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Your First Cruise from the UK: A Step-by-Step Guide

Updated 30 October 2026 by The Ahoy Fares Team
Booking your first cruise can feel like learning a new language: cabin grades, drinks packages, service charges, boarding windows. The good news is that it's simple once you know the steps. This guide takes you from choosing a line to walking up the gangway, with real UK prices where the lines publish them.
Prices were checked on 30 Oct 2026. Cruise fares are per person for the whole cruise. Drinks packages are per person, per day. Gratuities are per person, per night. Parking prices are as given for each car park. Lines change prices often, so always confirm before you book.
Example fare, checked 30 Oct 2026. Prices change, so for today's checked prices see the live deals below.

Step 1: Choose your style of cruise line

UK cruisers can pick from the whole market, often without leaving the country.
British-style, all ages: P&O Cruises, which has the largest Southampton fleet.
Traditional with a sense of occasion: Cunard, known for gala evenings and the QM2 transatlantic crossing.
Smaller ships and good value: Fred. Olsen and Ambassador. Ambassador sails no-fly from seven UK regional ports.
Big resort ships with lots to do: Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).
Upmarket mainstream: Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises.
All-inclusive luxury — LUXURY: Silversea and Regent Seven Seas, where drinks and gratuities are included.
All-inclusive for over-50s: Saga, which includes a chauffeur to the port.
First-timer tip: a 2 to 5-night mini-cruise from Southampton is a low-risk way to find out whether you like life at sea. MSC Meraviglia's 3-night sailing on 26 May 2027 was listed from £409 for an interior cabin.
Example fare, checked 30 Oct 2026. Prices change, so for today's checked prices see the live deals below.

Step 2: Pick your cabin, cheapest first

Cabin type
What you get
Who it suits
Interior (inside)
No window, but the same beds, bathroom and service as other standard cabins. It's the cheapest way on board.
Budget travellers, and people who are rarely in their cabin
Ocean view
A window or porthole. Some views may be restricted.
Anyone who wants daylight
Balcony
Your own private outdoor space
Scenic routes such as the Norwegian fjords
Suite
More space, plus perks such as priority boarding, private dining or a butler
Special occasions
Cabin type
Interior (inside)
What you get
No window, but the same beds, bathroom and service as other standard cabins. It's the cheapest way on board.
Who it suits
Budget travellers, and people who are rarely in their cabin
Cabin type
Ocean view
What you get
A window or porthole. Some views may be restricted.
Who it suits
Anyone who wants daylight
Cabin type
Balcony
What you get
Your own private outdoor space
Who it suits
Scenic routes such as the Norwegian fjords
Cabin type
Suite
What you get
More space, plus perks such as priority boarding, private dining or a butler
Who it suits
Special occasions
Real example, MSC Meraviglia, 7-night Norwegian fjords from Southampton, 19 Jun 2027: Interior £829, Ocean view £1,079, Balcony £1,099, Suite £2,309 per person.
Notice that the balcony was just £20 more than the ocean view. Always compare every grade before you choose.
Money-saving options:
A guarantee cabin means the line picks your cabin. It can be cheaper, and sometimes you end up a grade higher.
Midships, lower-deck cabins tend to feel the least motion.
Example fare, checked 30 Oct 2026. Prices change, so for today's checked prices see the live deals below.

