Cunard has announced plans for a milestone at sea: the 500th transatlantic crossing of Queen Mary 2, the ship that has carried the line's famous Southampton–New York route for two decades. The flagship sailing departs New York on 20 April 2029 for a 21-night round trip, and there are several shorter ways to join the party from Europe.
Travellers can pick up the voyage in Hamburg on 30 April (11 nights), Southampton on 2 May (nine nights) or — for the first time in 15 years — Liverpool, on 4 May. That Liverpool call is the sentimental headline: the city was Cunard's home for well over a century before the line moved its operations south, and president Paul Ludlow called the 500th crossing one of the most significant moments in the company's modern history. Fares start at £2,924 per person for the full New York round trip, £1,709 for a one-way crossing from Southampton and £1,349 from Liverpool to the US.
The crossing anchors a wider programme of 93 voyages running October 2028 to May 2029. Two stand out for anyone with time on their hands: Queen Elizabeth's 115-night world cruise from Southampton on 23 January 2029, from £13,499, and Queen Anne's 86-night South America round trip, departing Southampton on 9 January from £8,549. The latter threads Caribbean ports together with an extended look at Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru — and is timed to catch Rio Carnival.
Queen Anne's involvement comes with a twist. The ship transfers to sister brand P&O Cruises in May 2029 as part of a fleet shake-up by parent company Carnival, so these itineraries are among the last chances to sail her under the Cunard flag before a revamp and rebrand.
Bookings open in stages: Cunard World Club members get early access from 2pm on 3 November 2026, general sale follows 24 hours later, and anyone booking before midnight on 30 December 2026 pockets a 10 per cent discount.
Why it matters: a transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2 is one of those trips people save for years to do properly — seven days at sea, no airport, formal nights and the novelty of arriving in Manhattan by ship. The 500th crossing adds genuine occasion to an already bucket-list route, and the Liverpool departure is a rare, likely temporary, chance to start the crossing from Cunard's original home port. If you've been waiting for a reason, this is a well-timed one — but note the sales window opens more than two years ahead, so diary work is required.
