Queen Mary 2
Queen Mary 2 (one-off ocean liner) · refurbished 2023 · Other, Caribbean & Bahamas, Northern Europe & Fjords
The only ship currently designed as a dedicated ocean liner, with a structure built to withstand rough North Atlantic seas through thick hull plating and high cruising speed. It operates seven-night transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York year-round. Onboard are the only planetarium at sea, a full-size ballroom, and a well-stocked library, with a design centered on spending time at sea rather than sightseeing ashore. British traditions such as dress-code gala evenings and formal afternoon tea create a quiet, mature atmosphere. Stateroom categories are clearly tiered from inside rooms to Queens Grill Suites, with dedicated restaurants and lounges available in the upper grades. A major refurbishment is planned for spring 2027, including additional Princess Grill Suites.
Current position (external site)View on VesselFinder (IMO 9241061)External site. Position information has not been checked by Cruise Atlas.
For travelers from Japan
A guide to public baths, Japanese food and language support, payment in yen, smoking, dress codes and power outlets, based on available official and other sources. Details may vary by itinerary and season. Check the official website for current information.
Japanese-speaking staff and menus
English text in preparation.
Official: confirmed by the cruise line or another official source / Secondary source: confirmed by other sources / Estimated: inferred by Cruise Atlas / Not stated: no information found in official sources
At a glance
What is included and what costs extra
- Meals (main restaurants)Included
- AlcoholExtra charge
- GratuitiesExtra charge
- Wi‑FiExtra charge
- Specialty diningExtra charge
- Shore excursionsExtra charge
Unlike MSC's Bella/Fantastica-style fare grades, there are no separate fare grades; cabin grades such as Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill, and Queens Grill directly correspond to dining and benefit levels under Cunard's unique tiered system.
- Extra chargeDrinks (one beer)$7.10 (pint; own-brand beer such as Cunard Gold)
- Extra chargeSoft drinks and water$3.50 (cola and similar drinks, 200 ml)
- Extra chargeDrink package$49.50-$94.50/night (Beverage Collection), $63-$108/night (Premium Beverage Collection)
- Extra chargeWi‑FiEssential $22 (advance purchase)/$28 (onboard); Premium $30 (advance purchase)/$44 (onboard)
- Extra chargeGratuities (automatic service charge)$17/person/night (Britannia), $19/person/night (Grills)
- Extra chargeSpa (60 minutes)$138 (50 minutes) to $200 (80 minutes)
- Extra chargeLaundrySelf-service laundry, including washers, dryers, irons, and detergent, is free. Valet laundry is charged per item (about $5 for a T-shirt).
- Shore excursionsThe classic 7-night transatlantic crossing (between Southampton and New York) has no ports of call, so no optional shore excursions are offered. On special itineraries with ports of call, such as world cruises, optional tours are purchased separately, as on other Cunard cruises.
Prices are shown in the onboard currency; no currency conversion is applied.
Boarding, atmosphere, and links
- Japan departures: No
- Home ports: Southampton (United Kingdom), New York (United States)
- Departure ports: Southampton, New York
- All ages
- Solid interiors that blend Art Deco with a classic British style and evoke the original transatlantic liner, in service since 2004. The chandeliers of the Queens Room and the multi-deck Britannia Restaurant create a sense of formality; on formal nights, men generally wear black tie or a dark suit and women wear evening dresses. Because the 7-night scheduled crossing (between Southampton and New York) has no ports of call and consists only of sea days, the traditional style of 'savoring the voyage itself' is strongly felt, with planetarium astronomy shows, the library, ballroom dancing and more. Its design generation is older than that of its sister ship Queen Anne, giving it a stronger, more solid and traditional atmosphere.
- Guests are mainly from the United Kingdom and North America, with one of the highest average ages in the Cunard fleet. Many are repeat travelers whose main purpose is the transatlantic voyage itself, or who are interested in maritime history and cruise culture, creating a traditional clientele that values dress codes and manners.
Uses an integrated electric propulsion (COGES) system combining four Wärtsilä 16V46C diesel engines with two GE LM2500+ gas turbines, and sails using Azipod electric propulsion pods. Exhaust-gas scrubbers were added during a major 2016 refit, along with a Wärtsilä membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment system.
Ship character
- • Travelers seeking a true transatlantic crossing
- • Travelers who enjoy formal evenings
- • Adults seeking quiet reading and lectures
- • Travelers wanting to try a Grill Suite
- • Travelers with young children seeking activities
- • Travelers wanting sightseeing at every port
- • Travelers seeking a casual, lively ship
- • Travelers prioritizing Japanese-language support
Cruise stories and videos on external sites
5 linksThese are articles and videos by other publishers, not Cruise Atlas. Their content is their own and has not been reviewed by us. Links open in a new tab.
