cunard line world cruise

• CruiseMapper
• Cruise Lines

History, Review, Itineraries, Ships, Deck Plans, News

•   Fleet
•   Review
•   Itinerary
•   News

Cunard fleet

Queen elizabeth, queen victoria, queen mary 2, review of cunard.

Cunard Line (cunard.co.uk) is a British-American cruise shipping company and travel brand operated by Carnival UK and since 2005 owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Cunard is headquartered in Southampton (England UK) and is among the world's oldest passenger shipping companies . In 2020 was celebrated company's 180th anniversary. Australia is Cunard's 3rd source market (following the UK and North America) and the company's 2nd (after the UK) for Around The World voyages .

Company History

In 1839, Samuel Cunard (1787-1865, shipping magnate from Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada) was awarded the first British transatlantic steamship mail contract. In 1840, he and Robert Napier (Scottish steamship engine designer and builder) formed the "British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company". The "cruise line" operated four paddle steamers on the UK-Canada-USA Transatlantic route Liverpool - Halifax - Boston .

Cunard Line's current President is Katie McAlister (previously employed by TUI UK & Ireland as CMO/Chief Marketing Officer, with TUI since 1998), who in August 2023 succeeded Simon Palethorpe. Carnival UK's current President is Paul Ludlow, while Carnival UK's CEO is David Dingle (managing both P&O UK and Cunard).

In the 1870s the line fell behind its rivals, White Star and Inman Line. To meet the competition, in 1879 Cunard was reorganized into Cunard Steamship Company, Ltd in order to raise capital. In 1902 the British Government provided the line with substantial loans and subsidies to build a couple of superliners needed to retain Cunard's competitive position. In the late 1920s, Cunard faced another competition when the Italians, French and Germans built large ocean liners.

Because of the USA's Great Depression (1929-33), the company was forced to suspend the construction on its new superliner. In 1934, Cunard was offered loans by the British Government to finish Queen Mary and to build its second ship, Queen Elizabeth. The condition was for Cunard to merge with the White Star Line and form Cunard-White Star Ltd. Cunard purchased White Star's 1/3rd shares in 1947. The company's name was changed to "Cunard Line" in 1950.

Cunard regained its position as the biggest Atlantic passenger line upon the end of World War II. By the mid-1950s, the line operated 12 ships to Canada and the United States. After 1958, trans-Atlantic liners became increasingly unprofitable due to the introduction of jet airliners. In 1968 Cunard Line withdrew from year-round service to concentrate on cruising and summer transatlantic sailings for vacationers. The Queens were replaced by QE2 (Queen Elizabeth 2), which was designed for her special dual role.

In 1998, Carnival Corporation acquired Cunard. In 2003, RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 was replaced on its Transatlantic service by QM2 (RMS Queen Mary 2). The company also operates MS Queen Elizabeth (QE) and Queen Victoria (QV). Currently, Cunard is the only shipping company operating a scheduled passenger service between North America and Europe.

With the opening of Carnival House in 2009 in Southampton, executive control of Cunard was subsequently transferred from Carnival Corp. in the US, to Carnival UK, a primary operating company of Carnival plc. Carnival plc, as the UK-listed holding company of Carnival Group, had executive control of all activities of the group in the UK, with headquarters of all UK-based brands, including Cunard Line, in offices at Carnival House.

The 36-year-old Queen Elizabeth 2 was replaced in 2004 on the North Atlantic by QM2 (Queen Mary 2). QE2 continued cruising until her retirement in 2008. Cunard added a big cruise ship, Queen Victoria (QV) in 2007. QV is not a sister for QM2, being ordered as a Vista-class cruise ship by Carnival for Holland America Line (HAL). To reinforce the traditions of Cunard, Queen Victoria has a small museum onboard. In 2010 Cunard Line commissioned a 2nd Vista-class cruise ship, Queen Elizabeth.

In 2011 the three Cunard vessels in service changed their ship registry to Hamilton, Bermuda. For the first time in the company's 171-year history, it had no ships registered in the UK. The captains of cruise ships registered in Bermuda can marry couples at sea.

On May 25, 2015, the three Cunard ocean liners - RMS Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth - sailed down the Mersey into Liverpool and commemorated the 175th anniversary of Cunard. As The Red Arrows performed a flypast, the trio performed exciting manoeuvers including 180-degree turns.

In 2015, Cunard Line was awarded best in the categories "Transatlantic Itineraries" and "World Cruise Itineraries" of Porthole Cruise Magazine's Readers' Choice Awards. The magazine's readers participate in an annual contest that evaluates the world's largest cruise shipping companies and determines the industry's leaders in several categories.

Cunard Line inaugurated the company's ever first regularly scheduled Transatlantic Crossing in 1840 with RMS Britannia. Cunard launched its first World Cruise itinerary in 1922 with RMS Laconia.

In 2020, Cunard Line celebrated its 180th Anniversary. The company planned a special sale on voyages between July 2020-May 2022 fleetwide. The "180th Anniversary Sale" was offered on cruises booked in 2020 (new bookings only, made between February 28-May 18). The promo applied to various itineraries, including Alaskan and Transatlantic Crossings. The promo offered 50% reduced deposit, US$180 pp in OBC (onboard credit with balcony cabin bookings), free drinks package, free gratuities (Grill Suite bookings).

In 2022, Cunard will mark its 100th World Voyage. The first was launched in 1922 when was chartered RMS Laconia (1921-1942) to sail the first continuous world circumnavigation cruise (130-day itinerary with 22 ports).

On March 9, 2023 (International DJ Day), Cunard introduced fleetwide "silent discos" (on selected evenings) which are hosted in the ships' nightclubs. To each of the venues was also added a live DJ and a party band. The "silent disco" is a customizable experience (first introduced on river cruise ships) based on wireless headphones for listening to the music played. It allows each person to switch between songs/music genres and also to control the volume.

New ship 2024

At the end of September 2017, Cunard Line officially announced the planned addition of a 4th vessel to its fleet. The investment is part of the shipowner Carnival Corporation 's fleet expansion program, adding newbuilds to the fleets of the brand companies AIDA , Costa , Princess , P&O .

Cunard's shipbuilding contract (MoA/memorandum of agreement) with Fincantieri was signed on Sept 25, 2017. The new Cunard liner MS Queen Anne (entering service in 2024-Q1) has GT-tonnage 113,000 tons (volume), max passenger capacity 3000, and is Cunard's 249th vessel since the company's establishment in 1839.

The liner was originally planned to enter service in 2022, but, due to the health crisis, was eventually postponed for 2024-Q1.

Cunard Line's cruising experience

Discerning, well-traveled British and American couples from their late 30s to retirees are drawn to the traditional style of Cunard and the notion of "a cruise aboard an ocean liner". Announcements are made in English, French, German, and, on occasion, Spanish. Travelers are older than those on crossings. However, there is enough buzz about Cunard Line as to attract a number of young passengers and families. The Kid Zone features a splash pool and a dedicated play area for kids ages one to six. Separate programs are reserved for older ages (7 to 12) and teens up to 17. Activities range from games to educational computer classes. Kids can practice social graces when served their Afternoon Teatime goodies. English nannies supervise the toddlers. Facilities are operated until midnight and group babysitting is complimentary. Infants under 12 months are not permitted. Kids ages 1 to 2 sail free (except for government fees).

The dress code on Cunard ships rotates among formal, informal and casual in about equal proportion. Typical for Cunard cruises are the glamorous evenings. Resort casual clothing prevails during the day, but Cunard's liners are dressier than most cruise vessels at night. To maintain high standards, the company requests its customers to dress for dining in fine restaurants.

Dining aboard Cunard ships is by class and dining-room assignments are made in accordance with the booked accommodation category. You can get as much luxury as you wish to pay for on Cunard liners. Passengers in ships' Junior suites are assigned to single-seating Princess Grill. Queen's Grill serves those booked in duplex apartments and the most lavish suites. The rest of the passengers are assigned to seating in the multideck Britannia Restaurant or Britannia Club Restaurant on QE.

Although Britannia's fare is reasonably traditional and frequently outstanding, off-menu requests by Grill guests are commonly granted. Menus also include low-calorie and vegetarian selections.

The most coveted reservations are those on Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 in the restaurants named for Todd English, celebrity American chef noted for his sumptuous desserts and innovative Mediterranean cuisine. Both dinner ($30 cover charge per person) and lunch ($20) are offered in this intimate restaurant.

Aboard QM2, Chef's Galley is a small restaurant, where guests can look on as their food is prepared in an open kitchen setting. Wine is the only item to be charged here. King's Court buffet is transformed into 3 no-charge alternative dining spots each evening: La Piazza is dedicated to Italian dishes (pizza, pasta). The Carvery is for carved meats, Lotus is for Asian food.

Cunard entertainment has English flavor, with cabaret-style performances, plays and nightly production shows. An authentic pub gives cruisers even more British air. Music for listening and dancing is played in other lounges and bars. In the first-ever shipboard planetarium aboard Queen Mary 2, virtual-reality shows and high-tech presentations offer a virtual ride through space.

Cunard's enrichment programs include expert lectures by top designers, artists, and master chefs. Even navigation and seamanship courses are offered to inspire novice mariners.

Jogging tracks, swimming pools, table tennis, paddle tennis court, golf driving ranges and shuffleboard barely scratch the surface of facilities dedicated to recreation. Cunard fitness centers are top-quality and boast high-tech workout equipment, a separate gym/weight room and classes ranging from healthy living workshops to aerobics.

