Queen Elizabeth reimagined
Explore the Cunard Queens
In numbers: Queen Mary 2
Since her maiden voyage in 2004, Queen Mary 2 has become a well-loved sight across the world thanks to her World Voyages and Transatlantic Crossings. But do you know of any famous faces that have sailed on our flagship? Find out this and much more as we get the rundown of Queen Mary 2, in numbers.
4 min
05 Nov 2024
Build and launch
Queen Mary 2 was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique and designed by a team led by naval architect Stephen Payne. She was launched in January 2004 after being christened by her godmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Launched as the world’s largest passenger ship, Queen Mary 2 remains the largest ocean liner ever built. Today, she is the world’s only ocean liner offering regularly scheduled Transatlantic Crossings between New York and Southampton, completing her 400th crossing in 2024.
A remastering in 2016 modernized areas of the ship, including a transformation of her aft section. The Mareel spa and Carinthia Lounge were remodelled, the Kings Court restaurant was reorganized, and the five-storey Grand Lobby benefited from new carpets and the removal of elevators, greatly enhancing the space in this area and transforming it into the grand welcome it is for guests today.
Key numbers
Staterooms and suites
Queen Mary 2 features some of the finest appointments at sea: 1,353 staterooms, 983 (73%) of which have private balconies. There are 11 unique stateroom types, including 172 suites and penthouses, as well as two Grand Duplex apartments, each measuring 209m². Queen Mary 2’s aft Grills Suites – Balmoral, Sandringham, Windsor, Holyrood, and Buckingham – are all named after residences of the British Royal Family, whereas the forward suites – Queen Mary, Queen Anne, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth – pay tribute to the four Queens Regnant from the past millennium. Since Queen Anne joined the fleet in 2024, these names also reflect the four Cunard ships.
In addition to the standard two-berth accommodation, Queen Mary 2 has 15 single staterooms with large oceanview windows: perfect for solo travelers. Queen Mary 2 is also the only ship in the Cunard fleet to feature ‘atrium view’ staterooms (staterooms with an interior window high above the Grand Lobby) and ‘sheltered balcony’ staterooms on decks 4, 5 and 6 (where the balcony is recessed into the hull of the ship, offering protection from the elements while retaining the view).
Venues and special features
14 decks tall, and with a higher crew-to-guest ratio than many other ships, Queen Mary 2 offers an abundance of space and White Star Service to every passenger who sails on her.
Her Queens Room, the location of lavish Gala Evenings and sparkling soirees, features the largest sprung wood dance floor at sea.
Illuminations, the ship’s luxury 3D cinema and lecture venue shows a selection of movies (2D and 3D) on sea days.
The Carinthia Lounge, an addition during the 2016 remastering, is a bright and spacious venue on deck 7. By day it’s a great place for social events, quizzes, and meet-ups, or a simple coffee and cake. By night the venue sparkles with live music, a long wine list, and an extensive port collection.
Queen Mary 2 is also home to the only kennels at sea and is the only liner to carry cats and dogs across the Atlantic. Staffed by a dedicated Kennel Master, the kennels are fitted with a lamppost, that was originally pitched outside Cunard’s former world headquarters in Liverpool, and a New York fire hydrant, to make pets feel more at home.
Dining
Queen Mary 2 has no shortage of dining experiences for guests to enjoy. The Britannia Restaurant is one of the most impressive main dining rooms on board, spanning two decks linked by a grand staircase. The focal point of the room is a giant tapestry of the liner in a tickertape departure from New York, by Barbara Broekman. Nearby, the Britannia Club restaurant offers the same elegance but with an open dining club atmosphere. For Princess Grill guests, the sophisticated and intimate Princess Grill restaurant serves some of the finest cuisine at sea. Guests staying in Queens Grill Suites have a table reserved in the renowned Queens Grill restaurant, where diners will be greeted with a warm welcome before sitting down to the most exquisite dining experience at sea.
If you want a change from your assigned main dining restaurant, Steakhouse at The Verandah features ingredients selected for their provenance, including buttery soft wagyu and flavorsome Black Angus beef. Kings Court, open throughout the day and late into the evening, offers buffet style dining that’s perfect for a casual bite. Each evening, a portion of this restaurant is transformed into an elegant alternative dining venue, Dinner at Kings Court, featuring menus matching the destinations Queen Mary 2 sails to.
The Golden Lion is Queen Mary 2’s traditional British pub, where you can indulge in favorites such as fish and chips, chicken tikka masala, and the pie of the day. Her Carinthia Lounge provides light breakfast and refreshments, whereas the Boardwalk Café and Pavilion Grill offer casual outdoor snacks and fast-food style dishes to enjoy al fresco by the pool.
Wellness and beauty
Queen Mary 2’s Mareel Wellness and Beauty spa is a relaxing sanctuary of calm, with steam rooms and a thalassotherapy pool . Massage and specialist treatments are available for the ultimate pampering experience. There’s also a salon offering manicures and pedicures, in addition to haircuts and blow-dries, and a barbers offering beard trims and shaves.
For more active travelers, Queen Mary 2 has a fully equipped gym as well as two swimming pools (plus the Minnows pool, for children). If you prefer to exercise in the open air, Queen Mary 2’s teak Promenade Deck is almost 600m long and a perfect place for a stroll while at sea. Early risers can also take advantage to complete a lap or two before breakfast, when the deck is quieter.
Fun facts
- Queen Mary 2 features 14 decks and reaches about 62m above the waterline, equal to the height of a 23-storey building.
- There are more than 50 nationalities amongst the crew.
- Queen Mary 2’s library is the largest at sea with more than 8,000 hardbacks, 500 paperbacks and 200 audio books.
- Queen Mary 2 has two 2.1m-long whistles, or horns, attached to the funnel. The starboard (right-hand side) whistle is an original from the first Queen Mary. The two whistles sound a deep bass ‘A’ note and can be heard 16km away.
- The ship has three 23-tonne anchors.
- Queen Mary 2 has three bow thrusters, which allow the ship to turn in her own length in port without the use of tugs. A small single joystick on the Bridge manoeuvres her sideways or at an angle.
- The ship has four stabilizers, each weighing 70 tonnes and extending 6.2m from the hull, which together can reduce the ship’s roll by 90%. This makes our flagship one of the most stable passenger ships in the world.
- Every ship is required to carry spare propellers and Queen Mary 2’s are found at the front of the ship on the Promenade Deck. Affectionately known as ‘the Captain’s cufflinks’, guests often mistake them for a modern art sculpture.
