What is included in Cunard cruise fare (UK 2026)?
Cruise Advisor planning guide. Verify changing prices, policies and itineraries with the relevant provider before booking.
If you’re pricing up a voyage with Cunard, the key question is simple: what is included in Cunard cruise fare — and what will you need to budget on top? In 2026, Cunard’s base fare for UK bookings still buys a classic ocean experience with your stateroom or suite and substantial dining in the main venues. However, it’s not an all‑inclusive package. Drinks, Wi‑Fi, the hotel service charge and some speciality options remain extra and should be planned for before you pay the balance. This guide uses Cunard’s own UK pages (accessed 21 October 2026) to outline inclusions and extras, then helps you choose between Cunard Fare and Saver options without confusing booking benefits with onboard inclusions. For a wider comparison across lines, see our UK hub: What Is Included in a Cruise Fare? What Is Included in a Cruise Fare UK.
Your Cunard fare includes your stateroom or suite plus breakfast, lunch and dinner in your allocated main dining venue, buffet dining, at least one Gala Evening menu in the main restaurant, Afternoon Tea, Golden Lion pub fare and a complimentary breakfast‑in‑bed menu. Children’s clubs are also included. It does not include the daily hotel service charge, Wi‑Fi, drinks or beverage packages, most alternative dining cover charges, wine‑tasting classes, shore experiences, or required UK travel insurance. Fare type (Cunard Fare vs Saver) changes booking benefits and flexibility, not the core onboard inclusions.
Cunard sets out a solid core that’s part of every voyage, regardless of whether you sail for a long voyage or a short break. According to Cunard’s UK inclusions and dining pages, your fare includes: - Your stateroom or suite accommodation, assigned to a main dining grade (Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill or Queens Grill) depending on what you book. - Breakfast, lunch and dinner in your allocated main dining venue, plus buffet dining. This is the foundational meal coverage on every day at sea and in port. - At least one Gala Evening per cruise with a celebratory multi‑course menu in the main dining room. Cunard highlights up to five courses with touches like amuse‑bouche and petit fours. - Afternoon Tea, which Cunard describes as included. - Golden Lion pub fare, which Cunard’s dining guide lists as included. - A complimentary breakfast‑in‑bed menu available to all staterooms. Note that beyond this specific complimentary breakfast selection, room‑service terms differ by accommodation grade (explained below). - Children’s clubs and activities for ages from six months up to 17 years, with age‑grouped programming (Cunard names groups for 2–7, 8–12 and 13–17). Important boundaries to remember: - Alternative dining venues and certain experiences may carry a cover charge or require a deposit that is redeemed against your final bill; availability and prices vary by ship and voyage. Do not assume all restaurants are included—check your itinerary and vessel. - Cunard can accommodate many dietary requirements (including vegetarian and vegan) when notified in advance; always confirm via My Cunard or your agent before you sail. Editorial view: For many UK travellers, this core covers the heart of the ocean‑liner experience without needing daily add‑ons. Where costs can creep in is drinks, Wi‑Fi and speciality options—so plan these consciously rather than drifting into onboard spend.
To avoid surprises, treat the following as separate budget lines unless your specific booking states otherwise: - Hotel service charge: Cunard currently shows a per‑person, per‑day amount added automatically to your onboard account (see the dedicated section below). This is not part of the advertised fare. - Wi‑Fi: Internet access is sold as optional Essential or Premium plans by day or by voyage. You can access Cunard’s My Voyage planner on the ship’s network without a plan, but that is not general internet. - Drinks and packages: Everyday beverages and any beverage package are optional purchases or may be bundled only if you add a Signature Package. - Alternative dining: Some venues and experiences have a cover charge or require a deposit redeemed against the bill; check your ship and time. - Room service beyond the complimentary breakfast‑in‑bed menu: Britannia stateroom room service has additional charges; Britannia Club and Grill Suites receive dishes complimentary unless otherwise stated. - Wine experiences: Cunard lists tastings and classes as chargeable, bookable in My Cunard. - Shore Experiences: Tours are paid extras; Cunard says pre‑booking via My Cunard can save 10% versus booking onboard. - Travel insurance: For UK bookings, suitable insurance is mandatory and a guest without it may be denied boarding. - Travel to the terminal, passports/visas and any entry requirements: These remain your responsibility to arrange and pay for. Availability, pricing and policies can vary by ship, voyage and stateroom grade. Always verify the latest details in your booking and on Cunard’s official pages before you sail.
Cunard sells two optional Wi‑Fi plans—Essential and Premium—available by day or for your whole voyage, which you can purchase in My Cunard before sailing or once onboard. A few key points to shape your decision: - Access to My Voyage, Cunard’s digital planner for onboard services, does not require a paid internet plan. You can connect to the ship’s Wi‑Fi to use My Voyage at no charge. - A purchased plan is limited to one device at a time per plan. If you want to use multiple devices simultaneously, you’ll need multiple plans. - Connection performance and plan pricing can vary by voyage and ship, so review your specific sailing in My Cunard. Editorial advice: Decide whether you truly need full‑time connectivity, or whether occasional check‑ins will do. For a deeper look at whether paid ship Wi‑Fi is worth it, see Cruise Ship Wi‑Fi: Is It Worth It?.
Official sources
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