Best Small Ship Cruises Around the British Isles 2024/2025

Lunga, Treshnish Isles, Argyll, Scotland

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In the olden days, when explorers would cross vast oceans in search of new lands to plunder, huge swathes of the map would be blank, marked 'terra incognita' or 'here be lions'. Even nowadays, with Google and Wikipedia at our fingertips, we still have those gaps in our own mental map of the world, and the most glaring gaps are often those closest to home. We all have those places in the UK that we've never quite managed to visit, those trips that we put on hold while we dashed around the globe in pursuit of more exotic experiences. If you've been inspired to explore closer to home, why not make like David Attenborough on his BBC series Wild Isles, where he explored the UK's landscapes and coastlines, with these best small ship cruises around the British Isles to book now for 2024 and 2025.

People often think that a cruise around the British Isles sounds dull, but that's usually because they haven't taken the time to browse the surprisingly diverse itineraries on offer. Yes, you can never count on the weather, but that's true of plenty of other, more fashionable destinations (we're looking at you, Iceland). So who exactly would enjoy a British Isles cruise...?

1. Scenic strollers

If you're the sort of cruiser who likes to get off the ship and really stretch their legs, a cruise around Britain will tick all the boxes. Take a stroll around genteel coastal towns such as Dartmouth and Great Yarmouth, or explore the mountains of Anglesey with a call at Holyhead.

Hebridean Island Cruises even offer special 'footloose' itineraries around Scotland, designed specifically for hikers and which include guided walks combined with visits to the region's historic sites. In 2025, on board the 48-guest Hebridean Princess, you can enjoy footloose voyages exploring the Outer Hebrides, the Southern Isles, and the Northwest corner of Scotland.

Loch Scavaig and the Cuilin Mountains, Isle of Skye

2. Island hoppers

Any British Isles cruise is by definition an island-hopping cruise, and one of the real advantages of exploring by ship is that it allows you to explore islands that are usually tricky to reach. Look out for voyages visiting the Shetlands and the Orkneys, the rugged Skellig islands off the west coast of Ireland, or the sunny Isles of Scilly. There are also plenty of itineraries that include the Isle of the Man or the Channel Islands, and you will occasionally find a cruise calling at the Isle of Wight. Oceania's British Isles cruises often include a call in Kirkwall or Stornoway, and Seabourn regularly offers round-Britain voyages which include the Isle of Man.

3. Culture vultures

The UK has a fantastic array of museums and galleries, including plenty outside London. Silversea's 596-guest Silver Dawn sails round-trip from Southampton in September 2025 , with calls including Belfast, home to the excellent Titanic museum. Other regional museums well worth visiting include Tate Liverpool and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.

4. History buffs

The complex history of the British Isles is one of the most compelling reasons to cruise here. Celts, Romans, Normans, Vikings, Saxons and many more besides helped shape our towns and countryside, and a cruise can help you to piece together the story of our islands.

One of Regent's newer ships, Seven Seas Splendor, sails around the UK and Ireland from Southampton in September 2024, with the chance to visit the Neolithic Ring of Brodgar in the Orkneys, go city slicking in Dublin and explore Cornwall's pretty Falmouth harbour. An alternative British Isles voyage operates in June 2025 on board the latest Regent ship, Seven Seas Grandeur offering the opportunity to explore historic delights in Ullapool and Invergordon.

5. Nature lovers

Wildlife enthusiasts (and birdwatchers in particular) should keep their eyes peeled for the occasional expedition-style cruises visiting Britain's more rugged and unspoilt corners, such as Ponant's 9-day voyage from Dublin to Glasgow in May 2025. Highlights on this cruise include the squawking seabird colonies on Rathlin Island, plus a call at the remote Treshnish and Canna islands, famous for their puffins and seals. Other options for nature lovers include cruises calling at Fowey in Cornwall, within easy reach of the Eden Project, such as Ponant's 8-night voyage in May 2025, or Tresco in the Scilly Isles, home to the extraordinary Abbey Garden.

Meet the author

Claire is Marketing Manager at Mundy Cruising, having worked with the company for nearly two years and in travel for over 8 years. Most recently she's cruised on Seabourn and has also sailed with Ponant and Uniworld. Her favourite destination is Sweden however she's also enjoyed cruises in the the Galapagos, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe, Greek Isles and the Far East. When she’s not travelling she loves weekends away in the countryside.

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