Summer Holiday Cruises 2027: 10 of the Best for the School Holidays

For families tied to school holidays, a cruise is one of the best-value ways to travel in July and August. One price covers your cabin, all your main meals and the kids’ clubs, you unpack once, and you can see several countries in a week without spending half of it in a car. Summer is also when the cruise map is at its widest, from the Greek islands to the glaciers of Alaska.

We went through every cruise departing between 23 July and 31 August 2027 in our own cruise search, more than 5,000 sailings, and picked ten ideas that suit the school holidays, each with real departures that start and finish within the English summer break. Fares are the lowest per-person prices we saw in October 2026 and are usually based on two adults sharing. Children’s fares vary by line, so ask us for a quote for your family.

1. The Norwegian fjords from Southampton

A week in the fjords is the classic no-fly summer cruise. Norway in July and August has very long days and mild temperatures, and sailing into a fjord early in the morning, with waterfalls pouring off the cliffs either side, is one of the most dramatic things you can do on a ship.

Freedom of the Seas is the family pick: a big Royal Caribbean ship with a FlowRider surf simulator, climbing wall, water park and kids’ clubs, so there is plenty to do on the sea days. Cunard’s Queen Anne suits families with older children or grandparents along, and her route includes both Bergen and the art nouveau town of Ålesund. Our guide to Norwegian fjords cruise lines compares more options.

2. A short first-cruise taster

Not sure whether the family will take to cruising? A short sailing from Southampton is the cheapest way to find out. You get a full taste of the ship, the food and the entertainment, and if it goes well you will know exactly what to book next time.

Royal Caribbean’s two-night weekend getaway falls on the first weekend of the holidays and gives children a day on board a big resort ship. P&O’s Ventura is a British-style family ship with a day in Amsterdam, perfect for a canal-boat trip.

3. A family fly-cruise in the Mediterranean

The western Mediterranean in August is hot, busy and wonderful: Rome, Florence, the French Riviera and Barcelona in a single week, with a pool to come back to every afternoon. A short flight to Rome or Barcelona gets you to the ship, and these are some of the cheapest summer cruises available.

Both ships are designed with families in mind, with water slides, kids’ and teens’ clubs and plenty of casual dining. Norwegian’s “freestyle” approach means no fixed dining times, which is a big help with younger children. Read our guide to the best family cruise lines for more help choosing.

4. The Greek islands

A Greek island cruise lets you see the islands everyone dreams about, Santorini and Mykonos, without the expense of staying on them in peak season. In August the sea is at its warmest, perfect for swimming, and the evening sail-aways past the islands are unforgettable.

The Rhapsody sailing is round trip from Athens, so it is easy to add a few days in the city for the Acropolis. Princess’s Enchanted Princess is a good choice for families with older children who will enjoy the history, with stops for Pompeii, Ephesus and ancient Olympia.

5. Croatia and the Adriatic

The Adriatic coast is one of Europe’s most beautiful summer destinations, and the walled cities of Dubrovnik, Split and Kotor are best reached by sea. The Bay of Kotor in Montenegro is often compared with a Norwegian fjord, and sailing in at dawn is a highlight.

MSC Armonia is a mid-sized ship that runs a classic Adriatic loop including Corfu, and MSC’s offers for children can make it particularly good value for families. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth is a more traditional, grown-up choice, combining Malta with Split and Zadar.

6. Iceland’s fire and ice

For a summer holiday that is about landscapes rather than lounging, Iceland is hard to beat: waterfalls, geysers, glaciers, whale-watching and, in summer, almost endless daylight. A cruise is a very efficient way to see it, because Iceland’s hotels are expensive and the distances between its highlights are large.

Celebrity’s seven-night loop circles the island from Reykjavík, with time in the north for whale-watching from Akureyri. Ambassador’s voyage sails from Dundee, a rare departure from Scotland, and adds the Faroe Islands, so you can do the whole trip without flying.

7. Alaska’s glaciers

Alaska’s cruise season runs from May to September, and the summer holidays are a great time to go, with long days, active wildlife and the best chance of good weather. Whales, bears, bald eagles and calving glaciers make it one of the most exciting cruises for children who love nature.