Step 3: Decide on a drinks package

You'll usually pay per person, per day, for the whole cruise. Most lines also require everyone in the cabin to buy the same package.
Line
Packages and prices
P&O Cruises (cruises of 5+ nights)
Refresh (soft drinks) £16 · Alcohol-free £29 · Classic £50 · Deluxe £60. Under-17s get Refresh free when adults buy Classic or Deluxe.
Ambassador
Experience (soft drinks) £20.95 · Explorer £42.95 · Expedition £49.95. These include gratuities.
Royal Caribbean (prices vary by ship)
Soda from £10.44 · Refreshment from £24.35 · Deluxe from £66.69
MSC Cruises (priced in euros)
Alcohol-free €26 · Easy €40 · Premium Extra €75, on cruises of 1–10 nights. MSC's UK website doesn't publish package prices in pounds, so we've kept the euro figures.
Cunard
Signature Package from £60 or Premium Signature from £70 (based on a 14-night voyage). Both bundle drinks, Wi-Fi and a dining credit. The standalone Beverage Collection is priced in US dollars, at US$76.50.
Celebrity
Prices vary by ship and date. Its "All Included" offer on selected 2026 European sailings adds the Classic drinks package and Wi-Fi for £50.
Princess
Princess Plus £53 · Princess Premier £78 when bought before you sail, per Princess's UK site. Both bundle drinks, Wi-Fi and crew gratuities. Standalone drinks packages are priced in US dollars (from US$14.99 for soda).
NCL (priced in US dollars)
Premium Beverage Package US$109, plus a 20% service charge. We couldn't find a pound price on NCL's UK site. Often included in the "Free at Sea" upgrades.
Fred. Olsen
Freedom Fares include selected drinks with lunch and dinner.
Silversea / Regent — LUXURY
Drinks are included in the fare.
Line
P&O Cruises (cruises of 5+ nights)
Packages and prices
Refresh (soft drinks) £16 · Alcohol-free £29 · Classic £50 · Deluxe £60. Under-17s get Refresh free when adults buy Classic or Deluxe.
Line
Ambassador
Packages and prices
Experience (soft drinks) £20.95 · Explorer £42.95 · Expedition £49.95. These include gratuities.
Line
Royal Caribbean (prices vary by ship)
Packages and prices
Soda from £10.44 · Refreshment from £24.35 · Deluxe from £66.69
Line
MSC Cruises (priced in euros)
Packages and prices
Alcohol-free €26 · Easy €40 · Premium Extra €75, on cruises of 1–10 nights. MSC's UK website doesn't publish package prices in pounds, so we've kept the euro figures.
Line
Cunard
Packages and prices
Signature Package from £60 or Premium Signature from £70 (based on a 14-night voyage). Both bundle drinks, Wi-Fi and a dining credit. The standalone Beverage Collection is priced in US dollars, at US$76.50.
Line
Celebrity
Packages and prices
Prices vary by ship and date. Its "All Included" offer on selected 2026 European sailings adds the Classic drinks package and Wi-Fi for £50.
Line
Princess
Packages and prices
Princess Plus £53 · Princess Premier £78 when bought before you sail, per Princess's UK site. Both bundle drinks, Wi-Fi and crew gratuities. Standalone drinks packages are priced in US dollars (from US$14.99 for soda).
Line
NCL (priced in US dollars)
Packages and prices
Premium Beverage Package US$109, plus a 20% service charge. We couldn't find a pound price on NCL's UK site. Often included in the "Free at Sea" upgrades.
Line
Fred. Olsen
Packages and prices
Freedom Fares include selected drinks with lunch and dinner.
Line
Silversea / Regent — LUXURY
Packages and prices
Drinks are included in the fare.
P&O and Princess prices are from their own UK websites. Prices for Ambassador, Royal Caribbean, MSC, Cunard, Celebrity and NCL are from a 2026 UK cruise drinks-package guide. All checked 30 Oct 2026. Royal Caribbean's figures are guide prices based on January 2026 sailings. Fred. Olsen's details are from its own cruise page.
Is a package worth it? Add up a realistic sea day: coffees, soft drinks, a cocktail and wine with dinner. If the total beats the daily price, buy the package, and buy it before you sail, because it's usually cheaper than buying on board.

Step 4: Understand gratuities (service charges)

