Cunard Sends Queen Anne and Queen Mary 2 on Same-Day World Cruises

Cunard sent two ships on world cruises from Southampton on Jan. 11, 2026, with Queen Anne and Queen Mary 2 departing on the same day after a fireworks display. Together, the sailings total 225 nights at sea and are scheduled to return to the U.K. on April 30, 2026.

Dual departures launch 225 combined nights at sea

Cunard said both round-trip voyages from Southampton are designed around a mix of overnight stays and late departures aimed at giving guests additional time ashore, while maintaining the line’s White Star service style. Queen Anne, which entered service in 2024, is operating a 110-night itinerary, while the 2004-built Queen Mary 2 is sailing a 108-night voyage.

Queen Anne’s eastbound route: 30 ports, overnights, and late-evening sailaways

Queen Anne is sailing an eastbound circumnavigation calling at 30 ports across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Americas and the South Pacific. Cunard highlighted overnight stays in Cape Town, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney and Los Angeles, as well as evening departures from ports including Port Elizabeth, Colombo and Honolulu.

After leaving Southampton, the itinerary heads to Atlantic island calls in the Canary Islands and Cape Verde before continuing to Namibia and South Africa and rounding the Cape of Good Hope. The route then crosses the Indian Ocean with calls that include Mauritius and Reunion, followed by stops in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore as the ship moves through Southeast Asia.

Before and during the Australia segment, Queen Anne is scheduled to call at ports including Hong Kong, the Philippines and Indonesia, followed by visits to Darwin, Airlie Beach, Brisbane and Sydney. The voyage then continues into the South Pacific with stops in Vanuatu and Fiji, before a trans-Pacific leg that includes Hawaii, California and Guatemala.

On the homeward portion, Cunard’s itinerary also includes a Panama Canal transit, followed by calls in the Caribbean and Florida before the Atlantic crossing back to Southampton.

Queen Mary 2’s world cruise features a first Panama Canal transit and Long Beach reunion

Queen Mary 2 is sailing its first world voyage in two years, traveling westbound from Southampton to the Americas before continuing to Australia and Asia, then onward to Africa and back to Europe. The itinerary includes an early milestone: the ship’s first-ever Panama Canal transit.

Panama Canal passage: Jan. 24–25 itinerary details

Cunard said Queen Mary 2 entered the canal’s newer locks on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, then stayed overnight at the Cocoli Mooring Station before completing the crossing on Sunday, Jan. 25, traveling under the Bridge of the Americas. After the transit, the ship is scheduled for an overnight stay in Fuerte Amador, Panama, followed by a call in Manzanillo, Mexico.

The sailing is also scheduled to include a Los Angeles arrival on Feb. 2, 2026, a return to Southern California after 17 years as part of a world-voyage itinerary. Cunard also built in a Long Beach visit intended to reunite Queen Mary 2 with its namesake, the original Queen Mary, for the first time in 20 years.

Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said, “As the world’s only ocean liner, Queen Mary 2’s maiden transit through the Panama Canal marks another extraordinary milestone for Cunard.” McAlister added that the canal passage is “an iconic element” of the ship’s 108-night world voyage.

Onboard programming includes Cunard Insights guest speakers

Cunard is again offering its Cunard Insights enrichment program on both voyages, with scheduled guest speakers joining at various points during the world cruises.

• On Queen Anne, Cunard said the lineup includes solo cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, Crocodile Hunter producer John Stainton and U.S. world champion sprinter Tyree Washington, among others.
• On Queen Mary 2, scheduled speakers include journalist and counter-terrorism expert Margaret Gilmore, former pilot Jeff Skiles (co-pilot during the “Miracle on the Hudson”) and Zelda La Grange, former private secretary to Nelson Mandela.

Looking ahead: Cunard points to 2027 and 2028 world-cruise seasons

Alongside the 2026 departures, Cunard said it is promoting future world voyages for 2027 and 2028, with 100-plus-night itineraries planned on Queen Victoria, Queen Anne and Queen Elizabeth. Cunard highlighted extended stays in cities that include Yokohama, Los Angeles, Cape Town, Singapore, Hong Kong and Sydney across those seasons.

For the 2026 sailings now underway, the next notable itinerary dates include Queen Mary 2’s scheduled Los Angeles call on Feb. 2 and both ships’ scheduled return to Southampton on April 30, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When did Cunard’s 2026 world cruises depart, and from where?

Queen Anne and Queen Mary 2 departed on Jan. 11, 2026, sailing from Southampton on the same day.

How long are Queen Anne and Queen Mary 2’s 2026 world voyages?

Queen Anne is sailing a 110-night itinerary, while Queen Mary 2 is operating a 108-night world voyage.

When are the ships scheduled to return to the U.K.?

Both world cruises are scheduled to return to Southampton on April 30, 2026.

Which ports include overnight stays on Queen Anne’s world cruise?

Cunard highlighted overnight visits in Cape Town, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney and Los Angeles.

What makes Queen Mary 2’s Panama Canal transit notable?

The 2026 voyage includes Queen Mary 2’s first-ever passage through the Panama Canal, which took place via the canal’s newer locks during the Jan. 24–25 transit weekend, including an overnight stay at the Cocoli Mooring Station and passage under the Bridge of the Americas.