Most cruise ships are far too big to sail through Tower Bridge, one of the most famous landmarks in London.
Only a few of the smaller luxury yachts and expedition ships are able to do it.
It is very unusual to see a real cruise ship docked in central London.
I work in London regularly and never expect to see a cruise ship on the Thames.
Recently, I was able to sail under Tower Bridge onboard Windstar Cruises Star Pride. It is an experience I will never forget!
Why Most Cruise Ships Cannot Go Under Tower Bridge
There are height, width and draft limitations for ships sailing up the River Thames and passing under Tower Bridge.
Most “small” mainstream cruise ships are too large.
The ships need to navigate the Thames safely, and the Thames is a tidal river.
It is tidal for 95 miles between the sea and Teddington Lock, which is far beyond Tower Bridge.
This means that even if the ship is small enough to negotiate the river, it has to be mindful of the tide times.
We sailed out late at night because of tidal restrictions.
Docking in central London is an issue, too.
Tower Bridge upper mooring only caters for smaller, specialist ships, and the Star Pride, with a length of 159 metres and a draft of 6 metres, is about the biggest it can manage.
Star Pride shared its mooring with the warship HMS Belfast, only 300 metres from Tower Bridge.
We had to tender to the ship from the other side of the Thames and walk across HMS Belfast to board the ship!
Why Small Luxury Ships Have The Advantage
Luxury and expedition lines often use much smaller ships, so they are able to dock in more exclusive and sought-after areas.
These ships are designed for unusual ports and closer access to cities.
You won’t find a Windstar ship docked in an out-of-town container port, as you would with larger ships.
Some ports that mainstream cruiselines use can be miles from anywhere.
Find out more here:
Don’t Be Fooled: These 16 Cruise Ports Are FAR From The City
What Is It Like To Sail Under Tower Bridge?
It was the most amazing experience, watching the central sections of the bridge lift, and seeing our ship sail underneath.
We had to stay up late because the ship’s sailaway was scheduled for 1 am.
In fact, by the time we were sailing under the bridge, it was around 1:30 am.
We had to wrap up warm, because it was a chilly night.
Luckily for us, Windstar had left blankets on the upper decks that we could wrap ourselves up in for extra warmth.
Now that is luxury cruising for you!
We sailed past Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena, Greenwich, and other central London landmarks, such as the Thames Barrier.
It would have been nice if the sailaway had been in the daytime. It takes around two hours to sail along the river to the sea, but it was so cold (and late) that I didn’t stay up to watch the whole thing.
Passengers get really close to the city, and it’s an amazing experience I will never forget.
Cruise Lines That Sail Under Tower Bridge
Windstar Cruises
Star Pride is making a number of London sailings this year.
Windstar markets their Tower Bridge experience very heavily.
SeaDream Yacht Club
SeaDream’s ships are tiny compared to mainstream cruise ships.
The SeaDream II sailed through Tower Bridge and also docked beside HMS Belfast.
These ships feel more like private yachts than mainstream cruise lines.
They carry only 112 passengers and 95 crew onboard when they sail. They refer to their ships as Yachts, rather than ships.
SeaDream’s 56-stateroom yachts are favored for its elegant informality, highly personal service, inclusive open bar and gratuities, all ocean views staterooms and suites, luxury accommodations and world-class cuisine.
SeaDream
Silversea Cruises
Silver Wind visited Tower Bridge recently.
Silver Wind is a luxury expedition ship, designed to carry only 274 passengers
A major upgrade in December 2018 saw Silver Wind looking better than ever. A second refurbishment in November 2021 saw her benefitting from a strengthened ice-class hull and made her one of the most adaptable ships in our fleet. Still timelessly elegant, still luxuriously relaxed, Silver Wind’s improved cruising versatility means she can travel from Polar Regions to iconic ports with fluid ease.
Silversea
Other Small Ships That Have Visited
Other smaller, less well-known cruise ships that have recently sailed under Tower Bridge include:
- HANSEATIC SPIRIT – Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
- NG ENDURANCE- Lindblad Expeditions
- LE BELLOT – Ponant
- HAMBURG – Plantours Cruises
- WORLD TRAVELLER – Atlas Ocean Voyages
Visits by cruise ships are relatively rare and are dependent on the ship’s dimensions.
Where Do These Ships Dock?
These ships usually berth beside HMS Belfast near Tower Bridge.
This must be one of the most unusual “cruise terminals” in the world!
We had to take a tender boat from the other side of the Thames, then walk along the warship HMS Belfast to reach the gangplank.
This is unlike any other embarkation I have made before!
Larger ships, like those from Viking or Ambassador, dock further down the Thames, closer to the sea.
Viking dock at Greenwich, which is only five miles from the City of London. London is then easily accessible via the DLR (Docklands Light Railway)
You could also get a Thames Clipper river boat, a bus, or an underground train to the city.
All TFL (Transport for London) services use contactless payments, so you just touch in and out as you go. This makes things incredibly easy.
Ambassador dock at Tilbury, which is much further out of central London and far less convenient.
You would have to walk for 20 minutes to the train station and then take a 45-minute train journey.
Can Big Cruise Ships Sail Under Tower Bridge?
Mainstream ships like those from Royal Caribbean, MSC or Carnival absolutely cannot sail down the Thames.
Mainstream cruiselines like Fred. Olsen, Disney, and Azamara sometimes sail from Tilbury, but they are unable to sail further down the river into the city.
Passing through Tower Bridge isn’t the only limitation. It is the river depth, and the turning space too.
Best Cruise Lines For A Tower Bridge Sailing
There aren’t many cruise lines that actually sail under Tower Bridge.
Luxury lines like Windstar, Ponant, Silversea, and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises are able to do so.
If your favourite luxury cruise line sails from Tower Bridge, it would be well worth booking in my opinion!
Is It Worth Booking A Cruise Just For Tower Bridge?
Probably yes, if you are somebody who loves cruising or London.
It really is a memorable experience, and one of the most unusual cruise departures in Europe.
If You Can’t Afford A Luxury Cruise…
If you can’t afford a luxury cruise but would love to experience sailing under Tower Bridge, there are many pleasure boats that sail up and down the Thames multiple times a day.
Most of those don’t require Tower Bridge to open.
If you want a more memorable trip, the historic Waverley Paddle Steamer makes sailings up and down the Thames from Southend.
These sailings only happen a few times a year, usually in September or October, so you need to book well in advance.
Before You Go
Have a look at the luxury suite I stayed in onboard the super yacht, Emerald Azzurra here:
I Spent 7 Days in a Luxury Suite on a SUPER YACHT (Full Review)
Find out whether you would be better to book last minute, or way in advance, to get the lowest price here:
Booking A Cruise Last Minute Vs Early – Which Is Actually Cheaper?
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