Posts in category: Cunard

Cunard Line is one of the most historic cruise lines in the world, and is a true icon of the cruise industry. Even today, when there are much larger cruise lines offering all kinds of innovations and incredibly-sized super-ships, Cunard still offers something special.

But if you’re considering cruising with Cunard, you’ll want to know more about the ships – what they offer, and what makes them different. This guide will explain all the similarities and differences between the Cunard fleet.

The Cunard fleet

There are currently four ships in the Cunard fleet:

• Queen Mary 2
• Queen Victoria
• Queen Elizabeth
• Queen Anne

The Cunard Line ships list is a lot smaller than many other cruise lines around the world, many of which have at least eight ships and some that have a fleet of over 20 vessels. But the modern Cunard Line is not about huge numbers – it’s about providing a unique experience that blends the history of cruising with contemporary amenities and features.

So don’t expect there to be a sudden announcement of a lot of new Cunard ships. It won’t happen – the fleet will always stay small and bespoke.

A history of Cunard

Cunard has a long history of shipping in general, having existed for almost 200 years. Over 240 ships have sailed for Cunard, including a mix of cruise ships, ocean liners, tender boats, ferries and cargo/container ships.

For a time, Cunard Line was one of the biggest shipping companies in the world and has often been viewed as the biggest operator of transatlantic sailings.

The first ship to be named after a queen was Queen Mary, which launched in 1936. She was later joined by Queen Elizabeth, with both ships sailing for the cruise line until the late 1960s. Queen Elizabeth 2 then joined the fleet in 1969 and completed an impressive 39 years of service, finally retiring from the cruise line in 2008 and later opening as a floating hotel in Dubai.

The cruise line has operated other cruise ships in the past too, including Cunard Adventurer, Cunard Ambassador, Cunard Countess, Cunard Princess, Cunard Crown Monarch, Cunard Crown Jewel and Cunard Crown Dynasty.

Ship sinkings

Of all the ships to have ever been owned by Cunard Line (almost 250), 37 have sunk. However, the vast majority of these were either 19th Century shipwrecks, or sunk during the World Wars by U-boats. None of the cruise ships sailing for Cunard in the past century have sunk.

The most famous ship to have sunk for Cunard was a cruise ship of sorts. Technically an ocean liner, the Lusitania was sunk in 1915 by the German navy, resulting in a loss of over 1,100 lives.

The modern Cunard fleet is very safe and has not seen any of the ships sunk. All of the incidents that have occurred were with old ships, and mostly during wartime. Many were cargo ships too and so were prime targets for enemies.

Read more: How many cruise ships have sunk in the past 100 years?

Titanic wasn’t Cunard’s…

The Titanic was not a Cunard Line ship. It was owned by White Star Line, considered a rival of Cunard Line from its early history in the 1840s through to the early 1930s. White Star Line would eventually merge its business with Cunard Line before Cunard Line took over completely.

Cunard ships by age

This table shows how old each of Cunard’s ships are…

The oldest ship in the Cunard fleet is Queen Mary 2. She is the only remaining ocean liner in the world and also the world’s fastest cruise ship, reaching speeds of up to 32 knots across the Atlantic.

Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth are sister ships, so they are very similar. These are Vista-class ships, with the same shall as other Carnival brand ships such as P&O Cruises’ Arcadia and Holland America Line’s MS Noordam.

The newest Cunard ship, Queen Anne, is a Pinnacle-class ship, most similar to Holland America Line’s MS Koningsdam.

And ranked by size…

Two of the Cunard ships are very similar in size, but one is much larger, and the newer ship sits in the middle. Here’s a look at the Cunard fleet by size, from largest to smallest:

In the photo below, Queen Elizabeth is on the left and the larger Queen Mary 2 is on the right…

Cunard Line is now owned by the Carnival Corporation, and three of the ships are part of ship classes that span other cruise lines.

The Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria are both Vista-class ships and so use the same template as P&O’s Arcadia, the MS Noordam for Holland America Line, and Costa Luminosa for Costa Cruises.

