Take it easy during the school holidays this year with MSC no-fly family cruises from Southampton. They’re available spring, summer and autumn, and include great offers too.

Atmosphere Pool, MSC Virtuosa no-fly family cruises from Southampton
We all want to feel excited about our kids’ school holidays, but the thought of school holiday travel often gets in the way. Breathe and go easy on yourself, every parent of school age children feels exactly the same and most of them – like us – are always on the look out for easier ways to do things. Good news, MSC Cruises are offering no fly family cruises from Southampton during every school holiday in 2026.

LEGO themed Mini Club, MSC Virtuosa
Why you’ll love MSC family cruises from Southampton
- The no fly part: you just arrive in Southampton, park your car, board your ship and that’s it
- No packing stress because there’s no baggage allowance, just bring what you want
- Cruises from 2 days to 14 days fit every school holiday
- Amazing choice of destinations from the Mediterranean to the Norwegian Fjords
- An average of 10 to 12 hours to explore different destinations on days ashore
- Great value excursion packages to suit the ages and stages of your kids
- A wide choice of dining options from all-day buffets to speciality restaurants
- On board entertainment and kids’ clubs for toddlers to teens
- Cabins designed to give you all the space you need, whatever the size of your family
- Plus, it’s a known fact that MSC Cruises is one of the best cruise lines for families

Palma de Mallorca, MSC no-fly family cruises
Where do you want to go without getting on a plane?
You might think that avoiding flights means limiting your choices, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, if anything, MSC no-fly cruises broaden your horizons because you get to see more places in one holiday, without having to do anything apart from exactly as you like on board, and there’s plenty to like. So where do you want to go when school’s out this year?
MSC no-fly family cruises from Southampton to the Mediterranean
Mediterranean cruises in spring or summer are classics with good reason. There’s the great weather for starters – did we mention all MSC Cruises’ ships have amazing family pools on board? There’s also the range of destinations including everyone’s summer favourite, Spain, as well as France or Italy. Then, you have the island hopping potential: Mallorca but no Palma Airport in July or August sounds pretty close to heaven.

Kirkjufellsfoss, Iceland
Sail Iceland or the Norwegian Fjords on family cruises from Southampton
Although we also like the idea of sailing north, where you can still find plenty of sun in summer, but you also get a hefty slice of drama, history and some of Europe’s most astounding landscapes. Obviously, when we say that, Iceland is definitely on our minds. Again, this is a destination that kids can’t get enough of, because it’s so unusual from the almost fishing village looks of Reykjavik – hard to believe this charmer is a capital city – to its ridiculously exciting geysers, mighty waterfalls and thermal lagoons.
Sticking with the Nordic mood, you can also cruise the Norwegian Fjords from Southampton this year. Another adventure that’s made for kids, these iconic waterways deliver everything from Viking legends to impossibly quaint towns and scenery that might look familiar because movie location scouts find it irresistible.
This spring and summer’s family cruises from Southampton also give you the option of exploring the sunny and buzzy Canary Islands, Portugal and charming Madeira too. Plus, there are plenty of iconic cities in the mix, from Lisbon and Bilbao to Barcelona, Malaga and Marseille, as well as the Baltic capitals and, closer to home, fun-for-kids favourites like Edinburgh and Cork.

Starship Club, MSC Virtuosa
Book by 13 April 2026 to enjoy MSC Premium Drinks Packages
Apart from how easy no-fly family cruises from Southampton are during school holidays, they also come with another tempting incentive right now.
Wherever you sail this spring, summer or autumn, you can enjoy MSC Premium Drinks Packages from just £196pp for 7 nights. That works out at as little as £28 per person per day and includes cocktails and mixed drinks made with premium spirits; premium wine and sparkling wine by the glass; a wide range of draught and bottled beers; non-alcoholic drinks, as well as soft drinks; juices; speciality coffee and more. Then, just to add to the carefree vibe, Premium Drinks Packages even give you savings on Champagne, so you might want to dream up something to celebrate, apart from not having to deal with school holiday airports.

MSC Virtuosa
Add UK flights to your cruise from as little as £99 per person
No-fly family cruises from Southampton are the best news for school holidays this year. But, even with flights in play, a cruise is still a great option with kids, particularly as MSC is now offering flights to European cruise ports from as little as £99 per person.
Flights are available from most major cities in the UK and Ireland, including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin. You have a great choice of departure ports too, like Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome), as well as Naples and Mallorca. Plus, MSC Fly & Cruise simplifies travel with kids in a way that every parent can appreciate, especially during busy school holiday periods.
Take a look at all MSC no-fly family cruises from Southampton during school holidays