The Cunard line has operated famous luxury liners for decades and, though the much-loved QE2 is now retired, you can choose from three magnificent, ultra-modern ships. The Queen Elizabeth is the latest addition to the fleet, which also comprises the Queen Mary 2 flagship and the Queen Victoria. Cruise itineraries from Southampton range from a two-day hop to the Netherlands, Belgium and France right up to world cruises, including a complete 103-day circumnavigation of the globe. Ports of call on world cruises include Cape Town, Sydney, Hong Kong, Beijing, Sharm el Sheikh, New York, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale. Other cruise options include the Mediterranean, North Europe, the British Isles, Scandinavia, the Baltic and the Caribbean.
Cunard Line
Carnival House
100 Harbour Parade
Southampton SO15 1ST
UK
1- 800-728-6273
cunard.com
Another industry giant and the world's oldest cruise line, P&O operates seven ships from Southampton including the Azura, Ventura and Arcadia. A spectacular 95-day world cruise on the Aurora takes in Portugal, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Chile, Easter Island, Australia, New Zealand and a host of other destinations. For those of us with less time and money to spare, you can cruise the waters of the Mediterranean calling at famous destinations in Greece, Turkey, Italy, France and elsewhere. A less mainstream choice is the Middle East--you can travel from Southampton to Dubai, stopping off at Tripoli in Libya, Aqaba in Jordan, Muscat and Salalah in Oman and a number of ports in Eqypt. Like other cruise lines, P&O lays on an assortment of entertainment for passengers, including cabaret singers, classical recitals and theme nights.
P&O Cruises
Carnival House
100 Harbour Parade
Southampton SO15 1ST
UK
0845-678-0014
poamericas.com
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines operates smaller ships than the really big players and offers cruises around the UK and Ireland, the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean and many other destinations. The atmosphere on board the company's four ships is distinctly British--you can even order traditional afternoon tea! Southampton is also an embarkation port for Princess Cruises, which boasts that it offers more than 120 itineraries to over 330 destinations. Other operators that use the port include Royal Caribbean International, Mediterranean specialist MSC Cruises and Celebrity Cruises.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred Olsen House
White House Road
Ipswich
Suffolk IP1 5LL
UK
1- 473-746175
fredolsencruises.com
Princess Cruises
Carnival House
100 Harbour Parade
Southampton SO15 1ST
UK
1- 800-7746237
princess.com
