Cunard 2028–2029 season cruises

Where does Cunard sail in the 2028–2029 season?

Cunard’s 2028–2029 programme spans transatlantic crossings, British Isles voyages, the Norwegian fjords, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Africa — all aboard the three ships that make this fleet unlike any other at sea. Sailings run from October 2028 through to May 2029, with durations ranging from short 2-night escapes to 28-night grand voyages and a median of 12 nights. Most are round-trip, though just over a quarter are one-way crossings. Fares start from A$669 pp*.

Which regions are featured in the Cunard 2028–2029 sailings?

The programme is anchored by transatlantic and British Isles sailing, with a strong spread across the Canary Islands, Norway, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Africa. Here is how the season shapes up.

Transatlantic

The transatlantic crossing is the voyage that made Cunard’s name, and it remains the centrepiece of this season. Queen Mary 2 — the world’s last true ocean liner — is built for exactly this: a ship engineered to handle the open Atlantic in a way no cruise ship can match, cutting through deep-water swells while her guests dress for dinner and take a turn around the ballroom. If you’ve ever wanted to cross the ocean the way it was always meant to be done, this is it. Sailings arrive and depart between Southampton and New York, so a one-way crossing gives you a genuine transatlantic adventure — fly to New York and sail home to Southampton, or sail out and fly back. CruiseAway can book the flights, hotels either side and transfers so nothing is left unplanned. Browse our full range of transatlantic cruises if you’d like to compare itineraries.

British Isles

With 10 sailings exploring the British Isles, this is the second-largest part of the season. These voyages sail from Southampton, letting you board at one of Europe’s great passenger ports and spend days at sea working your way around the coastline. If you’re based in Australia, it’s an easy domestic hop to an international gateway and then a single flight to Southampton — our team can bundle the whole journey. For more British Isles options, see how Celebrity Cruises covers the same waters.

Canary Islands and Portugal

Five sailings head to the Canary Islands, with a further sailing calling at Portugal — warm-weather options that suit the season perfectly. These itineraries depart from Southampton, making them accessible to anyone flying into the UK. The Canary Islands sailings tend to run in the 10–14 night range, giving you enough time to take in several islands at a comfortable pace.

Norwegian fjords

Four sailings explore Norway, with the fjords at their dramatic best through the colder months when the crowds thin and the landscapes carry a particular clarity. Departing from Southampton, these voyages are a strong choice if you want the scenery without the peak-season ship congestion. Queen Mary 2 in particular suits these waters — the ship’s scale and elegance gives the journey a sense of occasion that matches the landscape.

Caribbean, Mediterranean and Africa

A pair of Caribbean sailings rounds out the warm-weather options, alongside a sailing on the Mediterranean Sea and a voyage to Africa. The Caribbean sailings are a particularly good fit with a transatlantic positioning: cross the Atlantic on Queen Mary 2 and continue into warmer waters, with CruiseAway booking the full journey as one itinerary. If the Caribbean in 2028 is your focus, our Caribbean cruises 2028 page has the full picture, and Queen Mary 2’s Caribbean and South America 2028 season shows how the ship fits into that region specifically.

Which ships sail the Cunard 2028–2029 programme?

Three ships share this season: Queen Mary 2, Queen Anne and Queen Victoria. Each has a distinct character, and choosing between them is one of the most enjoyable decisions in Cunard planning.

Queen Mary 2 — the ocean liner

Queen Mary 2 carries 21 sailings this season — the most of any ship in the programme. She is the world’s last true ocean liner: not a cruise ship repositioned to do transatlantic crossings, but a vessel built from the keel up to cross the Atlantic in any conditions. The experience aboard reflects that purpose. White Star Service, ballroom dancing lessons in the Queens Room and the elegance of formal evenings give every crossing a sense of ceremony. Then there is the Planetarium — the only one at sea anywhere in the world — where you can lie back under a star-filled dome and watch a journey through the cosmos while the real ocean passes beneath you. Queen Mary 2 is, as the line puts it, a destination in herself.

Choosing your cabin on QM2 rewards a little research. Here is how the main grades compare — see the full Queen Mary 2 cabins and deck plans for layouts and positions:

• Britannia Inside cabin HB (14.8 m²) — the only inside cabin with a view of QM2’s impressive atrium, brighter and more open than a standard inside cabin.
• Britannia Solo cabin outside KB (16.5 m²) — designed specifically for solo travellers with no single supplement, full Britannia comfort for one person.
• Britannia Balcony cabin BU (25.0 m²) — a covered loggia rather than an open balcony, so you get fresh air and sea views regardless of the weather.
• Queens Grill Grand Duplex Suite Q1 (208.9 m²) — a maisonette spanning two levels with over 200 m² of private living space, more than twice the size of any other Queens Grill suite on board.

Queen Anne — Cunard’s newest ship

Queen Anne entered service in 2024, and she brings a genuinely fresh energy to the fleet without abandoning the traditions that define Cunard. The Art Deco elegance is there — you’ll see it in the Queens Room ballroom and in the Carinthia Lounge, where live music accompanies cocktail hour. But Queen Anne also has The Golden Lion, a proper British pub with a menu from Michelin-starred chef Michael Roux, which is unlike anything else at sea. She carries 10 sailings this season, making her a substantial presence in the programme.

