2020 Special Event Voyages
In all the world of travel, there are few journeys rarer or more iconic than The Transatlantic Crossing to New York on Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2. Treat yourself to a unique and timeless voyage sailing aboard the world’s only true ocean liner, savouring seven unforgettable days of indulgence and discovery. Unhurried, dignified, and with a wonderful dash of glamour. This is your chance to uncover an experience as exciting as it first was in 1847, now with the finest refinements at sea. Surrender to the rhythms of freedom, service and celebration only offered on The Transatlantic Crossing by Cunard.
Get more information on these epic sailings!
Journey of Genealogy
Westbound Transatlantic Crossing
7 nights ◆ Aug 14, 2020 ◆ M025
Queen Mary 2’s Journey of Genealogy returns in 2020, and this special Crossing will mark the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage — one of the most influential journeys in global history and a defining moment in the shared history of Britain, the USA and the Netherlands. In 1620, the first English Puritans, known today as the Pilgrims, set sail from England to the New World. Prior to leaving the ship they signed the Mayflower Compact, a document that established a rudimentary form of democracy and legal order.
Events on board will commemorate the significance of this iconic journey and we welcome back Ancestry for their second Crossing.
Ancestry experts will host talks themed around the historic Mayflower voyage and the stories of the passengers on board, take a look back at the descendants of our founder Sir Samuel Cunard, and offer the opportunity to trace your family tree through the centuries and find out how your DNA connects you to the world.
Transatlantic Fashion Week
Westbound Transatlantic Crossing
7 nights ◆ May 24, 2020 ◆ M015
Now an anticipated annual event on our calendar, Transatlantic Fashion Week returns in 2020 for its fifth year. Revel in the glamour, dressing up and unforgettable highlights as we celebrate the world of fashion.
Fashion legends Mark Badgley and James Mischka will be on board to headline the event. Be among the first to view Badgley Mischka’s elegant new resort collection — inspired by the effortless glamour of 1940s Hollywood — in an exclusive runway show at sea.
Guests will have the chance to enjoy catwalk shows, Q&As, talks, hosted dinners and more.
This Crossing will welcome back on board fashion expert Gail Sackloff OBE, consultant to the International Fashion Industry. In addition, the voyage features Jaqui Lividini, founder and CEO of Lividini & Co. and former SVP of fashion merchandising and communications at Saks Fifth Avenue. Emerging new designers from some of the world’s leading fashion colleges will round out this insightful speaker series.
Big Band Ball
Singapore to Hong Kong
7 nights ◆ Mar 24, 2020 ◆ Q010
Bruges and Rotterdam
4 nights ◆ Aug 19, 2020 ◆ V024
Experience this spectacular event for dance and music lovers everywhere. Inspired by the iconic big bands of the ‘30s and ‘40s, each Big Band Ball combines hugely talented musicians from venues across the ship with special guest musicians from the UK. The magnificent 17-piece Big Band will delight guests with music from Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Duke Ellington and vocalists will add material drawn from the libraries of various classic and modern artists.
Set sail aboard magnificent Queen Elizabeth® for seven unforgettable nights of music celebrating the first Big Band Ball in Asia. Make your way from the sophisticated city of Singapore to the intriguing cities of Hue and Hanoi in Vietnam, then disembarking in Hong Kong. Or, spend four magical nights sailing with Queen Victoria® to two of Europe’s most storied cities, Rotterdam and Bruges, and enjoy your nights listening to spectacular music in the Queens Room.
Festival of Food and Wine
Westbound Transatlantic Crossing
7 nights ◆ Jun 7, 2020 ◆ M017
In June 2020, we welcome the first-ever Festival of Food & Wine in association with The Times and The Sunday Times aboard Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2® for a Transatlantic Crossing with a twist.
A tempting array of cooking demonstrations, wine pairings and events will be offered throughout this unique voyage, and we will be joined by a variety of food and wine experts to host talks, tastings and Q&As about all things gastronomical.
Special guest speakers on this crossing include Steven Spurrier, wine consultant, writer and former merchant, who will delight with stories of his life in wine and the historic Judgement of Paris; award-winning wine writer and The Sunday Times columnist Will Lyons; and The Sunday Times food editor Lisa Markwell.
In addition, Cunard’s own talented chefs, sommeliers and mixologists will be very much involved, sharing their expertise and offering a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of what it takes to curate Cunard’s exquisite menus.
For those that want to come away with even more, there is the chance to join the Cunard Wine Academy while on board to gain the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 1 Award. This is a recognized qualification for those new to the wonderful world of wine.
