Britannia
A distinct room category on this line, ask us exactly what it includes.
Home › Cruise lines › Cunard
Ocean linerCunard
Ocean-liner tradition and formal elegance.
☎Call now · +1-833-684-4250Compare lines
Compare Cunard with any other cruise line, and see who wins on what matters.
No more hopping between pages. Line them up on the money-and-complexity facts, gratuities, what's included, drink rules, cancellation, then one call gets you the best rate our partners can offer.
Call now · +1-833-684-4250
vs
Verified from official sources· checked Jul 18, 2026 96/96 facts verified from official sources
These differences add up. Call and we'll sort them for your trip.
☎Get your options, call nowCunard is best described as ocean liner. Ocean-liner tradition and formal elegance. Below is an independent, source-checked look at what actually matters before you book, and the money-and-complexity details worth a phone call.
Ocean liner
The facts that cost money
These are the details that quietly change your final bill and vary by fare, cabin and sailing. We verify each from its source and re-check every 30 days; anything not yet verified is shown as a gap rather than guessed.
| Daily gratuitiesA published service charge added to your onboard account each day | $19.00/day Queens & Princess Grill Suites; $18.00/day Britannia & Britannia Club (per person) |
|---|---|
| What's included vs. extraDining and entertainment vs. specialty dining, drinks, wifi, excursions | Included: main dining, buffet, gala nights, tea/coffee/juice/water, entertainment, enrichment (library, classes, gym, pools, kids' clubs). Extra: alcohol, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, spa. |
| Drink package ruleWhether all adults in the cabin must buy it | Yes, 'A World of Drinks' must be bought by all guests of legal drinking age (18+) in the stateroom (exceptions for pregnancy/medical). |
| Wi-FiIncluded, or tiered packages at extra cost | Paid Wi-Fi packages (the My Voyage app is free); Gold/Platinum/Diamond loyalty members receive complimentary Wi-Fi credit. |
| Deposit & final paymentWhen the balance is due before sailing | Balance due 90 days before departure for cruises ≤74 nights (current); 120 days for bookings from 10 Mar 2026 departing on/after 1 Dec 2026. (From Cunard's UK booking conditions, verify against US terms.) |
| Cancellation & refundsPenalty schedule as the sailing gets closer | Cruises ≤74 nights (current): 91+ days = deposit only; 90-57 = 50%; 56-42 = 60%; 41-16 = 75%; 15-6 = 90%; under 6 days = 100%. (Cunard UK booking conditions, verify against US terms.) |
| Refundable vs non-refundableFare/deposit types and what you forfeit | Most lines sell both a refundable-deposit fare and a lower non-refundable-deposit fare; a non-refundable deposit is forfeited if you cancel and change fees can apply. (General, fare types vary by sailing.) |
| Solo traveller supplementSingle supplement and whether solo cabins exist | A single supplement usually applies to solo travellers (roughly the cost of two fares); some ships offer dedicated solo cabins. Availability varies by ship and sailing, an advisor can find the solo-friendly options. |
| Kids, minimum age & clubsMinimum age to sail and kids-club age bands | Children's clubs from 6 months to 17; Play Zone 2-7; teens 13-17. |
| Onboard credit termsRefundable vs non-refundable onboard credit | Onboard credit comes from promotions or loyalty status, not the base fare. Refundable credit can be withdrawn as cash at the end of the sailing; non-refundable credit must be spent onboard. (General, amounts and terms vary by offer.) |
| Loyalty programmeProgramme name and how tiers work | Cunard World Club, Silver (1 voyage), Gold (2 voyages / 20 nights), Platinum (7 / 70), Diamond (15 / 150). |
| Travel documentsPassport vs birth certificate on closed-loop sailings | Passport strongly recommended. The specific closed-loop birth-certificate policy isn't published on a readable page, confirm before booking. |
These are exactly the details that surprise people at the pier and on the final bill. Call and we'll confirm every one for your ship, cabin and dates, and the best rate our partners can offer.
Call now · +1-833-684-4250At a glance
Founded1840
HeadquartersSouthampton, United Kingdom
Parent companyCarnival Corporation & plc
Ships in fleet4
Loyalty programmeCunard World Club
StyleClassic Luxury
Is this the right line for you?
✓ A strong fit for
- Travellers seeking genuine transatlantic crossings
- Lovers of formal dining and ballroom dancing
- Those who enjoy sea days over port days
- Couples and solo travellers wanting classic service
- Anyone who dislikes waterslides and deck parties
✕ Probably not for
- Families with young children
- Travellers who dislike dress codes
- Those wanting maximum port time
- Cruisers seeking casual, high-energy atmospheres
The fleet, class by class
Ocean liner class
Pinnacle class
Vista class class
Not sure which Cunard ship fits your trip? A specialist knows which ships sail where, and when.