- ArticleJapanesecruise-mag.com
cruise-mag.com · Link checked Oct 5, 2026
- ArticleJapanesePR / hosted trip disclosednote.com
note.com · Sailed Jun 4, 2026 · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
- YouTubeEnglishQueen Mary 2 Review: Is Luxury Cruising Still Worth it in 2026?
youtube.com · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
- Personal blogEnglishAffiliate links disclosedQueen Mary 2 Transatlantic Review: New York to Southampton
planetpatrick.net · Link checked Oct 5, 2026
- Personal blogEnglishAffiliate links disclosedQueen Mary 2 Review: What Works and What Doesn
cruisedirector.co · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
English text in preparation.
Sources
- Officialcunard.com
- Encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org
- Secondary sourcebolsovercruiseclub.com
- Encyclopediawikidata.org
- Encyclopediaja.wikipedia.org
- Officialcunard.com (2)
- Secondary sourcecruisedeckplans.com
- Secondary sourcethepointsguy.com
- Secondary sourcecruisewithamber.co.uk
- Secondary sourcecruiseturtle.com
- Secondary sourcetheinsidecabin.com
- Secondary sourcebeyondcruise.com
- Secondary sourcethepointsguy.com (2)
- Secondary sourcereadygocruise.com
- Officialcunard.com (3)
- Secondary sourceworldofcruising.co.uk
- Officialcunard.com (4)
- Secondary sourcechriscunard.com
- Officialcunard.com (5)
- Secondary sourcecruiseastute.com
- Secondary sourcebeyondships.com
- Secondary sourcecanyonranch.com
- Secondary sourcesailawaymagazine.com
- Secondary sourcedutchdutchgoose.com
- Secondary sourcewheeliegoodtravelcompany.com
- Secondary sourcecruisemonkeys.com
- Secondary sourcepaulandcarolelovetotravel.com
- Officialcunard.com (6)
- Secondary sourcecruiseline.com
- Secondary sourcepointsbrotherhood.com
- Secondary sourcecruisesbylinda.com
- Secondary sourcecruisewithamber.co.uk (2)
- Secondary sourceluxurycruiseclub.co.uk
- Secondary sourcebeyondships2.com
- Secondary sourcebeyondcruise.com (2)
- Secondary sourceprnewswire.com
- Secondary sourceseat61.com
Source: Wikipedia “Queen Mary 2”, “Wikipedia article (Japanese)” (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Cabins by category
| Cabins | Size | Occupancy and beds | Features | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Britannia Inside The standard category, comprising 286 rooms. Although there is no window, rooms have queen-size beds that can be split into twins. Dining is at the main restaurant shared by Britannia-class categories. 286 cabins | 14.1–22.6 m² (152–243 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed (convertible to twin). A sofa bed can be added depending on the room type. | Check the official page | |
Britannia Oceanview A category with windows but no balconies, mainly on Decks 5 and 6. It includes 62 confirmed standard rooms of 194 sq ft. It is positioned in a more affordable price range than balcony cabins. Decks 5-6 | 16.5–18.7 m² (178–201 ft²) | 2-3 people Queen bed (convertible to twins). | Window | Check the official page |
Britannia Single (Studio Oceanview, KB/KC) Solo cabins for one guest only, introduced in the 2016 major refurbishment (categories KB and KC, 15 rooms total). Each has a window, a sofa area, a private bathroom and a small refrigerator, and can be used without a single supplement, which is a rare design. 15 cabins / Deck 2 (Category KC) and Deck 3 (Category KB) | 13 m² (140 ft²) | 1 person Single bed (oversize). | WindowSolo | Check the official page |
Britannia Balcony The main balcony cabin category, with 737 rooms, the most of any category. Sizes range from standard rooms to large corner-layout types, and standard Britannia dining is assigned. 737 cabins / Decks 4-12 | 21.2–43.8 m² (228–471 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed (convertible to twins). Higher-level types have an additional sofa bed. | Balcony | Check the official page |
Britannia Club Balcony The room size is close to the upper-tier Britannia Balcony type, with access to private Britannia Club dining and priority boarding and disembarkation benefits. The 2016 major refit added 30 new rooms on Deck 13 and refreshed existing cabins in the same category. Mainly Decks 11-13 | 23–25 m² (248–269 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed (convertible to twins). | BalconyConcierge | Check the official page |
Princess Grill Suite A suite category with access to Princess Grill dining. The 76 rooms are concentrated on Deck 10. The representative Princess Suite is about 381 sq ft. 76 cabins / Deck 10 | 31.1–47.7 m² (335–513 ft²) | 2-3 people Queen bed (convertible to twins). | BalconyConcierge | Check the official page |
Queens Grill Suite The highest category, arranged in stages from Queen Suite (about 390 sq ft, 81 rooms) through Duplex Apartment (about 1,290–1,345 sq ft, 3 rooms in Windsor, Buckingham, and Holyrook) to the largest onboard Grand Duplex (about 1,600 sq ft, 1 room). Every room includes a private butler. Decks 8-11 (Queen Suite: Decks 8-11; Royal Suite: Deck 10 forward; Duplex/Grand Duplex: Decks 9-10 aft) | 45–209 m² (484–2,250 ft²) | 2–4 guests (Duplex and Grand Duplex categories accommodate around 6 guests) King bed. Upper suites have a separate bedroom + living area; duplexes have a two-level layout | BalconyConcierge | Check the official page |
Approximate figures from official and reliable sources. Cabins vary by ship, category, and sailing.Links generally lead to official pages; some have not been verified.