Cabin grades on Queen Anne run from the practical to the exceptional. Full layouts are on the Queen Anne cabins and deck plans page:

• Britannia Inside cabin IA (13.7 m²) — with a personal cabin steward available around the clock and daily turndown as standard.
• Britannia Deluxe Ocean-view cabin EA (21.9 m²) — around 3 m² larger than the standard ocean-view, with a separate seating area.
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A1 (21.9 m²) — includes exclusive access to the Britannia Club Restaurant with a reserved table for a more intimate dining experience.
• 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 — intimate and elegant

Queen Victoria is Cunard’s most intimate ship: spacious enough to feel grand, small enough that you’ll know your way around within a day. The Gala evenings, white-gloved Afternoon Tea in the Queens Room and the Royal Court Theatre — which delivers West End-calibre performances night after night, from vocalists to aerial performers — give Queen Victoria a rhythm and warmth that repeats guests come back for specifically. She carries 7 sailings in this season.

Cabin grades on Queen Victoria, from inside to suite — full deck layouts at Queen Victoria cabins and deck plans:

• Britannia Deluxe Inside cabin GB (19.2 m²) — a midships position on Deck 1 with minimal ship motion, well suited to longer crossings.
• Britannia Ocean-view cabin EB (18.3 m²) — around 3 m² more spacious than the standard ocean-view grades, a meaningful upgrade in day-to-day comfort.
• Britannia Club Balcony cabin A2 (24.0 m²) — on Deck 8, the highest deck position in the Britannia Club category, with shorter walks to upper-deck areas.
• Queens Grill Grand Suite Q1 (122.5 m²) — the largest suite on Queen Victoria, with two separate rooms, a private dining room and a spacious lounge, considerably larger than any other suite in the Queens Grill category.

Where do these sailings depart from?

All sailings in this season depart from one of 3 ports: Southampton, New York or Hamburg. Southampton handles the majority of departures, followed by New York and then a small number from Hamburg. If you’re based in Australia, every one of these ports requires a flight — our team can add that flight, plus hotels either side and transfers, as part of a DreamAway Package, so you arrive at the ship with nothing unresolved.

For a broader view of what departs from Southampton in 2028, our cruises from Southampton 2028 page covers the full range of lines and itineraries. If you’re also considering the 2027 season from the same port, cruises from Southampton 2027 is there for comparison.

What’s the difference between a round-trip and a one-way Cunard voyage?

Of the 38 sailings in this season, 27 are round-trip and 11 are one-way. Round-trip sailings return you to the same port you boarded — simpler to plan, and a good fit if you want the cruise to be self-contained. One-way sailings, mostly transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York, finish at a different port to where they start. That means you’ll need a flight at one end. CruiseAway can book that flight as part of the same package, along with any hotels and transfers, so the one-way nature of the itinerary becomes an advantage — you get to see two great port cities rather than one.

Make it a complete holiday

Every Cunard sailing in this programme departs from an overseas port, so a flight is part of every Australian’s journey. CruiseAway is a cruise specialist — our cruise experts know these ships, fare grades and cabin types in detail, and our Best Price Guarantee means you won’t find the same sailing cheaper elsewhere after booking with us.

Beyond the cruise itself, we can build a complete package around your voyage. Our DreamAway Packages can include flights, hotels before or after the cruise, tours, transfers, train travel and travel insurance — everything on a single booking so nothing falls through the gaps. Whether you want a straightforward fly-cruise or a multi-stop holiday built around a transatlantic crossing, our team puts it together for you.

If you’re still weighing up the season, our Cunard 2027–2028 season is there for comparison, and the broader 2028 cruises page covers every line and region on sale for that year. You might also want to look at the Princess 2027–2028 season if you’re keeping your options open across lines.

CruiseAway is an ATAS-accredited cruise specialist and a CLIA member. All cruises we sell are covered by our Best Price Guarantee.

Planning a world cruise sector?

Cunard’s longer voyages in this season work well as world cruise sectors — a self-contained leg of a longer journey around the globe. If that’s what you have in mind, our world cruise sectors page brings together all the options across lines, and world cruises 2027 is worth a look if you’re comparing seasons. You can also see how other lines approach the world cruise format: Princess round the world cruises and MSC world cruises are both covered.

Australian departures for world cruise sectors are a popular option. If you’re looking at world cruises from Sydney or world cruises from Australia more broadly, those pages cover the full picture across all lines.

Also sailing in 2028: other lines and regions

If you’re open to other lines or regions in 2028, a few pages worth bookmarking: Mediterranean cruises 2028 covers the full season across all lines for that region, and Caribbean cruises 2028 does the same for the Caribbean. If Norway is your focus, Norway cruises brings together the options year-round. For the Cunard season immediately before this one, Cunard’s 2026–2027 programme is still there for reference.

*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.