9-Night All-Inclusive Canary Islands Cruise From Southampton
Experience volcanic moonscapes, eternal springtime temperatures and the ease of sailing round-trip from the UK without ever touching an airport.
Nine nights is long enough to reach the archipelago, linger in four to five ports and still allow a full sea day each way for pure relaxation. Lines such as Cunard, P&O, Princess and MSC regularly bundle drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities so you can enjoy anall-inclusive packagerather than keep signing chits.
Thanks to theirsubtropical climate with winter averages around 19 °C and summer highs near 23 °Cthe islands deliver reliable warmth year-round—perfect when Britain is shivering in February or suffering rain in May.
Typical 9-Night Itinerary
Below is a representative schedule often used by P&O Iona, Cunard Queen Victoria and MSC Virtuosa. Exact order can vary, but the balance between sea days and port time remains similar.
| Day | Port | Highlights | In-Port Time* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southampton (UK) | Historic Old Town Walls, SeaCity Museum | Evening departure |
| 2 | At Sea | Spa, enrichment talks, gala night | — |
| 3 | At Sea | Cooking demos, planetarium shows | — |
| 4 | Funchal, Madeira | Monte cable car, botanical gardens, toboggan ride | 08:00–18:00 |
| 5 | Santa Cruz de Tenerife | Teide National Park, Puerto de la Cruz | 08:00–23:00 |
| 6 | Las Palmas, Gran Canaria | Maspalomas dunes, Vegueta old town | 07:00–18:00 |
| 7 | Arrecife, Lanzarote | Timanfaya lava fields, volcanic wines | 07:00–18:00 |
| 8 | At Sea | Afternoon tea, lectures on astronomy | — |
| 9 | At Sea | Captain’s farewell, duty-free shopping | — |
| 10 | Southampton | Disembark after breakfast | 06:30 arrival |
*Many itineraries now schedule up to 16-hour stays in key ports, a feature MSC underlines in its long-stay programme.
Port Spotlights
Tenerife
Stand on Spain’s highest peak during a shore excursion to 3,715-metre Mount Teide, then sample papas arrugadas with Mojo sauce in the capital, a combo MSC calls a must-try Canarian staple. Stroll the colonial streets of La Laguna or simply shop along the palm-lined Rambla.
Lanzarote
Explore jagged black lava at Timanfaya National Park or sip vintages grown in mineral-rich ash at La Geria. The island’s unique lava fields and volcanic wine make it paradise for geology nerds and oenophiles alike.
Gran Canaria
From the rolling golden dunes of Maspalomas to the frescoed cathedral of Vegueta, Gran Canaria offers a mini-continent in one island. A seaside bike ride to Las Canteras keeps things low-key, while jeep tours tackle pine-clad mountains.
La Palma & Fuerteventura (occasional calls)
Ships sometimes swap Gran Canaria for La Palma, where walkers cross pine forests to the Teneguía volcano, or slot in Fuerteventura for a day among aloe-vera farms and rippling dunes at Corralejo Natural Park.
Onboard Life: What “All-Inclusive” Really Means
| Inclusion | Typical Offering on UK-Market Lines |
|---|---|
| Drinks | House wines, draft beer, spirits, specialty coffees |
| Wi-Fi | Surf speed good for email & socials; premium streaming extra |
| Tips | Daily gratuities prepaid—no envelope awkwardness |
| Specialty Dining | Often one or two cover-charge meals included |
| Entertainment | West-End style shows, live bands, film screenings under the stars |
Princess, for example, sells its Plus Package while MSC offers Easy Plus Drinks; both convert your cruise to a wallet-free holiday.
Choosing Your Ship
• Cunard’s Queen Victoria brings ballroom glamour, and its current Balcony Sale giving 25 % off with promo code CANARY25 makes moving from an inside to a balcony more tempting than ever.
• P&O’s 5,200-passenger Iona features an eco-friendly LNG engine and a vast SkyDome, plus craft-gin tastings from Salcombe Gin distilled right onboard.
• MSC Virtuosa decorates its Galleria promenade with LED-lit skies and delivers extended port stays of up to 16 hours—ideal for late-night tapas in Tenerife.
All three depart Southampton, sparing you airport queues and luggage weight worries.
Packing & Preparation
MSC reminds travellers to bring shorts, swimsuits and formalwear for gala nights, adding lightweight jackets for breezy Atlantic evenings. Comfortable walking shoes are vital for lava terrain, and a travel adaptor is handy for European plug fittings.
Quick Checklist
• Sun cream & hat
• Refillable water bottle (ships provide stations)
• Euros in small notes for cafés and taxis
• Photocopy of passport (in case of ash-cloud disruption)
Booking Tips & Money-Savers
• CruiseKings advises you to book early for discounts and onboard-credit promotions—especially if you want school-holiday cabins or sought-after suites.
• Look out for reduced deposits; Princess is running a £49pp low-deposit window on selected 2026-27 departures, letting you lock in dates while spreading payments.
• Solo? Southampton Cruise Centre lists dedicated solo-traveller deals so you avoid the sting of a full single supplement.
Final Thought
A nine-night sailing to the Canaries delivers three holidays in one: a no-fly break, a floating resort and a mini-Grand Tour of Spain’s Atlantic jewels. With fair pricing, bundled perks and plenty of winter sun, it’s little wonder demand keeps rising—so line up that deckchair early and toast the setting sun with a glass of Madeiran wine before the ship turns north for home.
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