ROL Cruise: 2026 ocean cruise calendar

2026 is here! And with it, it brings a whole host of incredible cruises waiting to be embarked upon. 

Not sure where to begin? Lucky for you, we’ve handpicked twelve unmissable itineraries that showcase the best cruises from our top ocean cruise line partners. Where will this year take you? 

This 10-night no-fly cruise to Norway aboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Balmoral departs from Southampton on the 20th of January 2026. Ports of call include Haugesund, Fjærland, Lihesten and Ålesund, as well as three days at sea, giving you plenty of time to explore life onboard Balmoral. 

January is one of the best times to cruise to Norway - despite bitterly cold temperatures, it’s a great time to chase the Northern Lights and enjoy outdoor activities like snowmobiling and dog-sledging. But if you’d prefer to explore at a slower, less active pace, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has a fantastic range of shore excursions for all. You’ll find a list of the most popular Norway cruise excursions on their website. 

Back onboard, Balmoral has plenty to offer. While away your time at sea in the arts and crafts room, where you can take part in painting and sketching workshops and other creative activities. Spend afternoons relaxing at Atlantis Spa with various rejuvenating treatments like facials, massages, manicures and pedicures. Look forward to dinner with newfound friends at Vasco Restaurant, where you compare notes on your days and share stories from cruises gone by. 

For this ultra-luxury all-inclusive cruise aboard Silver Muse, you’ll fly to Rome, where your 10-night cruise begins on the 3rd of February 2026. From Rome, you’ll sail to Livorno, Genoa, Naples in Italy, enjoy a day at sea before arriving in Split, Croatia and then journey onwards to Zadar. You’ll then disembark in Venice. 

To discover these beautiful destinations along the Adriatic coast, Silversea offers several different ways to explore. Highlight Experiences offer seamless tours of iconic sites; Signature Experiences are smaller tours crafted by Silversea; Private Experiences are exclusive tours for your group; and Custom Experiences are tailor-made tours designed for you.

No matter the destination you sail to, the experience onboard will match the experience ashore. One of the main things Silversea is known and loved for is its culinary innovation and fine dining options. Silver Muse boasts eight impressive dining venues, one of which is S.A.L.T. Kitchen, which brings the tastes of your journey’s destinations to the table. This approach is matched in S.A.L.T. Bar, which offers complimentary regionally inspired cocktails that blend local ingredients and spirits. A true taste of Italy and Croatia! 

This once-in-a-lifetime cruise to South America is a tailor-made tour exclusive to ROL Cruise. Your holiday will begin on the 25th of March 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following an overnight flight from London. You’ll spend two nights at a 5-star hotel in Buenos Aires (where you’ll also enjoy dinner and a tango show at Café de Los Angelitos), before flying to Iguazú Falls and experiencing the falls from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides. You’ll then fly back to Buenos Aires for a night before embarking on your 17-night cruise aboard Celebrity Cruises’ recently revolutionised ship, Celebrity Equinox. 

Life at sea will take you to Rio de Janeiro and Salvador de Bahia in Brazil, before sailing closer to home to explore the Canary Islands and Spain. With plenty of time at sea, you’ll have ample opportunity to explore everything Celebrity Equinox has to offer. As one of the cruise line’s much-loved Solstice Series ships, Celebrity Equinox boasts a unique half-acre Lawn Club, which will act as a nice place to relax under the South American sun. Elsewhere onboard, you’ll enjoy The Theatre, Sunset Bar and famous Tuscan Grille. 

Sky Princess will depart from Southampton on the 11th of April 2026 for this 14-night Mediterranean cruise to Spain, Italy and France. From Southampton, you’ll sail to Seville and Barcelona in Spain, Toulon in France, Livorno and Civitavecchia in Italy, then onto Corsica in France and back to Southampton. 

Each of Princess Cruises' itineraries is carefully curated to offer an immersive experience, and this 2026 No-Fly Mediterranean Voyage on Sky Princess is no different. You can make the most of your time in port with the cruise line’s extensive range of award-winning excursions. In Seville, for example, you could enjoy a true taste of Andalusia by embarking on a half-day adventure that introduces you to the region through its wine and cuisine. Meanwhile, in Corsica, you might like to join a walking tour that takes you through the Old Town and its surroundings. 