The Canyon Ranch Spa Club aboard Queen Mary 2 is a one-of-a-kind facility offering salon services, including such famous land-based spa signatures like the 80-minute Canyon Stone Massage. A large 30- by 15-foot thalassotherapy pool has a deluge waterfall, neck fountains, air tub, recliner lounges and massage-jet benches located in the pool. The thermal suite features an aromatic steam room, Finnish sauna, herbal sauna, and reflexology basins. All of these special features are complimentary with a body or massage treatment; otherwise, a per-day charge is applied.

Shipboard policies

Pregnant women must have a letter from their doctor or midwife. They can't travel with Cunard Line after the 24th week of pregnancy. Kids under 12 months old are also not permitted. Kids between 12 and 24 months old travel free as 3rd or 4th person in the stateroom. A child sharing a cabin with 1 adult is charged an adult fare. Children (over 2 years of age) sharing a stateroom with 2 adults are charged as 3rd or 4th person (around half the normal fare).

A toddler-dedicated nursery is staffed by professional young nannies, and available for kids between 1 and 3 yo.

The dedicated "Play Zone" is for kids ages between 4 and 6. "The Zone" is for children up to 17 yo. Kids between 1 and 7 years old are allowed in Play Zone (free of charge) during its opening hours - 9 am-12noon, 2-5 pm, 6 pm-12midnight. Children 1 to 7 yo must be accompanied by an adult outside the Play Zone. Children 8 to 17-year-old can sign themselves in and out Play Zone and are free to wander solo throughout the ship.

Billed to the adult's onboard account is everything available for purchase on the boat - bar drinks, Internet access, shopping, spa and beauty treatments. The cabin card's total is deducted from your credit card at the end of the voyage. Bar prices have 15% gratuity (added automatically).

Mobile phone calls and Internet access are available onboard. The Internet has good download speed and is available in all public areas (including bars) and all staterooms.

Pay-per-item laundry service is available on the ship. Laundry items are collected from staterooms by cabin stewards. On all cabin decks are available small self-service (free-of-charge) laundrettes.

Cunard ships don't have baggage limits (as a number of bags). However, there is a weight limit per bag. Individual bags must not exceed 23 kg (51 pounds). Upon boarding, bags are taken at the cruise terminal and delivered to staterooms. Upon debarkation, they are transferred ashore.

Wine cruises

Since January 2017, Cunard offers shipboard wine-themed education courses via a partnership with the world's largest provider of wine and spirits qualifications WSET ("Wine and Spirit Education Trust"). WSET courses were initially available only on QM2's westbound Transatlantic crossings and world cruises, but were later offered fleetwide and on all voyages.

The 5-day course gives WSET Level 1 in wines and covers the basics (wine types, styles, sight, smell, taste, storing, serving, food pairing). The 12-day course gives WSET Level 2 in wines and spirits and explores grape varieties, styles of wines, produce, wine regions, classifications, labeling terminology, categories of spirits and liqueurs.

Classes are led by professional sommeliers and educators from Cunard Wine Academy. Each course finishes with an exam. In addition to the globally recognized WSET qualification certificates, passengers also receive lapel pins.

The first wine cruise was the Atlantic crossing Southampton-NYC (December 15, 2016). The first world cruise with WSET courses was on QM2 (January 10, 2017).

WSET's qualification program is offered to enthusiasts and wine professionals. It ranges from Level 1 Award (Wines, Spirits, and Sake) to Level 4 Diploma (Wines and Spirits).

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, Cunard Line canceled all cruises with pre-scheduled departures between March 14, 2020, and August 2021.

Following a 17-month break, passenger shipping operations resumed in 2021 with the liners QUEEN ELIZABETH (August 13/UK from Southampton/since October 13 - Canary Islands and Iberia), QUEEN MARY 2 (Dec 10/Southampton/follows Caribbean January thru April 2022), QUEEN VICTORIA ( June 5, 2022 /Europe-Mediterranean).

Cunard introduced an expanded cancellation policy. All bookings were given the option to cancel up to 48 hours (prior departure) without penalties.

All affected bookings received a 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) transferred to a booking made before December 31, 2021.

Itinerary of Cunard

NEWS: In 2024-Q1, the Cunard fleet enters the newbuild Queen Anne . Itineraries and bookings on the new liner's voyages are currently planned to open in May 2022.

Transatlantic crossings with RMS Queen Mary 2 attract British and American passengers (in equal proportions) and from all age groups. Cunard ships cruise to almost all most-popular ship travel destinations in the world, including Caribbean, Mexico, Panama Canal , South America, Alaska, Africa, Europe (Mediterranean and Baltic / Scandinavia and Russia), North America east coast (New England and Canada), Asia, Australia New Zealand.

Queen Mary 2 cruises are often mixed with destinations in the Caribbean, British Isles, Norwegian Fjords, Canada. Queen Victoria usually operates from homeport Southampton to Canary Islands, Mediterranean, Baltic. All Cunard liners operate around the world cruises .

Cruise itinerary changes (2024-2025)

Itinerary highlights for each liner during Cunard's 2024 season featured:

Queen Anne is scheduled to embark on her 7-night maiden voyage on January 4, 2024, from Southampton (England UK). The sailing includes an overnight in Lisbon (Portugal). On her return back to Southampton UK, the line’s newest vessel is to be joined by Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. Fares start at US$1900 per person. Guests can also take in all that Cunard’s newbuild has to offer on a 35-night Eastern Caribbean & Transatlantic journey, which includes calls in St. Lucia and Barbados. The ship is scheduled to depart Southampton on January 27, 2024. Fares start at US$7800 per person. Queen Anne is also scheduled to operate a 16-night Western Mediterranean voyage with calls in Lisbon (Portugal), Cadiz (Spain), and Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy), departing March 29 from Southampton UK. Fares start at US$3300 per person.

Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to operate a 10-night voyage from Sydney NSW Australia, sailing to the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands. The voyage is due to set sail on January 22, 2024. Fares start at US$2000 per person. A 10-night Southern Islands roundtrip cruise from Tokyo is due to take passengers to historic shrines, castles, and natural habitats (departing May 14, 2024). Fares start at US$2300 per person.

Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to depart on a 47-night voyage including 3 overnight calls, with time ashore in South Africa, Australia, and Portugal. The vessel will set sail on January 11, 2024, out of Southampton UK. Fares start at US$7,999 per person.

On January 11th, Queen Victoria is scheduled to depart Southampton UK on a 107-night world cruise. Destinations include San Francisco and Fiji, as well as overnights in South Africa and Hong Kong. Fares start at US$18500 per person.

In November 2022, Cunard announced itineraries from April 2024 through to January 2025 (190+ voyages), with scheduled visits to 133 ports/destinations (45 countries), including a maiden call in Nordfjordeid Norway . Queen Anne's maiden season features the Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia, the UK/British Isles, and the Mediterranean, with itineraries 2 to 19 nights. Queen Anne makes a total of 62 maiden calls (including Dubrovnik, Gibraltar, Malaga, Oslo, Reykjavik, Rotterdam) and offers 6 overnights and 14 late-evening departures.

Queen Mary 2 offers 22 Transatlantic Crossings (2 to 30 nights) departing from Hamburg, Le Havre France, NYC New York, Quebec City Canada, and Southampton England. QM2 also sails in Northwestern Europe and to Norway's Fjords and celebrates Christmas/New Year's Eve in the Caribbean.

Queen Victoria has scheduled an extended Mediterranean season (May through October 2024), with voyages ranging from a short 5-night sailing (to Rotterdam and Bruges) to a 29-night Mediterranean Highlights (with an overnight in Istanbul Turkey).

For guests who prefer longer sea vacations, Cunard has a 29-night itinerary allowing them to sample all three queens. It begins with an eastbound Transatlantic Crossing (Queen Mary 2), from Southampton (Queen Anne) continues with a 14-night segment around the UK and Iceland, follows a flight to Italy and embarkation (Queen Victoria) to visit the Adriatic and Central Med.

Cunard's 2025 schedule (April 2025 through January 2026) was opened for booking in October 2023.

The program groups 180 voyages visiting 91 ports/destinations (24 countries).

Queen Anne's deployment is in Europe (Western Mediterranean, Western Europe, Baltic/Norwegian Fjords) with planned 19 maiden for Cunard ports.

Queen Mary 2 has planned Transatlantic Crossings.

Queen Victoria is deployed in the Mediterranean.

Queen Anne's ex-UK itineraries (Southampton roundtrips) range between 2 and 19 nights. A 12-night Norwegian Fjords itinerary starts in June, followed in July by a 16-night Mediterranean itinerary.

Queen Victoria's Mediterranean season (May through October) offers 7-14-21-night itineraries leaving from Spain (Barcelona) and Italy (Civitavecchia-Rome, Trieste).

Winter 2025 itineraries

In March 2023 Cunard announced 2025 winter program grouping 133+ voyages, 159 destinations (ports/islands in 57 countries) and all four vessels. The season features 6 maiden for Cunard destinations (in Alaska, Australia, Japan, New Caledonia, Vanuatu) as well as Queen Anne's full World Voyage  in 2025.

Also was announced Queen Elizabeth's 2024 Alaskan summer program (10 roundtrips from Vancouver BC Canada ) ranging from 9- to 11-night itineraries. Queen Elizabeth's call ports/destinations include Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay NP, Juneau, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point/Hoonah, plus two maiden calls - at Wrangell  and Misty Fjords.

Queen Anne's World Voyage departs on January 9, 2025. The 107-night itinerary is roundtrip from Southampton and visits 30+ ports on 5 continents) including 9 overnight ports and 3 late-evening departures. There are also two shorter itinerary segments - 17-night New York to San Francisco (January 18th, 2025) and 13-night Singapore to Dubai (March 25th, 2025).

