In short
From the Netherlands and Belgium, Rotterdam is easier: you go by train, with no ETA and no border checks, and most sailings are week-long fjord cruises. Southampton has more routes all year — Iceland, the Canaries, New York — but it means an hour's flight or most of a day on the Eurostar, plus a passport and an ETA.
Sailings by month
- Busiest months
- May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- Where ships go
- British Isles and Western Europe · Norwegian fjords · Transatlantic crossings
- Usual length
- 6–9 / 10–14 nights
- Round trips
- most
Which port suits you
You want to take the train to your ship
Train to Rotterdam Centraal, metro to Wilhelminaplein and a 10-minute walk — the terminal is in the city, by the Erasmus Bridge. No ETA and no luggage limits. The signature route is a 7-night fjord cruise from April to October, busiest in May; in winter there are short Northern Europe cruises.
Rotterdam port guide →You want the widest choice of routes
The fjords, Iceland, the Canaries and Madeira in winter, the Mediterranean, Queen Mary 2 to New York — sailings all year, usually 7–14 nights. About an hour's flight from Schiphol, a day by Eurostar and train, or the ferry with your own car. You need a passport and an ETA.
Southampton port guide →Point by point
| What we compare | Southampton | Rotterdam |
|---|---|---|
| By train from the Netherlands and Belgium | Eurostar to London St Pancras: about 4 hours from Amsterdam, 3 from Rotterdam, 2 from Brussels. Then the Underground to Waterloo and a train of about 1 hour 20 minutes. It takes most of a day, so travel the day before. | Train to Rotterdam Centraal: about half an hour from Schiphol (Intercity Direct), about an hour from Antwerp, about an hour and a half from Brussels. |
| By plane or car | A direct flight from Schiphol to Southampton Airport, about 1 hour 10 minutes. By car, Stena Line from Hook of Holland to Harwich and about 3 hours by road, or Eurotunnel and roughly 2.5 hours; drive on the left. | No flight needed. By car, the Q-Park De Rotterdam underground car park by the terminal, or the usually cheaper parking at the hotel ship ss Rotterdam, with a shuttle. |
| Documents | The UK is outside the EU and Schengen. You need a passport (ID cards are not accepted) and an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), checked when you board your flight, the Eurostar or the ferry. | Schengen: no border checks on the way to the terminal. If the itinerary calls in the UK, check whether you need an ETA. |
| Station to ship | Five terminals: Ocean and QEII in the Eastern Docks, City, Horizon and Mayflower in the Western Docks. Southampton Central station is about 3 km from each, 5–10 minutes by taxi. | One terminal: Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, Wilhelminakade 699. About a 10-minute walk from Wilhelminaplein metro. No luggage storage at the pier. |
| Season | All year, most sailings from May to August, peaking in May. Fewer in winter, but still the Canaries, Madeira and Atlantic crossings. | Most sailings from April to October, peaking in May. From November to March, short Northern Europe cruises. |
| Typical itineraries | The fjords for 7–14 nights, Iceland, the Canaries, the Mediterranean, New York on Queen Mary 2 in 7 nights, short trips to Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, Le Havre or Hamburg. | The fjords for 7 nights, sometimes 10–14; Iceland and the Baltic in summer; in April and October, voyages south, often one-way. |
| City before or after | The medieval walls and the Bargate, the SeaCity Museum and the Titanic story, Tudor House, the Mayflower Memorial — all 10–20 minutes' walk apart. | The Erasmus Bridge, the Fenix museum in Katendrecht, the Markthal and the Cube Houses, a water taxi from Hotel New York. |
| Where to stay | Ocean Village and Town Quay for the Eastern Docks, the Old Town for the Western Docks, near Southampton Central if you arrive late; Winchester for atmosphere. | The Wilhelminapier and Katendrecht, a walk from the terminal; near Rotterdam Centraal if you arrive late; the hotel ship ss Rotterdam. |
The same fjords, a different choice
Ships leave both ports for the Norwegian fjords, and either way the first day is a North Sea crossing. The difference is what else you can choose — and how you reach the gangway.
- The fjords. From Rotterdam this is the signature route: a classic 7-night round trip from April to October. From Southampton, fjord cruises also run from April to October, busiest from May to July, and they are often longer — 7 to 14 nights.
- Iceland and the Baltic. In summer, ships sail to Iceland from both ports, often calling in Shetland or the Faroe Islands. Baltic sailings are occasional from either — Kiel or Copenhagen offer more choice.
- South and across the ocean. From Southampton, cruises head for the Canaries and Madeira from October to April and the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, and Queen Mary 2 sails regularly to New York. From Rotterdam, voyages south leave mainly in April and October — often one-way, with a flight home.
- Winter. From November to March, Rotterdam has short Northern Europe cruises of 6–9 nights, with calls such as Hamburg, Southampton or Le Havre. Southampton offers more in winter: the Canaries, Northern European ports and, in January, voyages lasting several months.
- Sometimes the same cruise. Some Northern Europe cruises call at both Southampton and Rotterdam, so you can sometimes board in either. Compare the boarding ports on the same sailing before you buy tickets.
Weighing up ports in the Netherlands and Germany? See our comparison of Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Hamburg.
By train, there and back
Without flying, Rotterdam is the simplest: a train, the metro and a ten-minute walk. Southampton also works without a plane — the Eurostar to London and a train from Waterloo — but it takes most of a day, so arrive the evening before and stay near Southampton Central. On the way home, take an afternoon or evening Eurostar: border checks happen at St Pancras, you need to arrive early, and disembarkation runs until about 9–10 am. More ideas in cruises without flying.
Common questions
Which is easier to reach from the Netherlands and Belgium, Southampton or Rotterdam?
Rotterdam: the train to Rotterdam Centraal, metro line D or E to Wilhelminaplein and about a 10-minute walk. From Antwerp the train takes about an hour, from Brussels about an hour and a half. For Southampton there is a direct flight from Schiphol of about 1 hour 10 minutes; by Eurostar via London and a train from Waterloo it takes most of a day, and by car you take the ferry from Hook of Holland to Harwich.
What documents do I need for a cruise from Southampton or Rotterdam?
The UK is outside Schengen: citizens of the Netherlands, Belgium and other EU countries do not need a visa, but they do need a passport and an electronic travel authorisation (ETA); ID cards are not accepted for entry. Rotterdam is in Schengen, with no border checks on the way to the terminal. If a cruise from Rotterdam calls at a British port, check in advance whether you need an ETA. If you do not hold a European passport, check the rules for your country.
Which port offers more choice of itineraries?
Southampton: ships sail all year, most often from May to August — to the fjords, Iceland, the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean, across the Atlantic and on short Northern Europe trips. From Rotterdam, most sailings are week-long Norwegian fjord cruises from April to October, with Iceland and the Baltic added in summer.
Which port is better for a winter cruise?
From November to March, Rotterdam has short Northern Europe cruises, usually 6 to 9 nights. Southampton also has fewer sailings in winter, but more choice: the Canary Islands and Madeira for 10–14 nights, Northern European ports and, in January, the longest voyages of all, lasting several months.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Southampton and Rotterdam that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which Southampton and Rotterdam dates are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Seasons and destinations are summarised from cruise line schedules for 2026–2027 and may change; check the current itinerary and terminal information before you travel. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.