Life Onboard Cunard
Overview
Founded by Samuel Cunard in 1840, Cunard has been a leader in ocean travel for over 180 years. During that time, the cruise line was involved in many significant moments, like carrying horses in the Crimean War and transporting troops during World War II. Cunard has also introduced many innovations, like the first flushing toilets at sea and the largest planetarium. Today, Cunard continues its legacy with its luxurious fleet of four ships sailing to hundreds of destinations around the world.
Accommodations
You’ll have a vast array of accommodations to choose from, whichever Cunard ship you opt for. Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria offer exactly the same cabin types: Britannia Standard Insides, Britannia Deluxe Insides, Britannia Single Insides, Britannia Oceanviews, Britannia Oceanviews (Obstructed View), Britannia Single Oceanviews, Britannia Balconies, Britannia Balconies (Obstructed View), Britannia Club Balconies, Princess Suites, Queens Suites, Penthouse Suites, Master Suites and Grand Suites. On Queen Anne, you’ll find Britannia Insides, Britannia Oceanviews, Britannia Oceanviews Deluxe, Britannia Balconies, Britannia Balconies (Obstructed View), Britannia Club Balconies, Princess Suites, Queens Suite, Penthouse Suites, Master Suites and Grand Suites. And on Queen Mary 2, you can choose from Britannia Standard Insides, Britannia Atrium View Insides, Britannia Oceanviews, Britannia Single Oceanviews, Britannia Balconies, Britannia Balconies (Sheltered), Britannia Balconies (Obstructed View), Britannia Club Balconies, Princess Suites, Queens Suites, Penthouse Suites, Royal Suites, Duplex Suites and Grand Duplex Suites.
Amenities vary depending on the accommodation type you choose, but a satellite television with movie and music channels, bathrobes and slippers, tea and coffee-making facilities, Penhaligon’s toiletries, complimentary room service and a dedicated steward all come as standard.
For more information, click through to each cruise ship to discover the accommodations available.
Activities
A Cunard cruise can be as active or as chilled as you’d like.
With Cunard Insights, you can enjoy learning and growing through engaging talks and classes. Special guest speakers, including famous authors, actors, musicians, scientists and more, share fascinating stories and insights. These talks are designed to entertain and inform, sometimes in small, intimate settings, offering a unique chance to hear from experts and inspiring individuals onboard.
Elsewhere, you can enjoy retail therapy with a range of shopping options. Each ship’s elegant boutiques offer top fashion brands for those looking to treat themselves, while art enthusiasts can browse and purchase works from renowned artists in the onboard galleries. Whether it’s adding to your wardrobe or finding the perfect piece of art, Cunard provides one of the most refined shopping experiences at sea.
Enjoy one of the largest book collections at sea onboard your chosen Queen. Perfect for bookworms, each beautiful library offers an impressive selection of titles. Pick a book, settle in an armchair and enjoy a peaceful moment of relaxation.
Entertainment
There’s never a dull moment on a Cunard cruise.
The Royal Court Theatre is a must-visit venue for entertainment. Found on each Queen, it hosts a variety of performances, from West End-style shows and live music to stand-up comedy and dance productions. It’s also home to the Cunard Insights program.
Cunard Showcases celebrates live performances with an exclusive lineup of theatre productions. From intimate dramas to virtual reality and immersive West End shows, this unique entertainment program at sea is curated by award-winning products, directors and actors. These captivating performances offer something new and exciting.
With its sweeping dance floor, high ceilings and sparkling chandeliers, the Queens Room offers a grand bar and ballroom experience. It serves as a social hub, especially during Gala Evenings, where you can enjoy live music, dance and sip champagne in a glamorous setting. The Queens Room also hosts Cunard’s signature Afternoon Tea daily, accompanied by a string quartet, and offers activities like dancing and fencing, making it a lively and refined space both day and night.
Queen Mary 2 boasts the largest planetarium at sea. At Illuminations, you can settle into a comfortable seat and explore the wonders of the solar system. The dome shows fascinating films about space, teaches you to navigate by the stars and showcases science and nature documentaries. Illuminations isn’t just a planetarium, when the dome is retracted, it is the host to 3D movies, concerts and music recitals.
Food & Drink
Dining onboard a Queen is a pleasure, with options ranging from elegant fine dining to relaxed gastro pubs.
