About our cruises from Southampton

Our no-fly cruises from Southampton let you explore every inch of northern Europe, from the fjords to Finland. You won’t find itineraries to Italy, the Canaries or the Caribbean here, because these sailings are all about gleaming glaciers, Baltic capitals and mountain-cuddled towns. As well as Norwegian-focused holidays, our Baltic cruises from Southampton take you to cities, like Oslo, Tallinn and St Petersburg.

If you book one of our Southampton Cruises, you’ll get to sail on one of our newest, All Inclusive ships – like Marella Discovery and Marella Explorer.

As for Southampton itself, it’s a port city through and through. But it’s not all cruise ships. It’s also home to an interactive model of the Titanic, a shiny harbourfront shopping complex and the biggest working steam ship in Britain. Plus, you can swap blue for green in the neighbouring New Forest.

How to get to Southampton Port

If you’re wondering how far is Southampton from me? Are there any airports near Southampton? Or, what’s in port? Don’t worry, here’s our guide on everything you need to know about Southampton’s cruise terminal.

Car: Southampton Port has two major motorways at its fingertips. The M3 and the M27 are both within half an hour’s drive – just follow the directions to Southampton. Head for the City Cruise Terminal, Solent Road, Western Docks, Southampton, SO15 1HJ. When you arrive, make sure you have your Marella Cruises paperwork ready. The port staff will direct you to the luggage drop area and point you towards the cruise parking.

Coach: We’ve teamed up with Intercruises to provide you with transfers to Southampton Port with lots of pick-up points across the UK. Log onto www.intercruises.com/marella or call 0131 297 4391 to book your seat.

Train: Southampton Central Station is between a five and 15-minute cab ride from the port, depending on your dock gate. It has links to Brighton, Cardiff and Manchester, to name a few. From London, you can reach Southampton in an hour and a half or less.

Air: Southampton Airport is just 10 miles away from Southampton Port, so a taxi journey shouldn’t take much longer than 20 minutes. You can fly here from plenty of UK airports, including Manchester, Edinburgh and Newcastle.

Arrives at 10AM

What better way to experience Norway than with a visit to its birthplace? The battle that marked the unification of 29 Norwegian kingdoms into one country took place in the Haugalandet region – just down the road from Haugesund – in the year 872. Nowadays, the town is home to pretty, pastel coloured buildings and stunning natural landscapes. Plus, it’s becoming a hotspot for glitzy film and music festivals.

• Pay a visit to Haraldshaugen – it’s the national monument of Norway and commemorates the unification of the country. Its tall granite obelisk is surrounded by 29 memorial stones – one for each former kingdom.

• See the town from above at Haugesund’s best viewpoint – on top of Steinsfjellet Mountain. If you look over the fir tree forests, you can see out to the North Sea and the picturesque islands that are dotted along the coast.

• In Haugesund, you’re within easy reach of Karmøy island, where you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches in Norway. They’ve got soft, white sand, and there are some grassy dunes to hike along, too.

Departs at 5PM

Arrives at 6AM

You’ll find the area of Vik I Sogn pulled up along the southern shoreline of Sognefjorden – Norway’s biggest fjord. The first thing you’ll notice here is the textbook Norwegian countryside. Think snow-capped mountains, rolling green hills and plenty of easy-going, waterfront walking trails. A few pocket-sized villages are sprinkled along the coast for you to explore, too. They’re a good place to learn about the area’s Viking-filled history. Make sure you also sample some fresh raspberries during a walk around one of the local fruit farms.

Departs at 6PM

Arrives at 8AM

January 23rd 1904 saw Alesund ravaged by fire, but this hardy little city rose like a phoenix from the ashes – and the result is impressive. It was rebuilt in Art Nouveau style and the medley of turrets, spires and ornamental twists and turns give the town a fairytale feel. What makes it even more unusual is that it’s set across several islands sprinkled in the ocean, with the spectacular Sunnmore Alps as a backdrop.

• Have a look around the Art Nouveau Centre, a gorgeous period building whose displays piece together Alesund’s architectural history.
• A trip to the top of Mount Aksla offers up unbeatable views of the town, the fjords and the surrounding islands. You can climb the 418 steps, starting from the town park, catch the sightseeing train or go by road.

Departs at 6PM

Arrives at 8AM

Known as the Town of Roses, Molde is tucked away in one of the rugged pockets of Norway’s famous fjords. You might catch your reflection in a mirrored 16-storey hotel on the waterfront, and if you turn the other way you’ll see snow-capped mountains across the strait. The city centre boasts a cosmopolitan blend of cafes and boutiques, but the most talked-about spots are in the hills surrounding Molde. A 10-minute drive will get you to Varden, a beauty spot where the panoramic views are the stuff of Instagram dreams.

• Fresh fish is one of Molde’s foodie highlights. Saltwater fishermen haul in nets brimming with cod, pollock and mackerel. They all make the menu at the city’s best seafood restaurants, along with salmon and trout hooked from the region’s rivers.
• Moldejazz attracts more than 100,000 music fans every July, and holds a place among the longest-running festivals in Europe. It was started in 1961 by a local jazz club, and has evolved into a week-long party featuring the likes of the legendary Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins.
• The Romsdal Museum is one of the biggest of its kind in Norway. Work started in 1912, with more than 50 buildings from across the region painstakingly moved here to create a traditional village set-up. There are open-hearth houses and a chapel, plus a main street with an authentic Norwegian smokehouse.

Departs at 3PM

Arrives at 10AM

The village of Honningsvag is tucked deep inside the Arctic Circle, on the island of Mageroya. It’s the most northerly point in Europe, and your gateway to the Northern Cape – a chunk of land that juts out into the sea. Guarded by the eerie Midnight Sun that floats overhead, it’s Norway’s most soul-stirring attraction.