Queen Anne is a Pinnacle-class ship similar to the Pinnacle-class ships sailing for Holland America Line – MS Koningsdam, MS Nieuw Statendam and MS Rotterdam. She is bigger than those ships, though.

Queen Mary 2 is not part of a cross-line class. She’s a custom-built ocean liner.

So the biggest ship is…

The biggest Cunard ship is Queen Mary 2 – she’s around 65% bigger than her sister ships Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria by gross tonnage, and 25% longer.

The newer Cunard ship, Queen Anne, is around 25% smaller than Queen Mary 2, but approximately 25% bigger than the other two Queens.

The smallest Cunard ship

The smallest ship in the Cunard fleet is Queen Victoria. She is very similar in size to Queen Elizabeth – she is the same length and width, and has the same number of decks – but her gross tonnage is less by around 850 GT. She also has a slightly lower maximum guest capacity.

Cunard dining options explained

The Cunard ships are very similar when it comes to dining. Here’s a look at the venues you can expect to enjoy onboard:

Cunard Main Dining

There are four main dining restaurants on every Cunard ship, and they’re all the same. They’re the Queen’s Grill, Princess Grill, Britannia Club and Britannia restaurants. Where you eat depends on your suite/stateroom, with the Queens Grill being the most exclusive option.

Suggested read: Cunard Queens Grill Vs Princess Grill – Which To Choose?

The menus do vary by the different restaurants, but the style of dining is the same – you’ll get a choice of options taken from various cuisines, including a small selection of options for any children onboard.

Cunard Alternative Dining

Each of the ships has alternative dining options too, including a buffet – on Queen Mary 2 this is the Kings Court, and on Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth it is the Lido. Queen Anne has the Artisans’ Foodhall.

The buffet is more casual, but at night parts are sectioned off for more unique dining experiences. All ships have a steakhouse and a pub, and they all have a more casual outdoor dining venue too.

Queen Anne Restaurants

The Queen Anne debuted some new restaurants onboard when she launched. She’s retained the approach to main dining, but also has a selection of new speciality dining options for guests to try.

These include a Mediterranean restaurant named Tramonto, an East-Asian restaurant named Aji Wa, and an Indian venue named Aranya, as well as a Wellness Cafe.

Read more: New Dining Experiences Announced For Queen Anne

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea is taken very seriously on Cunard Line ships. This isn’t just a side option at a cafe – you can choose from a selection of options, including chocolate-themed or Champagne-themed, and it is available in many of the restaurants on the ships.

All Cunard ships offer afternoon tea, so it’s worth exploring the options available across the restaurants if you want to take part in this classic British tradition.

Cunard ship facilities

Cunard daytime activities

The daytime activities across the Cunard fleet are broadly very similar. All of the ships have a selection of indoor and outdoor games, putting greens, and fitness classes. You can try ballroom dancing lessons, join a choir onboard and even learn to fence.

All of the ships have swimming pools – Queen Mary 2 has a couple more than the other ships, but they all have at least one main outdoor pool, a secondary pool and a third pool in the spa (charges apply to use the spa pool).

In terms of unique features, Queen Mary 2 has its own planetarium where guests can learn about the night’s sky. The talks given here are fascinating and it’s a very interactive experience.

Queen Elizabeth also has its own Games Deck where a selection of games can be enjoyed by guests.

Cunard evening entertainment

All of the Cunard ships feature a wide selection of entertainment during the evening, including theatre productions, cabaret acts and live musicians. They all have a nightclub too, though they are different venues depending on the ship.

On Queen Anne there isn’t a dedicated nightclub but the show bar, Bright Lights, opens up as a place to dance once the acts are finished for the night.

Cunard pet boarding

Queen Mary 2 is unique in that she offers pet boarding facilities for anyone who wants to travel with their dog or cat. There are kennels where the pets will stay during the cruise, along with an outdoor area for exercise. It even includes an American fire hydrant and a British lamppost to make dogs feel at home when they’re going to the bathroom!

