Culture Discovery Cruises
The pool deck aboard Cunard Queen Anne under an open sky
Premium Cruise Line

Cunard

Ocean-liner heritage, transatlantic crossings and a sense of occasion no one else quite carries.

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The line

The great name in ocean travel

Cunard is the most storied name at sea, a British institution that has carried travelers across oceans since 1840. Its identity rests on grand style, White Star Service and a formality that feels genuine rather than staged, from ballroom dancing to afternoon tea served white-gloved each day.

Owned by Carnival Corporation, Cunard sails four ships it calls Queens: Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne, the newest, which entered service in 2024. Queen Mary 2 stands apart as the only true ocean liner in regular transatlantic service, built for the open North Atlantic.

Aboard every Queen, your dining room is set by your accommodation. The Grills, Queens and Princess, are the suite restaurants, giving Cunard a discreet class structure that echoes the golden age of the liner.

Style
Ocean-liner heritage
Fleet
4 Queens
Flagship
Queen Mary 2
Signature
Transatlantic crossings
Sails to
Transatlantic, Med, world
Founded
1840
In a word

“No other line still crosses the Atlantic the old way, and none wears the formality of the ocean liner as naturally as Cunard.”

An elegant Cunard suite with rich fabrics and a sitting area

Four Queens, and the Grills within

The fleet numbers four ships, each named a Queen. Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth are the more intimate pair, Queen Anne is the modern flagship of 2024, and Queen Mary 2 is the largest and most singular, a genuine ocean liner rather than a cruise ship.

Accommodation determines your world aboard. Book a Grills suite and you dine in the Queens Grill or Princess Grill, with a private lounge and terrace, while Britannia guests enjoy the grand main restaurant. It is a graceful, understated hierarchy that few lines still keep.

A bright Cunard buffet restaurant with sea views

Ceremony, from white-glove tea to the ballroom

Cunard days have a rhythm of their own. Afternoon tea is served each day to live music, evenings bring formal nights and black-tie galas, and the ships keep proper ballrooms for dancing under chandeliers. It is a level of ceremony no other mainstream line attempts.

The style extends to enrichment: guest speakers, planetarium shows aboard Queen Mary 2, and a program of lectures that suits the long, unhurried days of a crossing. Dress up if you like the occasion; this is the line that still rewards it.

The soaring Grand Lobby atrium of a Cunard Queen

The crossing, and the wider world

The signature Cunard voyage is the transatlantic crossing between Southampton and New York aboard Queen Mary 2, a seven-night passage across the open Atlantic that no rival ship still offers on a regular schedule.

Beyond the crossing, the Queens sail the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and full World Voyages that circle the globe each winter. We help you choose the ship, the accommodation grade and the itinerary that fit the trip you have in mind.

With Cunard spending real time in the Mediterranean, it pairs beautifully with an Amalfi Coast cooking week on land.

Booking Cunard with CDV

Why book through us

Exclusive Cunard value

Group amenities and onboard credit on Cunard sailings that you will not find booking direct.

Combinable offers

Our exclusive value can usually be layered with Cunard's current promotions, plus full World Club loyalty credit.

Premium specialists

Advisors who understand the Grills, the crossing and the world voyages, and match the right Queen and grade to you.

Seamless land and sea

Because we run our own tours ashore, we make it easy to add a CDV land tour where your voyage begins or ends.

Pair your voyage with a land tour

Sail the Mediterranean, then settle into the Amalfi Coast

Cunard’s Mediterranean voyages call along the Italian coast, which makes them a natural match for our own culinary tours. Add a Culture Discovery week on the Amalfi Coast and let the lemons, the sea and the kitchens of Campania extend your voyage ashore.

See the Amalfi Coast tour
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Frequently asked questions

What is Cunard known for?

Cunard is known for ocean-liner heritage and a strong sense of occasion. Highlights include Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossings, formal nights and ballroom dancing, daily white-glove afternoon tea, and the Grills, a suite dining experience that carries the tradition of the golden age of the liner.

How many ships does Cunard have?

Cunard operates four ships, all named Queens: Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne. Queen Anne is the newest, having entered service in 2024, and Queen Mary 2 is the largest and the only true ocean liner in the fleet.

Who owns Cunard?

Cunard is a British brand owned by Carnival Corporation and headquartered in Southampton, England. It was founded in 1840 by Samuel Cunard and remains one of the oldest continuously operating names in ocean travel.

What is the difference between a cruise ship and an ocean liner?

An ocean liner is built to cross open oceans on a schedule, with a deeper hull, higher speed and greater strength for rough seas, while a cruise ship is designed mainly for calmer, destination-focused sailing. Queen Mary 2 is one of the only true ocean liners still in service, which is why she can make regular North Atlantic crossings.

What are the Grills on Cunard?

The Grills are Cunard’s suite experience. Guests booked in Grill Suites dine in the exclusive Queens Grill or Princess Grill restaurants and enjoy a private lounge and terrace, while other guests dine in the grand Britannia Restaurant. Your accommodation grade sets your dining room, an echo of the classic liner era.

What is the dress code on Cunard?

Cunard is the most formal of the mainstream lines. Evenings alternate between smart attire and formal or gala nights, where jackets and often black tie are expected in the main restaurants. Guests who enjoy dressing for dinner tend to love it; those who do not can dine more casually in the buffet.

Does Cunard still cross the Atlantic?

Yes. Queen Mary 2 sails regular transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York, typically a seven-night passage across the open Atlantic. It is the only regularly scheduled ocean-liner crossing of its kind still operating.

Who is Cunard for?

Cunard appeals to travelers who love tradition, ceremony and the romance of the ocean liner. It draws a broad, international, often British crowd, tends to skew a little older on long voyages, and suits anyone who enjoys formal evenings, ballroom dancing and unhurried days at sea.

How much does a Cunard cruise cost?

Fares vary by ship, accommodation grade, season and itinerary, and a Grills suite carries a very different price to a Britannia stateroom. Rather than quote a misleading range, we price your specific voyage and secure the best available CDV value. Request a complimentary quote and we will lay out the real numbers.

Ready to sail with Cunard?

Complimentary quote, exclusive CDV value, and a specialist who plans it around you.

Request a Quote+1 (656) 333-6123 ext. 403