Cruises from Bristol
No-fly, adult only sailings from Royal Portbury to France, Spain, the Mediterranean and the Norwegian fjords, all beginning just a short drive from home.
No-Fly Cruises From Bristol
Sailing from Bristol means your holiday starts the moment you reach the quayside, with no flights, no airports and no long journey to the coast. Royal Portbury sits just off the M5 in the South West, so guests across the region, South Wales and the Cotswolds can drive or take the train, step aboard and begin unwinding straight away.
From this one port a whole map of Europe opens up. Sail south to the coastlines of France and Spain, on to the sun-warmed Mediterranean, or north to the Norwegian fjords and the Northern Lights, all reached in comfort by sea and all without setting foot in an airport. Browse the latest no-fly cruises departing from Bristol, from short escapes to longer voyages across the seasons.
Our Ships Departing From Bristol
Cruises from Bristol sail aboard Ambition, our smaller and wonderfully characterful ship.
Ambition, intimate and elegant.
A little smaller and all the lovelier for it, Ambition welcomes up to 1,200 adult only guests and slips easily into quieter, more characterful ports. Generous suites, gentle days at sea and a warm British welcome make her a favourite for the fjords, Iberia and the coastlines closer to home.
Our flagship Ambience sails from our home port of London Tilbury.
Where Can I Cruise To From Bristol?
Bristol is a wonderful departure point precisely because of how much it reaches. From Royal Portbury you can sail to:
- France and Spain: the pretty harbours of Honfleur and Cherbourg, elegant Bordeaux and Santander on the green Cantabrian coast.
- The Mediterranean: sun-warmed days in Málaga, Cádiz, Valencia and Gibraltar, with golden evenings on deck.
- Norway and the Northern Lights: the western fjords in summer and the Arctic in winter, one of the most magical no-fly journeys of all.
- France and Ireland's coastlines: wilder, greener shores within easy reach for a shorter escape.
Wherever you sail, the journey is part of the holiday, reached gently by sea rather than rushed through an airport.
Sailing From Bristol
Royal Portbury is a working port, and that is exactly its charm. There are no sprawling terminals to navigate and no hours to fill. You arrive, hand over your luggage and step aboard, and the holiday begins right there on the quayside.
Everything the port does, it does to get you comfortably to sea, so your first evening is spent watching the Somerset coastline slip away rather than waiting in a departure lounge. It is the easiest possible start to a holiday, and a reminder of why sailing from home feels so different from flying. 
Getting to Bristol Cruise Terminal
Bristol Cruise Terminal sits at Royal Portbury Docks (BS20 7XL), around ten miles from the city centre and just a few minutes from the motorway.
- By car: leave the M5 at Junction 19 and follow the signs for the docks. It is an easy, well-signed approach from both directions.
- Parking: secure car parking is available right by the terminal and can be booked in advance through My Ambassador Sailing. On the day you simply drop your luggage at the terminal, then make the short step across to the car park.
- By train: Bristol Temple Meads is around ten miles away and Bristol Parkway around twelve, both with taxi ranks for the final short hop to the port.
For full directions, parking booking and terminal information, see the Bristol Royal Portbury port information page.
Our Other UK Departure Ports
Bristol is one of seven Ambassador departure ports around the UK. If another is closer to home, you can begin your no-fly holiday there instead.
Cruises From Bristol FAQs
Where can I cruise to from Bristol?
From Bristol you can sail no-fly to France and Spain, the Mediterranean, the Norwegian fjords and the Northern Lights, and the coastlines of France and Ireland. Every sailing leaves direct from Royal Portbury with no flights needed.
Where is Bristol Cruise Terminal?
Bristol Cruise Terminal is at Royal Portbury Docks (BS20 7XL), around ten miles from Bristol city centre and just off the M5 at Junction 19.
How do I get to Bristol Cruise Terminal?
By car it is a short drive from the M5 (Junction 19). By train, Bristol Temple Meads is around ten miles away and Bristol Parkway around twelve, both with taxi ranks for the final few miles to the port.
Is there parking at Bristol Cruise Terminal?
Yes. Secure car parking is available right by the terminal and can be booked in advance through My Ambassador Sailing. You drop your luggage at the terminal first, then take the short walk across to the car park.
Which ships sail from Bristol?
Adult only cruises from Bristol sail aboard Ambition. Our flagship Ambience sails from our home port of London Tilbury.
