Sailing from Southampton or Dover lets you start a cruise without flying to the ship. Royal Caribbean, MSC, Celebrity and other international lines offer alternatives to the familiar British cruise brands, with different ships, facilities and payment arrangements.
This guide covers six of those lines. Find out which currency each uses, whether daily tips are paid for, and what its optional packages add.
Your holiday might be priced in pounds while the ship records your spending in US dollars. Daily tips might be included, or added separately. Paying for a drinks package does not necessarily cover those tips.
The aim is to compare the holidays you like with the spending you would actually choose. First find out what your fare covers. Then add only what remains to pay.
Will a cruise from Southampton or Dover use pounds onboard? Not necessarily. Five of the six international lines below use US dollars. MSC publishes sterling pricing for Southampton departures.
Are daily tips included when I book in the UK? It depends on the line and what you buy. MSC includes its daily crew charge in UK fares. Other lines may cover it through an optional package combining drinks, internet and other benefits. A UK departure alone does not make tips included.
Should I choose a British or international line? Choose an international line if its ship and itinerary suit you and you are comfortable with the complete cost. A British-focused brand may offer arrangements you prefer, but compare the actual fares: neither group has one set of inclusions.
Find your line: MSC · Royal Caribbean · Celebrity · Norwegian · Princess · Holland America.
How cruise spending works
There are three parts to keep separate:
- Your fare: the price of the cruise and everything the booking says it includes.
- Optional packages: extras bought together, such as drinks and internet. Some also cover daily tips or selected meals.
- Your onboard bill: purchases and charges that have not already been paid for.
During the cruise, purchases are normally recorded against your shipboard account using your cruise card, wearable or app. You pay that bill using an accepted card or another payment method offered by the line. A dollar account does not mean you need dollar notes for each purchase.
Daily crew tips are separate from a service charge on a particular drink, meal or treatment. Lines use names including “gratuities”, “Crew Appreciation” and “Hotel Service Charge”. Some lines add daily tips automatically while describing them as discretionary; check the line’s rules if you want to change them. A package can cover drinks-related tips while leaving daily crew tips payable.
Compare the six lines
The comparison is for bookings made through the lines’ UK operations, directly or through a travel agent. It covers the departures below, including Holland America’s published Dover programme for 2027. These lines do not all sail from both ports.
| Cruise line and departure port | Onboard currency | Daily crew tips |
|---|---|---|
| MSC — Southampton | Pounds under MSC’s published Southampton rule | Included in UK-market fares |
| Royal Caribbean — Southampton | US dollars | Separate unless already prepaid or covered by an offer |
| Celebrity — Southampton | US dollars | Separate from its drinks-and-internet fare option |
| Norwegian — Southampton | US dollars | Covered by selected paid upgrades, not all |
| Princess — Southampton | US dollars | Included with selected paid packages |
| Holland America — Dover | US dollars | Included in the current UK package offer; check older bookings |
Using an overseas website or agent? Ask whether you are buying a UK booking or another country’s offer. Passengers on the same ship can have different inclusions.
Use the USD extras calculator
The links below open the calculator with your cruise line selected and Extras only chosen. Add your nights, guests and the spending you want to explore. The cruise fare is left out.
The calculator works in US dollars and starts with US-market figures. Extras only does not change those rules to UK ones. Do not enter a sterling price as though it were dollars. Use it as a reference for extra costs, then check your UK fare and package inclusions before treating an amount as still payable. It does not calculate the final sterling card charge.
Your cruise line: what is covered?
MSC Cruises from Southampton
How you pay onboard. MSC’s published payment information says Southampton departures use pounds. If your booking documents show another currency, ask MSC to confirm which currency the ship will use before buying extras.
What your fare covers. On a booking through MSC’s UK operation, the daily crew charge—MSC's Hotel Service Charge—is included. The UK FAQ confirms that service charges/gratuities are in the fare. Do not add the US-market daily charge to a UK booking.
What a package changes. A drinks package covers its specified selection, not every extra on the ship. MSC Easy is one such drinks package; its current UK package page says it is sold onboard only. Other package options have different terms.
Before buying: find the drinks package's exact name and whether internet is separately included. Confirm the account currency if your documents differ from MSC’s published Southampton rule.
Explore MSC extras in USD · Extras only; no cruise fare. Its default daily crew charge reflects US bookings. That charge is already included in a booking through MSC’s UK operation.
Read next: MSC fares, cabin benefits and extra costs. Use this page’s UK tip-inclusion rule when reading its overseas examples.
Sources: MSC payment and package policies.
Royal Caribbean from Southampton
How you pay onboard. Royal Caribbean uses US dollars. Purchases go on a SeaPass account—the ship's spending account—even if you paid for the cruise in pounds.
