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If you love cruising and football, 2026 is shaping up to be a very big year. With the FIFA World Cup heading to North America, cruise lines are getting creative. Think match days and ports perfectly placed for kick off excitement.
World Cup cruises are a niche idea, but they are seriously tempting if you want to mix sport with a proper holiday. Here’s what you need to know before you book.
What Is a World Cup Cruise?
A World Cup cruise is exactly what it sounds like. A cruise sailing timed around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with itineraries and onboard experiences designed around the tournament.
Others lean more into the onboard experience, showing games live at sea with themed events, food, and entertainment.
Where Will World Cup Cruises Sail?
The 2026 World Cup is being hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, so dedicated World Cup cruise itineraries tend to cluster around those regions.
Common routes include:
- Caribbean cruises sailing from Florida or Texas
- Coastal cruises along the US East Coast
- West Coast sailings visiting Mexico and California
- Shorter sampler cruises around major US ports
Ports like Miami, Port Canaveral, New York, Los Angeles, and Galveston are popular starting points, thanks to flight connections and proximity to host cities.
Will All Cruise Ships Show the World Cup?
Yes, pretty much! Pretty much every sports bar onboard a cruise ship will be featuring the World Cup when it airs.
Princess Cruises World Cup Sailings
Princess has a fleetwide deal with IMG. That means:
- All 104 matches will be shown live on your in-cabin TV and on big screens on deck.
- You don’t miss a moment whether you’re in Alaska, the Caribbean, the Med, or Japan.
- They’re running a “Come Aboard Sale” with up to ~40% off fares, deposit deals and onboard credits.
Sample 2026 sailings during World Cup dates:
- June 14: 7-night Alaska Inside Passage (Star Princess)
- June 20: 7-night Mediterranean & Adriatic (Sun Princess)
- June 23: 7-night Mediterranean & Aegean (Enchanted Princess)
- July 2: 9-night Circle Japan (Diamond Princess)
- July 12: 7-night Eastern Caribbean with Puerto Rico (Caribbean Princess)
These sailings are great if you want cruising and live World Cup action together.
Holland America Line World Cup Sailings
Holland America will also broadcast every match fleetwide.
That means you can book almost any summer sailing during June/July 2026 and still watch the World Cup.
Examples of itineraries during World Cup period:
- 7-day Alaska Explorer (Noordam)
- 28-day Alaska/Arctic Circle Solstice (Noordam)
- 14-day British Isles (Nieuw Statendam)
- 7-day Norwegian Fjords (Rotterdam)
This is one of the more flexible options if you’re not tied to specific match cities.
Seabourn World Cup Sailings
Seabourn’s luxury ships will stream all World Cup matches too.
This is the pretty version of cruising and football. If you want elevated service and experiences, you can pick from routes like:
- Greece & Turkey (Seabourn Quest, late June)
- British Isles & Iceland (Seabourn Ovation)
- Alaska Glaciers (Seabourn Encore)
Onboard football vibes are more relaxed here, but the live game coverage is the same.
P&O Cruises and Cunard (UK Options) World Cup Sailings
Both P&O Cruises and Cunard have also announced fleetwide World Cup match coverage.
Matches show up in social spaces like pubs and lounges, so these are good options if you’re departing from UK homeports or Europe.
Booking Tips
- These cruises often sell fast because they appeal to summer cruisers and football fans.
- Don’t assume match tickets to real stadium games are included. They usually aren’t.
- Early booking deals and wave season sales are happening now on many lines.
- If you want specific match-day ports like Seattle or Vancouver, check the itinerary closely before you book.