Princess is the Alaska specialist, with permits for Glacier Bay National Park, one of the highlights of the region. Anthem of the Seas brings Royal Caribbean’s family features, such as dodgems and a skydiving simulator, plus a close-up look at the huge Hubbard Glacier. These are one-way voyages, so you can add a land tour to Denali at the end. See our Alaska cruise lines compared.

8. The Scottish islands and the British Isles

Some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe is right on our doorstep, and the islands of Scotland are much easier to explore by ship than by car and ferry. Fred. Olsen’s smaller ships can reach places like Skye and the Small Isles, and sail past Fingal’s Cave on Staffa.

Carnival’s British Isles voyage is the lively, family-friendly option, with a fun American-style ship and a route that takes in Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin. Both sail from UK ports, so there are no flights to worry about.

9. The Arctic and the midnight sun

August is the end of the Arctic summer, when the sea ice is at its lowest and ships can reach the remote archipelago of Svalbard, home to polar bears, walruses and reindeer, only around 800 miles from the North Pole. The days are still extremely long, so there is time to take it all in.

MSC’s two-week voyage is an affordable way to reach Svalbard on a big, family-friendly ship, combined with the North Cape and the Lofoten Islands. HX’s Fram is a true expedition ship, with landings by small boat in East Greenland and Svalbard, for families with older children who want a real adventure. Our Arctic cruise guide has more.

10. A family river cruise

River cruises are usually aimed at adults, but a few lines run special family departures in the summer holidays, and they are a lovely way to show children some of Europe’s great cities. The ships are small, you are always close to the riverbank, and you dock right in the centre of towns.

A-ROSA’s family sailing visits three capitals, Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava, in a week. CroisiEurope’s Family Club cruise is a short, easy introduction on the Rhine, through the castle-lined gorge and past the famous Lorelei Rock. See our Danube and Rhine guides.

Tips for booking a summer holiday cruise

• Book early for family cabins. Cabins for three or four, and connecting cabins, are limited and sell first for the school holidays.
• Check the children’s fares. Some lines offer reduced or even free fares for children sharing with two adults on certain sailings. It can make a big difference to the total.
• Think about the dates. School holidays differ around the UK: Scottish schools break up in late June or early July, earlier than in England and Wales. Every sailing in this guide starts and ends between 23 July and the end of August.
• Package the flights. For fly-cruises, we can book flights, transfers and a pre-cruise hotel night together, so everything is protected in one booking.

Frequently asked questions

Are cruises good for families in the summer holidays?

Yes. A cruise fare includes your cabin, main meals and kids’ clubs, and you can visit several destinations without packing and unpacking. Many big ships have water parks, family entertainment and clubs for different age groups.

Can I cruise from the UK in the summer holidays?

Yes. When we checked, there were more than 130 cruises leaving UK ports between 23 July and 31 August 2027, from two-night breaks to fjords, Iceland and the British Isles, from Southampton, Dover, Tilbury, Newcastle, Liverpool and Dundee.

What is the cheapest summer holiday cruise?

Short breaks from Southampton start from around £420 per person, and seven-night Mediterranean or Greek island cruises from around £540 per person, cruise only. Prices change daily, and flights are extra for cruises that start abroad.

Where is best to cruise in August?

The Mediterranean, Greek islands and Croatia for sunshine; the Norwegian fjords, Iceland, Alaska and the Arctic for scenery, wildlife and cooler weather.

Do children cruise free in the summer holidays?

Some lines offer free or reduced fares for children sharing a cabin with two adults, but offers vary by line and sailing and are less common in peak weeks. We can check the current offers for your dates.

Keep planning

• Search every cruise we sell
• The best family cruise lines
• Norwegian fjords cruise lines compared
• The best no-fly cruises from the UK
• The best Mediterranean cruise lines

Ship and itinerary details are taken from our live cruise search and the cruise lines’ own information and were correct when we wrote this in October 2026. Cruise lines do change ports, dates and ships, so we confirm everything with you before you book.