Call now · +1-833-684-4250What's included, and what isn't
Included in your fare
- Main dining room, Set or flexible seating
- Buffet, Open most of the day
- Select casual venues
- Main theatre productions
- Pools and sports decks
- Fitness centre, Classes may carry a fee
- Kids club
- Water, drip coffee, tea, select juice
Costs extra
- Gratuities
- Alcohol, soda, speciality coffee, Packages available
- Speciality restaurants, Cover charge or à la carte
- Wi-fi, Tiered packages
- Shore excursions
- Spa and salon
- Casino and arcade
- Laundry and pressing
Choosing a cabin
Britannia Club
An enhanced category with upgraded perks and service, sitting between standard rooms and full suites.
Princess Grill
The top tier, more space and usually extra perks like priority boarding, a private lounge, sundeck or concierge service.
Queens Grill
The top tier, more space and usually extra perks like priority boarding, a private lounge, sundeck or concierge service.
The right cabin, and the numbers to avoid on each ship, is exactly what an advisor knows.
Call now · +1-833-684-4250Cruising with children
Kids clubThe Play Zone
Minimum sailing age6 months; 12 months for World Voyages, transatlantic crossings and longer/remote itineraries. Children under 16 must share a stateroom with a passenger aged 16+.
Travelling with kids? An advisor books connecting cabins, dining times and the right club, and finds the family deals.
Call now · +1-833-684-4250Accessibility
Tender ports can be difficult or impossible with a wheelchair or scooter; the line publishes guidance per itinerary
Where and when it sails
RegionsCaribbean, Europe, Transatlantic, World, World voyages
Typical lengths3 to 30+ nights, including transatlantic crossings and world voyages
Home ports:
New York, NY
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Miami, FL
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Quebec City, QC
Vancouver, BC
Victoria, BCWhat actually drives the cost
Cabin grade determines diningGrade sets your restaurant assignment, so the decision carries more weight than price alone suggests.
Crossing vs cruiseScheduled crossings price differently from cruise itineraries and often include one-way air considerations.
SeasonSummer crossings sail calmer seas; autumn and winter are rougher and priced accordingly.
Balcony valueLess useful on North Atlantic crossings where weather often keeps them closed.
Voyage lengthWorld voyage segments vary enormously by length and region.
What you add onGratuities, drinks, speciality dining and excursions change the total.
Prices move daily by ship, date and cabin. One call gets you the real number for your trip, and the best rate our partners can offer.
Call now · +1-833-684-4250Updates
Latest Cunard updates
No updates right now. Call and we'll confirm the latest policy from the source.
Questions people actually ask
What is a transatlantic crossing actually like?
Roughly a week of open ocean between New York and Southampton with no port calls. Days are filled with lectures, dancing, dining and the sea. Travellers either find it deeply restorative or extremely long, there's little middle ground.
How formal is it really?
More formal than any other mainstream line. Gala evenings carry real expectations and most passengers observe them enthusiastically. If dressing for dinner sounds like a burden, another line suits you better.
Does cabin grade really affect dining?
Yes, your cabin grade determines your restaurant assignment, with suite guests in separate dining rooms. This makes cabin choice more consequential here than on any other line.
Helpful guides
Free, factual reading to help you decide, then one call books it.
Choosing a cabinInterior to suite, what you get, what to watch for, and the cabins to avoid.Read guide →
What's includedThe gap between the fare and your final bill, explained plainly.Read guide →
Cruise gratuities explainedThe daily service charge, how it works, who it goes to, and how to plan for it.Read guide →
Find an affordable cruiseThe real levers that move the price, without the fake-deal gimmicks.Read guide →
Deposits, payment & cancellationThe booking timeline that keeps you in control of your money.Read guide →
Are drink packages worth it?How to tell, plus the whole-cabin rule that catches people out.Read guide →
Cruise Wi-Fi explainedPackages, tiers and what to realistically expect at sea.Read guide →
Refundable vs non-refundableWhich fare type fits your plans, and where insurance helps.Read guide →
Hidden cruise costsThe extras first-timers forget to budget for, in one checklist.Read guide →
How cruise pricing worksWhy fares vary, how lines price a sailing, and how to time it right.Read guide →
Onboard credit, explainedWhere it comes from, refundable vs not, and how to spend it well.Read guide →
Big ship vs small shipFloating resort or intimate vessel? How to pick the size that fits.Read guide →
How to choose a cruise lineMatch the line to how you travel, in three quick steps.Read guide →
Solo cruisingThe single supplement, solo cabins, and how to travel alone well.Read guide →
Groups & familiesConnecting cabins, kids' clubs, group dining and split payments, sorted.Read guide →
Accessible cruisingAccessible cabins, tendering, and what to confirm before you book.Read guide →Talk to a Cunard specialist
Free, no obligation, and we never take payment for travel.
We are an independent referral service. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, authorised by, or an agent of Cunard. Cunard and its ship names and logos are trademarks of their owner, used here descriptively only.