Best time to cruise · No regular sailings
British Isles cruises in December
No regular cruises. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party and torchlight procession make New Year’s a big draw for a land trip, and Christmas markets run through most of the month. Expect around seven hours of daylight in Edinburgh, frequent rain and the odd frosty, clear day.
- No regular sailings
- Avg high 48°F
- 7 hrs daylight
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
British Isles in December: No regular sailings
No regular cruises. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party and torchlight procession make New Year’s a big draw for a land trip, and Christmas markets run through most of the month. Expect around seven hours of daylight in Edinburgh, frequent rain and the odd frosty, clear day.
Across British Isles cruise ports, December brings average highs around 48°F (9°C) and lows near 42°F, with about 4.9 inches of rain over the month and roughly 7 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- No regular sailings
- Season
- May to September; a few sailings in April and October
- Average high / low
- 48°F / 42°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 4.9 in
- Daylight
- About 7 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 10 to 14 nights round trip; 7-night Scotland or Ireland sailings also run
How December compares with the rest of the year
- Jan: No regular sailings
- Feb: No regular sailings
- Mar: No regular sailings
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Good time to go
- Jun: Best time to go
- Jul: Best time to go
- Aug: Best time to go
- Sep: Good time to go
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: No regular sailings
- Dec: No regular sailings
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
British Isles weather in December
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 468 | 468 | 489 | 5111 | 5714 | 6116 | 6418 | 6418 | 6116 | 5613 | 5110 | 489 |
| Low °F (°C) | 404 | 404 | 405 | 426 | 478 | 5211 | 5513 | 5513 | 5312 | 4910 | 457 | 426 |
| Rain in (mm) | 4.1104 | 3.692 | 3.588 | 2.358 | 2.667 | 2.769 | 3.486 | 3.692 | 3.794 | 4.5114 | 4.3109 | 4.9125 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
December weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh (Leith & South Queensferry) | 45°F | 39°F | 3.6 in | 7 h |
| Dublin | 49°F | 43°F | 4.9 in | 8 h |
| Belfast | 48°F | 43°F | 4.6 in | 7 h |
| Greenock (for Glasgow) | 46°F | 40°F | 6.6 in | 7 h |
| Invergordon (for Inverness & Loch Ness) | 44°F | 37°F | 3.3 in | 7 h |
| Kirkwall, Orkney | 47°F | 43°F | 4.8 in | 6 h |
| Cobh (for Cork) | 50°F | 43°F | 6.5 in | 8 h |
| Liverpool | 47°F | 41°F | 4.6 in | 8 h |
| Portree, Isle of Skye | 47°F | 43°F | 7.5 in | 7 h |
| Lerwick, Shetland | 47°F | 44°F | 4.9 in | 6 h |
| St Peter Port, Guernsey | 53°F | 50°F | 3.9 in | 8 h |
| Southampton (London) | 49°F | 41°F | 3.7 in | 8 h |
Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.
Other great cruise destinations in December
- Caribbean in December
- Eastern Caribbean in December
- Western Caribbean in December
- Southern Caribbean in December
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in December
- Panama Canal & Central America in December
- South America in December
- Galápagos Islands in December
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in December
- Antarctica in December
See every destination for December, with a port weather map →
British Isles in December: FAQs
Is December a good time to cruise British Isles?
Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. No regular cruises. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party and torchlight procession make New Year’s a big draw for a land trip, and Christmas markets run through most of the month. Expect around seven hours of daylight in Edinburgh, frequent rain and the odd frosty, clear day.
What is the weather like on a British Isles cruise in December?
Across British Isles cruise ports, December brings average highs around 48°F (9°C) and lows near 42°F, with about 4.9 inches of rain over the month and roughly 7 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.
When is the best time to cruise British Isles?
May to September; a few sailings in April and October. The best months are usually June, July, August.
Where else can I cruise in December?
December is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Mexican Riviera & Baja.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.