Where can you go on a long-duration cruise from the UK?

 

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Flying isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, whether through fear of being at 40,000 feet or simply because they have reached an age where airport hassle, long walks to the gate and sitting for hours on a plane no longer appeal.

 

But that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on more far-flung destinations. Between them, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, P&O Cruises, Saga Cruises, Cunard and Ambassador Cruise Line provide no-fly voyages from the UK to South America, the Caribbean, Canada and even around the world.

 

Anyone is welcome, but as most of these cruises are a month or more in duration, they are mostly aimed at retirees with time on their hands who don’t mind being at sea, since no matter which route they choose, they get plenty of time to enjoy the days on the open ocean.

 

Ambassador has a 40-night no-fly Caribbean cruise in January 2026 that has 10 sea days getting to the West Indies, another 10 getting back to the UK and six in between. On the plus side, that means those who enjoy a slightly slower pace don’t need to think about planning off-ship activities every day, and they get time to recover or enjoy the ship facilities in between sightseeing tours.

 

Fred Olsen also advises that it helps to have good sea legs as these sailings take place out of season, when the weather can be rough. That can be particularly important if the cruise travels via the Bay of Biscay, which has more than its fair share of ‘rock-and-roll’ moments in winter.

 

Caribbean

 

Image credit: Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

 

No-fly Caribbean voyages are typically a month long. As they go in the off season, it means even those who don’t care to fly can enjoy island-hopping in the sun when the weather at home is grey and gloomy.

 

Between them, Fred Olsen, Saga, Ambassador, P&O Cruises and Cunard have more than a dozen no-fly departures to the Caribbean between now and early 2027. They all follow a similar pattern: several days at sea at the beginning and end of the cruise, and a week or so island-hopping in the Caribbean.

 

Image credit: Ambassador Cruise Line

 

“Our long cruises attract loyal guests looking for an escape from the British winter, but also new passengers looking for an experience that ticks off a bucket-list moment,” says P&O Cruises sales director Ruth Venn.

 

For something different, P&O Cruises’ 35-night Grand Caribbean and USA Adventure departing February 27, 2026, combines the Bahamas, Cozumel in Mexico, Roatán in Honduras, and Belize, with calls into New Orleans, Miami and Florida’s Port Canaveral. Prices start at £2,599.

 

Saga rings the changes by adding guest speakers to keep passengers entertained on those longer sailings. Celebrity chef Phil Vickery, RAF Tornado pilot Mandy Hickson and fitness guru Mr Motivator are among those on its two Caribbean cruises this year.

 

South America