Families, adults-only areas, and practical information
- • Minnows Pool — A small children's pool on Deck 6, adjacent to Kids Zone.
- • The Kids Zone — A free kids and teen club on Deck 6 comprising Play Zone for ages 2 to 7, Kids Zone for ages 8 to 12, and Teen Zone for ages 13 to 17. It can accommodate up to 357 guests, with a dedicated youth manager and staff on site.
- • Night Nursery — A childcare facility for children aged 6 to 23 months (12 months for transatlantic crossings). Parents must accompany children during the day, while free childcare is also available at night.
- • Empire Casino — A casino with Monte Carlo-style decor. It features roulette, blackjack, three-card poker, heads-up Texas hold'em tables, and slot machines, and operates only in international waters.
- Onboard currency
- USD
- Gratuities
- From boarding, the "Hotel & Dining Service Charge" is added automatically to your onboard account one day at a time. You can ask the Purser's Office (Guest Services) to adjust or remove the amount. A separate 15% service charge is automatically added to bar, wine and spa purchases, and this is effectively mandatory.
- Payment
- Cashless onboard
- Voltage
- 220V/110V, 60Hz. Note that this differs from standard households on mainland Britain (240V/50Hz).
- Formal nights
- Cunard's policy is to hold at least 2 Gala Evenings on a 7-night cruise (at least 1 is guaranteed on voyages of 3 nights or more). The number rises with longer cruises, and the line is known for a higher frequency of formal nights than other lines.
- Medical facilities
- There is a medical center on board, and all examinations and treatment are charged (about $110 for an initial consultation, with additional charges depending on the treatment). Travel insurance is recommended.
- Bringing items onboard
- Each adult may bring up to 1 bottle of wine or champagne (750 ml or less); spirits and beer are not allowed. A corkage fee of $25 applies if opened in a restaurant or bar (free if drunk in your cabin). Alcohol purchased at ports of call can generally be brought on board without being confiscated, but this practice may be reviewed.
- Mobile and connectivity
- At sea, service goes through the carrier's maritime network (Cellular at Sea and the like) and tends to cost more than regular roaming. It is recommended to switch to airplane mode, connect to the onboard Wi-Fi and, if your carrier supports it, use Wi-Fi calling.
- Japanese support
- Staff —Menus —Announcements —
Dining
The main dining venue for guests with Britannia/Britannia Club cabin grades. This large, three-level open dining hall primarily offers full-course service by waiters and junior waiters. Included in the cruise fare.
Hours: Breakfast: 8:00-9:30; lunch: 12:00-13:30; dinner has two seatings (around 18:00 / around 20:30).
Single-seating dining exclusively for Britannia Club guests. Offers a more relaxed atmosphere and a higher-quality menu than Britannia.
Hours: Breakfast 8:00-9:30, lunch 12:00-13:30, dinner 18:30-21:00 (single seating)
Small dining room exclusively for Princess Grill suite guests on Deck 7. Uses a traditional Cunard reserved-seating system with the same table secured throughout the voyage.
Hours: Breakfast 8:00-9:30, lunch 12:00-13:30, dinner 18:30-21:00 (open seating)
The ship's most exclusive dining venue, available only to Queens Grill suite guests on Deck 7. Connected to dedicated butler service, it also provides access to the adjacent Queens Grill Lounge and private sun deck.
Hours: Breakfast 8:00-9:30, lunch 12:00-13:30, dinner 18:30-21:00 (open seating, 24-hour in-suite service)
Casual buffet venue on Deck 7, renovated in 2016. Serves continuously from breakfast through dinner and late-night snacks, with a popular live pasta and pizza station at Chef's Galley during the day.
