Cunard may be the last of the traditional cruise lines. While the midnight buffets are long gone from all cruises, Cunard still maintains a level of style and class that sets it apart from many other premium cruises. With that said though, Cunard has still managed to keep up with the times. We sail the Queen Mary 2 about once year to see family in Europe and we enjoy it immensely. Recently, Cunard’s newest ship, the Queen Anne, set sail.
The Queen Anne in Liverpool
We Love Cunard’s Queen Mary 2
There is something very special and classic about crossing the Atlantic on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. The Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only operating ocean liner, designed to cross the Atlantic in all sorts of weather. In fact, she is known for outpacing pretty much all the other ships in bad weather.
We sail the Queen Mary 2 about once a year as it is a much more delightful way to cross the pond than flying—and the price is sometimes similar or less! This means seven nights of entertainment, food, beverages, history, culture, and relaxation versus strapping yourself in a metal tube.
Here are some of the things we love about sailing transatlantic on the Queen Mary 2.
No jet lag! Each night they change the clocks backward or forward by one hour as appropriate, so the time change is extremely gentle and you are well rested when arrive.
The ship is full of history; most of the walls are covered with murals that describe the history of both the Cunard line and Queen Mary 2. For example, there is a display discussing Cunard’s role in rescuing survivors of the Titanic. In fact, the Carpathia was one of the first ships to arrive and save Titanic survivors.
Will You Be Bored?
Some people worry about becoming bored on a transatlantic crossing. We have a list of 101 Things to Do. There are nightly shows, games, a gym, pools, a casino, an incredible library, classes, and much more. Warning: the scavenger hunt can be quite challenging.
Honestly, there is so much to do, we sometimes complain about doing too much!
In-room entertainment. You will have no lack of films and TV shows in your cabin. There is live news depending on the signal strength available at the time.
We love the lectures on board. There are usually several speakers on board with different expertise. Some lecturers we’ve heard onboard include the designer of Queen Mary 2, who was incredibly fascinating. We heard a retired British customs agent who had surprisingly interesting stories about various criminal attempts. Often there is someone speaking about the entertainment industry. The lectures are usually recorded and can be viewed later in your cabin.
Formal Gala nights are worth the effort with great entertainment, but if is not your thing, you don’t have to participate. Cunard arranges for many part of the ship available for those who don’t dress up.
Consider the fun of dressing up for a masquerade or the Red and Gold ball. And there’s no sitting fee for posing for formal portaits. We suggest dressing up a bit. While there will be tuxes, men will not be out of place with a jacket and collared shirt, tie optional.
Dining on the Queen Mary 2
Your meal options begin with the main dining room unless you are in a Princess or Queens grill suite, in which case you have a separate restaurant. You can choose early or late seating and will have the same table and waitstaff each night. We like this as the waitstaff will get to know you and your preferences. However, you do have the option to change this at any time.
At the Carpathian lounge or cafe you can get specialty coffees like lattes and cappuccinos. There is often a light breakfast or snacks such as small sandwiches and desserts. It’s a lovely place for a quick meal. Often games like trivia are often played in the Carpathian lounge although they are played in other venues as well.
There is the aforementioned lounge or cafe for snacks, and the buffet where there is a separate station where you can get hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and such.
In addition to all this Cunard cruises will have several specialty dining options. There is typically an up charge for the specialty dining.
The kennels on the Queen Mary 2 usually sell out before the human cabins
Bring Your Dog or Cat!
The Queen Mary 2 is the only passenger ship with a kennel. The kennel is famous among frequent travelers. We know people who take the Queen Mary 2 back and forth between the States and Europe at least once every year and they bring their pets with them. There is a highly regarded kennel staff and a great area where owners play with dogs. Even people without pets onboard like to go watch. The pets are extremely well cared for and the owners are allowed to go play at various times with them in a nice open-air area. The kennels are so popular that slots almost always fill up before the human cabins. If you want to travel abroad and you can’t bear the thought of leaving your dog at home and you don’t want them cooped up in an airplane, the Queen Mary 2 is what you want.
Practicalities
Cunard has recently upgraded their wi-fi to Starlink. There are two levels of service for Wi-Fi, basic and premium.
Laundry–Cunard has free self-service laundrettes around the ship. Free detergent is available. Of course, you can always pay for laundry and pressing services.
Special Pricing for Cunard Eclipse Cruises
Because we love both Cunard and Solar Eclipses, we have arranged for special group pricing on two Cunard cruises for the August 2026 solar eclipse. You can read about it here. And you can find information and book here.
