Choosing a cruise is much easier when you know what the final holiday will really cost, which is why comparing the best all-inclusive cruise lines for Brits matters more than simply chasing the cheapest advertised fare.
The problem is that “all-inclusive” means completely different things from one cruise line to another. One fare may include drinks and gratuities but leave you paying for WiFi. Another may bundle flights, transfers, excursions and speciality dining. A cheaper cruise can even become the more expensive holiday once you start adding packages.
For British cruisers, there is another wrinkle… the journey to the ship matters almost as much as what is included onboard. Flights, transfers, UK departures and simple pricing can be worth more than another luxury perk you may never use.
Here is how I would narrow the choices.
Table of Contents
Best All-Inclusive Cruise Lines for Brits at a Glance
| Cruise line | Best for | Inclusiveness |
| Marella Cruises | Mainstream value and simple fly-cruises | High |
| Saga Cruises | Over-50s wanting maximum simplicity | Very high |
| Regent Seven Seas | Luxury with extensive inclusions | Very high |
| Silversea | Luxury and premium onboard experience | Very high |
| Azamara | Smaller ships and destination-focused cruising | High |
| Virgin Voyages | Adults wanting included dining and WiFi | Medium-high |
| P&O Cruises | British-style cruising with optional bundles | Customizable |
| Fred. Olsen | Traditional smaller-ship cruising | Medium |
| MSC Cruises | Low starting prices with optional packages | Customizable |
Quick decision: If predictable mainstream holiday costs matter most, start with Marella. If you are over 50 and want much of the holiday organized around you, Saga deserves serious attention. If budget is secondary to having an unusually large number of extras included, look toward Regent or Silversea.
What “All-Inclusive” Really Means on a Cruise
Before comparing the best all-inclusive cruise lines for Brits, separate those included as standard from those available in a package.
That distinction is important.
A cruise line offering a low fare plus a drinks package, a WiFi package, and a dining package is not necessarily giving you the same experience as a line where those items are built into the fare from the beginning.
Look at the whole holiday:
- Drinks
- Gratuities or service charges
- WiFi
- Specialty dining
- Flights
- Airport-to-ship transfers
- Shore excursions
- Laundry
- Room service
- Premium beverages
- Travel to and from the UK port
My view is that the best value comes from inclusions you would actually have purchased anyway. Ten included extras mean very little if you only care about three of them.
That is one reason mainstream cruise lines require more homework when comparing prices. Drinks may be included in some fares but sold separately on others, making it harder to judge the real cost of a holiday. Before deciding whether an all-inclusive cruise offers better value, use our Cruise Drink Package Calculator to estimate whether a drinks package is worth the cost for your sailing.
9 Best All-Inclusive Cruise Lines for UK Travelers
1. Marella Cruises
Marella deserves to be near the top of any discussion about all-inclusive cruise options for Brits because the product is designed around British holidaymakers rather than simply being an international cruise marketed in Britain.
Standard Marella cruises include a broad selection of meals and drinks along with tips. Traditional fly-cruise holidays can also package the flights, luggage, and transfers that get you to the ship.
That last part is more important than it sounds. With many cruise lines, “all-inclusive” starts once you board. Marella can make the whole travel day feel more inclusive.
Best for: Couples and families who want predictable spending without moving into luxury-cruise pricing.
Skip it if you are looking for cutting-edge mega-ship attractions, ultra-luxury service, or unlimited access to every premium product onboard.
2. Saga Cruises
Saga takes a different approach. Instead of competing primarily on headline price, it builds convenience into the experience. Its ocean cruises are aimed at travellers aged 50 and over and include a particularly broad set of benefits.
Depending on the booking and eligibility conditions, these can extend beyond drinks and gratuities to WiFi, specialty dining, an included excursion in each port, and travel arrangements to the ship. For someone who values ease over getting the lowest possible fare, this matters.
Best for: Mature travelers who want a quieter, more organized experience and are willing to pay more upfront.
Skip it if you are under the age requirement, travelling with children, or mainly shopping for the lowest cost per night.
3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent is at the higher end of the cruise price range. Its fares cover many extras that you’d normally have to pay for separately on other cruise lines.
Drinks, speciality restaurants, gratuities, WiFi, and a wide range of shore excursions form part of Regent’s highly inclusive model. Certain fare choices can extend the package further into flights and transfers.