This is a cost that often catches out first-timers. Here's what each line charges per person, per night. Where a line adds a daily charge, it's billed in US dollars even if you book in the UK. Cunard and NCL quote theirs in dollars on their UK websites, and none of the lines below publishes a pound figure. Figures checked 30 Oct 2026.
Line
Gratuities
P&O Cruises
Included, with no service charge on drinks
MSC Cruises (UK bookings)
Included
Fred. Olsen
Included
Ambassador
£7 a night (£6 on cruises of 16+ nights). Included in the Ambassador Fare and drinks packages.
Cunard
US$18 in Britannia and Britannia Club; US$19 in Princess and Queens Grill. 18% on bar and spa.
Princess
US$18 standard; US$19 mini-suite and Reserve; US$20 suite (Princess's UK package page quotes US$17–US$19, so check at booking). Included with Princess Plus or Premier.
Royal Caribbean
US$18.50 standard; US$21 suite
Celebrity
US$19.50 standard; US$20.50 Concierge and AquaClass; US$24.50 The Retreat
NCL
US$20 standard; US$25 suites and The Haven
Oceania
Included (20% on drinks and spa)
Silversea / Regent — LUXURY
Included (Regent excludes the spa)
Saga
Included
Line
P&O Cruises
Gratuities
Included, with no service charge on drinks
Line
MSC Cruises (UK bookings)
Gratuities
Included
Line
Fred. Olsen
Gratuities
Included
Line
Ambassador
Gratuities
£7 a night (£6 on cruises of 16+ nights). Included in the Ambassador Fare and drinks packages.
Line
Cunard
Gratuities
US$18 in Britannia and Britannia Club; US$19 in Princess and Queens Grill. 18% on bar and spa.
Line
Princess
Gratuities
US$18 standard; US$19 mini-suite and Reserve; US$20 suite (Princess's UK package page quotes US$17–US$19, so check at booking). Included with Princess Plus or Premier.
Line
Royal Caribbean
Gratuities
US$18.50 standard; US$21 suite
Line
Celebrity
Gratuities
US$19.50 standard; US$20.50 Concierge and AquaClass; US$24.50 The Retreat
Line
NCL
Gratuities
US$20 standard; US$25 suites and The Haven
Line
Oceania
Gratuities
Included (20% on drinks and spa)
Line
Silversea / Regent — LUXURY
Gratuities
Included (Regent excludes the spa)
Line
Saga
Gratuities
Included
For two adults on a 7-night cruise, a daily charge of US$18–US$20 adds roughly US$250–US$280 to the bill. On P&O, MSC or Fred. Olsen, it adds nothing.

Step 5: Sort out your documents

Passport: for most European itineraries, your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive in the Schengen area, and must be valid for at least 3 months after you leave it.
EU Entry/Exit System (EES): P&O and Ambassador both say these biometric checks shouldn't apply to round-trip cruises that start and end in the UK. They do apply if you fly into Europe for a fly-cruise.
ETIAS: the EU's planned travel authorisation is "not currently in operation", according to P&O. Watch for updates before any EU sailing.
Online check-in: most lines open check-in in their app or online. Ambassador, for example, asks for your Advance Passenger Information within 90 days of sailing and opens check-in 72 hours before departure.
Travel insurance: buy cover that includes cruise and medical care at sea. A standard policy may not.

Step 6: Get to the port and park

Southampton has five terminals. Check which one your ship uses: QEII (berths 38/39), Ocean (46), City (101), Horizon (102) or Mayflower (106).
Parking options from Southampton's independent city guide, checked October 2026:
CPS valet: the only official on-port parking for P&O, Cunard and Princess. It's priced per cruise.
ABParking: the port's own car parks, serving Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, MSC, NCL, Fred. Olsen, Silversea, Oceania, Regent and others. It's about five minutes' walk from the City and Horizon terminals and is priced per cruise. It sells out in summer.
Meet-and-greet firms charge about £8.40–£12.70 a day.
Council long-stay car parks cost about £39–£41 a week, plus a taxi of around £10 each way.
Westquay multi-storey charges a flat £15 a day.
Other ports: Ambassador offers parking at all its UK departure ports from £8.50 per car per night.
Allow extra time on summer Saturdays, when there can be queues at the dock gates.

Step 7: Boarding day

Arrive in your boarding window. Lines publish these two to four weeks before you sail. At Southampton, windows typically run from about 11:30 to 15:30.
Drop your cases with the porters at the terminal. They'll be delivered to your cabin later, so keep a day bag with your medication, passport, chargers and swimwear.
Check in with your passport and boarding pass. You'll get your cruise card, which is your room key and your onboard wallet.
Explore and eat. Cabins are often ready in the early afternoon.
Attend the safety briefing. It's compulsory.
Sail away. Most Southampton departures leave between 16:00 and 18:00, and boarding closes 60–90 minutes before. Head up on deck as you pass Mayflower Park.

