Cunard FAQs
Here are some of the most common Cunard questions we get asked.
When did Cunard start?
Cunard was established in 1839. Contrary to what Cunard itself often says, the first voyage took place aboard the Unicorn in May 1840. The first Cunard express crossing departed on 4 July 1840 aboard Britannia, which is the ship usually cited as Cunard’s first.
What was Cunard’s first ship?
The first ship to sail for Cunard was the Unicorn, built in 1836 and acquired by Cunard in 1840. The first ship built for Cunard was Britannia which entered service on 4 July 1840.
When did Cunard merge with White Star Line?
Cunard merged with White Star Line in 1934 during the Great Depression, creating Cunard-White Star Line. The merger was undertaken to allow British Government Funding for the building of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. By the 1940s, Cunard had absorbed White Star Line and the name reverted back to Cunard.
When did Trafalgar House Co. Buy Cunard?
In 1972 the independent Cunard Line was purchased by Trafalgar House Co. This ended independent ownership of Cunard that lasted from 1840-1972. Trafalgar House (and therefore Cunard) were acquired by Kværner in the 1990s.
Did Cunard own Hotels and River Cruise Vessels?
Yes, in the 1970s, Trafalgar House Co. established Cunard-Trafalgar Hotels which they later renamed Cunard Hotels and Resorts. The brand oversaw the management of numerous Trafalgar House hotel properties including The Ritz London, The Stafford and The Watergate. Learn more.
When did Carnival Corp buy Cunard?
In 1998 Carnival acquired Cunard from Kværner. Carnival reorganised Cunard into a luxury British cruise brand. It moved Sea Goddess I, Sea Goddess II and Royal Viking Sun to Seabourn, and refurbished QE2 and Caronia. It also committed to build Queen Mary 2.
Did Cunard own Titanic?
No. Titanic was built for the White Star Line and entered service in 1912. At this time, Cunard and White Star Line were rivals. Titanic was the second ship in the Olympic-class of liners. Olympic was the first ship of this class, followed by Titanic and later Britannic. They were created to compete against Cunard’s Lusitania and Mauretania.
Did Cunard save Titanic Passengers?
A Cunard ship, Carpathia, was the first ship to arrive on the scene to assist Titanic’s survivors. Carpathia was the only ship that carried survivors back to New York.
Why are Cunard’s ships registered in Hamilton?
In short: money. For much of Cunard’s history, their ships were registered in Liverpool, United Kingdom. In 1969 QE2 was registered in Southampton. During the 1970s-1990s Cunard had ships registered in the Bahamas, Oslo and Panama. In 1998, following the Carnival acquisition of Cunard, all ships were registered in the United Kingdom. Cunard has since re-registered their fleet in Hamilton, Bermuda with Bermuda allowing weddings to be hosted aboard, which allows for an extra revenue source for the brand. In addition, it is often cheaper to register a ship under a flag of convenience. To learn more, watch this video.
Can you wear Jeans or Shorts on Cunard?
Yes, of course. T-shirts too! During the day, Cunard has a smart casual atmosphere. It’s been this way since I first cruised on QE2 in 1995. Some people prefer to dress up during the day when on board, and that’s fine. But you don’t have to, you aren’t expected to and indeed those who do are often in the minority, especially during summer cruises. After 6pm, this changes and the atmosphere becomes more formal. Cunard has relaxed their dress code in recent years. Many traditionalists lament the loss of the high levels of formality in the evenings. Others prefer the less strict atmosphere. That said, after 6pm you’re still expected to wear smart clothing such as collared shirts, slacks and evening dresses.
Is Cunard more expensive than P&O?
It’s probably fair to say that on average, yes. Cunard is more expensive than P&O. But that’s not always the case. Cunard has many different cabin categories, and the cheaper Britannia-grade cabins can often be very competitively priced.
Is room service free on Cunard?
It depends. For decades Cunard was renowned for having 24-hour room service included for no extra fee in all cabin categories. Sadly, in 2025 Cunard changed this for Britannia-grade rooms, where there is now a fee. This actually impacts the majority of passengers on board all of the current ships. There are fees for items priced on the room service menu. It is still included as ‘complementary’ in Britannia Club, Princess Grill and Queens Grill. Breakfast items are still included in the fare for all passengers if you order before 10am.
Who are the Cunard Queens named after?
Contrary to what you might have read, the Cunard Queens are not all named after Queen Regnant. In fact, most of them are named after Queen Consorts. There have been 8 Cunard ships named for Queens of England, Great Britain or the United Kingdom. They are:
- Berengaria was named for Berengaria, Queen Consort of Richard I.
- Queen Mary was named for Mary of Teck, Queen Consort of George V. HM. Queen Mary christened the ship in 1934.
- Queen Elizabeth was named for Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Queen Consort of George VI. HM. Queen Elizabeth christened the ship in 1938.
- Queen Elizabeth 2 was named “Queen Elizabeth the Second” by HM. Queen Elizabeth II in 1967. It is widely agreed that the ship was to be named Queen Elizabeth after the 1938-built liner, but HM. Queen Elizabeth II personally altered the title. Cunard later agreed with Buckingham Palace to use the numeral ‘2’ to style their ship’s name.
- Queen Mary 2 is named after the first RMS Queen Mary, and is therefore named for Mary of Teck.
- Queen Victoria is named after HM. Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837 to 1901.
- Queen Elizabeth: The 2010-built Queen Elizabeth is named after the first RMS. Queen Elizabeth, and therefore is named for Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, though the ship also honors Queen Elizabeth II.
- Queen Anne: Is named after HM. Queen Anne of Great Britain, who reigned from 1702 to 1714. Many felt like this was an odd choice, given how long ago Queen Anne reigned.
