Cruising on Cunard Means Excellent Service, Interesting Destinations and the Classic Cruise Experience

Cruising on Cunard has always been something special. The line traces its history back to the 1840s, when Samuel Cunard first received a contract to carry mail from Britain to North America. The first route was from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia, then on to Boston.

History, luxury, elegance

Great ships of Cunard included the Lusitania, the fastest ship on the water in 1915. After leaving New York bound for Liverpool with American munitions destined for the British war effort, she was sunk by a German submarine. The sinking enraged American public opinion and set the stage for American entry into WWI in 1917.

These days, Cunard ships aren't smuggling munitions, but are providing passengers with a cruise experience owing a great deal to the traditions of the past. Cunard cruising remembers the grandeur of the past and highlights it with modern flourishes meant to enhance the experience.

Cunard operates three vessels, the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, and the Queen Mary 2. Cunard is a part of Carnival Corporation, and has filled a niche within the giant cruise conglomerate for passengers seeking the classic cruise.

Cunard itineraries

When Ralph Waldo Emerson said "life is a journey, not a destination," he could have been speaking about transatlantic cruising with Cunard. The staple of the line for generations, steaming across the pond gives time for enjoying the fine dining and entertainment, or just looking out at the sea.

My only transatlantic sailings were with the U.S. Navy, not quite in the same category as the luxurious Cunard crossings. I would love to make the trip again, with nothing but the journey on my mind.

While crossing the Atlantic is what the Cunard brand is most associated with, they offer sailing itineraries including the Caribbean and Panama Canal, the Mediterranean, and Adriatic, as well as explorations of the Baltic and Northern Europe.

My sister-in-law lives in Europe and took the Baltic cruise. With port calls including Tannin and Copenhagen, and she had a wonderful experience. For her, one of the highlights came when the ship stopped in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

She works a high-stress job in banking, and loved the relaxing time at sea between the port calls. For her, the cruise was the perfect mix of leisure and activity.

Take a look at the Cunard website and browse through the varying options for planning your classic cruise experience.