Quick answer: Yes, you can book Virgin Voyages in pounds sterling, and booking through a UK agent means you pay us in pounds with UK financial protection. Once you are on board, everything is charged in US dollars to the card you link to your account, including gratuities on newer bookings. Use a card with no foreign transaction fees, always choose to pay in dollars rather than pounds at the terminal, and you will keep onboard costs clear and fair.
“Do I pay in pounds?” “Are tips included?” Here is how it all works, from the deposit to the final bill on the last morning, plus how we budget ourselves.
Can you book Virgin Voyages in pounds?
Yes. Virgin Voyages accepts bookings in several currencies, including GBP, US dollars and euros. We’re a UK agency, so we book in pounds by default: your fare, deposit and final balance are all quoted and paid in pounds, with no surprises from exchange rates on the cruise itself. If you’re new to Virgin and would rather book in US dollars, we can do that too. Just contact us.
Your cruise fare is fixed in pounds once it is booked. What moves with the exchange rate is everything you spend on board, because that is all in dollars.
Deposits and final payment
We book our UK Sailors in pounds, and the terms are:
- Deposit: 20% of the voyage fare (excluding taxes and fees), paid at booking.
- Final balance: due 120 days before you sail.
- Booking within 120 days: you pay in full at the time of booking.
Some offers, such as pay-in-full promotions, change the rules, so we will always confirm the exact amounts and dates on your booking before you commit.
Already booked? If you booked direct with Virgin in pounds within the last 30 days, we can take the booking over for you. We can also take over unused My Next Virgin Voyage (MNVV) placeholders, as long as they weren’t bought in US dollars.
Booking with us doesn’t cost you more. You pay the same price as booking direct with Virgin, or less, and we add our bonus Sailor Loot (extra onboard credit) on top. If a lower price appears within 48 hours of booking, we can make Virgin’s price guarantee claim for you, and as long as you’re on an Essential fare or above, we can reprice your cruise later if a better offer comes out that gives you better value.
What’s included in your fare (and what isn’t)
Virgin’s fares are now sold as VoyageFair Choices: Base, Essential and Premium. Essential is closest to the old Virgin fare and is what most Sailors book. Our guide to VoyageFair Choices explains the differences.
Whichever fare you choose, all six restaurants are included, from The Wake to Gunbae and The Test Kitchen, along with soft drinks and group fitness classes. Every fare includes Wi-Fi, but the level depends on the fare: Base has basic Wi-Fi for one device, Essential has Virgin’s classic Wi-Fi, and Premium adds streaming-quality Wi-Fi on two devices. For the full picture, see is Virgin Voyages all-inclusive?
Gratuities are now extra on new bookings
Gratuities used to be included in every Virgin fare. That changed for bookings made from 7 October 2025, when Virgin introduced VoyageFair Choices. If you booked before then, your fare keeps its original inclusions.
For newer bookings, Virgin lists gratuities at:
| How you pay | Per Sailor, per night |
|---|---|
| Prepaid before you sail | US$20 |
| Added to your onboard account | US$22 |
So a couple on a 7-night sailing would pay US$280 if prepaid, or US$308 if added on board. Prepaying saves a little and means one less thing on your final bill, and when you book with us we can add prepaid gratuities to your booking in pounds. These are Virgin’s published rates (checked October 2026). No other tipping is expected on board.
Onboard currency: everything is in US dollars
Every ship uses US dollars, wherever it is sailing. That includes the Mediterranean, so you will see dollar prices even when the ship is in Europe. Drinks, spa treatments, Shore Things, speciality coffees and gratuities on board all post to your account in dollars.
It’s worth checking the Virgin Voyages app before you go, though. Ahead of our Pacific Coast sailing in September 2026, the app offered us a San Francisco Shore Thing to book before we sailed, priced in pounds and with a discount.
There is no currency exchange on board, so bring any dollar cash you want before you sail. There is an ATM on board that dispenses US dollars, but your bank may charge for using it.
How your onboard account works
- At check-in you link a payment card to your account in the Virgin Voyages app.
- When you board, Virgin places a US$250 hold on that card. How quickly it drops off depends on your bank.
- You tap your Band to pay for anything on board. You can watch your spending in the app throughout the trip.
- On the last day you receive your final folio by email, and the total is charged to your card as one transaction.
- If you would rather settle in cash, Sailor Services (Deck 5) accepts most major currencies, including US dollars, pounds sterling, Canadian dollars and New Zealand dollars.
Credit card, debit card or cash?
A credit card on file is the easiest option. Virgin simply pre-authorises the next amount as you spend, and you don’t have to think about it.