FAQ

Which line is best for a first cruise from the UK?
It depends on your style. P&O and Fred. Olsen include gratuities and feel familiar to British guests. Royal Caribbean and MSC suit families who want lots to do. A short break on any of them is a cheap way to test the water.
Are tips compulsory?
On P&O, MSC (UK bookings) and Fred. Olsen, they're included. On Cunard, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and NCL, a daily US-dollar charge is added automatically. You can ask Guest Services to adjust it.
Do I need a drinks package?
Only if you'd drink more than the daily price. Pre-booking is usually cheaper than buying on board.
What's the cheapest cabin?
An interior cabin. It has the same service and facilities as other standard cabins, just without a window.

Sources

https://www.princess.com/en-uk/cruise-deals-promotions/plus-premier-cruise-packages
https://www.msccruises.co.uk/onboard/dining/drinks-packages
https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/the-cunard-experience/service-charges
https://www.ncl.com/uk/en/faq/what-is-ncl-onboard-service-charge
https://www.pocruises.com/onboard-activities/bars-and-lounges/drinks-packages
https://www.pocruises.com/essential-information/travel-information/eu-entry-exit-system
https://www.fredolsencruises.com/cruise/t2707
https://www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/cruise/a22703-norway-s-land-of-the-northern-lights/
https://visit-southampton.co.uk/cruise-parking/
https://visit-southampton.co.uk/cruise-schedule/
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/norway/entry-requirements
https://travel.saga.co.uk/cruises/ocean/where-we-go/norway-cruises/northern-lights-and-arctic-vistas.aspx
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Live deals

Live short cruises from UK ports (7 nights or fewer, no flights), cheapest first, with today's checked prices (these can differ from the example fares in the guide). Prices are per person, two sharing.
Flash sale

Ambassador Cruise Line, Ambition

Weekend Escape to Holland & Belgium cruise from Tilbury
Fri 27 Nov 2026 · 4 nights
From Tilbury · no flights needed
Western Europe
Cheapest cabin at Iglu Cruise
£401
pp
£419
4% off
Inside · £100/night · two sharing
See deal
Price checked 30 Oct 2026, 11:07am UK time
Flash sale

Royal Caribbean, Freedom of the Seas

7 nights roundtrip from Southampton via Le Havre (for Paris), Bilbao, La Coruña and Vigo
Sun 16 May 2027 · 7 nights
Round trip from Southampton · no flights needed
Western Europe
Cheapest cabin at Iglu Cruise
£568
pp
£628
10% off
Inside · £81/night · two sharing
See deal
Price checked 30 Oct 2026, 11:06am UK time
Biggest savings

Cunard, Queen Mary 2

7 nights roundtrip from Southampton via Le Havre (for Paris), Zeebrugge (for Bruges) and an overnight in Rotterdam
Sat 5 Dec 2026 · 7 nights
Round trip from Southampton · no flights needed
Western Europe
Cheapest cabin at Iglu Cruise
£647
pp
£669
3% off
Inside · £92/night · two sharing
See deal
Price checked 30 Oct 2026, 11:07am UK time
Flash sale

Cunard, Queen Victoria

Spain and France from Southampton
Sun 1 Apr 2029 · 7 nights
From Southampton · no flights needed
Western Europe
Cheapest cabin at Iglu Cruise
£832
pp
£854
3% off
Inside · £119/night · two sharing
See deal
Price checked 30 Oct 2026, 11:08am UK time
Flash sale

Disney Cruise Line, Disney Wish

Northern Europe cruise from Southampton
Fri 27 Aug 2027 · 3 nights
From Southampton · no flights needed
Cheapest cabin at Iglu Cruise
£1,232
pp
£1,292
5% off
Inside · £411/night · two sharing
See deal
Price checked 30 Oct 2026, 11:08am UK time
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Ahoy Fares is an independent cruise deals guide covering the whole UK market. Independent means we're not a travel agent, and no cruise line or agent owns us. Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission doesn't decide which deals we show; our own rules do (the whole market, cheapest cabin first). Prices are per person in GBP based on two sharing.
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