This voyage promises to be a delight for food and drink lovers everywhere.
London Theatre at Sea with the Olivier Awards
Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing
7 nights ◆ May 13, 2020 ◆ M013
This special crossing will showcase Olivier Award-winning talent both on and off stage. Enjoy insider perspectives from performers and creatives as we take you behind the scenes to explore the secrets of putting on a show. Hear unique insight lectures on London Theatre, participate in workshops from productions’ award-winning design teams, or come and be a part of the onboard dance group or sing with the onboard West End Choir. This will be the chance to experience the very best that London theater has to offer and is a must for any performance art lover.
World Space Week
Westbound Transatlantic Crossing
7 nights ◆ Oct 2, 2020 ◆ M032
Cunard is delighted to once again offer guests an opportunity to celebrate World Space Week with a special space-themed Transatlantic Crossing. The 2020 voyage focuses on Women in Space and the role they have played in space travel.
Acclaimed speakers from the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, aerospace and astronautics will be sailing with us, presenting and discussing all aspects of space and its exploration.
In addition to new space shows in the world’s largest Planetarium at Sea, anyone who has enjoyed a clear night mid-Atlantic will attest to Queen Mary 2 being the perfect venue to stargaze — away from light and air pollution.
National Symphony Orchestra
Westbound Transatlantic Crossing
7 nights ◆ Sep 4, 2020 ◆ M028
A regular favorite on the Cunard calendar, the UK National Symphony Orchestra joins Queen Mary 2 for the inspirational Last Night of the Cunard Proms. We welcome back Anthony Inglis who will once again conduct on this special voyage. During the Crossing, guests will be treated to two spectacular performances in the Royal Court Theatre — an evening of American-themed numbers and the Last Night of the Cunard Proms itself. There will be a Q&A with Anthony Inglis and guests will also have the opportunity to audition for the choir and practice under the guidance of the NSO, then perform during the evening’s show.
Independence Day Celebration on board
Independence Day Celebration
7 nights ◆ Jun 29, 2020 ◆ M020
Vancouver Short Break and Independence Day Celebration
7 nights ◆ Jul 2, 2020 ◆ Q020
Celebrate the Fourth of July with extended Independence Day sailings from the East or West Coast. Delight in Canada Day festivities on July 1, when Queen Mary 2® sails into Canada and then celebrate Independence Day in Boston on July 4. This roundtrip New York voyage visits the scenic ports of Halifax, Portland and Boston. Or choose to sail roundtrip from breathtaking Vancouver, as Queen Elizabeth® escorts you to charming ports of call along the Pacific Ocean, including San Francisco, Astoria and Victoria, British Columbia.
Literature Festival at Sea
Westbound Transatlantic Crossing
7 nights ◆ Dec 1, 2020 ◆ M039
With a seven-day program of literary events, talks and workshops, the Literature Festival at Sea will celebrate the written word in all its wonderful variety. Returning for its second year, the festival is run in partnership with The Cheltenham Literature Festival and The Times and The Sunday Times.
We will be joined on board by some of the worlds’ best novelists, historians, poets, and critics including bestselling authors Ian Rankin, Kate Mosse, Alexander McCall Smith, Prue Leith, Rachel Joyce, Joanne Harris, Alan Johnson and Mark Billingham; poet and broadcaster Pam Ayres; writer and producer Armando Iannucci; editor and dramaturge Greg Mosse; and your favorite Times journalists will be coming along too.
Throughout the week we will hear some of our literary greats in conversation about their lives and work and get the chance to meet them at intimate author signings. Sailing in December 2020, we get into the festive spirit with readings celebrating the best Christmas scenes in literature from Rudyard Kipling’s Christmas in India to P.G. Wodehouse’s lament about Christmas on a diet.
That’s not all! We will review the biggest news stories of the year with our Times columnists and analyze the truth behind the headlines — and there will be a program of workshops and master-classes for budding writers. Hear our literary editors and critics pick their best books of the year or have a reading list tailor made for you by our resident bibliotherapists. There will be bookish delights around every corner so join us for what promises to be an incredible journey.
Transatlantic Music Week
Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing
7 nights ◆ Oct 23, 2020 ◆ M035A
Queen Mary 2’s first Transatlantic Music Week debuts in October 2020. Our outstanding onboard musicians will be joined by special guests including Grammy Award-winning, Midge Ure, for wide-ranging performances in venues all around the ship, while Q&A sessions and workshops will give a unique insight into the world of music across a breadth of genres.