• Stand on the 1,000 foot high cliffs at the Northern Cape to see what many have written about but few have seen – the Midnight Sun. Hanging above the Arctic Ocean, the sun casts its ever-present glow. It’s a sight you’ll never forget.
• Climb aboard a deep-sea raft and play fisherman for a few hours. The King Crab is one of Norway’s most famous exports, and you can head out into the deep blue to help reel in the daily catch. Afterwards, you’ll get to prepare and taste the delicious crab meat for yourself.

Departs at 6PM

Arrives at 8AM

Alta’s the biggest town in Norway’s north. As such, it’s billed as one of the best places to hunt for the Northern Lights. In fact, that’s what inspired the town’s spiralled cathedral, which looks even more impressive when the swirling Aurora Borealis fill the sky. But there are plenty of other things going on, too, including a UNESCO-listed museum, a salmon-filled canyon and a fancy ice hotel.

• Don’t miss Alta Museum. This World Heritage Site is home to tonnes of rock carvings, dating back to 4,200 BC – proving that humans did venture this far north in prehistoric times.
• Check out the Northern Lights Cathedral. If the lights don’t show outside, this place has an interactive exhibition devoted to the elusive Aurora Borealis.
• Hike around Northern Europe’s biggest canyon, just outside of town. This is real back-to-nature stuff, so you’re likely to pass waterfalls, reindeer and leaping salmon.

Departs at 6PM

Arrives at 9AM

The biggest city above the Arctic Circle, Tromso’s been the starting point for countless polar expeditions. Norwegians call it the Paris of the North, and one thing’s for sure – it’s a city to fall in love with.

• Don’t miss the iceberg-shaped Arctic Cathedral, which glistens in the haunting glow of the ever-present Midnight Sun
• Call in at Tromso Museum, home to the world’s largest exhibition on the traditional Sami culture as well as some great examples of religious art.
• Fancy a meal 1,300 feet about sea level? Then take the cable car to Mount Storsteinen and drink in sensational panoramic views while you tuck into a tasty meal.
• Meeting the Sørensen family is no easy feat. Mum Tore, dad Tove, and their three children live at the Wilderness Centre on Whale Island, along with 300 huskies. The family race the fluffy dogs all around Greenland and they’ve got books full of stories to tell.

Departs at 4PM

Arrived at 8AM

This sleepy hamlet sprang into life in the 18th Century. Today, it’s best known as the gateway to the gleaming Briksdalsbreen Glacier, one of Norway’s ‘must see’ sights.

• Gaze in wonder at the million-year-old glacier. Walk along a weaving path skirting gushing waterfalls. Nothing can prepare you for the awesome sight ahead of you – the glacier is a shimmering mass of blue ice that’ll leave you lost for words.
• Uncover the secret of Olden Lake’s looks. This huge body of water is known as Norway’s most beautiful lake and its unique green appearance has something to do with a substance called ‘glacier milk’.

Departs at 4PM

Arrives at 8AM

This sophisticated little city thrives in a patchwork of heather-covered hills and breathtaking fjords. Whether you come here to unravel its spellbinding history or just to soak up the magical scenery, Stavanger puts it all there on a plate for you.

• Stroll through the old quarter, packed with olde-worlde wooden houses, and see artists hard at work in their studios.
• Pay a visit to the 12th-century Stavanger Domkirke. One of Norway’s most beautiful Medieval creations, its features include a vaulted ceiling and a late 13th-century Gothic chancel.

Departs at 4PM

About our cruises from Southampton

Our no-fly cruises from Southampton let you explore every inch of northern Europe, from the fjords to Finland. You won’t find itineraries to Italy, the Canaries or the Caribbean here, because these sailings are all about gleaming glaciers, Baltic capitals and mountain-cuddled towns. As well as Norwegian-focused holidays, our Baltic cruises from Southampton take you to cities, like Oslo, Tallinn and St Petersburg.

If you book one of our Southampton Cruises, you’ll get to sail on one of our newest, All Inclusive ships – like Marella Discovery and Marella Explorer.

As for Southampton itself, it’s a port city through and through. But it’s not all cruise ships. It’s also home to an interactive model of the Titanic, a shiny harbourfront shopping complex and the biggest working steam ship in Britain. Plus, you can swap blue for green in the neighbouring New Forest.

How to get to Southampton Port

If you’re wondering how far is Southampton from me? Are there any airports near Southampton? Or, what’s in port? Don’t worry, here’s our guide on everything you need to know about Southampton’s cruise terminal.

Car: Southampton Port has two major motorways at its fingertips. The M3 and the M27 are both within half an hour’s drive – just follow the directions to Southampton. Head for the City Cruise Terminal, Solent Road, Western Docks, Southampton, SO15 1HJ. When you arrive, make sure you have your Marella Cruises paperwork ready. The port staff will direct you to the luggage drop area and point you towards the cruise parking.

Coach: We’ve teamed up with Intercruises to provide you with transfers to Southampton Port with lots of pick-up points across the UK. Log onto www.intercruises.com/marella or call 0131 297 4391 to book your seat.

Train: Southampton Central Station is between a five and 15-minute cab ride from the port, depending on your dock gate. It has links to Brighton, Cardiff and Manchester, to name a few. From London, you can reach Southampton in an hour and a half or less.

Air: Southampton Airport is just 10 miles away from Southampton Port, so a taxi journey shouldn’t take much longer than 20 minutes. You can fly here from plenty of UK airports, including Manchester, Edinburgh and Newcastle.