Cheap Cruises Under £599 — Exceptional Value from the UK

What Can You Get for Under £599 pp* on a Cruise?

More than most people expect. Sailings priced below £599 pp* range from short coastal breaks of a night or two to voyages of up to 14 nights, and the cruise lines at this price point include Cunard, P&O Cruises, Ambassador Cruise Line and MSC Cruises — not just the budget end of the market. The majority depart from UK ports, so for most British travellers the cruise begins the moment you board, with no flights involved. Browse the full range of cruises available from Cruise1st and filter by budget to see what fits.

Where Do Cheap Cruises from the UK Go?

The majority of sailings at this price point stay close to home — and that is a genuine advantage. Cruising around England and the wider British Isles means you step aboard at a port a few hours from most UK cities and spend your days at sea or visiting ports you might never otherwise reach by land. These England sailings make up the largest share of what is, and they suit anyone who wants a proper break without the complexity of international travel.

For those who want to venture further, there is a smaller but appealing selection of transatlantic crossings — primarily the classic Atlantic passage, which ends (or begins) in New York. One-way transatlantic sailings do require a flight for one leg of the journey, and Cruise1st can book that flight, along with any hotels either side and transfers, so the whole trip is on one booking. A handful of sailings also head into the Western Mediterranean.

There are also sailings around the British Isles and Scotland — quieter itineraries that suit experienced cruisers looking for something different closer to home.

Which Ports Do These Sailings Leave From?

Southampton is the dominant departure port at this price, with the widest range of ships and departure dates. It is reachable from most of England by road or rail in a few hours, and many cruisers find it easier than any airport.

Sailings also depart from Tilbury, which is London’s own cruise terminal on the Thames — worth knowing if you are based in or around the capital. Some sailings leave from London itself (Tilbury, and occasionally other London-area berths), but Southampton is a short journey away and has a far wider choice of itineraries and ships.

Other departure points include Newcastle upon Tyne, Portsmouth and Bristol — useful if you are further north or in the west of England. A small number of sailings start from Belfast.

Which Cruise Lines Have Cheap Sailings Under £599 pp*?

The range of lines at this budget is broader than you might expect. Here is who is sailing and what makes each one worth considering:

Ambassador Cruise Line

Ambassador leads the volume at this price, with two ships — Ambition and Ambience — offering a notably intimate atmosphere compared with the mega-ships. Both carry around 1,200–1,400 guests, which means shorter queues, more personal service and a genuinely relaxed pace on board. Itineraries range widely around Europe and beyond.

Cunard

Cunard’s sailings under £599 pp* are among the most remarkable value on the market at this price point. The fleet’s reputation for White Star Service, formal dining and a genuine ocean-liner atmosphere means you are not compromising on quality to stay within budget — you are simply booking smart. Cunard offers several fare tiers: the flexible Cunard Fare gives you a choice of stateroom, a low 15% deposit, the ability to amend before the balance date, and complimentary shuttle buses at ports. The Saver Fare delivers the lowest possible price in exchange for a pre-allocated stateroom and full payment on booking — ideal if you are flexible on cabin location and want to spend as little as possible. If you want last-minute Cunard deals, Cunard last-minute fares are worth checking regularly.

P&O Cruises

P&O brings a broad selection of sailings from Southampton, making it one of the easiest choices logistically for British travellers. If you are considering P&O and want to watch for reductions, P&O last-minute deals are updated regularly and can bring prices down further.

MSC Cruises

MSC offers a Mediterranean flavour in service and food, with ships sailing from Southampton. MSC Cruises from Southampton cover a range of durations, and MSC last-minute fares regularly appear within this budget.

Royal Caribbean

A smaller number of Royal Caribbean sailings fall within this budget. Fare types include last-minute offers and standard cruise fares — worth checking if you have flexibility on dates. Royal Caribbean also offers fare types such as early booking bonuses and single/solo fares for those sailing alone.

Cruise1st Packages

A small selection of sailings are listed as Cruise1st Packages — cruise-inclusive deals that bundle flights, hotels, transfers and the cruise itself into a single price. These are built by our own team and are a straightforward way to travel to a fly-cruise departure without arranging each component separately.