Cunard ships and kids

All of the Cunard ships welcome children, although they’re not the best choices for families who want to keep their kids active with a lot of different activities. They do have kids clubs, broken down into different age categories, but the rest of the facilities on the ships are tailored to adult guests.

Cunard ships’ destinations

The Cunard ships don’t tend to stay in one region, unlike some other cruise lines which will keep a ship in a certain part of the world long-term.

Queen Mary 2 offers classic transatlantic cruises, but also a selection of Mediterranean and Norwegian Fjords cruises, along with an epic world cruise (that is broken into segments).

Queen Elizabeth offers a diverse range of cruise options, including Mediterranean, US East Coast, Alaska, Asia, South Pacific and Australia cruises.

Queen Victoria has a similarly broad selection of cruises, including sailings to Africa and the Indian Ocean, Australia, the Canary Islands, Northern Europe and Central America. She also has an epic world cruise option.

Queen Anne sails to similar destinations as Queen Victoria, including her own world voyage in 2025.

Transatlantic cruises

While all Cunard ships offer occasional transatlantic cruises when repositioning, it’s the Queen Mary 2 which offers the sailings regularly. Some are direct between Southampton and New York, while others incorporate the Caribbean for longer cruises.

Suggested read: How Long Is A Transatlantic Cruise?

The most luxurious ship…

All of the Cunard ships are luxurious in their own way and none are a particular standout. Queen Mary 2 is the most spacious and most traditional, but she is also a little older. Queen Anne is the newest ship and so offers the most contemporary decor and features.

Final word

The Cunard ships all offer a very similar service overall – Cunard has a certain style of cruising, and that is maintained despite the differences in ship ages and size.

Whichever ship you choose you will get to enjoy that ‘Cunard experience’, but there may be a couple of features which sway your decision.

If you want the most spacious ship, choose Queen Mary 2. For a smaller ship experience, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth are both excellent. And if you like the idea of a brand-new ship, book a cruise on Queen Anne.

You may also want to look at this list of Cunard ships ranked by reviews.

Related posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

I’ve taken over 40 cruises but I’d never really fancied Cunard.

With over 300 cruise ships at sea and striking differences between them, I always say that there’s a cruise line for everyone. And honestly, I didn’t think Cunard was for me.

When I think of Cunard I think of butlers wearing white gloves, afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches and time spent doing not much more than crossword puzzles and starting at the ocean.

And while it’s true that you can do all of those things on a Cunard cruise, there’s more to it than that, as I would discover.

Is Cunard stuffy?

As a working-class mum with two young kids, I thought that I was far from the typical Cunard cruiser. I expected to stand out like a sore thumb amidst a sea of grey-haired couples who reside in the Home Counties and speak using the Queen’s English.

Cunard is synonymous with Royalty, with the ships named after famous British Queens. The logo features a crown, a lion and a laurel wreath, signifying the connections to the British Royal Family.

And while yes, there are quite a few guests on board that wouldn’t look out of place at a Buckingham Palace garden party, on this cruise, the clientele were mixed.

As I took a short sailing from Southampton and Hamburg and back (which was a segment of the longer transatlantic voyages that Queen Mary 2 is famous for) there were plenty of Germans and Americans on board too.

While some of the Brits like to don a bow tie for breakfast, the international guests were a little more relaxed. And yes, some were even wearing jeans!

I booked this cruise because I spotted it on sale for £198pp for four nights – a price that was less than half of the going rate. I shared the deal on my Facebook page and with my email list and the remaining places were sold that day.

If you’d like to hear about the best cruise deals I find each week, you can leave your email address here and I’ll send them to you.

You get what you pay for

Cunard and P&O Cruises are both part of the Carnival group and there are many similarities between the two brands.

I love P&O Cruises but, like many, I’ve noticed that what’s included in the fare has become gradually less over the years, with the little extras like a nightly turn-down with chocolates on the pillows no longer part of the service.