RMS Queen Mary 2's program is traditionally divided between the Caribbean and the regularly scheduled Transatlantic Crossings (Europe-USA-Europe), plus some Mediterranean voyages. Itineraries range between 7-35 nights and depart from homeports NYC New York, Southampton UK, and Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy). The liner offers 4 overnights at Curacao, Funchal, Lisbon, and NYC, with 3 late-evening departures in Bridgetown Barbados, and Spain's Vigo and Malaga. Signature voyages are the 8-night Westbound Transatlantic Crossing from Southampton UK (March 8, 2025) and the 13-night Eastern Caribbean roundtrip from New York City (March 16, 2025).

Queen Victoria's 8x South America 2025 voyages can be combined into the 85-night "South America Discovery" (B2B out of Hamburg) sailing around Cape Horn . There are 5 overnight calls in Amsterdam, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Callao-Lima and 5 late-evening departures. Queen Victoria's 2025 program features two ex-UK/Southampton roundtrips - the 11-night Atlantic Coast Adventure (December 5, 2024) and the 7-night Amsterdam, Bruges and Hamburg ((January 2, 2025).

Queen Elizabeth's Alaska 2024 program (June-September) is based on roundtrips from Vancouver Canada. Following a stop in San Francisco CA, the ship relocated to Australia and New Zealand (throughout the fall) with itineraries ranging from 2 to 38 nights. In February 2025, Queen Elizabeth sails to Singapore and stays in East Asia through May, visiting ports in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. The season features 7 overnight ports (including Hong Kong, Hobart Tasmania, Osaka), 25 late-evening departures, and two signature sailings - the 11-night Alaskan roundtrip from Vancouver (July 11, 2024) and the 25-night Transpacific crossing San Francisco to Sydney NSW ( September 22, 2024/RepositionCruises.com).

Cunard also offers B2Bs/Back-to-Back cruises . There are two B2B opportunities to sample all four Cunard liners in one voyage. The experience commences on Queen Victoria in June 2024 when passengers sail the Mediterranean visiting ports in Malta, Croatia, and Italy. After a few days in Rome , they join Queen Anne to visit Spain and the islands of Sardinia and Majorca before disembarking in Southampton. There, guests join Queen Mary 2 on a westbound Transatlantic Crossing and then fly from NYC to Vancouver. Queen Elizabeth hosts the B2B's final leg in Alaska. A similar experience can be taken in the reverse beginning in Alaska, with an eastbound Crossing, sailing the Norway Fjords, and ending in the Mediterranean.

2025-2027 itineraries

In February 2024 were opened for sales sailings spanning from September 2025 to January 2027, inclusive of new Caribbean itineraries (leaving from  Miami Florida USA ) and two simultaneous  world voyages (starting January 2026) planned for the ships  Queen Anne  and  RMS Queen Mary 2 . Queen Anne's 109-night World Voyage departs from Southampton on January 11, 2026. Queen Mary 2's 51-night itinerary (Southampton to Sydney NSW via Panama Canal) also departs on Jan 11th.

The forthcoming program encompasses 300+ sailings across the 4-ship fleet, with visits to 184 destinations in 70 countries and encompassing 108 Unesco World Heritage sites. Additionally, the itineraries feature 37 overnight port stays and 66 late-evening port departures.

The new program entails 5 maiden port calls -  Kona Hawaii ,  Roatan Island Honduras ,  Dakar Senegal ,  Miami , and  Molde Norway .

Queen Elizabeth has a new Caribbean schedule comprising 33 departures from PortMiami to Caribbean island destinations like San Juan Puerto Rico, Montego Bay Jamaica, Georgetown Grand Cayman, Roatan Honduras, Tortola BVI, Antigua, Barbados, St Lucia.

Queen Victoria is based in the Mediterranean, Atlantic islands (Azores, Madeira) and the Baltic/Norway.

Cunard Alaskan shore excursions

Cunard Line offers 140+ shore excursions in Alaska.

These tours are optional and themed as:

• "Whale Watching and Wildlife Quest"
• "Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest"
• "Taku Lodge Feast and Five-Glacier Seaplane Discovery"
• "Dogsled Adventure by Helicopter"
• "Wilderness Sea Kayaking Adventure"
• "Cooking in Alaska's Wildest Kitchen"
• "Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour"
• "Scenic Mountain Ascent and World's Largest ZipRider"
• ATV Expedition
• Wilderness Cruise and Silverking Lodge Seafood Feast
• White Pass Scenic Railway (Luxury Class)
• Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show and Crab Feast
• Misty Fjords Seaplane Exploration
• Ghosts and Goodtime Girls Walking Tour
• Exclusive Burro Creek Waterfall Lodge and Crab Feast

Cunard also offers pre- and post-cruise train tours inclusive of a 3- or 5-day hotel plus 2 full days of train travel on the Rocky Mountaineer. The tour is an extension to the Alaskan cruise. The 3-night "Rocky Mountaineer Tour" (post-cruise package) departs from Vancouver and ends in Calgary, while the 4-night train tour (pre-cruise package) is the reverse route (Calgary to Vancouver) and includes an additional day in Banff.

In 2023, the 3-night tour was priced from US$2850 per person (with double occupancy), while the 4-night tour's prices started from US$3250 pp.

The Rocky Mountaineer is currently the only passenger rail service on this historic route. The land journey offers 180-degree panoramic views of lakes, canyons and snow-capped mountains. The train itself features luxurious coaches and expansive glass-dome windows.

Cunard related cruise news

Cunard's new ship Queen Anne embarks on maiden voyage from Southampton UK

Cunard's latest cruise ship has commenced her inaugural voyage from Southampton UK. Queen Anne marks the company's first new vessel in 14 years and...

Cunard's newest liner Queen Anne arrived in homeport Southampton UK

Cunard's latest cruise ship MS Queen Anne has completed the relocation voyage to homeport Southampton England UK from Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard...

Fincantieri delivers Queen Anne ship to Cunard in Venice

In a ceremonial affair held today (April 19), the Queen Anne officially joined Cunard's esteemed fleet, continuing the lineage of distinguished...

Cunard unveils stellar lineup: Three Queens to grace path of next Solar Eclipse

The recent celestial event of the solar eclipse has sparked anticipation for the next occurrence on August 12th, 2026. Cunard UK announced that...

Cunard's newest ship Queen Anne to offer an unprecedented luxury retail shopping experience

With less than 3 months remaining until the debut of its newest vessel, the UK-based Cunard Line unveils a glimpse into the enhanced retail offerings...

Cunard unveils 2025-2027 voyages, new Caribbean routes, simultaneous World Cruises

Cunard announced the commencement of sales for sailings spanning from September 2025 to January 2027, inclusive of new Caribbean itineraries leaving...

Crystal Cruises cancels voyage and reroutes ships due to Red Sea risks

Crystal Cruises has made operational adjustments in response to ongoing security concerns surrounding ships navigating the Red Sea. The cancellation...

Cunard unveils Royal Canadian Geographical Society speaker line-up for 2024 Alaska cruises

Cunard Line announced its continued collaboration with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), unveiling an extensive lineup of speakers for...

Cunard's newest ship Queen Anne to be christened at Port Liverpool's Mersey Waterfront

Cunard's newest vessel - MS Queen Anne, is set to be christened at its historic birthplace, the Mersey waterfront in Liverpool, on Monday, June 3...

Gastrointestinal illness/Norovirus affects 100+ passengers on Cunard's ship Queen Victoria

100+ passengers aboard a Cunard ship have fallen ill following a Norovirus outbreak. Among the 1824 individuals on MS Queen Victoria, 116 have...

•   show more news

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

This Cruise Line Just Announced More Than 300 New Voyages — With a 116-night Cruise Around the World

Cunard Line will sail a 116-night itinerary on Queen Anne and a 108-night itinerary on Queen Mary 2.

Courtesy of Cunard

If you've been inspired by the world cruise that's been making the rounds on social media, you have two new itineraries to consider. Cunard Line, a historic British cruise line dating back to 1840, has just announced more than 300 new voyages for the 2025–2026 season — and that includes two world cruises with overnights in cities like Singapore and Sydney.

The first of its world cruises is a 116-night sailing on Queen Anne , Cunard's new ship scheduled to launch in May. The 3,000-passenger ship will depart from Hamburg, Germany, on Jan. 6, 2026, continuing through the Mediterranean and eventually the Suez Canal. From there, Queen Anne will journey through the Middle East before making for Southeast Asia. The itinerary continues to Australia, then loops back through the Indian Ocean with stops at Mauritius and Réunion Island. The final leg brings guests to South Africa; Namibia; the Canary Islands; Madeira; and Southampton, U.K., before disembarkation in Hamburg on May 2, 2026.

The second world cruise is a 108-night sailing on Queen Mary 2. Guests embark in Southampton on Jan. 11, 2026, and immediately sail a transatlantic leg to New York. From there, the ship makes its way south to Curacao before crossing the Panama Canal. After a few stops on the west coast of North America, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, it's time to explore the Pacific islands: Hawaii and French Polynesia are on the docket. After that is a segment sailing to New Zealand and Australia, followed by a journey through Southeast Asia. Next up is the Middle East, a transit through the Suez Canal, and a final leg across the Mediterranean. Guests will disembark in Southampton on April 30, 2026. 

Think more than 100 days on a cruise is a little too much for you? Don't worry —  you can also book shorter segments of the itineraries if any of the destinations pique your interest.

