This article may contain affiliate links. Read my DISCLAIMER page for more disclosure information.
Cunard has a unique position in the cruise industry. Few brands manage to balance maritime heritage with modern luxury quite as successfully. Nowhere is that contrast more visible than in the comparison between Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne – the oldest and newest ships in the Cunard fleet.
Having sailed on both ships, while both carry the Cunard name and share the line’s signature elegance, I can see how they offer distinctly different onboard experiences. Whether you are drawn to the formality and tradition of an ocean liner or the contemporary feel of a modern cruise ship, understanding these differences can be important in helping you choose the ship that best suits your travel style.
This post explores how Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne differ across design, accommodation, dining, entertainment, and itineraries and who each ship is best suited for.
Cunard Fleet Overview
Cunard’s current fleet is relatively small but highly distinctive. Each ship has a clearly defined personality:
🚢The Current Cunard Fleet 🚢
Queen Mary 2: Cunard’s flagship and the world’s only purpose-built ocean liner in regular service.
Queen Victoria: A mid-sized ship with a traditional feel.
Queen Elizabeth: Similar in style to Queen Victoria but with a slightly more contemporary edge.
Queen Anne: The newest addition, representing Cunard’s modern evolution.
For me, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne probably sit at opposite ends of Cunard’s design spectrum, making them the most interesting to compare. So firstly, a little more about each ship.
Queen Mary 2, The Iconic Ocean Liner
Launched in 2004, Queen Mary 2 was designed not as a cruise ship but as a true ocean liner, she was constructed to replace the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) and built to cross the North Atlantic in all seasons. As an ocean liner she is literally in a class of her own in the current Cunard Fleet.
Her design focused on stability, strength, and performance in open water, which gives her a different profile and feel compared with modern cruise ships. She is deeper in the water, has a more traditional exterior silhouette, and feels distinctly ship-like rather than a resort-style cruise ship.
Onboard, I found the atmosphere is refined, formal, and quietly grand. On each deck there is something special to marvel at; high ceilings and wide promenades, a strong sense of maritime tradition with paintings and photos of ships past and present in the Cunard fleet, a more structured daily rhythm, and focused on events such as formal evenings and the quintessential white gloved afternoon tea.
As a result, Queen Mary 2 tends to attract guests who value elegance, tradition, enrichment, and the romance of sea travel, particularly on her famous Transatlantic Crossings and famous guests.
Queen Anne, Cunard’s Newest Generation
Queen Anne, a pinnacle class ship, represents Cunard’s future. Launched 20 years after Queen Mary 2 in 2024, she reflects how cruising has evolved in terms of guest expectations, design preferences, and onboard lifestyle.
Overall, I found Queen Anne’s interiors to be lighter, more contemporary, and more flexible in layout. On this ship in the Cunard fleet, you will find more open-plan public spaces, a greater emphasis on natural light and flow, more casual social areas alongside the expected formal ones and contemporary entertainment venues – such as the cabaret club (Bright Lights Society) and the big screen in the Pavillion Pool.
Queen Anne therefore feels more like a modern luxury hotel at sea, while still retaining Cunard’s signature touches, such as white-gloved service, elegant public rooms, and a calm, unhurried onboard pace.
Cunard have designed Queen Anne for a broader range of itineraries and guest types, including those who want luxury without formality and variety without feeling overwhelmed. However, Queen Anne’s lack of solo cabins is a bone of contention for me, but more about that later.
A quick comparison – Queen Mary 2 vs Queen Anne
| Feature | Queen Mary 2 | Queen Anne |
| Launch Year | 2004 | 2024 |
| Ship Type | Purpose-built ocean liner | Modern cruise ship |
| Overall Style | Classic, formal, maritime | Contemporary, relaxed luxury |
| Atmosphere | Elegant, traditional, ceremonial | Light, modern, social |
| Typical Guest Profile | Traditionalists, enrichment-focused, transatlantic enthusiasts | Contemporary luxury travellers, destination-focused cruisers |
| Dress Code | More formal evenings | More flexible and casual options |
| Cabin Style | Traditional décor, slightly larger standard cabins | Contemporary décor, more balcony cabins |
| Dining Style | More structured and traditional | More flexible and casual choice |
| Entertainment Focus | Lectures, classical arts, enrichment | Live music, wellness, social venues |
| Signature Feature | Transatlantic crossings | Modern design and flexible itineraries |
| Best For | Lovers of tradition and sea travel | Travellers seeking modern comfort and variety |
Design and Atmosphere
This is where the I think the contrast between the two ships is most distinct.