The key question is not whether Regent includes more… it generally does. The question is whether you would otherwise pay for those things.
Best for: Luxury travelers who want to stop thinking about individual onboard charges.
Skip it if: Your main goal is value, and you would happily skip premium drinks, excursions, and luxury service to save thousands on the holiday.
4. Silversea
Silversea is another strong candidate for people who want a refined experience rather than a resort-style ship packed with attractions.
Its inclusive fare structure generally puts dining, beverages, gratuities, and WiFi inside the package, with additional benefits depending on the fare and voyage type you choose.
That makes Silversea particularly interesting for travellers who would otherwise spend heavily on premium restaurants and drinks.
Best for: Couples prioritizing service, food, quieter surroundings, and destination-focused luxury.
Skip it if: Water slides, huge entertainment complexes, and family-focused attractions are a major part of why you cruise.
5. Azamara
Azamara is the one who cares more about where the ship goes than how many attractions are stacked onto its top deck.
The standard experience includes selected alcoholic beverages, gratuities, and dining, while its smaller-ship style puts more emphasis on destinations and longer periods ashore.
That creates an interesting value equation. You may receive fewer flashy onboard features, but you are paying for a cruise designed around exploration.
Best for: Couples and experienced cruisers who prioritize ports, smaller ships, and a calmer atmosphere.
Skip it if: You want a floating resort filled with major family attractions.
6. Virgin Voyages
Virgin is not a traditional alcohol-inclusive cruise line, so I would not pretend otherwise. But it still deserves comparison because several extras that often cost more elsewhere are built into the fare.
Dining across its regular restaurants, essential non-alcoholic drinks, WiFi, and group fitness are among its notable inclusions. Alcohol is generally purchased separately.
That makes Virgin especially interesting for people who care more about food and connectivity than unlimited alcoholic drinks.
Best for: Adults who want modern dining, an adults-only environment, and fewer everyday add-ons.
Skip it if: Unlimited alcoholic drinks are the main reason you want an all-inclusive cruise.
Virgin Voyages offers a different take on cruising, but its adults-only concept and unique onboard experience may not suit every British traveler. Before booking, read our guide to the reasons not to choose Virgin Voyages to see whether it matches your holiday preferences.
7. P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is not fully all inclusive by default because British passengers can create a more inclusive holiday using optional packages.
Its all-inclusive package options can combine popular extras such as drinks, WiFi, and dining credit on eligible cruises.
The advantage is flexibility. The disadvantage is that you need to compare the final bundled price, not the attractive cruise-only fare you saw first.
Best for: British cruisers who like P&O’s style but want to lock down more spending before departure.
Skip it if: You specifically want drinks and other major extras automatically included without doing package calculations.
8. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen appeals to a different cruiser than the giant resort ships.
Its fares include the essentials of cruising, with selected drinks around meals and gratuities included in the current fare structure, while broader drink choices can be purchased through an upgrade.
Best for: Travellers who appreciate smaller ships, traditional cruising and a British feel.
Skip it if: Your priority is getting the largest possible collection of unlimited extras.
9. MSC Cruises
MSC is worth comparing because its starting prices can be attractive, while optional drinks and connectivity packages let you make the holiday more inclusive.
But this is where price-sensitive cruisers need discipline. Do not compare a basic MSC fare directly with an all-inclusive Marella or luxury fare. Add everything you would realistically purchase first.
If drinks are your biggest uncertainty, use our Cruise Drink Package Calculator to estimate whether a drinks package is worth the extra cost for your cruise.
Best for: Deal hunters willing to compare packages carefully.
Skip it if: You want one price and minimal decisions after booking.
How to Choose the Best All-Inclusive Cruise Lines for Brits
Picking totally depends on what you actually spend money on.
For Price-Sensitive Cruisers
Compare the total holiday, not simply the cruise fare. For a tighter budget, Marella can be especially interesting because the value can extend into the travel arrangements as well as onboard drinks and tips.
MSC or P&O can also work… but only after you add the packages you genuinely expect to buy.
For Couples Who Want Quiet Luxury
Saga, Silversea, Azamara and Regent deserve closer attention.
The cruise lines that suit Brits seeking relaxation are often not the ships with the longest activity list. Smaller ships, fewer children and a calmer atmosphere may deliver more value than climbing walls or giant waterparks.
For Families
Marella is the most natural starting point among the best all-inclusive cruise lines for Brits travelling with children.
