Cruises from Harwich
Southampton isn’t the only port offering cruises from the British Isles. Cruises from Harwich are also popular, offering cheap cruise holidays with cruise lines like Royal Caribbean International, Fred Olsen and Costa Cruises. We at The Co-operative Travel have cruises from Harwich to ports in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Baltic.
Cruises from Harwich tend to be on large to medium, rather than superliner-sized vessels. With 20 friendly check-ins and an easy-to-navigate terminal area, it’s the ideal port for first-time cruisers. The town itself is pleasantly sited on the east coast of England, at the mouth of the Rivers Orwell and Stour, with good rail links and easy road accessibility to London and Stansted airport. It has been an active port since Saxon times.
Cruise destinations from Harwich
As the main ferry port for North Sea crossings, Harwich’s purpose-built cruise terminal offers an impressive range of facilities to passengers and crew alike. Located just north of Colchester, it is a popular port for Scandinavian, Russian and Baltic cruises. Cruises from Harwich visit Sweden, Denmark, St Petersburg, Oslo and the Netherlands, as well as ports in the Mediterranean. Some cruises are no-fly, while others have return flights to Stansted.
The Italian cruise line Costa offers extremely affordable cruises of 8 to 10 nights from Harwich, visiting ports in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. Some are no-fly cruises, but most fly back from Milan. Costa Magica is one of the largest and most modern ships in the Costa line, with elegant spacious interiors and an impressive range of facilities. This includes a jogging track, fitness centre, three pools, two restaurants and a wide variety of entertainment options. The ship offers good facilities for children, with organised activities, teen areas, and a splash pool with water slide.
Royal Caribbean International cruises from Harwich
During the summer months, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Jewel of the Seas offers lively fun-packed cruises to the Baltic, Scandinavia and Russia, visiting ports like Copenhagen, Stockholm, St Petersburg and Tallinn, Estonia. The on-board activities are just as varied, with three exciting pools, a climbing wall, jogging track, fitness centre, golf and basketball.
The eclectic range of dining and entertainment options means passengers can choose a level of formality to suit themselves, with a wide range of laid-on activities to keep kids and teens amused. What’s more, there’s no flying involved.
If you want a memorable holiday with minimum fuss, we at The Co-operative Travel recommend cruises from Harwich.