What your fare covers. Allow for daily crew tips unless your offer includes them or you have paid them in advance. Royal Caribbean's gratuity policy describes automatic daily charges and the arrangements for adjusting them onboard.
What a package changes. A drinks package covers eligible drinks; it does not pay those daily crew tips. Check internet and paid restaurants separately. “Speciality dining” means restaurants or meals carrying an extra charge. Use the final checkout amount, including any purchase-related service charge, rather than the first advertised price.
Before buying: open Cruise Planner, Royal Caribbean's online service for arranging extras. Put the complete package cost beside any daily crew tips still payable. Do not assume the drinks package pays the daily crew tips.
Explore Royal Caribbean extras in USD · Extras only; no cruise fare. Allow only for costs not already included or prepaid; check package prices against your own booking.
Read next: What Royal Caribbean includes in your fare, followed by our drinks, tips and Wi-Fi guide. Use your UK checkout total for any purchase.
Sources: Royal Caribbean payment and gratuity policies.
Celebrity Cruises from Southampton
How you pay onboard. Celebrity uses US dollars for onboard spending.
What your fare covers. Daily crew tips are separate unless a prepayment or confirmed booking benefit covers them. Higher cabin categories have different daily rates; use the schedule for your cabin in Celebrity's gratuity policy.
What a package changes. All Included is Celebrity's fare option adding a Classic drinks package and Basic Wi-Fi. It covers the gratuities attached to that drinks package, but not the separate daily crew tips. Celebrity's UK explanation makes that distinction. Speciality dining and excursions are not part of those two benefits.
For a two- or three-day Southampton cruise, check the actual offer before choosing: Celebrity's UK onboard FAQ excludes those sailings from its usual drinks-package availability.
Before buying: compare cruise-only with All Included, then add any uncovered daily tips to both. The worked example below shows what remains payable after choosing All Included.
Explore Celebrity extras in USD · Extras only; no cruise fare. Check what your fare already covers. All Included’s drinks and internet should not be added a second time.
Read next: What Celebrity All Included covers. Its worked fare examples are not UK quotes.
Sources: Celebrity’s package and daily-tip policies.
Norwegian Cruise Line from Southampton
How you pay onboard. Norwegian's payment information states that its onboard currency is US dollars.
What your fare covers. Daily crew service charges are separate unless prepaid or included through a particular offer. Norwegian's service-charge FAQ explains the charge and applicable guest categories.
What a package changes. Free at Sea is a paid UK upgrade combining drinks, selected speciality meals, an internet allowance and excursion discounts. Its name does not mean those benefits are added at no cost. Standard Free at Sea does not cover the daily crew service charge.
Free at Sea Plus is a further paid upgrade with more benefits. Current offer terms include prepaid daily crew service charges and further benefits. Do not confuse it with standard Free at Sea. An internet allowance is not necessarily unlimited access; an excursion discount is not a free trip. The terms also warn of possible itinerary-dependent taxes.
Before buying: compare the full quote with and without the upgrade. Look for the exact package name and a separate statement confirming whether daily crew service charges are paid.
Explore Norwegian extras in USD · Extras only; no cruise fare. The calculator’s Free at Sea prices follow the US offer. They are not the price of a UK upgrade.
Read next: The benefits within Norwegian Free at Sea. That guide also discusses US pricing; the UK purchase rules explained here apply to this comparison.
Sources: Norwegian’s payment and package policies.
Princess Cruises from Southampton
How you pay onboard. Princess's payment FAQ confirms US-dollar onboard charges, on the departures covered here. Paying for the holiday in pounds does not change that.
What your fare covers. With the Standard fare, daily crew tips—called Crew Appreciation—remain separate unless another booking benefit or prepayment covers them.
What a package changes. Princess Plus and Princess Premier are optional packages combining drinks, Wi-Fi, daily crew tips and other benefits. Premier adds further dining and other extras. Princess's package comparison shows the differences.
If you buy one of these packages, do not add Crew Appreciation again. Compare the additional package cost with the benefits you would otherwise buy, including those daily tips. If you want only occasional drinks, buying a package is not automatically the better choice.
Before buying: compare Standard, Plus and Premier for your actual sailing. Ask for the complete UK price and the purchase deadline. A US package price is not a UK quote, and package benefits should match the version confirmed for your booking.
Explore Princess extras in USD · Extras only; no cruise fare. Choose the relevant package when exploring its benefits. The calculator’s USD package price is not a UK quote.
Read next: Princess Standard versus Princess Plus, or what Princess Premier adds. Compare the benefits using your UK quote.
Sources: Princess’s payment and package policies.
Holland America Line from Dover
How you pay onboard. Holland America uses US dollars. Its published 2027 programme includes UK embarkation at Dover. That is the departure covered here.
What your fare covers. Look for Have It All on your confirmation. If it is not listed, check whether daily crew tips, called Crew Appreciation, have been paid separately.
