
Dover is a major British cruise turnaround and port-of-call destination beneath the famous White Cliffs. Cruise Terminals 1 and 2 occupy the Western Docks, while WD4 handles selected transit calls. Dover Priory offers fast trains to London, but passengers should allow for the distance between the station and their assigned berth.
Dundee is an alongside Scottish cruise port on the River Tay, offering easy access to V&A Dundee, Discovery Point and excursions to St Andrews, Angus and Royal Deeside.
Falmouth is a scenic Cornish cruise port offering alongside and tender calls, a walkable maritime town and access to Pendennis Castle, coastal scenery and major Cornwall attractions.
Greenock Ocean Terminal is the Clyde gateway to Glasgow and western Scotland, offering a walkable waterfront, direct rail links and excursions to Loch Lomond, Stirling, castles and the Trossachs.
Invergordon is the principal Highland cruise port on the Cromarty Firth, with deep-water facilities including the Service Base, 372m Quay West and Saltburn Pier, plus sheltered anchorage and tender capability.
Kirkwall is Orkney's principal cruise destination, combining the 385m Hatston Pier for large ships, a town-centre berth for smaller vessels and Kirkwall Bay anchorage for tender calls.
Lerwick is Shetland's principal cruise port, combining town-centre berths and tender landings with access to dramatic coastlines, wildlife and thousands of years of island history.
Liverpool is a highly walkable city-centre cruise port on the River Mersey, close to the Three Graces, Royal Albert Dock, museums, music landmarks and major shopping areas.
London International Cruise Terminal at Tilbury is a historic tidal-Thames cruise facility capable of handling ships up to 350m, with a 348m floating landing stage, turnaround capacity for 2,500 passengers and direct road and rail access towards London.
Newcastle cruise ships dock at the Port of Tyne in North Shields, offering access to NewcastleGateshead, Tynemouth, Durham, Hadrian's Wall and Northumberland.
Portland Port is Dorset's deep-water cruise gateway to Weymouth, the Isle of Portland and the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast, with complimentary shuttle transport from its secure berths.
Portsmouth International Port is a growing UK turnaround and call port serving boutique, luxury, expedition and medium-sized cruise ships. Its modern terminal can support vessels up to approximately 300 metres, while Portsmouth & Southsea station is around five minutes away by taxi. The Historic Dockyard and Gunwharf waterfront require an onward transfer.
Southampton is Britain's busiest cruise port and one of Europe's leading turnaround hubs. Five dedicated terminals serve the Eastern and Western Docks, with assignments varying by ship and sailing. The city centre, railway station and airport are close, but passengers must check their terminal carefully before travelling.