Your stateroom grade is linked to one of four main dining restaurants. Britannia guests will dine in the Britannia Restaurant, where a wide range of dishes and effortless style and comfort await. Britannia Club guests can head to the Britannia Club Restaurant, which is usually housed within the Britannia Restaurant. The exclusive Princess Grill, which is reserved for Princess Grill guests, offers an unforgettable dining experience. Friendly waiters will greet you as you dine at the same table and enjoy an array of tempting choices each evening. At the intimate Queens Grill, attentive waiters will be on hand to take care of your every wish as you choose from an impressive menu of delicious dishes. Whatever your grade, you’ll find imaginative menus, flawless service and an unforgettable sense of occasion.
On Queen Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, you’ll find the Lido Restaurant. No matter the time of day, the Lido Restaurant has something to offer. From on-the-go snacks to extensive breakfast options, you’re certain to find something that tickles your tastebuds. Kings Court on Queen Mary 2 is the equivalent of the Lido Restaurant on the other queens. Serving a variety of classical and continental flavours, Kings Court brings tastes from around the world to your plate. Open from early morning to late evening, this relaxed, self-service dining venue lets you enjoy as much or as little as you like in a laid-back atmosphere that’s unlike anywhere else on board.
On every ship, you’ll find Steakhouse at The Verandah. Steakhouse at the Verandah is open each evening and for lunch on sea days. Here, you can explore a menu that celebrates both sides of the pond, from succulent Angus beef to a seafood platter showcasing fish from American waters. The other speciality restaurant can be found in a section of the Lido Restaurant on Queen Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria and in the King's Court on Queen Mary 2. Every night offers a different theme - in the Lido Restaurant, you’ll enjoy Mexican, pan-Asian, Indian or Italian cuisine and at the King’s Court, you’ll find Mexican, pan-Asian, Indian, Italian and American food.
Queen Anne has three unique speciality dining options: Tramonto, Aji Wa and Aranya. Tramonto presents Mediterranean-inspired flavours with a sprinkling of African and Arabic influences. Here, you’ll enjoy authentic dishes that pay homage to Europe’s sunshine region. Sushi fans will love Aji Wa. Combining the signature tastes of Japan with the artistry of skilled chefs, Aji Wa offers a truly authentic dining experience. In the main restaurant, you can savour fluffy bao buns, pan-fried gyozas and feather-light tempura, and at the sushi bar, you can fill up on freshly pressed sushi rolls and finely sliced sashimi. Aranya will take you on a sensory tour of the Indian subcontinent with playful interpretations of classic Indian cuisine. You can enjoy warm papadams dipped into fruit chutneys, fragrant fluffy rice and delicately spiced sauces that floor your palate with flavour.
Kids & Teens
Cunard is a family-friendly cruise line. The cruise line’s children’s programme, The Kid’s Zone, is designed to offer children aged six months to 18 years a full schedule of activities. Divided into three age-specific clubs, the programme caters to all age groups, starting with The Play Zone. Structure activities, including themed days, arts and crafts, games, books, puzzles, toys and computer games, are hosted for children aged two to seven by Cunard’s fully-trained Youth Team. There’s even a sheltered outdoor play area with a range of play equipment. For those aged eight to twelve, The Kids’ Zone hosts action-packed days that include sports, arts and crafts, friendly challenges, and game consoles. Teenagers aged 13 to 17 will love The Teen Zone. Here, they can enjoy deck sports, discos, game consoles, quizzes and much more. They’ll also appreciate the special Teen Zone area where they can challenge themselves in table tennis tournaments and team games.
Access to The Kids’ Zone, The Play Zone and The Teen Zone is included in your cruise fare. The children’s areas can be found on Deck 12 on Queen Anne, Deck 10 on Queen Elizabeth, Deck 6 on Queen Mary 2 and Deck 10 on Queen Victoria.
Relaxation & Fitness
A cruise is all about relaxation, and what better way to unwind than at Mareel® Wellness & Beauty, where you can indulge in soothing treatments and let your stress melt away? The award-winning Mareel® Wellness & Beauty can be found on every Cunard ship and features a wide range of options. You can choose from massages, body treatments like salt scrubs and detox wraps, alternative treatments like acupuncture and reflexology, facials and manicures and pedicures. Don’t forget the Aqua Therapy Centre, where you can nurture the benefits of heat in a Finnish sauna, lay back in the quiet respite of the relaxation room or be refreshed by cooling mist in the sensory showers.
