Short break cruises from Southampton Escape, relaxation, discovery, marking an occasion with family and friends – whatever brings you on board for a short cruise, it’s all about making the most of every moment. Whether you’re joining us as a couple or a group, your time on board should feel special. That’s why service is second-to-none, celebrations are always sophisticated and lots of little touches set the tone so you experience the good life on every mini cruise holiday.
Which destinations can I explore on a mini cruise? Here’s a flavour of some of the fantastic places you can visit on one of our Short Breaks. And don’t forget, we offer a wide range of exciting shore excursions at almost every port of call.
Bruges (tours from Zeebrugge), Belgium You can spend a whole day wandering by the canals and through the cobbled streets of this fairy tale-like city, but Bruges is rich in amazing tastes as well as sights. Fancy a sweet treat? Look out for an establishment with the orange and red cocoa bean motif, it’ll be one of the Bruges Guild of Chocolatiers. Thirsty? Sample some local beers at a cosy bar or brewery, but don’t try to tackle them all – there are over 1,000 varieties! Find out more about Bruges
Amsterdam, The Netherlands Your ship won’t squeeze down Amsterdam’s famous city canals, but hop on a small riverboat (or hire a pedalo) and see this mesmerizing city from its 165 waterways. Jump off at the Heineken brewery to quench your thirst, and visit the Anne Frank House for a fascinating and humbling tour. Find out more about Amsterdam
Cherbourg, France Cherbourg’s must-see landmarks include the beautiful Basilica of the Holy Trinity found on Place Napoléon, opposite the majestic statue of the famous leader, and the Museum of Liberation. The latter offers WWII insight and is housed inside the mountain-topping Fort du Roule, with stunning views across one of the world’s largest man-made harbours. But don’t forget the city’s must-try delicacies; creamy cheeses and sumptuous French wines! Find out more about Cherbourg
St Peter Port, Guernsey Open your eyes and cover your ears when visiting the deceptively large Castle Cornet, which guards St Peter Port and houses five museums and four period gardens. The Noonday Gun is fired by costumed soldiers daily. Literary lovers will enjoy Victor Hugo’s home Hauteville House, where he wrote Les Misérables. Find out more about St Peter Port
Le Havre, France You’ll be spoilt for choice for day trips from Le Havre. In the fishing port of Fecamp you can visit the Benedictine liquor distillery. In the beautiful Pays d’Auge countryside you can taste aromatic local cheese. In Giverny on the banks of the River Seine you can tour the house of Claude Monet. And in Paris you can see the Eiffel Tower. Or why not stay put, relax and soak up Le Havre’s rich culture, surrounded by Auguste Perret’s modernist architecture? Find out more about Le Harve
Hamburg, Germany Hamburg’s thriving port earned the city’s nickname as Germany’s ‘Gateway to the world’. With more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined (over 2,300), it’s a scenic city of maritime spirit and wonderful canal-side architecture. See the baroque St Michaelis Church or pay homage at the Kaiserkeller club, where The Beatles cut their teeth. Find out more about Hamburg
Meet the fleet Family friendly or exclusively for adults, larger or a little more modest - we've a ship for every occasion and style.
Watch our Food Hero Eric Lanlard on his short break to Bruges Experiencing a short break to Bruges Food Hero Eric Lanlard and his friends experienced a short break cruise to Bruges on Azura. It was the perfect opportunity for them to get a feel for life at sea and how it offers a relaxing way to explore exciting destinations.
Food Hero Eric Lanlard and his friends experienced a short break cruise to Bruges on Azura. It was the perfect opportunity for them to get a feel for life at sea and how it offers a relaxing way to explore exciting destinations.
What types of people go on cruises? There’s no typical P&O Cruises guest. We meet people from all walks of life, families, groups, couples and solo travellers. Everyone shares a love of new experiences, a friendly atmosphere and a sense of occasion. What types of people go on cruises?
What types of people go on cruises? There’s no typical P&O Cruises guest. We meet people from all walks of life, families, groups, couples and solo travellers. Everyone shares a love of new experiences, a friendly atmosphere and a sense of occasion.
Our Code of Conduct Your holiday should feel special at all times. That's why we have a Code of Conduct. Learn more about our Code of Conduct >
Rewarding good service is simple Rewarding good service every time it happens isn’t always easy. So, our Service Reward Programme is a simple, one-off way for you to say ‘thank you’ for all the service you receive. A discretionary amount of £7.00 is added to your on-board account for each night you are onboard (eg. a 2 night cruise would be a total of £14pp, and a 7 night cruise would be a total of £49pp), for each guest aged 12 and over. This helps reward the waiters and buffet staff as well as your cabin steward or butler, who greatly appreciate your recognition of their hard work. It means you can relax and enjoy your holiday, knowing tips are taken care of. From May 2019 (cruises A911, B912, E911/A, J903, N910, R907, X907 and all thereafter), the discretionary daily Service Charge on board will be removed so you can relax knowing it’s all taken care of. Changes like this do take a little bit of time to put in place, and so for holidays which depart before May, a discretionary daily Service Charge amount of £7 will continue to be added to your on-board account for each guest aged 12 and over.