We prefer a debit card, so we stay in control of how much is held. Our tip (Virgin aren’t especially keen on it): choose a cash account at online check-in. Once on board, add your debit card and ask Sailor Services to pre-authorise a set amount. Virgin usually pre-authorises around $250 at a time, though we’ve known them take $100 at a time. We load and top up in those amounts when it runs out, rather than leaving a card open.
You can also pay cash onto your onboard account. Choose that option during check-in.
How we budget on board
We set a rough budget before we sail, using our own bar tab calculator to estimate drinks. Beyond that:
- Paid events: we usually spend about $200 between us per sailing (roughly $100 each). That’s typically one supper club and one or two paid activities, such as Plate Snap Eat or Boozy Bevvies, a painting session.
- Special sailings cost more. On the Festival of Senses food and drink voyage we spent more, because there was more we wanted to do.
- Casino: we don’t really play, but if we do, we set a limit and stick to it.
- Spa: we don’t use it ourselves, but it’s popular. Our spa prices guide helps you budget if it’s on your list.
The Bar Tab and onboard credit
Many offers include a Bar Tab (Virgin’s prepaid drinks credit) or onboard credit. Both are in dollars and are used automatically, with the Bar Tab spent before any onboard credit. Bar Tabs are individual unless a cabin shares one payment card.
Our bar tab calculator uses real onboard prices. As an example, on Valiant Lady in August 2026 the Loose Cannon was $15 as a cocktail and $11 as a zero-proof version. For the detail on how it all comes off your account, see how does the Bar Tab work on Virgin Voyages?
Card fees: how to avoid paying extra
Because your onboard bill is charged in dollars, your card provider converts it to pounds. Many UK debit and credit cards add a non-sterling transaction fee, often up to around 3% (2.99% is common), and some add a fixed fee per transaction too.
A few simple steps keep that cost down:
- Use a card with no foreign transaction fees. Several UK credit cards and app-based banks don’t charge for spending abroad. Check your own card’s terms before you link it.
- Always choose dollars, not pounds. If a terminal or website offers to charge you in pounds, say no. This is called dynamic currency conversion, and the rate is usually worse than your card’s.
- Check your card for cash withdrawal charges before using the onboard ATM or one in port.
- Keep your US$250 hold in mind if you are using a debit card, so it doesn’t eat into your spending money.
- Credit cards can add protection. Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, purchases between £100 and £30,000 on a UK credit card may be covered if something goes wrong.
Money in port
Most ports on Virgin’s routes take cards. In the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted. On Alaska sailings, everything in Alaska is in US dollars, and Canadian ports use Canadian dollars. In the Mediterranean you will need euros (or the local currency) ashore, even though the ship runs on dollars. A little cash for tips and small purchases is always handy.
Is my booking protected if I book from the UK?
Booking with a UK agent adds a layer of protection.
- Cruise only: our bookings are protected through our membership of Merlin Travel Group with PTS. Read more on our PTS protection page.
- Fly-cruise packages: when we book your flights and cruise together, the whole package is ATOL protected. If a supplier fails, you are covered.
You also get a UK point of contact in your own time zone, who answers in pounds and plain English, and who has sailed every Virgin ship.
FAQs
Can I pay for Virgin Voyages in pounds? Yes. Your cruise fare can be booked and paid in pounds sterling, especially when you book with a UK agent.
What currency is used on Virgin Voyages ships? US dollars, on every ship and every sailing, including the Mediterranean.
Are gratuities included on Virgin Voyages? Not for bookings made from 7 October 2025. Virgin lists them at US$20 per Sailor per night prepaid, or US$22 on board. Older bookings keep their original inclusions.
How much is the hold on my card when I board? Virgin places a US$250 hold on the card linked to your account. Release times depend on your bank.
Can I settle my onboard bill in cash? Yes. Choose a cash account at check-in, and Sailor Services accepts most major currencies, including US dollars and pounds sterling. We prefer a debit card with a set amount pre-authorised and topped up as we go.
How much should I budget for extras on board? It depends on you. As a guide, we spend about $200 between us per sailing on paid events, such as a supper club and a Boozy Bevvies painting session, plus drinks beyond our Bar Tab.
Should I pay in pounds or dollars on board? Dollars. Your card provider’s rate is usually better than a conversion offered at the till.
When is the final balance due? Usually 120 days before you sail. If you book inside that window, you pay in full at booking.
Plan it with us
We are Virgin Voyages Gold Tier First Mates with 100+ nights on board across all four ships, so we can tell you exactly what a week on board tends to cost and help you budget before you go. Book in pounds, with protection and a real person on the end of the phone. Call 07307 602030, email hello@magical-traveller.com, or contact us here.