Some cruise announcements are packed with destinations, but one detail immediately makes me want to open a map. Cunard has just revealed 93 voyages for October 2028 to May 2029, and the headline act is Queen Mary 2's 500th Transatlantic Crossing.
Yes, her 500th. For a ship built to cross the Atlantic rather than simply hop between sunny ports, that feels like a proper milestone.
Why Liverpool makes this one special
The crossing is part of a 21-night round-trip voyage from New York, with opportunities to embark in Hamburg, Southampton and Liverpool. Cunard says it will be the first time since 2015 that passengers can leave Liverpool on one of its transatlantic crossings.
I love that Liverpool is part of the story. The city's connection with Cunard goes back to the company's beginnings, so this is more than a nice photo opportunity. It's a reminder that cruising has a history worth celebrating.
There's plenty beyond Queen Mary 2, too. Cunard's new programme covers 104 destinations in 49 countries, with 18 overnight port calls and 18 late-evening departures. I always welcome longer stays in port. A place can feel completely different once the day-trip crowds have gone home.
World cruises, South America and sailings from Southampton
Queen Elizabeth will offer a 115-night world voyage, including stops in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and South Africa. Queen Anne's 86-night South America Discovery from Southampton is another standout, especially with an overnight in Rio de Janeiro during Carnival.
For anyone who prefers something shorter, Queen Victoria will sail from Southampton to Northern Europe, Scandinavia, the Norwegian fjords and warmer destinations including Spain and the Canary Islands. There are seven-night options as well as longer holidays, which makes the announcement interesting even if a world cruise is firmly in dream territory.
When can you book?
Cunard World Club members get early access from 2pm UK time on 3 November 2026, with general bookings opening at 2pm on 4 November. The UK announcement also mentions a 10% early booking saving on qualifying fares booked by 30 December 2026. I'd read the fare conditions before treating that as a reason to rush.
My thoughts
It's the mix of history and choice that appeals to me here. The 500th crossing sounds genuinely memorable, but the longer port stays and Southampton departures are what could make the wider programme worthwhile for more people.
Of course, an exciting itinerary is only part of a great cruise. Good service, sensible staffing and enough time for crew to do their jobs properly matter just as much. I'd rather see Cunard deliver a brilliant experience than simply announce a bigger list of places to visit.
Still, this is one of those releases that reminds me why I love following the cruise industry. There's always another journey to dream about.
Details from Cunard's announcement, published 21 October 2026.
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