Whether you are a first-time sailor or almost a professional passenger, a mini cruise is a great way to enjoy a short getaway.
Many cruise lines offer short sailings to celebrate special occasions or just to relax for a well-deserved long weekend or midweek break.
It could also be an opportunity to test the waters of a cruise for the first time to see how much you like it and whether you suffer from seasickness.
You can expect the same service that you would receive on a longer cruise including breakfast, lunch and dinner in the buffet and dining room as well as daytime and evening activities and entertainment, plus the chance to relax, pamper yourself and party onboard.
There are a variety of mini-cruise sailings with itineraries departing from UK ports such as London Tilbury, Portsmouth and Southampton, allowing you to explore parts of the British Isles and Europe. The price may even work out cheaper than a UK spa or hotel break.
Here’s our pick of the best mini cruises for 2025.
Cunard
Southampton – Hamburg – Southampton
What better way to treat your mum than a Mother’s Day cruise?
This four-night sailing on Queen Victoria visits Hamburg, where you can enjoy the canals and cobbled streets or have a larger-than-life experience seeing the model villages in Miniatur Wunderland. It is the largest model railway system in the world.
Back onboard, you and your mum can be treated like royalty with Cunard’s famous afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters.
There are plenty of ways to relax, from exploring the 6,000 books in Queen Victoria’s library or just unwinding by the pool or enjoying dinner and a show.
Departs 28 March 2025. From £499pp for a Britannia inside cabin.
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Ambassador
London Tilbury – Cork – Liverpool
Passengers can discover Ireland on Ambassador’s newest ship Ambition.
This four-night trip starts in London Tilbury before crossing the Irish Sea for an overnight stop in the Irish port town of Cobh, giving you time to access and enjoy Cork.
The ship disembarks in Liverpool, giving you another city to visit during your…
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