The top 5 destinations to explore on a Cunard Line cruise ship

Cunard Line may be a smaller cruise line with only four ships, but its global reach is anything but limited.

This historic passenger ship company, one of the oldest in existence since 1840, offers voyages to nearly every part of the world.

Cunard's fleet, which includes the Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, and Queen Anne, is constantly in motion, providing varied itineraries across multiple continents, such as Europe, North America, and Asia.

Additionally, they frequently embark on grand global journeys that can extend for three months or longer. For example, in 2026, two of Cunard's ships will undertake full world circumnavigations lasting several months (more details on these journeys to follow).

Cunard boasts an extensive presence in Europe, with at least three of its four ships spending a portion of each year in the region. Asia is also a major destination, with two to three ships typically sailing there each year for several itineraries.

The cruise line frequently offers voyages in North America, including destinations like the Caribbean, New England, Canada, and Alaska. Australia and New Zealand also feature prominently in Cunard's itinerary planning.

Cunard ships offer a wide range of sailings, from brief two-night cruises between Southampton, England, and Hamburg, Germany, without any port stops, to extensive 116-night world cruises that visit numerous ports.

Here are our recommendations for the top five cruise destinations with Cunard.

The Atlantic

If there’s a quintessential Cunard experience, it’s the signature transatlantic voyages of its flagship, the 2,691-passenger Queen Mary 2, which operate year-round between New York City and Southampton, England — a rarity in the cruise world.

Typically, these journeys do not include any port calls. They are designed as one-way trips to transport you swiftly and comfortably across the Atlantic, echoing the services provided in the 19th century. However, unlike in the past, these journeys are now more about choice than necessity.

Today, both leisure and business travelers can easily fly between North America and Europe in just a few hours, diminishing the practical need for transatlantic sailings. Yet, Cunard successfully maintains this tradition for those who prefer a more leisurely journey between continents.

For many travelers on the Queen Mary 2, the ship itself and the experience of crossing the Atlantic become the true destination. It's common for passengers to take a one-way journey across the Atlantic simply to savor the experience before flying back home.

The Queen Mary 2 was specifically designed for these transatlantic voyages, featuring a more aerodynamic shape and powerful engines compared to standard cruise ships. It allows for smoother navigation through the often choppy Atlantic waves at higher speeds and with enhanced passenger comfort.

Enthusiasts assert that the Queen Mary 2 is a genuine ocean liner — a vessel crafted for direct travel across oceans between distant locations — distinguishing it from typical cruise ships. This makes it a unique option in the cruise industry.

Having crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2 three times, including its inaugural voyage in 2004, I wholeheartedly agree. There's an unmatched thrill in gliding across the ocean on this ship, which boasts a grand ballroom, exquisite dining venues, and other elegant spaces reminiscent of the legendary ocean liners of the past. It truly embodies a nostalgic charm.

In an average year, the Queen Mary 2 completes around 20 transatlantic crossings. Typically, it accomplishes this in seven nights without any port stops, although it occasionally extends to eight-night voyages. There are instances where it includes a stop at a destination along the way, such as Boston or the Azores.

The globe

Beyond its transatlantic voyages, Cunard has established a reputation for remarkable world cruises that visit numerous destinations across four, five, or even six continents.

Typically, Cunard deploys one, and sometimes two, of its four ships on lengthy global excursions each year, a tradition it has maintained for many decades.

In a standard year, the cruise line initiates one around-the-world journey from Southampton, England, its historic home port, and another from a North American location like New York, enabling Americans to explore the world without enduring long flights.

In 2026, Queen Mary 2 will embark on a 109-night world cruise from New York City, while the 2,996-passenger Queen Anne will set off on a similar 109-night journey from Southampton, with an option to board in Hamburg.

As is often the case with these voyages, the Queen Anne sailing won't complete a full global circumnavigation. Instead, it will travel from Southampton to the Mediterranean, proceed through the Suez Canal to Asia and Australia, then loop back westward around Africa and back to Europe.

