Cunard is a British luxury cruise brand with a maritime history dating to 1840. Headquartered in Southampton and operated by Carnival UK Ltd., the company is part of Carnival Corporation Ltd. Its ships combine traditional ocean-travel features with contemporary accommodation, dining, entertainment and worldwide itineraries.
The fleet consists of four ships whose names carry the royal title Queen: Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne. Cunard distinguishes its flagship Queen Mary 2 as an ocean liner rather than a conventional cruise ship, reflecting her design for regular North Atlantic service.
History of Cunard
Samuel Cunard established the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company in 1840 after securing a contract to carry mail across the Atlantic. The company's first ship, Britannia, departed Liverpool for Halifax and Boston in July 1840, beginning a scheduled steamship service between Britain and North America.
The business became widely known as the Cunard Line and played a central role in the development of transatlantic passenger travel. Its historic fleet included ships such as Mauretania, Lusitania, Aquitania, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth 2. Cunard vessels carried emigrants, mail, celebrities and wartime personnel while competing for speed, scale and prestige on the North Atlantic.
Queen Mary and the original Queen Elizabeth established the paired express-liner service associated with Cunard's mid-20th-century identity. Queen Elizabeth 2, commonly known as QE2, entered service in 1969 and remained with Cunard until 2008, combining scheduled crossings with cruises around the world.
Carnival Corporation acquired full ownership of Cunard in 1999. The modern flagship Queen Mary 2 entered service in 2004, followed by Queen Victoria in 2007 and Queen Elizabeth in 2010. Queen Anne joined the fleet in 2024 as the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag and expanded the current fleet to four vessels.
Current Cunard fleet
Cunard currently operates four ships:
- Queen Mary 2 — entered service in 2004 and is Cunard's flagship. Purpose-built for North Atlantic service, she is the world's only ocean liner operating regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings. Distinctive features include a strengthened hull, high freeboard, powerful propulsion, a planetarium and extensive public rooms designed for longer periods at sea.
- Queen Victoria — entered service in 2007. The ship offers traditional Cunard spaces including the Queens Room ballroom, Royal Court Theatre, Britannia Restaurant and separate Princess Grill and Queens Grill accommodation and dining.
- Queen Elizabeth — entered service in 2010. Closely related in design to Queen Victoria, she operates international programmes that can include the Caribbean, Alaska, the Pacific and longer regional voyages.
- Queen Anne — entered service in 2024 as Cunard's newest ship. Built by Fincantieri and based on the Pinnacle-class platform, she combines established Cunard features with contemporary interiors, additional dining choices and venues including the Bright Lights Society and Pavilion Wellness Studio.
The four ships differ substantially in design and purpose. Queen Mary 2 was engineered as an ocean liner for regular Atlantic crossings, while Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne are cruise ships designed principally for varied international itineraries.
Transatlantic crossings
Cunard is particularly associated with crossings between Southampton and New York. Queen Mary 2 maintains the only regularly scheduled passenger-ship service on this route, normally completing the voyage in approximately seven nights without intermediate ports.
A crossing differs from a port-led cruise because the voyage itself is the principal experience. Sea days provide time for lectures, performances, dining, ballroom dancing, live music, spa treatments, library use and other onboard activities. Selected crossings are promoted as Event Voyages with specialist themes or guest speakers.
Queen Mary 2 completed her 400th transatlantic crossing in 2024. Some schedules extend beyond Southampton and New York to include Hamburg, Le Havre, Canada, New England or the Caribbean.
Destinations and itineraries
Beyond the North Atlantic, Cunard offers cruises to Northern Europe, the Norwegian fjords, Iceland, the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Caribbean, Alaska, Canada and New England, the Panama Canal, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.
Programmes include short European voyages, regional fly-cruises, longer ocean passages and world voyages. Southampton remains an important homeport, while individual ships also operate seasonal programmes from ports including New York, Miami, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Sydney and other international gateways. Deployment changes by season.
Onboard experience
Cunard's onboard identity draws on the traditions of ocean travel. Signature features can include formal Gala Evenings, afternoon tea, ballroom dancing in the Queens Room, live orchestras, theatre productions, classical performances and the Cunard Insights enrichment programme.
Accommodation is arranged across several principal categories. Britannia staterooms use the main Britannia Restaurant, while Britannia Club accommodation provides a separate restaurant and more flexible dining. Princess Grill and Queens Grill suites include dedicated restaurants and additional services, with Queens Grill representing the highest accommodation category. The precise facilities and benefits vary by ship and suite.
Each vessel offers main and alternative dining, bars and lounges, pools, spa and fitness facilities, shops, a theatre and open decks. Queen Mary 2 also contains Illuminations, which incorporates the only planetarium at sea, as well as kennels available on selected transatlantic crossings.
Although Cunard is frequently associated with couples and adult travellers, its ships also welcome families and provide children's clubs and family accommodation on applicable voyages. Dress guidance varies through the day, with Gala Evenings encouraging more formal clothing in designated areas after 6pm.
Ownership and leadership
Cunard is part of Carnival UK and trades through Carnival UK Ltd. Its registered office is Carnival House, 100 Harbour Parade, Southampton. The brand is ultimately owned by Carnival Corporation Ltd., whose portfolio also includes AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Seabourn.
Katie McAlister is president of Cunard and oversees the brand's performance and operational functions. She reports to Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK and P&O Cruises.