Cunard Opens Sweepstakes for Queen Mary 2’s 450th Atlantic Crossing
The prize package also covers flights, hotel accommodations in Southampton and transportation to and from the port, with entries open through July 31, 2026.
Cunard launched a sweepstakes on June 12 offering two travelers passage on Queen Mary 2, the line’s flagship ocean liner, for its 450th transatlantic crossing, a Nov. 10-17, 2026 sailing from Southampton to New York. Entries are open through July 31, 2026, for a prize package that includes the voyage and related travel arrangements.
Cunard is presenting the crossing as part of a wider anniversary year that includes the United States’ 250th-anniversary celebrations and the company’s 186-year history on the Atlantic. Cunard traces the transatlantic route to 1840.
“Transatlantic travel is the foundation of Cunard’s rich heritage and remains one of the most iconic experiences in luxury travel today,” said Liz Fettes, senior vice president, commercial, North America and Australasia at Cunard. “This milestone is a testament to the 186 years of history, connection and unforgettable voyages across the Atlantic.”
The prize covers passage for two guests, flights, hotel accommodations in Southampton and transportation to and from the port.
Cunard’s Atlantic service began with RMS Britannia, a wooden paddle steamer and the first of four vessels ordered by Samuel Cunard for a British government mail contract. Britannia departed Liverpool on July 4, 1840, reached Halifax in 12 days and 10 hours, and continued to Boston; Cunard describes the service as the world’s first regularly scheduled transatlantic steamship operation.
On the 2026 anniversary, Cunard is scheduled to participate in Sail4th 250 in New York Harbor as part of the United States’ semiquincentennial celebration. Cunard said the event will assemble an international flotilla of tall ships and naval vessels on a scale not previously reached.
See current Queen Mary 2 fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.