What a package changes. Have It All combines drinks, internet, selected speciality meals and an allowance towards eligible excursions. The current UK offer also includes prepaid Crew Appreciation. The UK offer page lists those benefits. Do not assume an older booking or a package sold in another market has the same inclusions.
An excursion allowance contributes towards eligible trips; it does not make every excursion free. Meal allowances also depend on cruise length. The offer's guest-eligibility terms matter when more than two people share a cabin.
Before buying: ask for the complete package quote and the benefits for each traveller. If Crew Appreciation is listed as included, leave it out of your additional spending allowance.
Explore Holland America extras in USD · Extras only; no cruise fare. The US package assumptions can leave daily tips separate; the current UK Have It All offer includes them.
Read next: The benefits within Holland America Have It All. The current UK daily-tip inclusion above differs from the US examples in that guide.
Sources: Holland America’s Dover programme and UK package offer.
International or British cruise line: the advantages and drawbacks
British brands also offer different holiday styles. Compare named ships and fares rather than assuming the brand alone tells you what is included.
Choosing an international line
The advantages: a larger resort-style ship can offer more activity choices than a smaller traditional ship. Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, advertised for Southampton in summer 2027, has a surf simulator and waterslides. MSC Virtuosa has an indoor promenade, several pools and an aquapark. These are concrete reasons to consider a different ship, especially if the facilities would be part of your holiday. Check which activities are included before budgeting.
An international line may also give you a newer ship to consider, but check the particular departure. P&O’s Arvia began sailing in 2022 and has a retractable-roof SkyDome and high-ropes attraction. Compare named ships: do not assume every non-British ship is newer, larger or better equipped.
Where basic fares and optional packages are offered, you can also compare paying separately with buying benefits together. Princess is one example. Ship-facility sources.
The drawbacks: a dollar account adds currency conversion to the decision. Package names do not reliably tell you whether daily tips are covered. You may need to compare more than one charge before you know what remains payable.
That does not make an international line poor value. It means a lower fare needs to be compared with the total for the holiday you want.
Choosing a British-focused line
The advantages: some arrangements may be simpler for the spending you want. P&O includes tips in its fare. Saga's published ocean-cruise inclusions cover drinks, speciality dining, Wi-Fi, gratuities and excursions within its stated programme. Those are different levels of inclusion, even within this group.
The drawbacks: a more inclusive fare may pay for benefits you would not choose separately. A British brand's lowest fare does not automatically cover drinks or internet. You still need to compare the ship, cabin and complete holiday price.
Our P&O fare and package guide explains its optional extras; the Saga guide explains its broader inclusions and eligibility. The Ambassador fare comparison gives another example of a British brand offering different levels of inclusion.
| If you care most about… | Compare this |
|---|---|
| Knowing the bill in advance | Exactly which spending the fare and package cover |
| Keeping the cost down | Fare plus only the extras you would buy |
| Dining and entertainment | What is available and included on the actual ship |
| Familiar payment arrangements | Onboard currency, daily tips and card costs |
| A convenient journey | Departure and return ports, plus transport or parking |
Keep an international option on your shortlist if you prefer its ship or itinerary after comparing the total. Choose a more inclusive British fare if you value its benefits and would rather arrange less separately. For the wider choice of British brands and departure options, use our British cruise-line comparison.
Example: what is still payable after booking?
One passenger has booked seven nights in a Celebrity Veranda cabin—a balcony cabin—with All Included. That fare option covers a drinks package and basic internet. Their booking does not include prepaid daily crew tips.
At the current standard-cabin rate of US$19.50 per person, per day, daily tips add US$136.50 per person over seven nights. For two passengers on the same basis, that is US$273.
| Item | What remains to pay? |
|---|---|
| Classic drinks package and Basic Wi-Fi | Already covered by All Included |
| Daily crew tips | Additional, on the assumptions above |
| Paid restaurants and excursions | Whatever this passenger chooses to buy |
| Travel to the port | Their actual transport, parking or hotel arrangements |
The rate comes from CruiseClarify's USD price data, backed by Celebrity's published policy. This is a budgeting example, not a cruise quote. Its sterling cost depends on the conversion and card terms.
With Princess Plus or Premier, daily crew tips are a package benefit. With a fare booked through MSC’s UK operation, the hotel service charge is already included. The same extra allowance would therefore count them twice.
Comparing two holidays? Write down the fare, packages and uncovered daily tips for each. Then add the optional spending and travel you would choose. Compare those totals.
Paying the bill and using onboard credit
Who converts a dollar bill into pounds?
The same US-dollar onboard bill can produce a different sterling charge depending on who converts it and what fees apply. This is about settling the ship’s bill with your card, not paying off your credit-card statement later.
