If you love cruising, chances are you enjoy reading about it just as much as you enjoy planning your next sailing. And while blogs and social media are great for quick tips, cruise magazines still offer something special that you can’t always get online.
They’re packed with expert features, ship reviews, destination guides, and behind-the-scenes insights – perfect for a quick catch-up or a long, lazy read at home or even onboard.
But with so many titles out there, which cruise magazines are actually worth your time, and what does each one cover? Let’s take a look at the 14 best options for UK cruisers.
1. Sail Away
My favourite cruise magazine has to be Sail Away. Unlike other cruise mags, which can be a bit salesy, telling you why you must book every cruise there is, Sail Away is more… real.
The editors, Dan and Jay, cover the most interesting cruise news and offer inspiring cruise ideas, of course. But they also cover the juicy bits with honest reviews that other magazines might be afraid to include.
Sail Away features interesting content from a wide variety of travel journalists, industry professionals and passionate cruise bloggers, who each share their unique perspectives on particular cruises.
New issues are published every two months, both digitally and online, with £1 from every subscription going to ORCA, a marine conservation charity.
- Cost: £7.95 (print), £4.95 (digital)
- Frequency: Every two months
- Print or Digital: Both
- Where to get: By mail, select UK stores, cruise ports, online
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2. World of Cruising
World of Cruising is one of the most renowned and popular cruise magazines in the UK and further afield too. Every issue brings you some great cruise deals (including some exclusive offers), plenty of tips on getting the most out of your next cruise, and features on destinations, ships and more.
It’s a good length, with enough variety to keep it interesting from cover to cover, and the occasional celebrity interview on their own cruise preferences. You can find the magazine in some high street stores in the UK (WHSmith tends to have stock), and it’s often available to buy in ports. Otherwise, you can order it online for digital or print subscriptions.
- Cost: £4.95 per issue / £28.50 per year
- Frequency: 8 times a year
- Print or Digital: Both
- Where to get: By mail, select UK stores, cruise ports, online
3. Cruise & Travel Magazine
Cruise & Travel is another popular cruise magazine produced in the UK, featuring interviews, cruise destination advice and tips on the best ship for you, including guides to river cruising.
It’s aimed at both newbies and experienced cruise passengers who want to get some inspiration for their next cruise. It’s another magazine that is sold in select newsagents around the UK, or you can get a digital or print subscription to save money and have it sent straight to you.
- Cost: £6.50 per issue / £23.95 per year
- Frequency: 6 times a year
- Print/Digital: Both
- Where to get: Select stores in the UK, online
4. Your Holiday & Cruise Magazine
Your Holiday & Cruise Magazine features in-depth reviews and guides to ocean, river, and even barge cruising, with tips and destination breakdowns along with interviews with prominent cruise industry names.
It’s free to read online, or you can order a print version to be sent to you if you can’t find one in cruise terminals. It’s worth noting that the subscription actually costs more than buying the magazine individually, which is uncommon with magazines.
- Cost: £4.95 per issue / £11.90 per year
- Frequency: Twice annually
- Print/Digital: Both
- Where to get: Cruise ports, online
5. Into the Blue
Several cruise travel agents produce their own magazines as a marketing tool. They are normally still worth a read, since the agents will put a lot of effort into producing a quality magazine that tempts you to book, and then they’ll fill it with special deals and offers only available through them.
Into the Blue is one such example from Bolsover Cruise Club. Sign up, and you can get the magazine sent to your home every quarter for no charge, or you can read it online. The magazine covers upcoming and brand-new ships, popular destinations and more. Just be aware that you may get better deals if you shop around.
- Cost: Free
- Frequency: 6 times a year
- Print/Digital: Both
- Where to get: Online
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6. Founders Magazine
Founders is the magazine from luxury cruise specialists Panache Cruises, and while it’s only released a couple of times a year, each issue is absolutely packed with useful information on the different options for luxury cruising of all forms – including river cruises, yachts, expedition cruising and more.
There’s a ton of effort put into each issue, so I’d recommend taking a look. Even if you’re not sure if a luxury cruise is right for you, it’s a really interesting read (and you might be surprised by some of the prices on the featured deals too…)
- Cost: Free
- Frequency: Twice a year
- Print/Digital: Digital
- Where to get: Online
7. Blue Horizons
Blue Horizons is another cruise magazine produced by a travel agent – this time, ROL Cruise. You get it by subscribing to the agent’s Cruise Miles programme, which gives you the chance to earn cruise miles which can be put towards bonuses and gifts when booking through the agent.
The magazine is one of the few monthly cruise magazines, and so it’s a good choice if you want a regular fix of updates, reviews and news. Again, expect it to be deals-heavy with fewer editorial pieces than bigger magazines, but you might find a few interesting gems to read.
- Cost: Free
- Frequency: Monthly
- Print/Digital: Both
- Where to get: Online
8. YourCruise
YourCruise is the monthly cruise magazine produced by CruiseKings, another cruise travel agent.
