Cruise Vacations from the United Kingdom

5 Destinations You Can Discover on a Cruise from Southampton, UK

Did you know that Southampton is England’s Busiest Ports, and has a history, dating back 2000 years ago, when the first docking took place ! However, The modern era in the history of the Port of Southampton began when the first dock was inaugurated in 1843.

Southampton, if you didn’t know, is one of the major port cities in Hampshire, South East England, and is famous for its association with RMS Titanic and as one of the departure points for D Day. Today, it is also famous for being the home port of some of the largest cruise ships in the World, making it one of the best places in the UK to disembark on a memorable cruise.

If you are someone who fancies taking Cruise Vacations, or someone looking for a different experience the next time you travel from the UK, you need to check out these 5 destinations that you might cover when you are onboard one of the best Southampton Cruises that there are.

Norway

Norway – officially Kingdom of Norway, also known as the land of the Midnight Sun, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, that occupies the western half of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Norway shares its long eastern border with Sweden, and the north eastern with Russia and Finland.

While nearly half of the inhabitants stay near the far South, in and around Oslo – Norway’s capital, there are places like Tromso, Lofoten and Nordland, Bergen and the western fjords, the Svalbard Islands, Geirangerfjord and the Northwest; that attract tourists from around the World.

If you didn’t already know, Norway is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights , and you shouldn’t miss a chance to witness the Northern Lights in Lofoten.

The breathtaking Norwegian nature is what attracts travellers from everywhere. The famous dramatic fjords, jagged mountain peaks, lush forests, numerous lakes and rivers, and sparse population make it a perfect destination for any traveler.

Iceland

Another Nordic Island Country in Europe, but in the North Atlantic, Iceland is Europe’s most sparsely populated country. It was during the Viking Ages, that Iceland saw the first human settlement on its lands. Iceland has the world’s oldest surviving parliament, the Alþingi, and is also known as the Land of Fire and Ice, as volcanoes and geothermal heat have made their mark on the landscape in Iceland, along with the many glaciers and glacier lagoons.

In essence Iceland is a land of pristine and unspoiled nature. 

Some of the main attractions in Iceland are the three National parks – Þingvellir National Park, Vatnajökull National Park and the Snæfellsjökull National Park; followed by the Blue Lagoon, Gullfoss, the Snaefellsnes peninsula, the Westfjords amongst many others.

One of the best things you can do in Iceland, is to rent your own vehicle, and do a road trip around Iceland’s Ring Road, which basically takes you around the country on Route 1.

The trip, which is also one of the Best Road Trips in the World, is almost 900 miles and is pretty self-explanatory as it does a large circle through the Nordic island nation, and allows visitors to see all regions bar the Westfjords and Snæfellsnes Peninsula, but most importantly, the road connects the capital, Reykjavík, to the second biggest city in Iceland, Akureyri, in the north of the country.

Ireland

An Island nation in North Western Europe, also referred to as the Republic of Ireland, has been divided politically since 1920. Most of the island is made up of Ireland, while the remainder is Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.

The island of Ireland historically consists of 32 counties, of which six, collectively known as Northern Ireland, have remained as part of the United Kingdom since the rest of Ireland gained self government in 1922. 

While Ireland is home to popular tourist destinations such as Dublin – the capital and the largest city, Cork – the second biggest city, Gallaway, Killarney – the most popular tourist destination in Ireland, Limerick, the cliffs of Moher and Waterford – Ireland’s oldest city, amongst others; North Ireland, which is a part of the United Kingdom, is home to Belfast – the capital city, Bangor and the Giant’s Causeway among others.

Ireland, in general, has some really wonderful places to visit. For history buffs there are ancient forts, ruined castles, old churches, and some excellent museums. Outdoorsy types will find countless beautiful locations for long walks, bike rides, and scenic boat trips.

Spain

The most popular tourist destinations in Europe, Spain has an amalgamation of everything – from lush meadows and snowy mountains to huge marshes and deserts in the south east. 

Did you know that Spain has the third highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, after Italy and China !

The presence of many cultural regions and historic cities, combined with really amazing weather, and lively vibes, Spain is definitely one destination that has attracted travellers with all kinds of interests.

Some of the places worth visiting are Spain’s thriving capital Madrid, the vibrant coastal city of Barcelona, the famous “Running of the Bulls” at Pamplona, major Andalusian cities with Islamic architecture, like Seville, Granada and Córdoba, the Way of St. James and the idyllic Balearic and Canary Islands, which is one of the Best Places to visit in Europe.

Spain is also home to Ibiza – the world famous party island, Costa del Sol – the sunny coast in south of Spain, La Rioja – home of the Rioja Wine, Costa Blanca – the 200km coast of white sand lined with world class resorts, Mallorca– the largest island of the Balears, among others.

Portugal

Sharing its boundary with Spain, Portugal –  on the western edge of the Iberian peninsula, is yet another awesome destination that you can explore on a cruise.

Despite its small land area, Portugal has many landforms and climates between the Atlantic coast and the mountains. Portugal has plenty of prehistoric sites, as well as remnants from the Roman Empire, and the Age of Exploration, when Portuguese explorers found the Cape Route around Africa, and completed the world’s first circumnavigation.

Interesting Fact – Portugal is a hot favourite not only in the surfing community, but also in the golfing community. Portugal has been rated as one of Europe’s Best Golfing Destinations, and more than 14 of Portugal’s golf courses are considered in Europe’s 100 best Golf Courses.

Some of the cities that should be on your Spain Travel Bucket List are Lisbon – Portugal’s capital a.k.a city of seven hills, Avelro – the venice of Portugal, Porto – the “Invincible City” along the river Douro and the Atlantic Ocean, Braga – the city of archbishops, amongst others.

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