Skylord Cruise and Holidays
All cruise regions

Cruise region

Northern Europe

Northern Europe cruises are a relaxed way to explore nearby coastlines without a flight, from Normandy and Bruges to Amsterdam, Hamburg and the Atlantic ports of northern Spain. Many sail round trip from Southampton. Shorter itineraries make them a popular first taste of cruising.

Best time to go

May to September brings the mildest weather and the longest days.

Season

Mainly spring to autumn, with some short sailings at other times of year.

Typical daytime highs

  • Spring (April to May). Typical daytime highs around 13 to 18°C in spring (April to May). Mild, with showers.
  • Summer (June to August). Typical daytime highs around 20 to 25°C in summer (June to August). Pleasantly warm.
  • Autumn (September to October). Typical daytime highs around 14 to 19°C in autumn (September to October). Cooling, with more changeable weather.

These are typical ranges, not a forecast.

How long

Usually 2 to 7 nights for short breaks, and up to 12 nights for longer voyages.

Sail from the UK

  • Southampton. Round-trip sailings to France, the Low Countries, Germany and northern Spain, with no flights needed.

Fly-cruise airports

  • Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS). about 2 hours 45 minutes

Who it suits

First-time cruisers, short-break takers and anyone who would rather not fly.

Questions

Do I need to fly for a Northern Europe cruise?

Usually not. Many sail round trip from Southampton.

Is a short Northern Europe cruise good for first-timers?

Yes. Two to five night sailings are a popular way to try cruising.

Which ports are most visited?

Le Havre, Bilbao, La Coruña, Lisbon, Zeebrugge for Bruges and Amsterdam appear most often.

Ports and places