Your Guide to the Best Cruises from Liverpool

If you live in the North West of England, cruising from Liverpool couldn’t be easier. With a compact terminal and hassle-free boarding, you can go from kerbside to cruise ship in just minutes – no airports, no stress.

In this guide, I’ll share the best cruises you can sail from Liverpool, plus everything you need to know to plan the perfect no-fly holiday at sea.

Browse Cruises from Liverpool

Below, you can see the best deals on cruises departing from Liverpool…

If you’d like to see the full range of all cruises from Liverpool, I also have a link to a price comparison site for those below…

The Benefits of Cruising from Liverpool

I’ve cruised from Liverpool many times, including a British Isles cruise on MSC Virtuosa, a short cruise on Disney Magic, an overnight stay onboard Scarlet Lady and the start of a world cruise on Fred. Olsen’s Borealis.

I love how convenient it is for people living in the north of England. There’s plenty of cheap parking near Liverpool cruise port and check-in has always been really quick and easy.

Cruise Lines that Depart from Liverpool

In 2021, we saw an explosion in cruises departing from Liverpool. As cruising resumed after the shutdown, many cruise lines shook up their itineraries and began offering UK-only cruises from smaller ports.

Alas, that was not to continue and as cruising got back to normal in 2022 and 2023, cruise lines like Disney and MSC Cruises stopped their Liverpool departures.

The reason for this? Liverpool’s cruise terminal is just not big enough to handle check-ins for thousands of guests. During the pandemic, Liverpool Arena was available to handle the check-in. But now that it already has a packed schedule of events, this is no longer the case.

Unfortunately, despite demand, there are no P&O Cruises from Liverpool – the cruise line only sails from Southampton.

So, in 2025, only a handful of small cruise ships are able to depart from Liverpool. These are.

1. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Fred Olsen cruises from Liverpool have always been popular with over-50s living in the north of England. As well as Liverpool, the cruise line offers regional departures from Newcastle, Rosyth and Dover.

In 2021, the new ship (at the time) Borealis made her maiden voyage from Liverpool. The city is now a permanent base for Borealis with a full schedule of cruises heading to a large variety of destinations all year round.

In 2025, sister ship Bolette is scheduled to offer a number of cruises from Liverpool.

2. Ambassador Cruise Line

Ambassador Cruise Line’s new ship, Ambition, is sailing from Liverpool on a series of cruises this summer.

This relatively new cruise line will begin departures from Liverpool in July and offer a good selection of destinations including Iceland, Norway, Spain and Portugal, as well as cruises around the British Isles.

Cruise Ships That Have Departed from Liverpool in the Past

Here’s some info on ships that have departed from Liverpool in the past but do not have plans to in 2025…

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises from Liverpool took place throughout summer 2021 onboard MSC Virtuosa – one of the biggest cruise ships in the world at the time.

A ship as big as MSC Virtuosa could never usually depart from Liverpool. However, MSC Cruises’ style of cruising around the UK this summer meant that guests joined the ship at Southampton and Glasgow, as well as Liverpool.

There are currently no plans for MSC Cruises to depart from Liverpool in the future.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruises from Liverpool were another great option for families in 2021. Disney Magic usually sails from Dover, so we would love to see a return to Liverpool in the future.

The Best Cruise Destinations From Liverpool

1. British Isles

British Isles cruises from Liverpool call at ports around the UK such as Southampton, Portland, Belfast and Glasgow.

2. Scotland

A variety of Scottish Island cruises from Liverpool are available on Fred. Olsen’s Borealis. Cruisers can visit remote Scottish Islands and see sights such as Ben Nevis and Loch Fyne.

3. Iceland

Iceland cruises from Liverpool often include other destinations such as the Norwegian Fjords, Greenland and the Faroe Islands as part of longer voyages of nine nights or more.

4. Norway

A cruise from Liverpool to Norway during the winter is a fantastic way to see the Northern Lights. Cruises from Liverpool to Norway in the summer may give cruisers the chance to witness the Midnight Sun – an interesting phenomenon where the sun never dips below the horizon at night.

5. Transatlantic

Although the Titanic made her ill-fated maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York, nowadays, cruises from Liverpool to New York are a thing of the past.

Transatlantic cruises from Liverpool to Canada, however, are very much a possibility. You can take a round-trip cruise from Liverpool to Canada with Fred. Olsen.

Suggested read: How Long Is A Transatlantic Cruise?

6. Mediterranean

A Mediterranean cruise from Liverpool would be incredible, but sadly, none are available currently. You can, however, take a two-week cruise to the Mediterranean from Southampton. That’s about how long it takes to cruise to Italy and back.

Suggeested read: How fast do cruise ships go?

Types of Cruises from Liverpool

1. Mini Cruises

Mini cruises from Liverpool are so convenient. If you want to get away for two, three, four or five nights on a taster cruise from Liverpool, you can do so with Fred. Olsen.

You can also sometimes take two-night repositioning cruises from Liverpool as ships are relocated to Southampton or Bristol. This can be a great way to try a new ship.

2. All Inclusive Cruises

Cruise ship drinks can be pricey, so all-inclusive cruises offer fantastic value for money with so much included. With both Fred. Olsen and Ambassador, you can purchase a drinks package that will entitle you to unlimited drinks from the bar.

Suggested read: Ambassador Cruise Line Drinks Menus & Prices

3. No-fly Cruises

No-fly cruises from Liverpool are available for anyone who can reach Liverpool by car, coach or train. Alternatively, you may be able to fly from Liverpool Airport to join your cruise ship elsewhere.

Liverpool’s Cruise Ship Dock

Cruise ships sailing from Liverpool will depart from Liverpool Cruise Terminal. This is located on Prince’s Dock on Liverpool Waterfront.

The city centre location of Liverpool cruise port, right by the Liver Building, means that it’s very easy to start your cruise from Liverpool. Check out my Liverpool Cruise Parking Guide if you’d like to park your car within walking distance of your ship.

New Liverpool Cruise Terminal Plans

Liverpool’s long-awaited cruise terminal expansion is finally moving forward.

After years of delays due to Brexit and the pandemic, the city council stepped away from managing the port in 2023, handing operations over to Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH) – the world’s largest cruise port operator.

Now under GPH’s leadership, the cruise port is set for a £25 million transformation. Plans include a new floating pontoon that will allow two 300-metre ships to dock at the same time, handling up to 7,000 passengers per day.

A brand-new terminal building is also in the works, complete with retail and hospitality spaces to enhance the guest experience.

This investment will significantly boost cruise capacity and cement Liverpool’s place as a key no-fly cruise hub in the UK. If you’re cruising in 2025, don’t worry – although the work is already underway, construction is being managed carefully and won’t impact current travel plans. Expect smooth sailing, with even better facilities on the horizon.

Related Posts:

• Liverpool Cruise Parking Guide
• The Best Cruises For Single Seniors Over 60
• Coach Travel to Southampton Cruise Terminal: The 4 Best Options