When Queen Anne launched, Cunard introduced a new partnership with Harper’s Bazaar named Wellness at Sea. The unique range of holistic wellness programmes are designed to help you reach new heights of health, beauty and inner peace on each Queen Anne voyage. You can revive and restore with The Harper’s Bazaar Detox Journey, bring new life and vigour to your skin, hair, body and mind with The Harper’s Bazaar Energise Journey and soothe your mind and body with The Harper’s Bazaar Relax Journey.
Each Cunard ship has a fully equipped gym and exercise classes led by expert instructors so you can maintain your fitness routine while on holiday. Whether starting the day with a morning workout or winding down with an evening yoga class, the onboard fitness facilities will support your health and well-being during your voyage.
White Star Service
Committed to ensuring the highest levels of service, Cunard staff are trained at the White Star Academy. Dating back to 1929, the White Star Service is a legacy of Cunard’s history, honouring the golden era of the White Star Line. From the moment of embarkation, staff and officers will be at your service, taking great pride in ensuring the most enjoyable, memorable and luxurious experience is achieved.
Cunard’s White Star Service is:
- Service and attention to detail that goes above and beyond expectations
- One crew member for every two guests
- A sense of style, sophistication and elegance
- Choice, flexibility, care and understanding
- Genuine connections and treasured moments
- A warm and captivating personality
- Well-established and powerful
Cunard World Club
Did you know you can be rewarded for your loyalty if you choose to sail with Cunard time and time again? The cruise line’s loyalty programme, Cunard World Club, offers its members exclusive benefits, like member savings and special offers.
The loyalty programme is easy to join - you’ll automatically be enrolled as a Silver tier member when you’ve completed your first voyage with Cunard. Silver tier benefits include member savings and special offers, use of the World Club desk in all of Cunard’s international offices, access to an onboard loyalty representative and a copy of The Cunarder magazine. You’ll become a Gold member once you’ve completed two voyages or spent 20 nights at sea with Cunard. At this level, you’ll enjoy all the same Silver tier benefits as well as a Gold membership pin, $45 internet credit per guest, which is redeemable against one of Cunard’s onboard Wi-Fi plans and an invitation to a Cunard World Club cocktail party. Next up is the Platinum tier, which you’ll become a member of once you’ve completed seven voyages or spent 70 nights at sea. In addition to Gold benefits, you’ll enjoy a Platinum membership pin, a total of $80 internet credit, which can be redeemed against one of Cunard’s onboard Wi-Fi plans, a 20% saving on Laundry/Specialist Cleaning services, priority check-in at New York and Southampton, complimentary onboard wine tasting, a 10% saving on Cunard’s White Star luggage service and an invitation to the senior officers’ party. Finally, Diamond membership is for Cunard’s most travelled guests who have completed 15 voyages or 150 nights onboard. In recognition of this achievement, Diamond Cunarders will receive all Platinum benefits plus a Diamond membership pin, a total of $135 internet credit, which is redeemable against one of Cunard’s onboard Wi-Fi plans, a complimentary meal at one of the onboard speciality restaurants and a dedicated Diamond member contact at the World Club desk.
What’s more, when you book through ROL Cruise, you’ll earn Cruise Miles® and gain benefits from Cunard World Club.
Cunard Destinations
Cunard sails to more than 120 destinations around the world. These include iconic regions like the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Northern Europe and the Americas. With such a vast array of itineraries, you can explore famous cities, scenic coastal towns and remote islands.
Each itinerary is designed to showcase the best of each destination, and you can make the most of your time in port with Cunard’s impressive range of shore experiences. You can enjoy a guided tour of ancient landmarks in Rome, explore the geothermal wonders of the Golden Circle in Reykjavík or tour the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Types of Cruises
Cunard attracts a wide range of travellers who appreciate traditional luxury. It’s particularly popular with solo travellers and was even voted ‘Best for Solo Travellers’ in the Cruise Critic UK Editors’ Picks Awards 2023. Enrichment programs such as lectures and workshops provide solo guests with engaging activities to enjoy independently, while social events like dinners and dance classes make it easy to meet others. For those interested in world cruises, Cunard was awarded ‘Best World Cruise’ in the Annual Reader’s Choice Awards. Their world cruises offer luxury and comfort, with diverse itineraries and special onboard events that enhance the journey. Lastly, Cunard’s transatlantic crossings, especially aboard Queen Mary 2, provide a relaxing, elegant ocean liner experience enriched with cultural programs like lectures and performances.
