Why should I go on a cruise?
There are a multitude of reasons our guests choose to cruise rather than take other types of vacation, but we find these three are the most popular.
Inclusions and variety
Your Cunard Queen featuresluxury accommodations,incredible restaurantsand a wealth of excitingeveninganddaytimeactivities and venues to choose from, many of which are included in your cruise fare. Like any traditional package vacation, you can rest easy throughout your voyage knowing that your needs are catered for. Our Daily Program, delivered each evening to your stateroom, contains a packed schedule of activities, events and entertainment for you to plan the following day. Do as much or as little as you please!
Unpack once
A cruise is the perfect way to see more of the world but, unlike other multi-destination vacations, you don't need to pack and unpack between each stop. Simply wake up somewhere new each day, take it all in, and sail off again each evening.
Meet like-minded travelers
A cruise is a fantastic opportunity to meet new friends from around the world who share your interests. Striking up a conversation is easy, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to dine, laugh and explore with other travelers on board and ashore. If you have a fixed dining table you are likely to see similar faces around you quite regularly - why not meet for an after dinner drink in the Commodore Club, or team up for a quiz at the Golden Lion?
Where can I cruise?
Cunard cruises range from 2-night city breaks to World Voyages of over 100 days. Read on for our pick of three cruises that are very popular with first-timers, or view our full guide for more suggestions.
Mini cruises
Typically 2-5 nights in length, mini cruises balance time to indulge and relax on your ship with exploring in one or more ports of call. It's the perfect "taster" cruise to see if ocean travel is for you. Discover our short breaks and mini cruises on our webpage.
Roundtrip cruises
Roundtrip cruises start and end at the same port of call, so there’s no air travel involved and you can bring as much luggage on board as you like! Discover our departure portsto find one that's convenient for you.
Transatlantic Crossings
Sailing between Southampton and New York, this 7-night journey offers no port calls: just stunning sea days to relax and indulge in. It's one of the oldest sailing routes in the world, and has a place on many traveler's bucket lists. You can sail between Southampton or New York, with a flight on either end, or roundtrip for two weeks; you may find that's still not enough time to discover everything on board! Browse our current Transatlantic Crossings on sale and book online.
What is there to do on board?
A cruise celebrates all that’s wonderful about being on vacation, withopen-air pools, aspa, and much more. View our webpages for more information on our activities, dining, on board venues and entertainment. On board, consult your Daily Program to see the schedule for each day and choose as much or as little to do as you please.
Dining
When it comes todiningon board, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at themain restaurantassociated with your stateroom grade. If you fancy a change, you can enjoy freedom of choice at theKings Court or Lido buffets, or book a table for a special evening meal at Steakhouse at the Verandah. Take a casual pub lunch at the Golden Lion, enjoy sweet pastries at Café Carinthia, or try Japanese or Greek cuisine in Queen Anne's Aji Wa or Tramonto restaurants. If you need a quiet night in, take advantage of our round-the-clock room service, included in your cruise fare. And, of course, enjoy Cunard's signatureAfternoon Tea, included in your fare and served daily in the Queens Room.
Activities
Each Cunard Queen is packed with venues and activities to explore and try - so many in fact, you may need to book a second voyage just to experience more. Try your hand at something new, with a watercolor class or a wine tasting experience. Let our bartenders teach you the art of co*cktail-making, take part in our on board choir, or book yourself in to a special 'behind the scenes' tour of your Cunard Queen. Solo travelers can join in with special events to meet others and build friendships on board - some may last well beyond disembarkation day!
If an active day is what you seek, join afitness class or a personal training session at the on board gym, try your hand at deck games, or make use of Queen Elizabeth's games deck or Queen Mary 2's golf simulator. After that, enjoy a refreshing drink and a dip in the pool, followed by a warm soak in the whirlpools to soothe every muscle.
Visit Mareel Wellness & Beauty for a hair or nail appointment in our salon, or to relax in our thermal suite for a few hours. Enjoy a massage, facial or a body wrap for complete relaxation and glowing skin, or simply stop by for a seminar or to take advantage of a special offer, displayed in your Daily Program.
Each Queen also has a beautiful retail area to explore. With a variety of well-known brands, competitions, offers and giveaways, you are sure to find the perfect souvenir for your vacation. While away time in our art galleries, book a private shoot at our photography studio, or purchase a special gift for a loved one.
Entertainment
Take in live music at your favorite on boardbar and enjoy a perfectly-served co*cktail, before you go to the Royal Court Theater for a Broadway style production. Enjoy a film or a planetarium show in Illuminations, unique to Queen Mary 2, or listen to guest speakers from the worlds of maritime history, literature, music and much more with our Insights program. Drop in to the Golden Lion, our traditional British pub at sea, for a darts competition or a pub quiz, stop by the casino to try your hand at blackjack, or visit our nightclub venues to dance the night away. And, on Gala Evenings, dress in your finest eveningwear and make your grand entrance to the Queens Room for a glittering night of dancing and music.
What are the staterooms like?
Cunard boasts some of the most spaciousstateroomsat sea. Every one of them features a myriad of special Cunard touches, including sparkling wine on arrival (champagne for Grills guests) and a twice-daily turndown service complete with pillow chocolates. Each stateroom grade has its own main dining restaurant, where you can go for breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout your cruise.
Choose from ourBritanniastaterooms, havens of comfort and style that includesingle staterooms on three of our ships, or ourBritannia Clubstaterooms, with access to the more intimate Britannia Club restaurant. Or treasure the exclusive comforts of ourPrincessandQueens Grillsuites, with additional space and facilities, exclusive restaurants, and their own list of special features.
What can I expect from Cunard?
Cunard has been sailing for over 180 years and hasa rich historyof pioneering itineraries, top service and signature experiences that set us apart from other cruise lines.
Take time to browse ourInsights program, where one of our many guest speakers will regale you with talks and stories from the worlds of literature, the arts, exploration and much more. Enjoy our famousAfternoon Tea, served by a procession of white-gloved waiters every afternoon, before getting ready for yourGala Evening, where an elevated dress code and themed menus and entertainment throughout the ship await you. Everything we do, from the warm welcome as you board to delivering your luggage to your stateroom, is underpinned by our famous White Star Service. It is our pleasure to bring you the pinnacle of luxury service at sea.
How can I plan for my cruise?
Planning for a cruise should be an exciting time, full of anticipation. At Cunard we have many helpful resources to make planning as easy and as fun as possible; check the other articles at the bottom of this page for guides, tips and much more.
We also have useful pages outlining what's includedin your cruise fare, a solo travellers' guidefor if you're journeying alone, aguide to booking online, and a packing guideto help you pack the perfect suitcase. Of coure, if you get stuck, you can browse ourFAQs, which contain a wealth of information.
We look forward to welcoming you on board very soon!