Read more: 20 Things That P&O Cruises Used To Offer That They No Longer Do

On Cunard, all the little extras are there for you. Each cabin has a bottle of sparkling wine in the fridge, there’s 24-hour room service at no charge and the crew members seem to be extra friendly and helpful.

Yes, there are some niggles, and there will always be those who like to focus on the things that aren’t perfect rather than those that are. But on the whole, Cunard offers a level of luxury that matches the price point.

Queen Mary 2 is an older ship

The last of the world’s great ocean liners, Queen Mary 2 is iconic. She’s one of the fastest passenger ships in operation, with a maximum speed of 30 knots.

Of course, she’s been fully refurbished many times since her launch in 2024 and some areas of the ship look brand new. However, she is an incredibly quirky ship by design.

I’ve never known a cruise ship that was so difficult to find my way around. The lower decks, in particular, are like a maze, with certain areas only accessible by taking unusual routes that you wouldn’t expect. Without the paper deck plan that Cunard gives to every guest on embarkation, you will most definitely get lost.

The Planetarium and the G32 nightclub are two areas that some cruisers never manage to discover, even on a week-long crossing.

Some unusual features

One of most fascinating things about Queen Mary 2 is that she is the only cruise ship in the world that allows guests to bring their pet dogs and cats onboard. Indeed, the ship has its own kennels where pets can stay for transatlantic crossings.

The prices aren’t cheap, at $800 to $2000 for a dog (depending on the size) and $1600 for a cat. But for anyone relocating across the pond with their pets, it provides a handy way to travel.

Queen Mary 2 is also the only cruise ship to feature a planetarium. With its domed ceiling and fully reclining seats, it’s an attractive feature designed to make you feel as though you’re in space. Unfortunately, the planetarium wasn’t open during my four-night cruise, which was disappointing.

Those with an interest in maritime history will be sure to enjoy the Maritime Quest exhibit which chronicles the history of Cunard with rare artifacts, photos and interactive displays. There’s also an extensive library, one of the largest at sea, with over 8,000 books.

Cunard cruisers are a loyal bunch

Upon arriving at the main dining room, I was offered the option to share a table or sit alone. I always opted to share, as I love to meet new people and learn about their lives. One thing that struck me was that almost every person I dined with had cruised on Queen Mary 2 many, many times already.

Some of these had tried other cruise lines too, but described these as ‘just not Cunard’. It’s clear to me that for many people, Cunard ticks every box, prompting them to return every year.

So, is Cunard for me?

I love all kinds of cruise ships, from 6,000-passenger mega-ships, to yachts and river boats that accommodate just a couple of hundred. I also enjoy all ends of the luxury scale, with an appreciation for £30-per-night bargain breaks to ultra-luxury boutique yacht-style vessels.

My trip on Queen Mary 2 offered just what I needed for my solo trip – a quiet space to work, delicious food that met my dietary needs, an extensive gym and promenade deck for exercise and a super-comfortable bed. And, luckily, lots and lots of warm sunshine!

But, if I were to take a week-long cruise with my family or friends, with an absence of sunshine, I’m sure that we would quickly become bored.

While many people delight in spending days with their head buried in a book and evenings listening to the sounds of a tinkling piano with a glass of the finest whiskey and a cigar, that’s not for me.

I prefer a jam-packed schedule, acrobatic performances, water slides and rock climbing walls.

So, while Queen Mary 2 is a beautiful ship that’s just perfect for many people. She’s not my favourite. And that’s okay. 

I made a vlog of my Cunard cruise. You can see that below if you’re interested and subscribe to my YouTube channel to see future videos.

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

When booking a Cunard cruise, you’ve the choice of a regular Britannia stateroom or you can treat yourself to more sumptuous accommodations by upgrading to a suite in the Grills.

There are two broad categories – Queens Grill and Princess Grill – each offering fantastic features and a host of perks.

But which is better (you can probably guess from the name), and what do you get with each? Let’s take a look.

