Learn more about the Cunard fleet

Queen Mary 2: Facts and Figures

Built at a cost of US$800 million, Cunard’s 151,400-tonne Queen Mary 2 is almost twice as large as the original Queen Mary and more than double the size of the legendary Queen Elizabeth 2.

The largest ship ever to visit Australia, the 345-metre-long Queen Mary 2 seamlessly combines a classic British heritage with Cunard’s hallmarks of nostalgia, opulence and style, evident in sweeping staircases, a grand ballroom and a 360° promenade deck.

Renowned artists were commissioned to produce more than 300 original works of art valued at more than US$5million for Queen Mary 2, which is also home to the Maritime Quest exhibit tracing the history of Cunard and its Transatlantic heritage.

A space ratio of over 57 tonnes (gross registered tonnage divided by guest capacity) per passenger makes Queen Mary 2 one of the most spacious ships at sea, with room for 14 decks of sports facilities, shops, lounges, bars, five pools, no fewer than 10 dining options and the only planetarium afloat – Illuminations.

Almost 75 per cent of Queen Mary 2’s 1310 staterooms feature private balconies, while the needs and whims of every two passengers are catered for by the attentive service of one staff member.

Launched in 2004, Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only liner offering regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings between New York and Southampton, as well as voyages to the Caribbean, Northern Europe, Mediterranean and round world voyages.

Her 2011 visit to Australia comes as part of her fourth world voyage. Her first world voyage in 2007 saw her make her maiden visit to Sydney, where she enjoyed a spectacular rendezvous with her younger sister, QE2, which has since left the Cunard fleet. In 2011 she will enjoy a Royal Rendezvous on Sydney Harbour with her new sister Queen Elizabeth (Feb 22-23) following her visits to Fremantle (Feb 17) and Adelaide (Feb 20).

Queen Mary 2 will return to Australia in 2012 for a royal cirumnavigation of the country, visiting eight Australian ports. She will sail Australian waters for 28 days, the longest she has been based in one country outside of her northern hemisphere home ports of Southampton and New York.

Queen Elizabeth: Facts and Figures

Built at an estimated total cost of more than US$630 million, Cunard’s 90,900-tonne Queen Elizabeth is the second largest Cunarder to sail the world’s oceans.

Launched in the United Kingdom in October 2010 by Her Majesty The Queen, Queen Elizabeth pays homage to Cunard’s original Queen Elizabeth, featuring a raft of famous Cunard hallmarks plus some new ones.

Her many features include more than 700 private balcony cabins, more than 10 restaurants and cafes and a Games Deck featuring paddle tennis, croquet and bowls.

Queen Elizabeth also offers a two-storey library complete with a unique leaded glass ceiling, a globe from the original Queen Elizabeth and around 6000 books. Other features include a two-storey Queen’s Room ballroom and a three-deck Royal Court Theatre seating 800 guests.

The liner offers guests a total of 1046 staterooms, with its six main suites named after six Cunard Commodores that have been knighted for their services to king and country.

One of the oldest names in passenger shipping, Cunard Line had the world’s youngest fleet before the launch of Queen Elizabeth, but with her introduction the average age has fallen even further.

Returning Cunard to a three-ship fleet, Queen Elizabeth offers sailings to the Caribbean, Northern Europe, Mediterranean and round world voyages.

Her 2011 visit to New Zealand comes as part of her first world voyage. On her maiden visit to New Zealand, Queen Elizabeth will visit the Bay of Islands on February 16, Auckland on Feb 17 and Wellington on February 19 before heading to Sydney.

Queen Victoria: Facts and Figures

Designed to be a classic Cunard liner reflecting the line’s rich heritage and traditions, the 90,000-tonne Queen Victoria celebrates the golden age of ocean travel when travelling was more important than the destination.

Distinguished by Cunard’s signature red and black livery, the opulent liner features grand triple-height public rooms, sweeping staircases, gleaming crystal chandeliers, intricate mosaics, rich wood paneling, spacious open decks for promenading and stylish afternoon teas.

Her exciting onboard innovations include the first West End-style private viewing boxes at sea in the Royal Court Theatre; the first two-storey library at sea; an onboard ‘Cunardia’ museum showcasing memorabilia from the line’s fabled history and a grand colonial-style conservatory complete with a retractable glass roof.

The ship features Cunard’s renowned and lavish Grill accommodation and dining, further enhanced on Queen Victoria with exclusive deck terraces and an al fresco dining option for premium Grill passengers.

When the luxurious Queen Victoria took her place in the line’s fleet alongside her legendary sisters Queen Mary 2 and QE2 in late 2007, it was the first time three Cunard Queens had served together in the company’s illustrious 168-year history.

While QE2 departed Cunard’s fleet in November 2008, a new liner, the grand 90,400-tonne Queen Elizabeth joined the fleet in October 2010 reinstating the royal triumvirate.