Cunard Cruise Ships
Cunard's four Queens share a common style, but vary considerably in size and function: Queen Mary 2, launched in 2004 and remastered (some say 'restyled') in 2016, accommodates 2,691 guests in a vessel designed for the North Atlantic, with a deep hull, a lofty service speed, the Illuminations planetarium and the only kennels at sea; Queen Victoria (2007, 2,061) and Queen Elizabeth (2010, 2,081) form the traditional middleweight pair, with Queen Elizabeth having been refreshed in 2024 ahead of her transatlantic voyage; Queen Anne was delivered in May 2024 for 2,996 guests, the largest capacity and most modern in design, with a Pavilion pool with retractable roof, the Artisans' Foodhall and specialty restaurants including Sir Samuel's steakhouse, Aranya, Aji Wa and Tramonto.
Every one of the Cunard cruise ships has the same kind of dining structure. The Britannia staterooms have a dining room in the Britannia restaurant while those at Britannia Club balcony rooms have open seating, and the Princess Grill and Queens Grill suites have a private restaurant, lounge and sun terrace. Each ship has a Royal Court Theatre, a Queens Room ballroom, a Golden Lion pub, a Commodore Club and a library. In 2026 Queen Mary 2 completes her 450th crossing with the most extensive entertainment program ever staged on the route which includes a Literature Festival at Sea and more than 680 speakers. The fleet gathers for the first time in Liverpool on 16th May 2028 with Queen-to-Queen voyages enabling guests to sail two, three or all four ships back-to-back.
Cunard Cruise Destinations
The Transatlantic crossing between Southampton and New York where Cunard got its start, on which Queen Mary 2 continues to embark on a seven-night voyage, some of which are extended to Hamburg or combined with Canada and New England or the Caribbean itineraries from New York. From Southampton, Queen Anne and Queen Victoria offer roundtrip voyages to the Norwegian Fjords, the Baltic, the Canary Islands, Iberia and the Mediterranean, as well as two-night breaks to Hamburg. Queen Elizabeth has been based in North America year-round, going on Alaskan journeys from Seattle in summer 2026 and the Caribbean from Miami in winter. The programme running from October 2026 through April 2027 will see more than 40 new voyages calling at 101 destinations in 57 countries, including 62 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
For longer journeys, the Cunard cruise destinations list is led by the World Voyages. On January 10, 2027, Queen Victoria departs Southampton on a 109-night full World Voyage calling at 32 ports with overnights in New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Cape Town and Madeira, while Queen Anne leaves the same day on a 90-night South America Discovery Voyage with 15 maiden calls and an overnight in Rio de Janeiro during Carnival. In 2028 Queen Anne sails a 111-night westbound circumnavigation and Queen Elizabeth her first full World Voyage since 2018. Segments from seven nights are sold separately. Themed Event Voyages, such as Le Gavroche at Sea with Michel Roux, London Theatre at Sea and Wellness at Sea, run through the summer season.
Cunard Cruise Departure Ports
Southampton is Cunard's home port and the starting point for most of the fleet's voyages, ranging from two-night Hamburg breaks to the January World Voyages. New York is the second pillar, where Queen Mary 2 docks at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal for her Transatlantic Crossings and Canada, New England and Caribbean sailings. Hamburg appears as both a departure and arrival port on the short North Sea hops that link up nicely with a crossing. Miami is the winter base for Queen Elizabeth's Caribbean season, while Seattle hosts her Alaska roundtrips in summer 2026. Many guests opt to combine a crossing with a flight home or a second voyage because a number of Cunard routes are one-way.
When it comes to choosing between Cunard cruise departure ports, it will depend on which type of voyage you are going to take. World Voyage sectors can be boarded in New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore or Cape Town, and Mediterranean fly-cruises begin in Barcelona or Rome (Civitavecchia). Bridgetown in Barbados is set to join the map for Queen Elizabeth’s 2027/28 Caribbean season, while Liverpool hosts the Four Queens Celebration voyages in May 2028. Your assigned boarding time is given at an online check–in, making sure to arrive on the day early enough to allow for traffic, particularly in New York and Southampton on turnaround days when more than one Queen is in port.
Cunard Cruise Pricing
Cunard’s prices are set in the premium to luxury range, and their tariff policy seems fair, rewarding the guests’ awareness of what they pay for. The basic fare includes accommodation, all meals at your chosen restaurant and buffet, daily afternoon tea, theatre shows, guest talks, children’s play areas, and tea, coffee, water, and selected juices. Excluded from the price are alcoholic and premium drinks, the daily Hotel & Dining Service Charge, a percentage service charge for bar, and spa purchases, Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants, treatments, and shore excursions. The rate depends on the ship, route, season, and grade – Britannia Inside, Oceanview, and Balcony staterooms are an entry-level category, Britannia Club includes a special seating restaurant, and the top-tier accommodation is represented by Princess Grill and Queens Grill suites.
Understanding Cunard cruise pricing is understanding the Grills. They are a ship within a ship, with their own restaurant, lounge, sun terrace and concierge, butler service and in-suite spirits in the Queens Grill. Cunard's Signature Packages offer a drinks package, Wi-Fi and specialty dining credit for a set daily price, often a better deal than paying as you go. Fares on CruiseBooking.com are quoted per person, based on double occupancy; a two-night Hamburg break and a 109-night World Voyage sit at opposite ends of the range, and prices fluctuate with demand, so check the live price at booking.