Hours: 4:00-next day 2:00 (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, dinner, and late-night light meals; the service area changes by time period)
Small open-kitchen corner within Kings Court. Serves mainly Italian pizza and pasta during the day and becomes a Chef's Table on select evenings, when the executive chef presents a wine-paired tasting menu.
Hours: Lunch (pizza and pasta prepared live); a Chef's Table is offered on certain evenings only (reservation required)
Cunard's signature traditional afternoon tea, with white-gloved staff serving scones and sandwiches on large platters. Included in the cruise fare.
Hours: 15:30-16:30 (daily)
Traditional British pub near Stairway C on Deck 2. Serves classic dishes such as fish and chips and chicken tikka masala, and is generally included in the cruise fare.
Hours: 12:00-14:30 (mainly lunch); in the evening, live band performances or sports broadcasts may take place
Part of Kings Court becomes a paid a la carte restaurant at night, serving rotating Italian, Indian, Pan-Asian, American, and Mexican themed cuisine.
- Daily-changing themed a la carte course (Italian, Indian, Pan-Asian, etc.)$35
Steakhouse on Deck 8. Choose from several grades of beef, including 35-day-aged Scottish Angus and Wagyu, with an extensive selection of supplemental items such as foie gras and lobster.
- Foie gras royale (additional)$15
- Anston Ham Wagyu sirloin 8 oz (additional supplement)$30
- Seafood platter for two (Maine lobster, Irish mussels, Alaska king crab, etc.; additional supplement)$20
A paid upgrade to the regular complimentary afternoon tea, adding champagne and a dedicated menu. Held on selected dates and requires reservations.
- Complete afternoon tea with champagne$45
Facilities and activities
A multipurpose theater that also serves as the world's only planetarium at sea. It functions as a 500-seat lecture and movie venue during regular operation, then converts into a 150-seat planetarium showing star shows overseen by the Royal Astronomical Society when the ceiling dome is lowered.
A main theater with a two-level open space and a full-scale stage (capacity of about 1,105). It presents West End-style production shows, comedy, and special guest performances.
A social space spanning the ship's full width, with one of the largest dance floors at sea (about 10,500 square feet). It hosts afternoon tea during the day and ballroom dancing during gala evenings.
A casino with Monte Carlo-style decor. It features roulette, blackjack, three-card poker, heads-up Texas hold'em tables, and slot machines, and operates only in international waters.
A two-level nightclub named after QM2's construction yard number. Guests can dance to live DJs and bands at this unique QM2 facility.
A lounge bar on the ship's forwardmost and highest deck. Guests can enjoy tea while looking out over the sea during the day, and live music and signature cocktails at night.
A bright bar in the center of the ship on Deck 3. Original nautical charts decorate the space, and live jazz may be performed.
An elegant champagne bar overlooking the Grand Lobby.
One of the largest spas at sea, covering about 20,000 square feet. It includes 24 treatment rooms (including 2 for couples), a full-scale weights and cardio training area, a coed relaxation lounge, and a full-service salon.
A heated pool within Canyon Ranch SpaClub. It can be used alongside jet streams and a steam room, with a relaxation lounge nearby.
A full-scale gym on Deck 7 overseen by Canyon Ranch. It is equipped with weight machines, free weights, treadmills, stationary bikes, rowing machines, and more.
An outdoor pool on Deck 12 with a retractable glass dome for use even in bad weather.
An outdoor pool on Deck 8 with an adjacent whirlpool.
A small children's pool on Deck 6, adjacent to Kids Zone.
A free kids and teen club on Deck 6 comprising Play Zone for ages 2 to 7, Kids Zone for ages 8 to 12, and Teen Zone for ages 13 to 17. It can accommodate up to 357 guests, with a dedicated youth manager and staff on site.
A childcare facility for children aged 6 to 23 months (12 months for transatlantic crossings). Parents must accompany children during the day, while free childcare is also available at night.
A library at the forward end of Deck 8, with one of the largest collections in the Cunard fleet. Wood paneling and subdued lighting create the atmosphere of a traditional library.
A shopping arcade on Deck 3 lined with luxury-brand stores such as Harrods, Chopard, and Hermes. It also offers tuxedo rental and purchases.
The only full-scale kennel at sea where dogs and cats can travel with their owners, available only on the regular Southampton-New York transatlantic crossings. It has 24 rooms in total: 12 upper-tier rooms (for cats and small dogs) and 12 lower-tier rooms (for large dogs, with cat litter boxes installed). It includes a dedicated outdoor walking deck and an indoor play area. Some large dog breeds are not permitted.
Outdoor circuit on Deck 7, approximately 550 m per lap.
Outdoor sports facilities including a paddle tennis court and golf practice net.