Before paying a large premium for inclusions, however, check whether your family will actually use them. Kids’ programming, entertainment and activities can vary by ship and sailing.
For People Who Hate Surprise Bills
Start with the genuinely inclusive lines rather than trying to assemble five separate packages.
Drinks, tips and other frequently used extras are generally already built into the fare, making these cruises ideal for Brits who hate monitoring onboard spending.
Door-to-ship costs can change the winner.
A Southampton departure could eliminate flights entirely. A fly-cruise package might bundle flights and transfers. A premium line might include lots onboard but still require more expensive positioning travel.
Compare your holiday from your front door until you arrive home. That is a much better measure than counting free cocktails.
FAQs About the best all-inclusive cruise lines for Brits
What are the best all-inclusive cruise lines for Brits overall?
Marella is a strong mainstream option, Saga offers extensive inclusions for eligible over-50s travellers, while Regent and Silversea sit at the luxury end. The right choice depends on how much you value drinks, WiFi, excursions, travel arrangements and premium service.
Are all-inclusive cruises really all inclusive?
Almost never in the literal sense. Spa treatments, certain premium drinks, retail purchases and some excursions or dining experiences can still cost extra. Always check the exact fare you are booking.
Is Marella genuinely all inclusive?
Marella includes meals, selected drinks and tips as standard, with fly-cruise holidays commonly bundling flights and transfers as well. Premium products and certain onboard experiences can still cost extra.
Which of the all-inclusive cruise lines for Brits is best for luxury?
Regent and Silversea are obvious luxury comparisons, while Saga offers a particularly inclusive British-focused experience for eligible travellers.
Which option is best for people who do not drink alcohol?
Do not automatically pay more for unlimited beverages. Virgin Voyages can be interesting because dining, WiFi and essential non-alcoholic drinks are included while alcohol is generally separate.
Is an all-inclusive cruise cheaper?
Not automatically. The all inclusive cruise lines can reduce surprise spending, but a basic fare may still cost less if you rarely drink, do not need WiFi and avoid speciality restaurants.
Should I buy a cruise based on the drinks package?
No. Drinks matter, but itinerary, cabin, ship atmosphere and travel costs can affect your holiday more. If you normally drink very little, paying extra for inclusivity may work against you.
Are P&O Cruises and MSC Cruises all inclusive?
Their standard cruise fares should not be treated the same as a genuinely all-inclusive luxury or mainstream fare. Optional packages can make the experience considerably more inclusive, so compare the completed package price.
Which of the all-inclusive cruise lines is easiest for first-time cruisers?
Marella is one of the easiest places to start because the product is built around the UK holiday market and many major holiday costs can be bundled together.
What should I check before booking?
Check drinks, gratuities, WiFi, speciality dining, flights, transfers and excursions separately. Then compare the total against a less-inclusive fare rather than assuming the cruise with more inclusions automatically offers better value.
Jim’s Take
When I compare the best all-inclusive cruise lines for Brits, I would not start by asking which line gives away the most stuff. I would start by asking which extras I normally pay for anyway.
That is the difference between genuine value and expensive inclusions disguised as savings.
Most of my firsthand cruising experience has been on Royal Caribbean, and drinks are a good example of why this matters. I have seen how dramatically the value equation changes depending on how much time you spend onboard, what you drink and whether convenience matters to you.
If it were me choosing for a straightforward British fly-cruise holiday, Marella would be one of my first comparisons. For a quieter, more premium experience, I would compare Saga, Azamara, Silversea and Regent according to budget and traveller fit.
The memorable takeaway is simple: the most inclusive cruise is not automatically the best-value cruise… the best one includes the things you would otherwise pay for.
Final Recommendation
Budgeting should decide your shortlist before the cruise line logo does, because the best all-inclusive cruise lines for Brits are the ones that remove the costs you personally care about.
Choose Marella when mainstream value, drinks and easier holiday logistics matter most. Consider Saga when you qualify and want a calmer British experience with extensive inclusions. Look at Regent or Silversea when premium service and a highly inclusive luxury holiday justify the higher fare.
And if P&O, MSC or another package-based cruise starts with a much cheaper price, do the maths before dismissing it. Add drinks, WiFi, gratuities, dining and travel costs you would genuinely purchase.
Compare final holiday cost against final holiday cost… not headline fare against headline fare. That is the smartest way to choose among the best all-inclusive cruise lines for Brits.