Cunard Cruise Deals & Offers
Cunard sells two main fare types. The Cunard Fare costs more but adds flexibility, a choice of stateroom location and dining time, and usually onboard spending money. The Early Saver Fare is cheaper, with Cunard assigning the stateroom within your chosen grade and fewer extras. Around each program launch the line runs headline promotions; the current 2027 offer includes savings of up to 35 percent, a reduced refundable deposit and third and fourth guests sailing free on selected Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne voyages until December 7, 2026. Grill Suite promotions have bundled drinks and service charges; World Voyage fares include the daily service charge and exclusive events, and Cunard World Club members receive loyalty savings and onboard benefits.
The benefit of monitoring Cunard cruise deals is that prices follow a predictable pattern. New seasons tend to launch every two years or so – and the best new Grill Suite and World Voyage segment pricing is typically available at launch, while Late Saver fares appear on Southampton short breaks and shoulder-season Europe sailings within the final-payment window. Transatlantic Crossings, holiday sailings and the 2028 Four Queens Celebration voyages sell early on. Set a price alert or use the 120-Day Tracker on CruiseBooking.com to monitor specific sailing rather than wait for a sale that may miss it.
Cunard Cruise Policy
Cunard’s onboard dress codes are a reflection of its heritage. The evening dress is Smart Attire. All voyages of three nights or more include at least one Gala Evening (announced by formal invitation) when men are invited to wear tuxedos and ladies to wear evening dress. Themes range from Masquerade to Black and White and the Roaring Twenties – see the website for details. Passports should be valid for six months beyond the period of the visit; guests must also have any necessary visas to enter the countries visited and check in online to obtain electronic boarding passes before arrival at the port of embarkation. On arrival at the ship, guests are allowed to bring one bottle of wine or champagne for their cabin (bottles opened in a restaurant or bar will be charged to the account with a $25 corkage fee). Smoking is permitted only in designated areas.
The Cunard cruise line policy also covers the daily Hotel & Dining Service Charge added to onboard accounts, minimum age for infants (higher on crossings with several consecutive sea days), complimentary children's zones for ages 2 to 17, accessible staterooms and mobility assistance, and the kennels on Queen Mary 2, which must be reserved well in advance and are limited to crossings. Itineraries may change for weather or operational reasons under the passage of contract. Reviewing these points on Cunard's website before departure, together with CruiseBooking.com Know Before You Go guides, means embarkation day is spent settling in rather than sorting paperwork.
Cunard Cruise Cancellation Policy
In the case of reservations made in the United States, the terms stated by the Cunard are dependent on the number of nights voyage. A deposit worth 25 percent of the price is required for voyages of 30 nights or less with the final payment due two months before departure. If cancelled 120 days before sailing, 25 percent of the fare or deposit is non-refundable, and the penalty increases for each sailing day: 40 percent at 89, 50 percent at 60, 75 percent at 30, and 100 percent within 14 days of sailing or no-show. Voyages of 31 nights or more require a 20 percent deposit with the final payment due 150 days prior to departure and cancellation penalties starting at 150 days to 42 days before sailing; from 41 days the refund is 50 percent, at 30 days the refund is 25 percent and from 15 days or no-show: 0 percent. The cancellation charges do not include government taxes and fees.
In general, we suggest that you research Cunard's cancellation policies before you purchase a cruise with us. Certain promotional fares may have non-refundable deposits or non-refundable fares from the time of purchase. Hotel packages and land tours are subject to their own cancellation policies; transfers are always refundable, and Cunard Care protection is non-refundable once purchased. If Cunard cancels a voyage for any reason, guests will be given the option of a full refund or future cruise credit. CruiseBooking.com's cancellation policies page provides current information on cancellation policies, and our customer service representatives can assist you in making cancellations or changes and provide you with the exact amount of the charge before you confirm the change.
Cunard Cruise Tips & Activities
Cunard is a line where little preparation changes the whole voyage. The rhythm is different from mainstream cruising: days at sea are the point rather than something to endure, evenings are dressed, and the ship traditions are best enjoyed by guests who know when and where they happen. These tips cover what regular Cunard travelers do differently, from packing to picking the right side of the Atlantic to sail.
- Dress To Impress at Gala Evenings: Your invitation will be presented to you in the stateroom, with the theme published before departure. One formal outfit is needed for a short sailing and two or three for a crossing or longer cruise. On other evenings, Smart Attire is worn, which means that trousers and a collared shirt or a dress are appropriate, while jeans and sportswear should be left at home after 6pm.
- Choose Your Dining Grade Deliberately: Britannia staterooms come with fixed early or late seating. If you want to eat when you like, book Britannia Club or a Grill Suite rather than hoping to switch on board. Grill guests also get a private lounge and sun terrace, which changes how a sea day feels on a full ship.
- Don't Miss Afternoon Tea: Served daily in the Queens Room with live music, white-gloved service, scones and finger sandwiches, it is included in every fare and is the most Cunard hour of the day. Arrive ten minutes early for a table near the dance floor, and note the Grills serve a quieter version in their own restaurant.
- Pick Your Crossing Direction: Westbound to New York; the clocks go back an hour on five nights, so you gain a 25-hour day each time and arrive rested. Eastbound to Southampton, you lose those hours. Book a sheltered balcony or a midships stateroom on Queen Mary 2 if the North Atlantic in shoulder season concerns you.
- Budget for the Extras: Cunard is not all-inclusive. Plan for the daily Hotel & Dining Service Charge, drinks, Wi-Fi and specialty dining. If you expect wine with dinner and a cocktail before the show, a Signature Package bought at booking usually beats paying the glass, and it removes the bar service charge from every round.
- Book Kennels and Suites Early: Queen Mary 2 kennels sell out more than a year ahead and are available only on Transatlantic Crossings. Queens Grill suites on World Voyage segments and Four Queens Celebration voyages go first too. Cunard World Club members get early access to new program, so register before the next launch if you plan to sail again.