The Ships Sailing at This Price

Ambassador Cruise Line: Ambition

Ambition carries around 1,200 guests — small enough that you will recognise fellow passengers by day two. Five dining venues mean you are not limited to one restaurant every evening, and the itineraries reach well beyond the UK. Cabin grades on Ambition run from compact entry-level inside cabins through to a 47 m² suite with private balcony:

• Inside Cabin (INS07AFT) — approximately 10 m², sleeps up to 4; the most budget-friendly option for those who plan to spend their time on deck or ashore
• Ocean View Cabin (OUT08MIDS) — approximately 10 m² with a sea-view window; natural light without the balcony price
• Balcony Cabin (BAL09AFT) — 15 m² with your own private outdoor space; the step up that most regular cruisers say they would not go without
• Suite (PRM07AFT) — 47 m², sleeps up to 4; considerably more living space and privacy than any standard grade

Ambassador Cruise Line: Ambience

Ambience carries around 1,400 guests and is known for its Alfresco Grill — outdoor dining while under way, which changes the feel of a meal entirely. All cabins are spacious and fitted with modern amenities. Ambience cabins and deck plans give you the full layout before you book. Grades run as follows:

• Inside Cabin (INS05FWD) — 18 m², centrally located on Deck 5 with easy access to lifts and the main facilities
• Ocean View Cabin (OUT04FWDS) — 18 m² with an unobstructed sea-view window; brighter and airier than an inside cabin at a modest step up in price
• Balcony Cabin (BAL10AFT) — 21 m² with a private balcony and seating; your own outdoor space without crossing public decks
• De-Luxe Suite (DLX11FWD) — 52 m² with a private balcony; substantially larger than any standard grade, with exclusive suite benefits included

Cunard: Queen Anne

Queen Anne launched in 2024, completing Cunard’s four-Queens fleet with Art Deco interiors and the White Star Service the line is famous for. The Mareel Wellness Spa occupies an entire upper deck — a Himalayan Salt Sauna, cold therapy room, hydrotherapy pool and a glass-domed Pavilion pool venue sit alongside each other in a way that makes a sea day feel actively restorative. Fifteen restaurants include Sir Samuel’s steakhouse, Aji Wa Japanese dining, and The Golden Lion pub, where Michelin-starred chef Michael Roux has put his name to the menu. See the full range of Queen Anne cabins and deck plans. Key grades:

• Britannia Inside Cabin (IA) — 13.7 m², with a dedicated cabin steward available around the clock and daily turndown service
• Britannia Deluxe Ocean-View Cabin (EA) — 21.9 m², with a separate seating area; around 3 m² more than a standard ocean-view cabin
• Britannia Club Balcony Cabin (A1) — 21.9 m² with exclusive access to the Britannia Club Restaurant, where you have a reserved table for the voyage
• Queens Grill Grand Suite (Q1) — 133.8 m², the largest suite category on board and more than twice the size of the Master Suite

Cunard: Queen Mary 2

Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only ocean liner — built specifically for the North Atlantic crossing, not adapted from a cruise ship design. That distinction shows in how she handles a sea, and it is what makes the transatlantic passage on QM2 a different experience from any other voyage. She carries the first planetarium at sea: Illuminations hosts stargazing shows alongside cinema screenings, concerts and lectures. Six speciality restaurants, a Royal Court Theatre with West End-calibre productions, and nightly ballroom dancing in the Queens Room complete the picture. See Queen Mary 2 cabins and deck plans for the full breakdown.

P&O Cruises: Ventura

Christened by Dame Helen Mirren, Ventura has sailed from Southampton since 2008, and more than 60% of her cabins have balconies — a higher proportion than many ships of her era. The Glass House by Olly Smith, Sindhu’s British-Indian fusion kitchen, and The Epicurean all sit alongside the main dining room, giving you genuine variety across a sailing. The Arena Theatre delivers West End-style shows nightly, and the Havana late-night club keeps the evening running for those who want it. Check Ventura’s cabins and deck plans to find the grade that suits you.