You should think of it as more a brochure than a magazine – it has a few pages of editorial content at the beginning that’s worth reading, but primarily it’s an advert to try and get you to call and book.
It has a good overview of each of the cruise line’s campaigns so you know which ones have good offers on at the moment.
Again, it’s free and it’s monthly, so there’s no harm in signing up if you just want something to read and to give you ideas for your next cruise, whoever you ultimately book with.
- Cost: Free
- Frequency: Monthly
- Print/Digital: Both
- Where to get: Online
9. International Cruise & Ferry Review
Cruise & Ferry Review is a magazine that is more aimed at those in the cruise trade, but it still has enough that is consumer-friendly if you are really passionate about the industry and want to know more.
There are only two issues produced each year, focusing on both the cruise and ferry worlds, with articles that look into the ship-building experiences, life on board, destinations and details of existing ship refurbishments too.
It has companion magazines too, including Cruise & Ferry Interiors and Cruise & Ferry Itinerary Planning. A subscription from the company itself forces you to buy all at once for a hefty sum (£96), but you can buy just the Cruise & Ferry Review from third parties.
- Cost: £12.50 per issue / £25 per year
- Frequency: Twice a year
- Print/Digital: Both
- Where to get: Online
10. Ships Monthly
Ships Monthly is not a magazine about cruising, but it is about all things shipping, which does include some cruise content. If you only care about cruises then it’s probably not the magazine for you, but if you’re someone who is interested in shipbuilding and ship design then it may be absolutely fascinating.
Features are written by true experts and cover new ships being launched along with classic ships, and the harbours and ports which host them.
- Cost: £4.99 per issue / £47.90 per year
- Frequency: Monthly
- Print/Digital: Both
- Where to get: Select stores, online
11. Shipping Today and Yesterday
Shipping Today and Yesterday is another long-running magazine that is dedicated to shipping of all kinds, not just cruising. It covers a wide variety of cruise ships, naval vessels, ferries and more, with expertly written features and guides.
The magazine is fantastic for nostalgia, covering some of the most famous ships of history (including classic cruise ships), but it doesn’t shirk from modern shipping either, so you’re just as likely to read about the latest modern cruise liners as you are about traditional Princess or Cunard ships.
- Cost: £4.70 per issue / £56 per year
- Frequency: Monthly
- Print/Digital: Both
- Where to get: Select stores, online
International Cruise Magazines You Can Read in the UK
The following magazines aren’t UK-based publications, but you can get them delivered in Britain or read them online so they may be of interest to you…
12. Cruise Industry News
Cruise Industry News is a US-based cruise magazine which looks at everything to do with cruising from a more trade-aligned perspective, but it is still a good read for consumers who are keen to know more.
The magazine looks at new ships, refurbishments, destinations, onboard experiences, the growth potential and business strategies of cruise lines, itinerary planning and a whole lot more. You can read it online, but a subscription does include international delivery of the print edition.
- Cost: $75 per year (US) $110 per year (international), including shipping
- Frequency: 4 times a year
- Print/Digital: Both
- Where to get: Online
13. Cruise&Travel Magazine
Cruise&Travel is a luxury cruise magazine from Australia which looks at the best ocean and river cruise lines for those who want a more premium holiday experience. It includes reviews of luxury hotels too, perfect for anyone planning a cruise and stay getaway.
The magazine is available as a print edition for Australia and New Zealand-based readers, but can be read digitally by anyone around the world on the website or through your e-reader device (including your phone).
- Cost: AUS$5 per issue/ AUS$49.99 per year
- Frequency: 4 times a year
- Print/Digital: Digital-only for UK readers
- Where to get: Online
14. Porthole Cruise and Travel
Porthole Cruise and Travel magazine is another US-based publication that has been running for over 25 years. In that time, it has covered a huge range of ship reviews, destination guides and features on life on board, giving cruisers some excellent tips on making the most of their next cruise getaway.
As it’s a US-based guide, any deals and adverts will be irrelevant to UK readers, but you can still enjoy the good quality editorial content, and if you’re inspired, then you can contact your own travel agent and find out what equivalent deals are available.
- Cost: US$19.99 per year / $24.99 for two years
- Frequency: 6 times a year
- Print/Digital: Digital-only
- Where to get: Online
Final Thoughts
There is a good selection of cruise magazines available to UK readers, with the best ones being those that are independent and that focus more on writing interesting, thought-provoking and inspiring guides to all aspects of cruising life, like Sail Away.
The free magazines from cruise travel agents are decent, but tend to be packed with a lot more adverts – don’t expect them to keep you entertained for more than an hour at a time.
Subscribing to them alongside a chunkier magazine is probably the better solution, although expect a lot of other marketing communication from the travel agents too.
TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!
Don’t miss these offers…
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