Cunard's Queen Victoria is on her way back to Southampton after a summer in the Mediterranean, and what follows is one of the fullest winter programmes in the brand's line-up.
The repositioning itself doubles as a proper cruise: a 16-night sailing from Civitavecchia (Rome's cruise port) that threads through some of the western Mediterranean's most reliable ports — Palma de Mallorca, Cartagena, Málaga — before calling at Lisbon and La Coruña on the way to the UK. Anyone who assumes repositioning cruises are a dull means to an end might want to look again at that list.
Once back in Southampton, the 2007-built ship settles into roundtrip sailings from Cunard's homeport through autumn and winter. Routes cover Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, Iberia and Morocco — a solid spread of options whether you want a short winter-sun escape or a cooler-weather city and coastline itinerary.
The centrepiece is Cunard's annual world cruise, departing Southampton in early January. At 111 nights, it's the longest itinerary the line will operate in the 2026-27 winter season, taking in the Caribbean, North America, Hawaii, Australia, Asia and Africa. Bookable as a full voyage or in segments, it remains the classic way to see a lot of the world without a single flight.
There's also a refresh on the horizon. Before the winter season begins, Queen Victoria heads to a drydock in the Netherlands for a 19-day refurbishment. Expect a new Pavillion Wellness Café, upgrades to the Cunard Grills suites, a revitalised Grand Lobby and Queens Room, and eight extra Britannia staterooms — worth knowing if you're comparing the ship's pre- and post-refit look.
Beyond winter, the plan stays UK-centric. While sister ship Queen Elizabeth takes over Cunard's Mediterranean fly-cruise programme next year, Queen Victoria remains based in Southampton from May through December with three- to 16-night cruises across Europe, the Atlantic islands and North Africa.
One fleet note for Cunard watchers: parent company Carnival Corporation has confirmed Queen Anne, the 2024-built newest arrival, will move to P&O Cruises in 2029 as part of a wider reshuffle. It's a few years out, but it does reshape where Cunard's newest ship will be sailing in the longer term.
For travellers, this is good news if you like sailing from the UK without flying. Southampton-based roundtrips suit anyone avoiding airports, and the mix of short breaks, Canary Islands sun and a headline world cruise gives the winter season unusual range for a single ship. Just keep the refit dates in mind when booking autumn departures — a cabin on a freshly refurbished Queen Victoria could be the sweet spot for 2026-27.
