Southampton’s cruise ships to spot this weekend

Southampton’s waterfront will be particularly busy this weekend, 22 and 23 August 2026, with several large cruise ships scheduled to call at the port. It is a straightforward plan for a few hours of ship-spotting: check the published movements, head towards the docks, and see which vessels are in from the public areas around the waterfront. The timings can change, so it is worth checking the latest schedule before setting out.

Saturday has the fuller line-up. Ventura and Iona, both operated by P&O Cruises, are due in alongside Sky Princess and Celebrity Apex, with the latter two scheduled from 07:00 to 16:00. Apex is an EDGE-class ship built in 2021, measuring 15 decks and carrying between 2,918 and 3,521 passengers. Its most recognisable features include the moving glass Magic Carpet, the Eden Lounge and a large chandelier installation in the Grand Plaza. For anyone comparing the ships from the shore, the combination of P&O’s familiar Southampton presence with Princess and Celebrity’s different designs should provide plenty to look at during the day.

Sunday, 23 August, brings a smaller but still varied group: Liberty of the Seas is scheduled from 05:00 to 17:00, while Norwegian Star is due from 07:00 to 17:00. The early arrival times mean the ships may already be visible in port during the morning, although the exact berth and departure arrangements are subject to operational changes. Southampton handles more than 500 passenger ship calls each year and has five cruise terminals, so a ship’s presence in the port does not necessarily mean it will be beside the same stretch of waterfront as another vessel.

The terminals are spread between the Eastern and Western Docks. Ocean Cruise Terminal is at Berth 46 and handles large ships including P&O’s Iona; Queen Elizabeth II Cruise Terminal is at Berths 38–39; and City Cruise Terminal is at Berth 101 in the Western Docks, where Royal Caribbean ships are based. The newer Horizon Cruise Terminal, at Berth 102, serves lines including MSC, Norwegian, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas, while Mayflower Cruise Terminal at Berth 106 is used by P&O UK ships. These are working port facilities rather than visitor attractions, so the sensible approach is to enjoy the views from publicly accessible areas and follow any local signs or restrictions around the dock gates.

For a longer look at the season’s movements, the schedule also lists MSC Virtuosa and Celebrity Apex on 29 August, alongside Ventura, Iona and Sky Princess, while Queen Anne and Arvia are due on 30 August. The full Southampton timetable on CruiseMapper is useful for checking the latest expected arrivals, terminal information and departure windows before making the trip. This weekend’s ships offer a good snapshot of the range using the port, from family-focused Royal Caribbean and P&O vessels to the more design-led Celebrity Apex and Norwegian Star.