Cunard Offers Up to $600 Onboard Credit for 2026-27 Sailings

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth is marking 15 years in service after being delivered on Sept. 29, 2010, by the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, a milestone that coincides with a new Wave Season onboard-credit promotion across the cruise line’s fleet.

Queen Elizabeth’s 15-year milestone and early voyages

Conceived as a modern extension of Cunard’s century-long heritage and introduced as an enhanced successor to Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth was designed around grand double- and triple-height public spaces with detailed finishes that include wood paneling, mosaics, chandeliers and marble elements.

Queen Elizabeth II named the ship during a ceremony in Southampton on Oct. 11, 2010, in front of more than 1,600 international guests. The event concluded with a musical performance by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

The ship sailed its maiden voyage the next day on an Atlantic Islands itinerary calling in Spain and Portugal, including Vigo, Lisbon and Tenerife. During its inaugural season, Queen Elizabeth operated from Cunard’s U.K. homeport with sailings to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Adriatic Sea, and by December 2010 the ship had also sailed a 22-night Caribbean voyage.

How Queen Elizabeth’s deployment has evolved

In more recent years, Queen Elizabeth expanded its geographic reach, debuting in Alaska in 2019 and later extending cruises to North America. The ship is currently operating out of PortMiami on Caribbean itineraries ranging from nine to 12 nights, with calls that include St. Maarten, Belize City and Montego Bay, among other destinations. Cunard said a recent drydock renovation enhanced the vessel’s public areas and onboard features.

Cunard’s Wave Season promotion and booking window

Separately, Cunard has opened a Wave Season promotion branded “Treat yourself, on us,” offering up to $600 in onboard credit per stateroom on select sailings booked through Feb. 25. Cunard said the offer covers eligible voyages departing from April 2026 through December 2027 across Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Anne.

Liz Fettes, Cunard’s senior vice president of commercial for North America, linked the timing to the industry’s annual booking surge, saying, “Wave season is the most important time of year for cruise planning.” Fettes added that Cunard is positioning the promotion as its “richest onboard credit offer of the year.”

Cunard has not detailed in its offer summary how many itineraries qualify or which fare categories are excluded, beyond stating that the onboard credit applies to select voyages in the eligible period.

Where Cunard says guests can use onboard credit

Cunard is marketing the onboard credit as a way to offset common onboard spending categories, including dining and wellness experiences.

• Specialty dining: The credit can be used in alternative and specialty dining venues, including The Verandah, depending on what a guest chooses to book onboard.
• Spa and wellness: Cunard highlighted spa and wellness services at the Mareel Spa as an example of eligible onboard spending.
• Shore experiences: The line said the credit can be applied toward ship-sponsored shore experiences booked through Cunard.
• Onboard retail: Cunard also listed retail purchases onboard as a potential use for onboard credit during the sailing.
• Other onboard services: The company said other eligible onboard services may also qualify, depending on the specific purchase.

Additional inclusions for Grill Suites

Cunard said guests booking its premium Grill Suites receive additional inclusions beyond onboard credit. The line’s offer for Grill Suites includes a drinks package and hotel and dining service charges, along with access to suite-category venues and spaces; Cunard also points to exclusive dining, private indoor and outdoor lounges, and butler service for Queen Grill Suites.

Sample voyages Cunard highlighted alongside the offer

To illustrate the type of sailings being promoted, Cunard highlighted a set of voyages with themed programming or major calendar moments, publishing voyage codes, lengths and starting prices for balcony staterooms.

Examples include a seven-night Queen Mary 2 sailing departing July 3, 2026 (voyage M614) tied to U.S. Independence Day 250th events in New York and the Sail4th 250 gathering, which Cunard listed from $4,449 per person for a balcony stateroom. Cunard also highlighted a seven-night Wellness Voyage at Sea on Queen Anne departing July 5, 2026 (voyage H617) starting at $1,989 per person, and a seven-night Italy and Adriatic solar eclipse itinerary on Queen Victoria departing Aug. 24, 2026 (voyage V617A) starting at $1,559 per person.

Cunard additionally spotlighted a seven-night Literature Festival at Sea on Queen Mary 2 departing Nov. 28, 2025 (voyage M632), with a published starting price of $1,899 per person for a balcony stateroom. Cunard’s stated onboard-credit departure window begins in April 2026, so travelers considering any themed sailing will need to verify whether their specific voyage and stateroom category is eligible for onboard credit before booking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long is Cunard’s “Treat yourself, on us” Wave Season offer available?

Cunard said the promotion is available for bookings through Feb. 25.

Which Cunard ships are included in the Wave Season onboard-credit promotion?

Cunard said the offer applies across its four-ship fleet: Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Anne.

What is the maximum onboard credit amount under the promotion?

For eligible bookings, Cunard said it is offering up to $600 in onboard credit per stateroom on select voyages.

What extra inclusions do Grill Suite guests receive under the offer?

Cunard said Grill Suite bookings include a drinks package and hotel and dining service charges, plus access to suite-category venues and spaces; the line also cites benefits such as exclusive dining, private lounges and butler service for Queen Grill Suites.

Where is Queen Elizabeth currently operating?

Cunard said Queen Elizabeth is operating from PortMiami on nine- to 12-night Caribbean itineraries, with calls that include destinations such as St. Maarten, Belize City and Montego Bay, among others.

With Queen Elizabeth marking 15 years since delivery and Cunard’s Wave Season booking window running through late February, the cruise line is aiming to capture early demand for 2026 and 2027 departures while encouraging travelers to confirm that their specific sailing and stateroom category qualifies for onboard credit.