Back on board Sky Princess, which joined the Princess Cruises fleet in 2019, you’ll have a huge amount to keep you entertained. Unique venues like Princess Live! will keep you engrossed with interactive game shows, live music and comedy, while eateries like Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria will keep you well fed with a menu inspired by treasured family recipes curated by talented Italian chefs. What’s not to love? 

May brings another of our exclusive tailor-made tours, this time with Oceania Cruises. This 16-night cruise and stay package begins in Istanbul, Turkey, where you’ll spend two nights at a 5-star hotel. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the city before embarking on Allura, where life at sea begins. 

Your next Turkish port of call will be Bozcaada Island, before you make your way over to Greece, where you’ll visit Ephesus, Athens, Santorini, Chania and Corfu. Next up, Dubrovnik and Zadar in Croatia, before Trieste in Italy, where you’ll disembark Allura and spend two nights in a 5-star hotel in Lake Garda and two nights in a 5-star hotel in Lake Maggiore. You’ll arrive home in London on the 31st of May, where your private chauffeur will be waiting for you. 

May is a great time to travel to all four countries. The start of the month signifies the start of summer, and so you can expect plenty of sunshine (as many as 11 hours per day), long days and warm temperatures. As it’s before the height of summer, you can expect fewer crowds, meaning the streets of the ports you visit match the calm vibe you’ll find onboard Allura. 

Experience Norway at a different time of year with a totally different cruise line. For this 16-night expedition, you’ll fly from London to Bergen, where your adventure will begin. You’ll embark on MS Midnatsol on the 2nd of June 2026 and sail to Bergen, Åndalsnes, Træna, Reine, Tromsø, Honningsvåg, Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Ny-Ålesund, Senja, Svolvær and Bessaker with Hurtigruten, the Norwegian experts. 

In June, the sun never sets below Norway’s horizon, even at midnight. That’s due to the Midnight Sun, a natural phenomenon where the sun stays visible for 24 hours a day in northern parts of the country (including Tromsø and Honningsvåg, two places you’ll sail to on this cruise). Weather-wise, mild, pleasant temperatures reach much of Norway, though central regions are slightly cooler. 

On board MS Midnatsol, you’ll enjoy a cruise experience like no other. Hurtigruten have been sailing the waters of Norway for over 130 years, and they know its coastline better than any other cruise line. The Original Coastal Express voyages (which connect Norway’s local communities day and night) operate year-round. 

This 28-night cruise departing from Dover on the 24th of July 2026 is a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Sailing aboard Nieuw Statendam, you’ll visit the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Scotland and strategically spend time at sea for the total Solar Eclipse on the 12th of August 2026. 

To enrich the experience of this natural phenomenon onboard, Holland America Line will have three astronomy experts on all three of its 2026 Solar Eclipse cruises. On this particular sailing, Tom Vassos, a former professor at the University of Toronto, will be on board. An accomplished science communicator, Vassos has taught courses at several universities around the world. He is an astronomer, author, member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and founder of Cosmologists Without Borders. 

A total Solar Eclipse is a rare phenomenon. It happens when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth and completely obscures the sun. A partial Solar Eclipse occurs when the moon only partially obscures the sun. There are between two and five Solar Eclipses a year, and they are only visible in certain destinations, so to witness a total Solar Eclipse at sea truly is a bucket-list experience. 

Sailing from Barcelona on the 24th of August 2026 on Seven Seas Navigator, you’ll discover the best of the Mediterranean at the height of summer. Across 9 nights, you’ll visit Sète and Toulon in France, Portofino, Tuscany, Rome and Sorrento in Italy and Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona in Spain. 

The weather across these three countries in August is glorious. With hot, sunny and dry conditions, you can expect temperatures as high as 35°. Thank goodness for the swimming pool and shady spots on Seven Seas Navigator! Elsewhere on board, you’ll have eight decks of pure luxury to contend with. Enjoy multiple delicious dining options, a host of daytime enrichment opportunities, fabulous entertainment and reenergising spa and fitness facilities. 

