New to cruising

The Cunard guide for first-time cruisers

The world of cruise is exciting, varied and also a lot to take in for those who haven't sailed before. Our useful guide introduces the main elements to start you on your journey.

5 min 06 Mar 2024

Cunard

Author

Why should I go on a cruise?

There are a multitude of reasons our guests choose to cruise rather than take other types of holiday, but we find these three are the most popular.

Inclusions and variety

Your Cunard Queen features luxury accommodation, incredible restaurants and a wealth of exciting evening and daytime activities and venues to choose from, many of which are included in your cruise fare. Like any traditional package holiday, you can rest easy throughout your voyage knowing that your needs are catered for. Our Daily Programme, delivered each evening to your stateroom, contains a packed schedule of activities, events and entertainment for you to plan the following day. Do as much or as little as you please!

Unpack once

A cruise is the perfect way to see more of the world but, unlike other multi-destination holidays, you don't need to pack and unpack between each stop. Simply wake up somewhere new each day, take it all in, and sail off again each evening.

Meet like-minded travellers

A cruise is a fantastic opportunity to meet new friends from around the world who share your interests. Striking up a conversation is easy, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to dine, laugh and explore with other travellers on board and ashore. If you have a fixed dining table you are likely to see similar faces around you quite regularly - why not meet for an after dinner drink in the Commodore Club, or team up for a quiz at the Golden Lion?

Where can I cruise?

Cunard cruises range from 2-night city breaks to World Voyages of over 100 days. Read on for our pick of three cruises that are very popular with first-timers, or view our full guide for more suggestions.

Mini cruises

Typically 2-5 nights in length, mini cruises balance time to indulge and relax on your ship with exploring in one or more ports of call. It's the perfect "taster" cruise to see if ocean travel is for you. Discover our short breaks and mini cruises on our webpage.

Roundtrip cruises

Roundtrip cruises start and end at the same port of call, so there’s no air travel involved and you can bring as much luggage on board as you like! Discover our departure ports to find one that's convenient for you.

Transatlantic Crossings

Sailing between Southampton and New York, this 7-night journey offers no port calls: just stunning sea days to relax and indulge in. It's one of the oldest sailing routes in the world, and has a place on many traveller's bucket lists. You can sail between London or New York, with a flight on either end, or roundtrip for two weeks; you may find that's still not enough time to discover everything on board! Browse our current Transatlantic Crossings on sale and book online.

What is there to do on board?

A cruise celebrates all that’s wonderful about being on holiday, with open-air pools, a spa, and much more. View our webpages for more information on our activities, dining, on board venues and entertainment. On board, consult your Daily Programme to see the schedule for each day and choose as much or as little to do as you please.

Dining

When it comes to dining on board, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the main restaurant associated with your stateroom grade. If you fancy a change, you can enjoy freedom of choice at the Kings Court or Lido buffets, or book a table for a special evening meal at Steakhouse at the Verandah. Take a casual pub lunch at the Golden Lion, enjoy sweet pastries at Café Carinthia, or try Japanese or Greek cuisine in Queen Anne's Aji Wa or Tramonto restaurants. If you need a quiet night in, take advantage of our round-the-clock room service, included in your cruise fare. And, of course, enjoy Cunard's signature Afternoon Tea, included in your fare and served daily in the Queens Room.

Activities

Each Cunard Queen is packed with venues and activities to explore and try - so many in fact, you may need to book a second voyage just to experience more. Try your hand at something new, with a watercolour class or a wine tasting experience. Let our bartenders teach you the art of cocktail-making, take part in our on board choir, or book yourself in to a special 'behind the scenes' tour of your Cunard Queen. Solo travellers can join in with special events to meet others and build friendships on board - some may last well beyond disembarkation day!

If an active day is what you seek, join a fitness class or a personal training session at the on board gym, try your hand at deck games, or make use of Queen Elizabeth's games deck or Queen Mary 2's golf simulator. After that, enjoy a refreshing drink and a dip in the pool, followed by a warm soak in the whirlpools to soothe every muscle.

Visit Mareel Wellness & Beauty for a hair or nail appointment in our salon, or to relax in our thermal suite for a few hours. Enjoy a massage, facial or a body wrap for complete relaxation and glowing skin, or simply stop by for a seminar or to take advantage of a special offer, displayed in your Daily Programme.

Each Queen also has a beautiful retail area to explore. With a variety of well-known brands, competitions, offers and giveaways, you are sure to find the perfect souvenir for your holiday. While away time in our art galleries, book a private shoot at our photography studio, or purchase a special gift for a loved one.

Entertainment

Take in live music at your favourite on board bar and enjoy a perfectly-served cocktail, before you go to the Royal Court Theatre for a West-End style production. Enjoy a film or an illuminations show in Illuminations, unique to Queen Mary 2, or listen to guest speakers from the worlds of maritime history, literature, music and much more with our Insights programme. Drop in to the Golden Lion, our traditional British pub at sea, for a darts competition or a pub quiz, stop by the casino to try your hand at blackjack, or visit our nightclub venues to dance the night away. And, on Gala Evenings, dress in your finest eveningwear and make your grand entrance to the Queens Room for a glittering night of dancing and music.

What are the staterooms like?

Cunard boasts some of the most spacious staterooms at sea. Every one of them features a myriad of special Cunard touches, including sparkling wine on arrival (champagne for Grills guests) and a twice-daily turndown service complete with pillow chocolates. Each stateroom grade has its own main dining restaurant, where you can go for breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout your cruise.

Choose from our Britannia staterooms, havens of comfort and style that include single staterooms on three of our ships, or our Britannia Club staterooms, with access to the more intimate Britannia Club restaurant. Or treasure the exclusive comforts of our Princess and Queens Grill suites, with additional space and facilities, exclusive restaurants, and their own list of special features.

What can I expect from Cunard?

Cunard has been sailing for over 180 years and has a rich history of pioneering itineraries, top service and signature experiences that set us apart from other cruise lines.

Take time to browse our Insights programme, where one of our many guest speakers will regale you with talks and stories from the worlds of literature, the arts, exploration and much more. Enjoy our famous Afternoon Tea, served by a procession of white-gloved waiters every afternoon, before getting ready for your Gala Evening, where an elevated dress code and themed menus and entertainment throughout the ship await you. Everything we do, from the warm welcome as you board to delivering your luggage to your stateroom, is underpinned by our famous White Star Service. It is our pleasure to bring you the pinnacle of luxury service at sea.

How can I plan for my cruise?

Planning for a cruise should be an exciting time, full of anticipation. At Cunard we have many helpful resources to make planning as easy and as fun as possible; check the other articles at the bottom of this page for guides, tips and much more.

We also have useful pages outlining what's included in your cruise fare, a solo travellers' guide for if you're journeying alone, a guide to booking online, and a packing guide to help you pack the perfect suitcase. Of coure, if you get stuck, you can browse our FAQs, which contain a wealth of information.