P&O’s Britannia also sails at this price point. Britannia’s cabins and deck plans are worth reviewing if you are deciding between the two P&O ships — the layouts and grade choices differ in ways that can matter depending on where you prefer to be on the ship.

MSC Cruises: MSC Preziosa

Preziosa’s Swarovski crystal staircases and cobbled Italian piazza set the tone in the public spaces — this is a ship designed to be looked at as well as sailed on. Vertigo, one of the longest waterslides at sea, sits alongside a 4D cinema, an F1 simulator, a Platinum Theatre and a bowling alley. At the quieter end, MSC Yacht Club delivers butler service, a private pool deck and exclusive dining for guests who want to step away from the crowd. Starlink Wi-Fi runs throughout the ship. Explore MSC Preziosa cabins and deck plans before you choose a grade.

Queen Victoria and Arcadia

Cunard’s Queen Victoria and P&O’s Arcadia also appear among the sailings at this price. See Queen Victoria cabins and deck plans and Arcadia cabins and deck plans for the detail on each.

How Much Is a Cruise from the UK?

The lowest price among sailings in this collection starts from £117 pp*, which reflects a short sailing in an inside cabin. Prices rise as the itinerary lengthens, the cabin grade improves and the departure date approaches peak periods. The median sailing here runs to around 4 nights — long enough to genuinely unwind, short enough to fit into a week’s annual leave with days to spare.

Reductions do appear. On the sailings measured, discounts reach up to 36% on one departure — though that is the maximum on a single sailing, and most reductions are closer to 4% off that cabin’s previous listed price. It is worth checking regularly, as availability and pricing shift.

If all-inclusive pricing is important to you, a small number of sailings in this collection include drinks and meals in the headline fare. For a wider selection, cheap all-inclusive cruises from Southampton and the broader cheap all-inclusive cruise deals page cover more options.

Can I Book a Cruise Package — with Flights and Hotels Included?

Yes. Cruise1st is a cruise specialist, not a general travel agent, and that means our team can put together a complete holiday around any sailing here. Flights, hotels before or after the cruise, transfers between airport and port, tours, train travel and insurance can all be added to your booking as a bundle or a custom arrangement. Cruise1st Packages bring these elements together under one price — useful if you are boarding at a port overseas and want everything confirmed in one go.

For sailings that end in a different port from where they started — a one-way transatlantic, for instance — you will need to arrange a return leg. Our team can book that flight and any hotel either side at the same time, so nothing is left hanging.

Short Cruises and Mini Breaks at This Price

Not every cruise has to be a week or more. Some of the sailings here run to just a few nights — long enough to experience life at sea, visit a port or two, and come home genuinely refreshed. Short cruises from the UK cover this territory in more detail, and if Southampton is your preferred port, 3-day mini cruises from Southampton are a popular entry point. For 2026 specifically, mini cruises 2026 from the UK lists what is available across the year.

Cruises Around the British Isles

If you want to explore closer to home, cheap cruises around the British Isles bring together itineraries that call at ports around England, Scotland and the wider UK coastline. These sailings suit travellers who want the comfort and convenience of a ship without venturing abroad — and at this price, they represent some of the most accessible cruising available.

Cruise Deals UK: How to Find the Right One

With several cruise lines, multiple ships and a range of durations, the choice can feel wide. The simplest approach is to start with your departure port — Southampton if you are in the south of England, Newcastle if you are in the north — and then look at which lines and ships depart from there. From that shortlist, cabin grade matters: an inside cabin is the most affordable option, while a balcony cabin changes the experience considerably for a moderate step up. Our experts can walk you through the trade-offs. If you want to keep an eye on cheap last-minute cruise deals as they come up, that page is updated as availability changes.

For a wider search without the price ceiling, all cruises from the UK gives you the full picture — including longer sailings and premium grades that sit above £599 pp*. If your budget stretches a little further, cruises under £699 pp* broadens the selection meaningfully.

What About Cruise Deals in September?

If you are planning ahead for autumn, cruise deals in September 2026 highlights what is available for that month specifically — useful if you have a departure window in mind and want to compare what is on offer before committing.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.