On both Cunard world cruises, you can expect an old-school atmosphere as a nod to the cruise line's heritage. For instance, Gala Nights onboard are a formal affair, and many of them are themed: Roaring '20s, Masquerade Ball, and Black and White, for example. But that doesn't mean the ships lack modern amenities, like onboard WiFi.

Rates for the full world cruises start from $15,967 per person for the 116-night cruise and $16,699 per person for the 108-night cruise ; bookings open in early March.

Related Articles

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

• Already Booked?
• My Favorites
• 1.800.377.9383
• Email Deals
• Personal Quote

• Advanced Search

• Featured Cruise Deals

• Deals by Destination

• Deals by Cruise Line

• Deals by Departure Port

Last Minute Cruise Deals

Holiday Cruise Deals

Military Cruise Deals

• Family Cruise Deals

Popular Destinations

Australia/New Zealand

• Canada / New England

Popular Int'l Departure Ports

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Barcelona, Spain

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Reykjavik, Iceland

Southampton, England

Stockholm, Sweden

Sydney, Australia

Vancouver, British Columbia

Venice, Italy

Popular U.S. Departure Ports

Baltimore, Maryland

Boston, Massachusetts

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

Los Angeles, California

Miami, Florida

New York, New York

Port Canaveral, Florida

San Francisco, California

Seattle, Washington

Popular Lines

Luxury Lines

River Lines

AmaWaterways

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Avalon Waterways River Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises

Holland America Line

MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Princess Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal Caribbean International

Seabourn Cruise Line

Silversea Cruises

Uniworld River Cruises

Viking Expeditions

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking River Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Land Vacations

• Cosmos Tours
• Globus Journeys
• Kensington Tours
• Tauck Tours

All-Inclusive Resorts

Cruising 101

• Free Consultation

Why Cruise?

Shore Excursions

Cruising Tips

Future Cruise Credits

Photo Galleries

Specialty Cruises

Group Cruises

Business / Incentive Cruises

Events & Meetings at Sea

Private Charters

Theme Cruises

• River Cruises

Cruise Tours

Wedding Cruises

Hosted Cruises

Family Cruises

Senior Living at Sea

News & Media

Press & News

Testimonials

Social Media

Pre-registration

Passports / Visas

Travel Protection

Why Cruise Web?

Our Approach

Low Price Guarantee

Gift Certificates

Customer Service

Not sure where to start?

Talk to a travel consultant.

Free quotes. Expert guidance. No booking fees.

Cunard: FREE Upgrade plus up to $2,000 OBC*

Cunard Sale: up to $600 Onboard Credit*

Cunard: up to $250 Onboard Credit for Military

• Departure Ports
• Photo Gallery

Cunard World Cruises

If you’re ready for the adventure of a lifetime, where you’ll find a decade’s worth of memories and unique experiences, it’s time to consider a World Voyage with Cunard Line. Spend months cruising from Europe to Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East, and each destination will be rich with art to view, cuisine to indulge upon, and fascinating history to enrich yourself with. You may have the opportunity to purchase sapphires and rubies in Sri Lanka, or tour some breweries in Australia. From dining on the Mediterranean coast to immersing yourself in the cultural hubs of Asia, you can do it all on a Cunard Line World cruise.

Things to Do on a World Cruise with Cunard Line

Get ready to cross off some major spots on your bucket list when you embark on a world cruise with Cunard Line. For instance, you can visit the Taj Mahal in India, see the Valley of the Kings in Egypt and attend a gaucho party in Argentina.

• Paris and Seine River Cruise (Paris, France) First you’ll see some major Parisian sites on land during a guided ride through the city. You’ll see famed sites like the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de l’Opera. Then you’ll board a river ship on the Seine River to see some more of Paris’ never ending wonders. On the cruise you’ll pass the Chaillot Palace and Orsay Museum. Onboard you’ll have a lunch where the flavors of France will be on full display. Then finish the day shopping in the city’s beautiful boutiques.  

• The Taj Mahal Overland (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) Take a 5-day trip to see the amazing Taj Mahal. This marble mausoleum was built to honor the emperor’s late wife and has stood as a testament to love in the years since. Your trip will also include a day in Kuala Lumpur where you’ll see the National Palace and ride to the top of the Petronas Twin Towers for a majestic view. You’ll also visit New Delhi, the capital of India.  

• Gaucho Party (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Experience the rich history of gauchos in Argentina at a gaucho party. When you arrive at this party, which is held at a country residence, you’ll be greeted with Argentinian specialties like empanadas and wine. You’ll have a great view of the pampas, or lowlands, of the country as you enjoy an Asado party. Then you’re in for a show as people will perform traditional songs and dances while the horse riders show off their skills.  

• Essence of Australia Overland (Sydney, Australia) Spend three days exploring the land down under. On day one you’ll head to Melbourne where you’ll see the Koala Conservation Centre on Phillip Island. Stay late to watch the Penguin Parade where wild penguins emerge from the water and walk across the beach to burrow in sand dunes. The next day you’ll board the Puffing Billy railway train for a ride through the scenic countryside. Then you’ll head to the Yarra Valley wine district for some tastings. Lastly, head to Brisbane for some more wildlife viewing.  

• Swinging 60’s San Francisco (San Francisco, California) Head out on a magic bus to Chinatown and then to North Beach, where the beatniks hung out. You’ll see the City Lights bookstore, a favorite of Jack Kerouac. Then you’ll head to the famed intersection of Haight-Ashbury. You’ll get off at Golden Gate Park, the site of the first Human Be-In, and possibly join in on a drum circle. When back on the bus you’ll watch video and hear music from the era.  

• Luxor, Karnak and Valley of the Kings (Safaga, Egypt) The Temple of Karnak is a huge complex that was an important spot for several pharaohs. While on this Cunard excursion, you’ll tour this site and then have a buffet lunch before heading out to Luxor. In Luxor you’ll visit the Valley of the Kings where many pharaohs were buried. It was here where the tomb of King Tut was found in 1922. This excursion is rich in history and you’ll be given plenty of time to take pictures of these stunning sites.  

Top 10 Cunard World Cruises

• Queen Victoria 85 NIGHT World CRUISE Departing From Hamburg, Germany (Jan 2025)
• Queen Anne 111 NIGHT World CRUISE Departing From Hamburg, Germany (Jan 2025)
• Queen Anne 107 NIGHT World CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (Jan 2025)
• Queen Anne 49 NIGHT World CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (Jan 2025)
• Queen Victoria 78 NIGHT World CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (Jan 2025)
• Queen Anne 17 NIGHT World CRUISE Departing From New York, New York (Jan 2025)
• Queen Anne 40 NIGHT World CRUISE Departing From New York, New York (Jan 2025)
• Queen Anne 98 NIGHT World CRUISE Departing From New York, New York (Jan 2025)
• Queen Anne 18 NIGHT World CRUISE Departing From San Francisco, California (Feb 2025)
• Queen Anne 23 NIGHT World CRUISE Departing From San Francisco, California (Feb 2025)

Cunard World Departure Ports

Learn more about each of the possible departure ports for a world cruise with Cunard Line. Your Cunard Line world cruise could begin in any of the following cities:

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai is a modern city that people from all nationalities flock towards to indulge in designer clothes, fancy hotels and the high life.

Hamburg, Germany

A large city, Hamburg offers visitors an array of attractions. From the old buildings of the past to the vibrant red light district, there’s something for everyone cruising to Hamburg, Germany.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong Sar, China

One of the world’s most exciting modern cities, Hong Kong offers a true East meets West experience where you can shop for traditional Chinese cure-alls and attend high tea all in the same afternoon.

The possibilities are endless when cruising to or from the City of Angels. Let your inner rock star shine as you explore the many wonders of Los Angeles, California.

Take in the incredible art scene of New York City, expand your cultural horizons in the city’s diverse neighborhoods and marvel at the architectural wonders.

On a cruise from San Francisco you can experience all that the ‘City by the Bay’ has to offer, from its artistic, forward-looking culture to the beautiful coastline.

Singapore, Singapore

Southeast Asia’s most modern city, Singapore, also contains a lot of history and treasures from the past, along with a perfect tropical climate – all making Singapore a wonderful destination year round.

The cruise port of Southampton features tons of diverse attractions that provide insight into England’s culture and storied past, including fortresses, gardens and national parks.

The near perfect days, beautiful scenery, pristine beaches and sparkling water offer the perfect backdrop for any dream adventure in Sydney, Australia.

Photo Gallery for Cunard World Cruises

View our photo gallery of world cruising photos from Cunard Line. Remember, this is only a taste of the experiences waiting for you on a Cunard Line world cruise vacation.

Queen Mary 2 sailing beneath Golden Gate Bridge

Cunard world cruises

Sydney Opera House

Gauchos in Patagonia, Argentina

Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, Egypt

Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Seine River in Paris, France

We Make Vacation Planning Easy

With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money.

Expert guidance. No booking fees.

Find a cruise.

• All Cruise Types
• Popular Cruises
• Luxury Cruises

Vacation Deals

Destinations & ports.

• All Destinations

Cruise Lines

• Popular Cruise Lines
• Luxury Cruise Lines
• River Cruise Lines
• All Cruise Lines
• All About Cruising
• Already Booked

Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals.

• Monthly Newsletter

The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Cunard Line cruise ship

Cunard Line is a relatively small cruise company with just three ships, but that doesn't mean it has a small footprint when it comes to places its ships go.

The storied passenger ship company — one of the oldest in the world with a history that dates back to 1840 — offers cruises to almost every corner of the globe.

