For decades the Americans, Canadians, Australians and many other nationalities have flocked to the British Isles to take a cruise. And whilst most people consider the British Isles to consist of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, it actually encompasses a much wider region. Ireland is geographically speaking part of the British Isles too, as is the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, the Orkney Islands, Hebrides and the Shetland Islands -- a whopping six thousand outlying islands in total!  And while you won't be able to see them all in a week, you will be able to get a good taste of the diversity of the British Isles -- from the French influences in the Channel Islands to the Celtic history of Ireland and Viking past of the Shetlands.

Some come for the voyage alone; others combine a cruise with a land stay. However, Brits make up a very small percentage of passengers sailing on these voyages, which is a shame as there is a whole lot to discover right here on our doorstep.

Here are our seven reasons why we feel Brits should take a round-Britain cruise.

1. It's cheaper on your own doorstep

With budget flights abroad often more affordable than a train ticket in the U.K., Brits tend to head to the Med or beyond instead of cruising back at home. It's actually cheaper, however, to stay put. Itineraries around the British Isles are so varied there will always be interesting ports of call on each sailing and a cruise is an extremely economical way to see multiple destinations in one go. A typical British Isles cruise will take in Cork (Ireland), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Glasgow and Edinburgh (Scotland). An equivalent DIY trip would involve lengthy car journeys, a ferry and flights.

2. Unsurpassable History, Culture & Legends





Liverpool: Home to the largest collection of museums and galleries outside London, Liverpool is equally famous for its iconic pop music culture. Celebrity Cruises offers a four-hour excursion where you can follow the lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo as you explore their hometown (including Penny Lane) and the roots of The Beatles.

3. Awe inspiring scenery


4. You get to star in the scenery

With such an abundance of stunning scenery, it's no surprise that many destinations on a British Isles cruise have been used as filming locations. Remote white-sand beaches, clifftops and country roads in Northern Ireland all serve as the backdrop for magical scenes in HBO's hit series "Game of Thrones". Nearby, Dunluce Castle featured in U2 and Van Morrison's music videos; the "Outlander" saga is filmed in the Scottish Highlands; "Downton Abbey" was filmed 90 minutes from London at Highclere Castle. You can follow in the footsteps of these programmes by visiting these scenic spots independently or on themed excursions organised by the cruise lines.

5. You still get to go abroad

If you don't feel you've had a 'proper' holiday unless you've gone abroad, then fear not. Whilst the cruise itinerary might be called British Isles, most longer voyages (nine days or more)  include stops in Northern France as well as a Channel Island, the most popular being Guernsey, setting for the historical novel "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" which was adapted into a film of the same name and released in 2018. And whilst Guernsey is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, it's closer to France than the U.K. and has a very French feel, with bi-lingual street signs and French patisseries. Celebrated French author Victor Hugo (of "Les Miserables" fame) spent 15 years here and you can visit the house where he lived.  Should you prefer to go Dutch, Cunard and Saga include stops in Holland (Rotterdam or Amsterdam) on their British Isles voyages. But you don't always need to go abroad to feel like you're in another country. The Orkneys, Shetlands and Hebrides are officially in the U.K., but these wild, unspoilt outcrops are so remote that they feel foreign and are all included on several Fred. Olsen and Hebridean Island voyages.

6. A ship for every taste

With so many cruise lines sailing on British Isles itineraries you can pick a ship which best suits your needs. For families the bigger lines such as Cunard, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line have kids' clubs and child-friendly amenities, with Princess offering the biggest selection of voyages during the school holidays. However, if peace and quiet is what you're after you might want to consider Fred. Olsen, Saga, Cruise & Maritime Voyages and P&O Cruises' Oriana, Arcadia and Aurora which all operate adult-only voyages. For a small, deluxe ship experience, Windstar, Silversea, Tauck and Hebridean Island Cruises all have itineraries with stops in interesting smaller ports which other ships cannot reach. 

7. A real taste of the place
