Best time to cruise · No regular sailings
British Isles cruises in January
No regular British Isles cruising in January. On land, Shetland’s Up Helly Aa fire festival ends with torch-bearing ‘Vikings’ burning a replica longship in Lerwick, and Scots celebrate Burns Night on January 25 with haggis and poetry. Edinburgh gets only about seven hours of daylight, and gales are common.
- No regular sailings
- Avg high 46°F
- 8 hrs daylight
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
British Isles in January: No regular sailings
No regular British Isles cruising in January. On land, Shetland’s Up Helly Aa fire festival ends with torch-bearing ‘Vikings’ burning a replica longship in Lerwick, and Scots celebrate Burns Night on January 25 with haggis and poetry. Edinburgh gets only about seven hours of daylight, and gales are common.
Across British Isles cruise ports, January brings average highs around 46°F (8°C) and lows near 40°F, with about 4.1 inches of rain over the month and roughly 8 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- No regular sailings
- Season
- May to September; a few sailings in April and October
- Average high / low
- 46°F / 40°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 4.1 in
- Daylight
- About 8 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 10 to 14 nights round trip; 7-night Scotland or Ireland sailings also run
How January 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 January
| 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 |
January weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh (Leith & South Queensferry) | 43°F | 36°F | 2.8 in | 8 h |
| Dublin | 46°F | 40°F | 3.3 in | 8 h |
| Belfast | 46°F | 40°F | 3.6 in | 8 h |
| Greenock (for Glasgow) | 44°F | 38°F | 5.8 in | 8 h |
| Invergordon (for Inverness & Loch Ness) | 42°F | 35°F | 2.7 in | 7 h |
| Kirkwall, Orkney | 45°F | 41°F | 4.6 in | 7 h |
| Cobh (for Cork) | 48°F | 40°F | 4.2 in | 8 h |
| Liverpool | 45°F | 39°F | 3.7 in | 8 h |
| Portree, Isle of Skye | 45°F | 41°F | 6.5 in | 7 h |
| Lerwick, Shetland | 45°F | 42°F | 4.7 in | 7 h |
| St Peter Port, Guernsey | 50°F | 47°F | 4.1 in | 9 h |
| Southampton (London) | 46°F | 37°F | 3.2 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 January
- Caribbean in January
- Eastern Caribbean in January
- Western Caribbean in January
- Southern Caribbean in January
- Hawaii in January
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in January
- Panama Canal & Central America in January
- South America in January
- Galápagos Islands in January
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in January
See every destination for January, with a port weather map →
British Isles in January: FAQs
Is January a good time to cruise British Isles?
Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. No regular British Isles cruising in January. On land, Shetland’s Up Helly Aa fire festival ends with torch-bearing ‘Vikings’ burning a replica longship in Lerwick, and Scots celebrate Burns Night on January 25 with haggis and poetry. Edinburgh gets only about seven hours of daylight, and gales are common.
What is the weather like on a British Isles cruise in January?
Across British Isles cruise ports, January brings average highs around 46°F (8°C) and lows near 40°F, with about 4.1 inches of rain over the month and roughly 8 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 January?
January is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Hawaii.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.