The line's three vessels — Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria — are almost always on the move. (A fourth, Queen Anne, will join the globe-trotting fleet in spring 2024.) They operate diverse itineraries on multiple continents, including Europe, North America and Asia.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

They also often travel around the world on epic voyages that can last three months or more. For 2024, for instance, two of Cunard's three vessels will operate complete circumnavigations of the globe lasting many months (more on these below).

Among its many itinerary offerings, Cunard has a particularly large footprint in Europe, with all three of its vessels spending at least some time each year in the region. Asia is another big destination for Cunard, with all its ships heading there most years for at least a few sailings, too.

The line also regularly offers sailings in North America, including in the Caribbean, New England and Canada, and Alaska. Australia and New Zealand appear often on Cunard's itinerary schedule as well.

Cunard ships sail everything from super-short, two-night voyages between Southampton, England, and Hamburg, Germany, that don't include a single port call to 123-night globe-circling trips that take in dozens of ports.

Here are our picks for the five best Cunard cruise destinations.

The Atlantic

If Cunard has an iconic itinerary, it is the regular transatlantic voyages that its flagship, the 2,691-passenger Queen Mary 2, operates between New York City and Southampton, England, throughout the year.

In most cases, these trips lack even a single port stop. They are one-way sailings designed to get you across the Atlantic in relative speed and comfort — just like the line offered in the 19th century. But unlike back then, they aren't voyages people take out of necessity.

Both leisure and business travelers can now travel between North America and Europe in a matter of hours on speedy jets, so there's no longer a pressing need for such transatlantic crossings on a practical level. But Cunard has been able to keep the tradition alive for a subset of travelers who enjoy moving between the continents in a more leisurely way.

For many people who take Queen Mary 2 across the Atlantic, the ship itself and the experience of the crossing on it is the destination. It's not uncommon for passengers to take Queen Mary 2 one way across the Atlantic just to experience a crossing before flying fly back home.

Related: Why I was wrong about transatlantic cruises

Queen Mary 2 was specifically built for such crossings, with a more streamlined shape and more powerful engines than traditional cruise ships. It can cut through the sometimes rough waves of the Atlantic at higher speeds and with more comfort for passengers.

Aficionados say Queen Mary 2 is a true ocean liner — a ship designed to sail a direct course across oceans between two far-apart destinations — not a cruise ship. It is thus something truly different in the world of cruises.

Having sailed across the Atlantic on Queen Mary 2 three times over the years, including on its maiden voyage in 2004, I couldn't agree more. There is nothing quite like zooming across the ocean on the vessel, which is built with a grand ballroom, elegant restaurants and other formal spaces that evoke the famed ocean liners of a century ago. It's a throwback to an earlier time.

In a typical year, Queen Mary 2 operates about 20 Atlantic crossings. In most cases, it makes the crossing in seven nights without any stops, but it sometimes does faster six-night crossings. It occasionally adds a stop in a destination along the way — Boston, for instance, or the Azores.

In addition to transatlantic crossings, Cunard has long been known for epic around-the-world voyages, stopping at dozens of destinations on four, five or even six continents.

Cunard usually will send one and sometimes even two of its three ships on monthslong jaunts around the world every year, something it has done for many decades.

In a typical year, the line might begin one around-the-world sailing in New York or Florida, allowing Americans to travel across the globe without ever getting on a flight longer than a few hours. It'll also often offer an additional around-the-world sailing out of a European port such as Southampton.

That's the case for 2024, when Queen Mary 2 will sail a 123-night world voyage out of New York City, and the 2,061-passenger Queen Victoria will sail a 111-night world voyage out of Hamburg, Germany (the latter voyage also can be boarded in Southampton).

Related: 10 epic around-the-world cruises that will check off all your bucket list travel destinations

As is sometimes the case with such trips, the sailing on Queen Mary 2 won't be a full circumnavigation of the globe. The ship will travel eastward from New York to Europe and then Africa, Australia and Asia before returning westward to the Middle East and Europe (through the Suez Canal) on its way back to New York. It's a sailing that will hit large portions of the world but not complete the circle.

The Queen Victoria sailing will be a true circumnavigation, with the ship circling the world westward. The voyage will take the ship to Bermuda, Florida, the Panama Canal and the West Coast before a Pacific crossing to Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. From there, Queen Victoria will make multiple stops across Asia before cruising westward to the southern tip of Africa and then back to Europe up the west coast of Africa.

In part due to the fact that it's based in Southampton and has a strong following among British travelers, Cunard has long had a particular focus on sailings in Europe. As of the publishing of this guide, 171 of the 451 departures on Cunard's schedule were devoted to Northern Europe, Western Europe or the Mediterranean. If you add in transatlantic departures between Europe and North America, that number jumps to 227 — almost exactly half of all departures on Cunard's schedule.

All three of Cunard's vessels spend at least part of the year sailing in Europe, with the biggest portion of sailings in the Mediterranean.

These Europe routings vary greatly in length and destinations. Unlike many of its competitors operating in Europe, Cunard offers lots of short sailings, sometimes as short as two or three nights, that provide a chance for a quick trip between, say, Hamburg and Southampton. Often, these short sailings are one way, on Queen Mary 2 and timed to lead straight into a transatlantic crossing.

Someone in Europe could board Queen Mary 2 in Hamburg for a two-night sailing to Southampton and then stay aboard for a subsequent seven-night sailing to New York City.

Cunard also often offers many round-trip "short break" getaways lasting three or four nights out of Southampton to places like Bruges, Belgium; Amsterdam; and Le Havre, France. These trips are mostly aimed at a local British crowd.

Additionally, Cunard operates many longer Europe itineraries, sometimes as long as 30 nights, which take in a dozen or more major destinations. A good example of the latter is the line's 28-night Mediterranean Highlights itinerary from Civitavecchia, Italy (the port for Rome) to Barcelona, a one-way trip that takes in a wide range of ports across Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Malta, Spain and Turkey.

In the Mediterranean, the line's main hubs are Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); Istanbul; Trieste, Italy; Barcelona; and Civitavecchia.

In Northern Europe, Cunard's big hub is Southampton, but it also offers voyages out of Hamburg and Kiel in Germany.

Related: Best Mediterranean cruises for every type of traveler

Cunard is one of a handful of Europe-based cruise lines devoting a ship to the Alaska market for the coming summer of 2024, deploying its 2,081-passenger Queen Elizabeth to the destination.

From June to September 2024, Queen Elizabeth will operate nearly a dozen round-trip sailings to Alaska out of Vancouver, British Columbia.

These Alaska voyages will mostly be 10 nights in length, which is longer than the typical Alaska sailing out of Vancouver. A handful of the sailings will be nine or 11 nights in length.

Cunard's typical 10-night Alaska sailing includes calls at Sitka, Ketchikan, Skagway and either Juneau or Icy Strait Point. The ship will also visit Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Misty Fjords National Monument.

The 11-night sailings add stops at the smaller Alaska towns of Wrangell and Haines and a visit to Hubbard Glacier (in addition to Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Misty Fjords National Monument). They skip the stops at Skagway and Sitka.

Asia, Australia and New Zealand

Cunard usually sends at least one of its three ships to Asia, Australia and New Zealand every winter for sailings out of such major hubs as Tokyo (where ships sail from nearby Yokohama) and Sydney.

The line also typically sends one or two ships on around-the-world cruises every winter that include segments in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, resulting in all three of the line's vessels, in some cases, sailing in the regions during the winter. (See more on the line's world cruises above.)

Cunard ships typically offer a relatively wide mix of itineraries in the regions, never staying in the same part of Asia, Australia and New Zealand for too many voyages in a row.

That said, for 2024, Cunard's Queen Elizabeth will be based out of Tokyo for nearly two months for multiple sailings around Japan. These sailings typically also include a stop in either South Korea or Taiwan.

Related: The best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

Among the Australia itineraries that Cunard has on its schedule for the next two years is a 14-night sailing to New Zealand out of Melbourne, Australia, with stops at New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, Wellington, New Plymouth, Bay of Island and Auckland (for an overnight visit).

Shorter sailings out of Australian ports include a five-night voyage from Sydney to Melbourne and Burnie — the latter destination in the Australian island state of Tasmania.

Bottom line

Despite its small size, Cunard offers a diverse array of itineraries in cruise destinations around the world, from North America to Asia. It's also well known for its transatlantic sailings between New York City and Southampton, plus its epic around-the-world cruises.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your 1st cruise

May We Suggest?

Is this it, how about this, search results.

Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

Cunard Review

Thursday, May 9th

2024 Cruise Line Reviews

• Best for British-style luxury sailing worldwide
• Three ships in the fleet (with another debuting in 2024)
• Guests of all ages permitted (not an 18+ cruise line)
• Most dining is included (The Golden Lion gastro-pub is extra)
• Recommended gratuities ($14.50 or $16.50 per person, per night) not included in fare

Cunard is a British cruise line with a rich history and tradition, dating back to 1840. It is known for its luxurious ships, outstanding service, and elegant formal evenings. Cunard operates three ocean liners, the Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth, which offer a wide range of itineraries around the world.

Think British and formal

The Queen Mary 2 is Cunard's flagship and the only ocean liner in the world that regularly makes transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton. It is a grand and stately ship that harks back to the golden age of ocean travel, with elegant public areas, formal dining rooms, and spacious cabins. Onboard, guests can enjoy a wide range of activities, including live entertainment, art classes, and lectures by well-known experts.