If the line offers conversion into pounds, there are two ways to pay:
| Settlement choice | Who converts the bill? | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| The ship charges your card in US dollars | Your card issuer handles conversion under your card terms, often using the card network’s rate | Exchange rate and any foreign-currency fee |
| You accept a ship-arranged conversion into pounds, where offered | The cruise line’s payment provider converts before charging your card | Quoted sterling total, exchange rate and any markup; check for separate issuer fees too |
The second route is called dynamic currency conversion. Seeing a familiar pound amount does not mean it is cheaper. UK bank guidance says paying in the transaction currency will usually give a better rate than merchant conversion, but your card’s own fees still matter.
For a dollar-priced ship, ask to keep the card charge in US dollars unless you have compared a clearly disclosed sterling offer and prefer it. If conversion is offered, check both currency amounts, the rate and the markup. Visa says you should be allowed to decline its conversion option. For MSC’s published sterling Southampton accounts paid with a sterling card, there is no dollar-to-pound bill to convert.
The same choice is not confirmed for every line. Holland America explicitly says bills are paid in US dollars. For the other lines, ask what will be charged to your card when you register it, and check the final statement. The public information reviewed does not establish a current conversion option for every UK booking.
Keep the bill’s original currency separate from the currencies needed ashore. Payment evidence and limits.
Temporary card holds
A ship can reserve funds on your registered card before collecting the final bill. These authorisations reduce available credit or, on a debit card, the money available in your account. They are not necessarily additional purchases. Royal Caribbean's pending-authorisation explanation notes that holds can remain after the cruise.
Allow for the final payment while temporary holds remain. If a transaction is unclear, ask Guest Services to identify it before you leave.
Should you wait to spend onboard credit?
Onboard credit is money allocated to eligible purchases on the ship's account. Before waiting until boarding to buy a package, establish whether your particular credit can pay for it, whether the package will still be available, and whether its price changes. Ask how credit advertised in another currency will be applied; do not assume the same numerical amount transfers between currencies.
Compare the charge for everyone required to buy, across the whole cruise. The cheapest-looking daily rate is not enough if both cabinmates must take it and only one wants the benefits.
Before sailing: five things to find on your booking
- Fare and package names. Identify the benefits for every traveller, not just the person who made the booking.
- Daily crew tips. Look for included tips or a separate prepayment. Keep purchase service charges distinct.
- Account currency and conversion choice. Ask whether the card will be charged in dollars or converted pounds. Check the rate, fees and available funds for holds.
- Package conditions. Find the complete price, who must buy, the purchase deadline and any credit restrictions. Internet benefits also differ; our cruise Wi-Fi guide explains what to consider.
- The complete journey. Confirm departure and return ports. A sailing that finishes abroad may require a flight home.
Already booked? Use that list with your confirmation open. Ask the line or your agent about a specific missing item before buying more extras.
The verdict
Choose the ship and itinerary first, then compare what your preferred holiday will cost. A basic fare may suit you if you want few extras. A package may suit you if it covers spending you already want or makes the bill easier to plan.
The useful comparison is what remains payable after booking. Once that is clear, you can decide whether a British or international line offers the holiday you would most enjoy.
About this guide
Based on official information reviewed on 24 October 2026 and CruiseClarify's USD price data. The guide covers six selected international lines for UK passengers departing Southampton or Dover, including the published 2027 Dover programme. It is research, not a recent onboard review.
Official sources are grouped below. Rates, package versions and booking benefits can change; the spending example states its assumptions. Read our methodology.
Find the wider regional collection in International cruise guides.
Sources and policy checks
These are the official pages behind the guide, checked on 24 October 2026. The CruiseClarify guides linked above provide the next step for comparing holidays; the links below let you inspect the underlying policies.
MSC: onboard payments and currency, UK fare inclusions and drinks-package conditions.
Royal Caribbean: SeaPass account and USD pricing and gratuity policy.
Celebrity: UK All Included benefits, gratuity policy and rates and UK onboard FAQ, including short-cruise restrictions.
Norwegian: onboard payment information, UK package terms and service-charge FAQ. Regional redirects can change the edition displayed; use the UK terms for your booking.
Princess: payment information and Plus/Premier benefit comparison. UK purchase prices are not inferred from the US-dollar package tariff.
Holland America: 2027 Dover programme, USD pricing and settlement and current UK Have It All offer.
Ships and British alternatives: Freedom of the Seas facilities and Southampton season, MSC’s Virtuosa facility description at introduction, Arvia’s facilities and introduction year, P&O tip inclusion and Saga ocean-cruise inclusions.
Card conversion: Visa’s disclosure and choice rules, Mastercard’s rate and issuer-fee explanation, Lloyds on paying in sterling or the transaction currency and Royal Caribbean on temporary card holds. Current line-specific conversion options remain unconfirmed except for HAL’s explicit USD-settlement statement above. Cash-exchange services are not evidence of a credit-card conversion choice.