Cunard Grill Suites Explained

Cunard calls its suite classes the Cunard Grills – a name that’s stuck since the early 1900s when Cunard offered grilled meats as a perk to first-class customers.

The Princess Grill Suites covers the entry-level suites – a significant upgrade over the Britannia staterooms, but not quite as luxurious as the Queens Grill, which houses the very best suites across the fleet.

List of Queens Grill and Princess Grill Suites

The Princess Grill Suites are simply named Princess Suites, and they can be found on all four ships in the Cunard fleet – Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and the new Queen Anne.

There are several types of Queens Grill suites, and not all are available fleet-wide. Here’s a breakdown of the different suite options across the fleet:

Cunard Grill Suite Sizes

One of the main differences between Princess Grill and Queens Grill suites are the sizes – choosing a Queens Grill class of suite means you’ll get much more space to relax and enjoy.

Here’s a comparison of the different suite sizes:

Princess Suites are always larger than a Britannia Club Balcony, though not by huge sums – the balconies can be similar sizes, and you may only get around 60 square feet of extra space in the room.

As you progress further up the tiers of Queens Grill suites, you’ll get much more space including suites with separate dining rooms and lounge spaces for hosting guests, expansive balconies and walk-in wardrobes.

Princess Grill Benefits

Guests staying in a Princess Grill suite get to enjoy a host of additional perks compared to guests staying in a Britannia Club Balcony stateroom or lower.

A few of these are worth explaining in more detail.

Princess Grill Restaurant

Cunard has distinctive restaurants for all its guests, so if you stay in a Princess Grill suite, you’ll dine at the Princess Grill restaurant.

You get your own table, reserved for the duration of the cruise, and you’ll enjoy lavish dining with improved options compared to the Britannia restaurant onboard.

Exclusive Grills Areas

Each ship has a Grills Lounge and Grills Terrace, only accessible to the guests in Grills Suites. The Grills Lounge is the perfect place to grab a drink in a quiet corner, or just read a book as your ship sails.

Meanwhile, the Grills Terrace is your outdoor sundeck, where you won’t ever have trouble finding a luxurious sun lounger.

Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth also have the Grills Courtyard, an alfresco dining terrace with beautiful decor including ornate lamposts.

Enhanced Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea is a popular event on Cunard ships, but choosing a Princess Grills suite means you enjoy an even more refined service in the luxurious surrounds of the Grills Lounge.

Grills Concierge

Grills Suite guests have access to a special Concierge service that can help you onboard your ship, including making reservations at other speciality restaurants or booking your shore excursions on your behalf.

Queens Grill Benefits

If you stay in the Queens Grill suites with Cunard, you get all the benefits of the Princess Grill suites, but with some more luxurious touches to enhance your cruise further:

The butler and room steward are dedicated to your suite, meaning they will do everything they can to make sure your accommodations are just to your liking during the day.

The butler can handle a range of tasks, including laundry services or shoe-shining. At night, they are available to help you host a party in your suite if you wish to, serving canapes and helping to serve drinks.

Is Upgrading to Queens Grill Worth It?

It’s not always clear whether it’s worth upgrading to the Queens Grill, or if a Princess Grill suite is sufficient if you want the Cunard suite experience.

It’s clear that staying in a Queens Grill suite gets you a lot more space in your suite, and a long list of additional benefits. But you need to consider how much you’d make use of those benefits – is a complimentary bar and a butler enough to make you want to pay for the upgrade?

The food options between the Princess Grills and Queens Grills restaurants aren’t very different either – you might get a couple of extra options at the Queens Grill but otherwise the menu is similar.

You might pay an additional 25% cruise fare just to move to a Queens Suite, while the very top suites are typically more than twice the price of a Princess Grills Suite.

So it will ultimately come down to personal preference. Many reviews on cruise forums say that Princess Grill Suites are more preferable because of the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant, but if you like the idea of a butler or just want the most luxurious Cunard experience possible, then a Queens Grill Suite will likely be worth it to you.

Related Posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me