More relaxed experience on the smaller ships

The Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth are both smaller than the Queen Mary 2 but still offer a luxurious cruising experience. These ships have a more contemporary design and a relaxed, informal atmosphere, but still retain the high standards of service and cuisine that Cunard is known for. They offer a range of itineraries, from short breaks to longer voyages to destinations such as the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Caribbean.

Spring break cruises are available - just not in the Caribbean

Because of what Cunard does and doesn't specialize in, it was to be expected that there wouldn't be any March sailings in the Caribbean (which is what we used as a comparison point across cruise lines): they're just not operating in that part of the world at that time. Of course not: why would a cruise line with British heritage have anything to do with spring break timing in the US?! But, if you're trying to line up an amazing trip over that holiday, Cunard can be found going from Sydney to Hong Kong (16 nights), Sydney to Singapore (22 nights), Sydney to Cape Town (39 nights), or taking "short break" trips in Australia, from Hong Kong to Singapore, you get the idea.

Pack your tux or gown

One of the unique features of Cunard is its formal evenings, which are a throwback to the grandeur of the early days of ocean travel. On these evenings, guests are expected to dress up in their finest attire, with men wearing tuxedos or suits and women donning elegant gowns. The formal evenings include a special dinner, dancing, and live entertainment, and are a highlight of the Cunard experience.

Cunard is also known for its exceptional dining options. Each ship offers a range of restaurants, from traditional formal dining rooms to more casual eateries. Most dining choices are included in your fare, but the gastro-pub options at The Golden Lion will incur an extra cost. The cuisine is inspired by the destinations visited on the itinerary, with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Cunard also offers a famous afternoon tea service, which is a nod to the line's British heritage.

Luxury but not all-inclusive

Cunard is a luxury cruise line, but it's not all-inclusive. You'll have to pay for any shore excursions you choose, and your gratuities ($14.50 per person per night for Britannia and Britannia Club staterooms, $16.50 per person per night for Queens and Princess Grill suites) will be automatically added to your account. WiFi is another extra that you'll pay for, unless you reach Gold, Platinum, or Diamond World Club "frequent sailor" benefits - or if you're taking one of Cunard's exceptional World Voyages (think sailings of at least 16 nights, and ones that go up to 100+ nights and visit ports in all four continents).

Not adults-only

Also, don't expect your Cunard cruise to be child-free. Children are welcome on Cunard, and there are clubs for those young cruisers with age-specific activities offered day and night.

Wonderful cruise line but not a match for many US-based guests

For US-based vacationers looking to cruise in exotic locations around the world and have a fancy onboard experience, Cunard could be worth looking at - especially for those who love all things British and having a daily afternoon tea would be the epitome of excellence. On the other hand, if you want easy-peasy departures from US ports year-round, Cunard won't fit the bill.

More Cruise Line Reviews

• Royal Caribbean

• Disney Cruise Line

• Celebrity Cruises

• Virgin Voyages

• Viking Cruises

• Regent Seven Seas

• Norwegian Cruise Line

• Princess Cruises

• Holland America

• MSC Cruises

• Carnival Cruises

The 15 Best Cruise Lines

Which cruise line is the best.

Cruising is a popular way of traveling for many people, offering a unique experience that combines the convenience of a floating hotel with the excitement of visiting multiple destinations in one trip. In an average year, over fifteen million people say "all aboard" and set sail on an amazing vacation.

There are many different cruise lines to choose from, and each one offers a different type of experience. Some are geared towards families, while others are more focused on luxury or adventure. What would you like to see and do while you're onboard? Is a casino a must-have or a rather-avoid? Would a Broadway-caliber show tip the scales for you? Do you need a wide range of activities to keep the kiddos happy while the adults live it up or relax? The onboard activities and amenities can really make or break your vacation, so be sure you know what you're getting.

Cruise Line FAQ

Which cruise line is the best, what is included in the cost of a cruise, what is the minimum age to cruise, what are the dining options on a cruise ship, are cruise ships crowded, do i have to dress up, are activities included at destination ports, can i bring my own alcohol onboard.

Continued from above...

Another factor that can influence which cruise line you choose is the itinerary. Cruise ships travel all over the world, but some cruise lines may not have destinations available where you're hoping to go. You should also consider the size of the ship: larger ships offer more amenities, but smaller ships can access ports that bigger ships can't.

Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences. You can usually get a decent discount if you sign up for an amenities package before you sail, so keep an eye out for promotions in the months leading up to your sailing.

When you take a cruise, it's almost always expected that you'll tip the crew members who have attended to your needs while onboard: your cabin steward ( who probably leaves your towels folded into fun shapes every night ), your servers at your nightly meals, and the head waiter. Cruise lines have a recommended gratuity to cover all three of those staff members, usually $15-$20 per traveler, per day; the total gratuity amount may be charged automatically to your account, or you may be given envelopes to make cash payments.

While it usually isn't mandatory to pay those gratuities - you can ask to have them removed if they're applied automatically, especially if you've received poor service - it's typically considered in poor taste not to tip at the suggested levels (because crew members' salaries, much like servers at your local restaurant, are based on the expectation of tips paid by guests). And, if you receive service that goes above and beyond, adding to the recommended gratuity is always appreciated. Be aware that tips for bartenders, poolside servers, and professional services provided in the spa or elsewhere are not included in the daily suggested gratuity and may be charged automatically at the time of service.

Now that you have a good overview of the cruising experience, which cruise line should you choose? Beyond the points we already covered, here are a few additional criteria that might make it easier to pick:

• Embarkation port. You could get a great deal on a cruise, but what will it cost you to get to the port? That could involve airfare, an overnight stay or two in a nearby hotel (so that you're less likely to be affected by travel delays), and transportation from the airport or hotel to the port. This is especially true if you're taking a cruise that departs from an international destination.
• Perks for repeat cruisers. Like frequent flyer programs on airlines, most cruise lines offer benefits the more you sail. If you find yourself absolutely loving cruise vacations, it can be advantageous to put all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Rewards programs can include casino benefits, complimentary meals at the upgraded dining experiences, exclusive sail-away parties with free cocktails and tchotchkes, early-access booking on future cruises, and much more.
• Reputation. It's a really smart idea to see what other travelers have said about their overall experience with a cruise line before booking your trip. The ads on TV may make that private island look amazing, but someone who's been there might point out that you'll pay extra to get on that waterslide. Or, previous cruisers could tell you that despite having several formal nights on the schedule, a particular cruise line has no problem with people showing up to dinner in flip-flops and swimsuit coverups. Find out if the cruise line you're considering lines up in reality with what they advertise.

Here at Top Consumer Reviews, cruising is one of our favorite ways to travel and experience new things. And with so many different cruise lines to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But, don't worry: take a look at our in-depth analysis of today's most popular options, find the one that's the best match for your vacation ideas and your travel party, and book that trip you've been dreaming of. Bon voyage!

Compare Cruise Lines

Select any 2 Cruise Lines to compare them head to head

Trending Cruise Line News

Cruise Hive

Cruise Line Makes It Easier for Passengers Who Lose Their Luggage

You can receive daily cruise news updates directly to your inbox, so you don't miss a thing! Go ahead and Subscribe here. Losing a piece of luggage while flying to a vacation destination is always a challenge,

  Wed, 08 May 2024

USA Today on MSN

Cruise ships under investigation after sailing illegally close to ...

Kauai's iconic Na Pali Coast is also a protected area. Two cruise ships are under investigation by Hawaii officials for breaking state laws.

Rescue team from US Air Force airlifts critically ill passenger from ...

A US Air Force rescue team airlifted a civilian passenger needing urgent medical care this past weekend from a Carnival cruise ship that was hundreds of miles out in open Atlantic waters.

Cruise Fever

Cruise Line Adds New Lost Luggage Service

A cruise line is adding a new lost luggage service called 'Lost Luggage Concierge' that will get you your luggage within 48 hours if it is lost. Costa Cruises, one of nine cruise lines from Carnival Corporation,

Norwegian introduces new cruise discount, onboard credit offer for ...

Norwegian Cruise Line introduced a new discount for teachers, giving them money off their cruise fare and onboard credit.

TheStreet on MSN

Carnival Cruise Line fixes an onboard problem passengers hated

Some passengers either don't have credit cards or don't want to share their cards with the cruise line. If you are one of them, you can put cash in your account at Guest Services. You can also use cash to pay down your bill before your credit card gets charged.

  Tue, 07 May 2024

Cruise Ship Rescues Three Sailors Adrift at Sea After Mayday Call

Three sailors have been rescued by a cruise ship while adrift in the Pacific Ocean near New Caledonia, following a breakdown.

Related Cruise Line Reviews

Since you're interested in Cruise Lines, here are some other reviews you might find interesting.

Cruise Vacation Sites

What's the best place to book a cruise vacation? You've finally got some time off, and you've decided you want the full-experience: sailing, relaxing, and new and exciting ...

Luggage Stores

Which luggage store is the best? Luggage is something that everyone will need at some point in their life, whether it be a backpack for an overnight trip or school, or a full set of luggage ...

Passport Services

Where can you get a passport fast? Maybe you've found a last-minute travel deal to that far-flung destination you've always dreamed of visiting.

Photo Book Companies

Where is the best place to get photo books out there today? Photo books are a fantastic way to keep our special memories in a tangible, beautiful format instead of just storing pictures on ...

Travel Insurance Plans

Who offers the best travel insurance? With daily news stories of delayed and canceled flights, lost baggage, and travelers stranded overseas in the middle of a natural disaster, it's ...

Vacation Rental Sites

What's the best website to use for booking a vacation rental? Are you tired of the same old hotel experience when you go on vacation?