Back on shore, you’ll have plenty of shore excursions to choose from. In Toulon, France, for example, you could join a walking tour in the neighbouring village of Bormes, where gorgeous mimosa trees abound. In Portofino, Italy, meanwhile, you could take in sublime vistas of the Italian Riviera as you cruise along the stunning coast on a touring boat. 

This 20-night cruise departing from Nome, Alaska, on the 6th of September 2026 aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen will sail you to some of the state’s most breathtaking destinations. You’ll have the opportunity to explore Nome, Dutch Harbour, Unga Island, Katmai National Park, Kodiak, Sitka, Wrangell, Misty Fjords and the Inside Passage. You’ll disembark in Vancouver, Canada, where you’ll enjoy a two-night stay in a 4-star hotel. 

September is one of the most picturesque times of year to visit Alaska. The beginning of the month signifies the beginning of autumn, and seeing Alaska in the fall is truly breathtaking. Forests blaze with golden and amber hues, and with darker nights returning, there’s even a chance to witness the Northern Lights dancing across the sky. 

Onboard HX’s MS Fridtjof Nansen, there is a “Northern Lights alert” system in all cabins and suites that notifies passengers when the aurora is sighted by the ship’s officers. Alternatively, HX offers a range of shore excursions designed to maximise your chances of seeing the aurora borealis, all backed by their Northern Lights Promise. 

This incredible tailor-made tour exclusive to ROL Cruise includes an eight-night cruise aboard Norwegian Encore and a 15-night land tour that showcases the best of Route 66. The adventure begins on the 3rd of October 2026, when you fly from London to Chicago, USA, for the start of your land tour. On the land tour, you’ll explore incredible destinations like Joplin, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque and Williams, which acts as the gateway for the Grand Canyon National Park. From here, you’ll see the sights and sounds of Las Vegas and Los Angeles, where you’ll embark on Norwegian Encore for your eight-night cruise around the Mexican Riviera.  

The first port of call is Cabo San Lucas, followed by Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and then back to Los Angeles. If the experience ashore isn’t enough to keep you entertained, Norwegian Encore certainly will. Recently refurbished in 2024, this 20-deck ship boasts extraordinary dining, with six complimentary and eleven speciality restaurants, award-winning entertainment, like thrilling game shows and tribute bands, and fun for all the family, including the largest race track at sea, Galaxy Pavilion and the Ocean Loops.

By November, you’ll be desperate to get away from the UK winter and head towards year-round sunshine. Luckily, on the 29th of the month, Cunard’s Queen Anne will do just that when she departs Southampton for the Canary Islands. Stopping at Lisbon, Portugal and La Palma, Spain, you’ll then make your way over to the archipelago and visit Santa Cruz in Tenerife, Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura, Arrecife in Lanzarote and Funchal in Madeira. 

Cunard has plenty of shore excursions that showcase the best of these beautiful ports of call. In Lanzarote, you can hike through the Valley of 1,000 Palms, in Tenerife, drink in the panoramic views from Mount Teide on a scenic cable car ride and in Fuerteventura, you can explore the largest sand dunes in the Canaries at Corralejo Dunes National Park. 

November is a fantastic time to visit the Canary Islands. Though temperatures are slightly lower than during the peak season, there are fewer tourists. You can expect average daytime highs of 24° and 6 to 7 hours of sunshine per day. There is an increased chance of rainfall at this time of year, but showers are usually short.

What better way to get into the festive spirit than bounce from Scandinavian city to Scandinavian city and spend Christmas Day on board? On this 14-night cruise with P&O Cruises, you can do just that. Departing from Southampton on the 15th of December 2026, Aurora will head straight to Copenhagen in Denmark, then sail to Gdynia in Poland, Oslo in Norway, Hamburg in Germany and Zeebrugge in Belgium. 

You’ll spend Christmas Day at sea, enjoying all the festivities onboard, like decorations, turkey with all the trimmings, carol services, gifts in your cabin and visits from Father Christmas for the kids. You’ll disembark in Southampton on the 29th of December 2026, ready to spend New Year’s Eve at home. 

Some may argue that this itinerary features the best Christmas markets in Europe, and they would be correct. Copenhagen, which is home to the famous Tivoli Gardens, transforms into a mesmerising winter wonderland. Meanwhile, Hamburg is taken over by nutcrackers, Christmas lights and festive cheer. What a way to round off the year!