Cunard 2028–2029 programme

Where does the Cunard 2028–2029 programme sail?

Cunard’s late-2028 and early-2029 sailings span six regions, from transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York to British Isles round trips, Norwegian fjords, the Caribbean, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean Sea. Sailings range from short 2-night departures to 28-night voyages, with a median length of 12 nights. The programme is entirely ocean cruising — there are no river sailings here. Of the 32 sailings, 9 are one-way voyages and 23 are round trips, so it is worth checking the itinerary shape before you book.

Transatlantic crossings and world-spanning voyages

The biggest share of the programme belongs to transatlantic sailings, and with good reason. Crossing the Atlantic aboard Queen Mary 2 — the world’s last true ocean liner — is a different experience from any other cruise. There are no port calls to rush ashore for; the ocean itself is the itinerary. Days at sea are filled with ballroom dancing lessons, lectures, the signature Queens Room and stargazing under QM2’s onboard Planetarium, the only one sailing the world’s oceans. These crossings run between Southampton and New York, so they are naturally one-way voyages. If you are flying from Australia, our team can put the transatlantic crossing at the heart of a longer trip — flights to one end, a few nights in the city at each end, and the crossing in the middle, all on a single booking through our DreamAway Packages.

Cunard also offers sailings touching Africa in this programme window, adding another continent to an already far-reaching season.

British Isles, Canary Islands and Norway

The second-largest group of sailings in this programme explores the British Isles, with round trips departing from Southampton. These suit travellers who want to be at sea within hours of arriving in England, with no airport at the other end either. If you are flying in from Australia, a short domestic connection is all it takes to reach Southampton — a far simpler journey than the long-haul flights many other itineraries require.

The Canary Islands sailings offer a warm-weather alternative during what is autumn and winter in the United Kingdom — unhurried ocean days and a string of Atlantic island ports, all departing from Southampton. Norway sailings complete the European picture, with fjord scenery on voyages that also leave from Southampton. Prefer to look further afield in 2028? Caribbean cruises in 2028 and Mediterranean cruises in 2028 are worth exploring alongside this programme.

Which ships sail the Cunard 2028–2029 programme?

Three ships carry the Cunard programme across this period. Each has a distinct character, and choosing the right one is as important as choosing the right itinerary. Our cruise experts can walk you through the differences and match you to the ship that suits how you like to travel.

Queen Mary 2

Queen Mary 2 carries the largest share of this programme’s sailings. She is the world’s last true ocean liner — built for the open Atlantic rather than port-hopping, with a hull and stabilisation system designed specifically for deep-ocean crossings. On board, the tone is unhurried and refined: White Star Service, the grandeur of the Queens Room, and ballroom dancing that is taken seriously rather than offered as a novelty. The Planetarium is genuinely one of a kind — no other ship at sea has one — and an evening under that dome is a genuinely different way to spend a night at sea.

Cabin grades on Queen Mary 2 run from compact to palatial:

• Britannia Inside cabin HB (14.8 m²) — the only inside cabin with a view into QM2’s atrium, so it feels brighter and more open than a standard interior room.
• Britannia Solo cabin KB (16.5 m²) — designed exclusively for solo travellers with no single supplement, delivering full Britannia comfort for one person.
• Britannia Balcony cabin BU (25 m²) — a sheltered loggia rather than an open balcony, giving you fresh air and sea views in any weather.
• Queens Grill Grand Duplex Suite Q1 (208.9 m²) — a two-level maisonette with more than 200 m² of private space, more than twice the size of any other Queens Grill suite on board.

Queen Anne — new in 2024

Queen Anne joined the Cunard fleet in 2024, and she is the freshest option in the programme. She carries Art Deco elegance into a modern design — the Carinthia Lounge is the place to settle in for live music and cocktails, while the grand Queens Room ballroom remains the centrepiece of Cunard’s signature evenings at sea. The Golden Lion pub, with a menu developed by Michelin-starred chef Michael Roux, brings proper British pub life to the high seas in a way that few ships manage convincingly.

Cabin options on Queen Anne include:

• Britannia Inside cabin IA (13.7 m²) — a personal cabin steward available around the clock, with daily turndown and attentive service throughout.
• Britannia Deluxe Ocean-view cabin EA (21.9 m²) — notably more spacious than the standard ocean-view grade, with a separate seating area and around 3 m² of extra living space.
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A1 (21.9 m²) — exclusive access to the Britannia Club Restaurant with a reserved table, for a more intimate dining experience than the main restaurant.
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 (133.8 m²) — the largest suite category on board, more than twice the size of the Master Suite.

Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria is Cunard’s most intimate ship — large enough to impress, small enough that you will find your sea legs quickly and never feel swallowed by the crowd. The Royal Court Theatre delivers West End-calibre entertainment night after night: vocalists, illusionists, aerial performers and more. Gala evenings, white-gloved Afternoon Tea in the Queens Room and a programme that rewards dressing for dinner make Queen Victoria the right choice if you want the full traditional Cunard experience in a slightly less sprawling setting.

Cabin grades on Queen Victoria range as follows:

• Britannia Deluxe Inside cabin GB (19.2 m²) — a midships position on Deck 1 with minimal ship motion, well suited to long ocean crossings.
• Britannia Ocean-view cabin EB (18.3 m²) — around 3 m² more spacious than the standard ocean-view grades, with a proportionally more comfortable feel.
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A2 (24 m²) — positioned on Deck 8, the highest deck for this grade, with shorter walks to the upper decks.
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 (122.5 m²) — the largest Queens Grill suite on board, with two separate rooms, a private dining room and a spacious lounge area.

Sailing from Southampton or New York — what should I know?

Southampton is the main departure port for this programme, with 23 sailings leaving from there. New York accounts for 7 departures, and Hamburg contributes a further 2. For Australian travellers, every sailing in this programme requires an international flight to reach the embarkation port — so the cruise sits at the centre of a longer trip. That is where CruiseAway earns its place: we can build the whole journey as one booking, adding return flights, pre-cruise hotel nights in Southampton or New York, transfers between the airport and the terminal, and any tours along the way.

If you are thinking about cruises from Southampton in 2028, the full range of options beyond the Cunard programme is worth a look. Southampton is also served by direct rail links from London, so you can combine a stay in the capital with your embarkation day quite easily — our team can include the train leg too. For New York departures, New York cruises and a few nights in the city beforehand make for a natural pairing. Hamburg sailings are a smaller part of the programme but open up an interesting European city-break opportunity either side of the voyage.

One-way sailings — 9 of the 32 departures — end in a different port from where they begin. On a transatlantic crossing from Southampton, for example, the voyage finishes in New York; a short domestic flight or onward connection brings both ends of the trip together. We handle both legs, so you are not left arranging the return independently.

Planning ahead — what else sails in 2028?

If you are weighing up the Cunard programme against other options for 2028 sailings, it is worth knowing how much is on offer across the year. The broader 2028 cruises listing covers the full range of lines and regions. The Cunard 2027–2028 world cruise season covers sailings departing earlier in the cycle, which may suit if you want more departure date flexibility. The Princess 2027–2028 season is another major programme release worth comparing if you have not fully committed to a line. Looking at specific regions, Alaska cruises in 2028 and the Queen Mary 2 Caribbean and South America season are both strong alternatives for the same travel window if the itinerary shape matters as much as the ship.

How to book with CruiseAway

CruiseAway is a cruise specialist — every booking we make is a cruise or a cruise-inclusive package. Our cruise experts know the Cunard fleet in detail: which cabin grades suit long ocean crossings, which fare types offer the best value for the itinerary you have in mind, and how to fit the sailing into a longer trip from Australia without loose ends. Call us, book online, or ask us to put together a tailored quote. We back every booking with our Best Price Guarantee.

Through our DreamAway Packages we can add flights, hotels, tours, transfers, train tickets and travel insurance around your cruise — as a bundle or as a fully custom itinerary. Nothing is left for you to arrange separately. All Cunard sailings in this programme are available through CruiseAway’s full Cunard range, and our experts are accredited members of CLIA and ATAS.

If you are still comparing programmes, the Cunard 2027–2028 programme and the earlier Cunard 2026–2027 programme are both available, with some overlap in ships and itinerary styles. Alternatively, the full CruiseAway cruises listing lets you compare across all lines and departure dates in one place.

For seasonal inspiration closer to home, Christmas cruises from Sydney, Christmas cruises from Brisbane and New Year’s Eve cruises are all worth exploring if you want something that does not require a long-haul flight to the departure port. And if a one-way voyage appeals but you want to start closer to home, a Fremantle to Singapore cruise in 2028 is a compelling alternative departure.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.