Newest Reviews

Beauty Stores

What are the best online beauty stores? If you stop and think about how many products you use to get ready in the morning, it might blow your mind.

Where Can You Find the Best Dryer? Modern dryers offer tons of benefits that make them essential to any household.

Invisible Braces

What are the best invisible braces? Who doesn't love the idea of perfectly straight teeth?

Japanese Lessons

Where Can You Find the Best Japanese Lessons? Learning a new language opens up a world of opportunities, and Japanese is one of the most intriguing languages you can choose.

Light Fixture Stores

Where Can You Find the Best Light Fixtures Online? Light fixtures play a crucial role in interior design, providing both illumination and aesthetic appeal to a space.

Portuguese Lessons

Where Can You Find the Best Portuguese Lessons? Portuguese is the sixth most spoken language in the world, with over 260 million speakers spread across several continents.

First photos: Inside Queen Anne, the stunning new cruise ship from Cunard

Call it a new era for Cunard , the storied cruise brand that operates the famed Queen Mary 2 .

As I saw last week during a brief visit, the 184-year-old shipping company's first new vessel in 14 years, the 2,996-passenger Queen Anne , is more contemporary in its look and feel than the line's three older ships.

It also offers venues that embrace the latest trends of travel and cruising in a way that Cunard ships haven't done before.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Now on its maiden voyage, a seven-night trip from Southampton, England, to Spain and Portugal, the $600 million vessel offers more choice in dining and entertainment, more wellness options and more of a focus on onboard celebrations than earlier Cunard ships.

That said, it's also a vessel that holds true to Cunard's longtime point of view — a nod to tradition and elegance that harks back to the grand old days of ocean liner travel.

Here's a first look at the new Queen Anne and its most notable features, mostly in photos. I only had a few hours to explore the vessel before its maiden voyage with passengers. But I'll be aboard a full sailing of the ship later this year for a more in-depth review.

A top deck for all seasons

There's no doubt about it: Queen Anne is the new reigning monarch of the Cunard fleet when it comes to operating in inclement weather — something Cunard ships do often as they circle the world.

At the center of Queen Anne's top decks is The Pavilion, an enormous central pool area that — unlike any other Cunard ship — is topped with a retractable glass roof designed to keep poolgoers warm and dry on cold and rainy days.

It's a retractable glass roof that is not only functional but beautiful — a showpiece for the ship.

Soaring higher and feeling airier than the typical magrodome (as such retractable glass roofs on ships are called), the giant structure above the pool was created by Martin Francis, the United Kingdom-based design wizard who figured out how to make the glass pyramid at the Louvre Museum stay up.

Francis' design uses less steel and more glass than has been the norm for such magrodomes in the past. As I saw during my visit, that allows in a lot of light, even on the dourest of days. It was pouring rain, but the space still felt cheery.

At night, the entire space transforms into a theater under the stars, with dimmed lighting and seating reoriented toward a giant screen.

In addition, one deck up overlooking the pool (and still under the dome), a combination juice bar and cafe (The Pavilion Wellness Cafe) serving healthy dishes awaits health-minded passengers — part of a bigger wellness focus at Cunard.

The Pavilion, meanwhile, is much more than just a covered pool area. Underneath the dome — in addition to a pool, three whirlpools and lounge chairs — there is a bar, a grill for poolside food, a gelateria and a stage for entertainment. The stage will be the home of live and prerecorded "Performances at The Pavilion" musical events.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Cunard ship

It's a something-for-everyone approach that is part of Cunard's wanting to offer more options and more "activations" on its top decks.

I loved the versatility of the space as well as its design, particularly the mesmerizing blue-and-white checkered tiling of the pool area and the scalloped edge of the deck above — both nods to the art deco design that has been a hallmark of Cunard ships.

Queen Anne's top decks are also home to a forward observation deck with lounge chairs, a paddle tennis court, a putting green and table tennis, and the Sky Bar, an open-air bar with soaring views (an area that was difficult to tour and photograph during my visit due to pouring rain).

The observation deck will be more of a destination for passengers than the much smaller games decks that have occupied the top fronts of Cunard's last two ships — in part because of the inclusion of the outdoor bar, which is something Cunard traditionally hasn't built into forward deck-top areas.

The paddle tennis court in the area doubles as a pickleball court, something no Cunard ship has ever had.

Both The Pavilion pool area and observation deck are open to all passengers, as is a second pool area at the back of the ship. There also is an open-air deck area toward the middle back of the ship that is exclusive to passengers staying in the top cabins, known as Queens Grill and Princess Grill suites (more on that in a moment).

A bigger observation lounge

If you're already a Cunard fan, you know that the forward-facing observation lounge — the Commodore Club — is a hot spot on its ships. So you'll surely be excited to know that Cunard has really gone all out with the Commodore Club on Queen Anne.

As I saw during my visit, the Commodore Club on Queen Anne is by far the biggest Commodore Club on any Cunard ship, including Queen Mary 2 (which is a bigger ship than Queen Anne).

Notable features of the Commodore Club on Queen Anne include a "bar in the round" at its back that is designed to be a place to meet new friends; a stage for live entertainment that will include band music, string instrument performers and pianists; and a seemingly endless, 270-degree wall of glass offering views of the sea.

In addition, Queen Anne's Commodore Club is part of a larger complex of adult venues at the top of the ship that also includes the ship's cigar lounge, known as Churchill's; its library; and an expanded area for onboard weddings and other shipboard celebrations.

New wellness spaces

Cunard is leaning into the wellness trend with a new-for-the-line, glass-enclosed Wellness Studio that is just past The Pavilion Pool (it sits under the same glorious glass dome that covers that venue).

While it still wasn't quite done during my visit, the allure of the space was already clear. Even on a rainy day, it was bathed in light and afforded stunning views.

The space will be used for yoga, Pilates, Zumba and line dancing during the day, and there are plans for ballroom dancing classes at sunset.

The Wellness Studio is part of an expansion of wellness areas that also includes the healthy-eats cafe and juice bar in The Pavilion area mentioned above.

The idea, in part, was to get all of the fitness classes that the line normally offers in its fitness area on the inside of the ship up to the top deck, where participants can enjoy natural light and views of the sea all around.

That said, Queen Anne still has a good-sized fitness center and a spa with a thermal pool complex in a lower part of the vessel.

While I didn't see it during my visit, the spa is designed to impress with heated loungers, experiential showers, a reflexology footpath with textured stones, a cold room (a first for Cunard), a large steam room, a Himalayan salt sauna and a traditional sauna. There's also a relaxation room and a wellness suite.

The ultimate Grills zones

If you're a Cunard regular, you know about the Grills. They're the two exclusive restaurants on every Cunard ship for passengers staying in suites.

On Queen Anne, these upscale spaces — the Queens Grill and Princess Grill — come with access to what is the ultimate exclusive retreat area ever conceived for a Cunard ship.

Known as the Grills Terrace, it's a sprawling private outdoor lounge area spans the width of the ship and has plush lounge chairs, two stunning infinity whirlpools overlooking the ocean and waiter service for your every need.

The Grills Terrace sits just above the Queens Grill and Princess Grill restaurants, which are loaded with tables for two (in response to customer demand). That's a big change from the designs of earlier Grills on Cunard ships that often had lots of bigger tables where passengers sometimes were assigned seating with strangers.

In between the two Grills is what just may be my favorite spot on the ship: the Grills Lounge. It's a stunningly designed hideaway bathed in natural light from a skylight that is for the exclusive use of Grills passengers. I love the curvy chairs upholstered in luscious peacock blue fabric surrounding a circular chartreuse seating area. Just behind is a bar that is exclusive to Grills passengers.

The space also has a concierge to help with your every need.

The Queens Grill and Princess Grill dining rooms are open to passengers staying in Queens Grill and Princess Grill suites, respectively. Queens Grill suites are the biggest suites on the ship, starting at 507 square feet. Princess Grill suites (one of which is shown above) measure 302 square feet.

More dining venues

Cunard has never been known for ships that offered oodles of dining options. But that's changing with Queen Anne — and in a big way.

Queen Anne boasts 15 different places where you can grab a bite, more than double the number on the line's other ships.

The options include Aji Wa, a new restaurant concept for Cunard that serves what's billed as a contemporary take on Japanese cuisine and is home to the Sushi and Sake bar. Also new for Cunard is Aranya, an Indian eatery.

Both are extra-charge specialty restaurants, as is Queen Anne's high-end steakhouse, Sir Samuel's — another new concept. A fourth specialty eatery that is new for Cunard, Tramonto, serves Mediterranean dishes meant to be shared.

These four specialty restaurants complement the traditional Queens Grill, Princess Grill, Britannia and Britannia Club restaurants, which are the main eateries for passengers (assigned based on cabin category).

Other places to dine include the Golden Lion pub, a mainstay of Cunard ships. On Queen Anne, it features a new pub menu designed by renowned chef Michel Roux (who also created an exclusive gala menu for the Queens Grill restaurant). The menu will eventually be rolled out to Golden Lion pubs across the Cunard fleet.

Designed to capture the essence of a traditional British pub with lots of red leather, green leather and wood tone finishes, window mosaic work, banquet seating and a grand bar, the Golden Lion pub on Queen Anne is also notably bigger than sister venues on other Cunard ships.

It's also home to a wall of eclectic art that its designers say offers a nod to the quirkiness of Britain today.

In addition to classic British pub dishes reimagined by Roux and a new Cunard beef burger, the pub offerings will include Cunard brand craft beers and a Bloody Mary menu.