In contrast, the Queen Mary 2's journey will be a genuine circumnavigation, as the ship sails westward around the globe. This voyage will include stops in New York, Curacao, the Panama Canal, and along the West Coast of Mexico and the United States, followed by a Pacific crossing to Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand, and Australia. The ship will then visit multiple destinations across Asia before heading west to the Middle East and passing through the Suez Canal back to Europe.

Europe

Thanks to its base in Southampton and a loyal British clientele, Cunard has long prioritized sailings in Europe. At the time of this guide's publication, 289 out of 632 planned departures were dedicated to Northern Europe, Western Europe, or the Mediterranean. Including transatlantic routes between Europe and North America, that number rises to 381, which accounts for over half of Cunard's total departures.

In the upcoming year, three of Cunard's four ships (excluding Queen Elizabeth) will be operating in Europe for at least part of the season, with the majority of itineraries focused on the Mediterranean.

Cunard's European routes vary significantly in both length and destination. Unlike many competitors, Cunard features numerous short trips, some lasting just two or three nights, perfect for a quick jaunt between locations like Hamburg and Southampton. Frequently, these short cruises are one-way on Queen Mary 2, conveniently leading into transatlantic crossings.

A traveler in Europe could embark on Queen Mary 2 in Hamburg for a two-night cruise to Southampton and then remain on board for a subsequent seven-night journey to New York City.

Cunard frequently provides various round-trip "short break" getaways lasting three to four nights from Southampton to destinations such as Bruges, Belgium; Amsterdam; and Le Havre, France. These trips are primarily designed for the local British audience.

Cunard also offers numerous extended European itineraries, some lasting up to 30 nights, covering a variety of prominent destinations. A prime example is the line's 28-night Mediterranean Highlights route, which departs from Civitavecchia, Italy (the port serving Rome), and ends in Barcelona. This one-way journey encompasses a diverse selection of ports in Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Malta, Spain, and Turkey.

In the Mediterranean, Cunard's key ports include Piraeus, Greece (the gateway to Athens); Istanbul; Trieste, Italy; Barcelona; and Civitavecchia.

For Northern Europe, Cunard's primary base is Southampton, though it also runs voyages from Hamburg and Kiel in Germany.

Alaska

Cunard is among the few Europe-based cruise lines that have consistently allocated a ship to the Alaskan market in recent years, usually the 2,081-passenger Queen Elizabeth.

For the summer of 2025, Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to operate a dozen round-trip voyages to Alaska from Seattle.

These Alaskan journeys will primarily last 10 or 11 nights, which is longer than the average Alaska cruise departing from Vancouver. A few of the voyages will be seven nights long.

Cunard's standard 10- and 11-night Alaska itineraries feature stops at Sitka, Ketchikan, Juneau, and either Haines or Skagway in Alaska, along with a visit to Victoria, British Columbia. The ship will also explore Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and at least one additional nature-oriented destination, such as Misty Fjords National Monument or Endicott Arm.

Asia, Australia, and New Zealand

Every winter, Cunard typically deploys at least one of its three ships to Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, sailing from major hubs like Tokyo (departing from nearby Yokohama) and Sydney.

The line often sends one or two ships on around-the-world voyages each winter, which include segments in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Consequently, up to three of Cunard's four vessels may operate in these regions during winter. (See more about the line's world cruises above.)

Cunard's itineraries in these areas generally feature a diverse range, ensuring that ships do not repeatedly visit the same part of Asia, Australia, or New Zealand in succession.

For 2025, Cunard's Queen Elizabeth will be stationed in Tokyo for nearly two months, offering several sailings around Japan. These voyages typically include a stop in either South Korea or Taiwan.

On Cunard's schedule for the next two years is a remarkable 27-night voyage around Australia departing from Melbourne, featuring nearly a dozen stops in major cities such as Sydney, Cairns, Darwin, Broome, Perth, and Adelaide.

Cunard also offers shorter sailings from Australian ports, including a five-night journey from Sydney to Hobart in Tasmania.

Bottom line

Despite its relatively small fleet, Cunard provides a wide variety of itineraries in cruise destinations worldwide, ranging from North America to Asia. It is particularly renowned for its transatlantic crossings between New York City and Southampton, as well as its grand around-the-world voyages.