In addition, Queen Anne passengers are able to eat in casual comfort at the Artisans' Foodhall, a new take on the traditional buffet eatery on Cunard ships. It features active food stations instead of traditional self-serve buffet lines.

At each of the stations, a chef is standing by to make a dish just for you, and there are also pre-plated dishes available to grab and go.

The Artisans' Foodhall is also the first casual buffet eatery on a Cunard ship with its own bar, located right in the middle of the room.

Classic Cunard spaces with a twist

As is typical for Cunard ships, Queen Anne features a Grand Lobby with a cascading staircase that makes you feel like royalty as you descend into the ship's interior areas for the evening. But it's a Grand Lobby with a more contemporary design.

Instead of the traditional ocean liner-of-old look of the Grand Lobbies found on Cunard's three other vessels, the space has a fresh modernity with Art Deco-inspired white-and-black marble floors, glass railings and a modern take on the showpiece murals that are a staple of Grand Lobbies on Cunard ships.

Another classic Cunard venue getting a tweak on Queen Anne is the Queens Room, the grand ballroom where Cunard fans traditionally have danced the night away to big band music.

With clusters of modern ball lamps hanging from its ceiling, evoking planets floating in the sky, and a stunning, multicolored marquetry wood floor as a counterpoint, it has a dreamy, make-believe quality that is unlike anything seen before on a Cunard ship.

A large digital screen behind its semicircular stage and high-tech lighting add to its much more modern feel.

The Queens Room is also rounder in its design and more open to its surroundings. Its top level, in particular, is open to an area of boutique stores and the passing traffic of passengers moving between the front and back of the ship.

The Queens Room and surrounding shopping area are curvy in their layouts, with fewer straight-lined walls than you'll find on earlier Cunard ships. It's something of a signature for the design of Queen Anne's public spaces.

Bars, in particular, often are built in a circular motif, a deliberate change from earlier Cunard ships that is aimed at encouraging drinking passengers to interact with each other.

Among the most striking spaces on Queen Anne is the Chart Room, a lounge area with semicircular seating arranged across colorful carpeting with bold circular patterns.

With dark paneled walls and crystal chandeliers, it has an Art Deco sensibility while also feeling contemporary in its design.

Forward of the Grand Lobby and Queens Room, passengers also will find the ship's casino (called Room 1840) and main theater (dubbed the Royal Court Theatre).

The latter venue spreads across two decks.

Bottom line

Queen Anne is ushering in a new era for Cunard with a more contemporary look and feel than the three other vessels in the line's fleet and a broader array of venues that tap into recent trends in cruising. It's the first Cunard ship to have a wide range of alternative dining options with new-for-the-line restaurants focused on Indian, Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine. It's also the first Cunard ship with a top-of-the-ship wellness studio for yoga, Pilates, Zumba and other class-based wellness activities, and it offers several other new wellness offerings. These are all things that Cunard plans to carry through to the older ships in its fleet over the coming years as it revamps the vessels during dry docks.

Still, Queen Anne continues to hold true to what Cunard has long been about — that respect for tradition and elegance that evoke the grand old days of ocean liner travel. Whether you're a longtime Cunard fan or someone eyeing your first cruise with the brand, this is a vessel you'll want to try.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money on vacation
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Cunard added a 4th luxury cruise ship to its famous fleet — see what it'll be like on the new Queen Anne

• Cunard  welcomed its fourth ship and newest in 14 years, the 2,996-guest Queen Anne.
• The 114,000-ton vessel has amenities like an Indian restaurant and pool under a retractable glass roof.
• Queen Anne's 2024 itineraries, primarily in Europe, start at $300 per person for a two-night cruise.

Cunard has operated 249 ships throughout its 184 years in operation, including the famous Queen Mary and Queen Mary 2. But it's been 14 years since the cruise line has launched a new vessel — until now.

Luxury cruisers , meet Queen Anne. It's Cunard's latest 2,996-guest ship, replete with 4,300 art pieces, archery, and the company's signature high-end flair. Its arrival was so highly anticipated that every cabin on its May 3 maiden voyage was fully reserved in minutes, the BBC reported.

The Carnival Corp. brand may be storied, but that doesn’t mean it’s past its prime.

Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, recently told the BBC that its bookings have grown 25% since the beginning of 2024 and are now the best they've been in a decade.

So it should come as no surprise that several of Queen Anne's 2024 itineraries are almost sold out.

Cunard isn’t in the business of building bigger.

Luxury cruise lines are beloved for their small-ship experience. Cunard is no different.

The new 114,000-ton cruise liner is the company's second-largest, although it can carry more guests than any of its other ships.

However, at a 2,996-guest and 1,225-crew capacity, Queen Anne is still tiny compared to the mass-market cruise industry's newest ships , the largest of which can carry 10,000 people.

Queen Anne's cabins are divided into four categories, listed from most to least luxurious: Queens Grill, Princess Grill, Britannia Club, and Britannia.

Despite being the cheapest option, the Britannia accommodations have high-end amenities like sparkling wine, Penhaligon toiletries, and tea and coffee machines.

That's nothing compared to the most luxurious Queens Grill suites, where guests get amenities like pillow menus, stocked mini-bars, a butler, fruit, and pre-dinner canapes.

Forget the sparkling wine — Queens Grill travelers get a bottle of Champagne.

Cabin categories are especially important for Cunard, not for reasons you might expect.

Besides how luxurious your hotel room at sea is, your cabin influences where you have breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Guests in the Princess Grill suites dine at the Princess Grill restaurant, while Britannia Club guests stick to the Britannia Club restaurant, and so on.

Guests in the higher-end Princess and Queens cabins also get a pretty sweet bonus: an exclusive lounge with infinity hot tubs.

Regardless of your cabin, the 14-deck ship has plenty of areas for all guests to relax under the sun.

For example, the Pavilion. It's one of Queen Anne's go-to places for an afternoon swim, nighttime movie viewing, silent disco, and not-so-silent live music, all under a retractable glass roof.

The ship's pool club also has plenty of lounge seats for a more traditional pool deck experience. For something indoors, head to the drawing and game rooms instead.

Like every new cruise ship, Queen Anne has a pickleball court.

But unlike every new cruise ship, it also has archery — coaches, bows, and arrows included.

Travelers looking for a less intense afternoon can instead try their hand at the putting green, shuffleboard, or quoits.

Not confident in your athletic abilities? Don't worry — there's a bar nearby, too.

If you lose your pickleball match, you can retail therapy your pain away at Queen Anne’s high-end stores.

Travelers have been splurging big on their cruise vacations . On Queen Anne (and with help from one of the ship's personal shoppers), this could include a Bremont watch or Chanel makeup.

Or, do as cruisers do: Eat and drink the pain away.

The ship has 15 eateries. Unfortunately, you'll have to pay extra for the Mediterranean, Indian, Japanese, steakhouse grill, alfresco, and British restaurants.

Thankfully, the food hall-style buffet, room service, and cabin-assigned dining rooms are included in the fare.

Feeling peckish in the afternoon? Afternoon tea is held in the Queens Room, the same venue that hosts events like ballroom dancing and Cunard's signature black-tie galas.

Of course, a cruise wouldn’t be complete without a casino, spa, and nighttime shows.

Queen Anne is showing two new productions, including an adaptation of the classic British film "Brief Encounter."

For more casual entertainment, the ship also has a "show bar" helmed by a variety of musicians and entertainers.

For a more relaxing afternoon, try the spa's cryotherapy, "experience showers," and salt saunas.

Afterwards, to keep the wellness trend going, grab a healthy bite at the veggie and "sustainably sourced protein"-forward Wellness Cafe. Its kombucha bellinis are technically good for you, right?

Cunard is beloved for its regular transatlantic cruises on its Queen Mary 2 ocean liner.

In 2025, Queen Anne will embark on its first three-month around-the-world cruise. However, for the most part, it's not scheduled for repeat long-haul journeys .

Instead, in 2024, the ship will be homeported in Southampton, UK and travel on two- to 19-night itineraries across Europe.

The cheapest way to experience the new ship is a two-night summer cruise from Southampton to Hamburg, Germany, which currently starts at $300 per person.

But if money is no problem, the 18-night roundtrip Hamburg cruise during Christmas and the New Year might pique your interest — and your wallet. The itinerary's luxurious Queens Grill suites start at $19,350 per person.

• Main content

• Work & Careers
• Life & Arts

Become an FT subscriber

Try unlimited access Only $1 for 4 weeks

Then $75 per month. Complete digital access to quality FT journalism on any device. Cancel anytime during your trial.

• Global news & analysis
• Expert opinion
• Special features
• FirstFT newsletter
• Videos & Podcasts
• Android & iOS app
• FT Edit app
• 10 gift articles per month

Explore more offers.

Standard digital.

• FT Digital Edition

Premium Digital

Print + premium digital, weekend print + standard digital, weekend print + premium digital.

Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.

• Global news & analysis
• Exclusive FT analysis
• FT App on Android & iOS
• FirstFT: the day's biggest stories
• 20+ curated newsletters
• Follow topics & set alerts with myFT
• FT Videos & Podcasts
• 20 monthly gift articles to share
• Lex: FT's flagship investment column
• 15+ Premium newsletters by leading experts
• FT Digital Edition: our digitised print edition
• Weekday Print Edition
• Videos & Podcasts
• Premium newsletters
• 10 additional gift articles per month
• FT Weekend Print delivery
• Everything in Standard Digital
• Everything in Premium Digital

Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.

• 10 monthly gift articles to share
• Everything in Print

Terms & Conditions apply

Explore our full range of subscriptions.

Why the ft.

See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times.

International Edition