Queen Mary 2 feels majestic and formal, she is purpose-built. Her design celebrates the tradition of ocean travel, with grand staircases, classical artwork, and a clear separation between different public spaces. Ceremony, structure, and classic maritime style are very much de rigueur on board.
Queen Anne, by contrast, feels softer and more contemporary. Her design focuses on comfort, ease of movement, and social connection. There is more openness, more casual seating, and more places to relax. This ship leans more into modern luxury, informality, and a more relaxed atmosphere.
Cabins and Accommodation
It seems self-evident that Queen Anne benefits from being newer, with more balcony cabins, updated in cabin technology, more efficient use of cabin space (perhaps too efficient for some guests who have commented on lack of storage and space in the cabins).
Queen Mary 2’s cabins on the other hand while not as modern in design, are generally more spacious, particularly in standard categories. They cabins feel more traditional in style, with richer colours and classic furnishings. Unlike Queen Anne, Queen Mary 2 caters to solo travellers in the form of dedicated solo Oceanview cabins which were introduced in 2016.
Both ships offer a wide range of accommodation, from inside cabins to expansive Grills Suites. There are comfortable beds and high standards of housekeeping, so the choice here is less about quality and more about whether you prefer classic or contemporary styling.
Dining and Culinary Experience
Dining is central to the Cunard experience on both ships. Both ships have the traditional dining model, with set dining times and a strong sense of formality in the main restaurants.
From my experience sailing on Queen Mary 2, I found that the evening dining on Queen Mary 2 felt like an event in itself. The Britannia Restaurant on Queen Mary 2 is breathtaking and unique. Almost like you’re on a film set in a period drama. There are some speciality restaurants on Queen Mary 2 – such as Sir Samuel’s Steak house and the dedicated pop-up speciality section in the Kings Court Buffet which rotates throughout different cuisines throughout the voyage. However, the main focus remains on the main dining restaurants.
I found the culinary experience on board Queen Anne, offered greater flexibility when it comes to dining, with more casual venues and expanded speciality dining. There was also more of a focus on lifestyle and wellness, and a more relaxed approach overall. Queen Anne also has a culinary residence restaurant experience on certain voyages, such as The Norwegian Fjords with Michel Roux.
The main dining room on Queen Anne, while still grand, evokes less of a sense of occasion than that on board Queen Mary 2 and queen Anne’s Britannia Restaurant is more akin to the main dining rooms on other cruise ships. When it comes to main dining room design, Queen Mary 2 is quite literally in a class of her own.
Regardless of the differences in style, both ships have menus with a strong focus on British and international cuisine and high-quality ingredients and presentation. Plus, excellent afternoon tea with clotted cream.
Entertainment and Onboard Activities
Quite simply, Queen Mary 2 places a strong emphasis on enrichment, including lectures and talks, the Planetarium, educational programmes, classical performances and formal evening entertainment. It also hosts dedicated event voyages at sea on transatlantic crossings – such as Literature Festival at Sea, Fashion Week at Sea, Theatre at Sea, and National Symphony Orchestra Performances.
Queen Anne focuses more on social spaces and informal evening venues lifestyle, contemporary live music, wellness and fitness programmes in partnership with Harper’s Bazaar and a dedicated wellbeing menu in the Pavilion Wellness Café.
Both ships also have ‘Entertainment Residencies’ where guests can experience unique performances on selected voyages. Both ships are also family friendly with small but unobtrusive children’s clubs and programmes on board.
Itineraries and Destinations
Queen Mary 2 is synonymous with Transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York, although she also sails longer world and regional cruises.
Queen Anne offers a broader mix of itineraries, including Northern Europe and the Norwegian Fjords, the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and world voyages.
Queen Anne is designed to be more geographically flexible, while Queen Mary 2 is more closely tied to her iconic Atlantic route.
Who Should Choose Which Ship?
I have been fortunate enough to sail on both of these beautiful ships and have loved them both. It might be worth adding that my tastes in cruising are fairly eclectic, and I enjoy approaching each ship and cruise line with an open mind, and the wide variety of styles and atmospheres they offer. However, I can clearly see why one ship might appeal to some and not others. So in my opinion…
Choose Queen Mary 2 if you:
➡️ Love maritime tradition and classic elegance
➡️ Appreciate formal evenings and structured routines
➡️ Enjoy the romance of ocean crossings
Choose Queen Anne if you:
➡️ Prefer modern design and relaxed luxury
➡️ Want more casual dining and flexibility
➡️ Enjoy a broader range of destinations
Which Cunard Ship Do I Prefer the most
Having sailed on both ships – do I have a favourite? Well, the way I see it, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne represent two sides of Cunard’s identity: heritage and innovation.
From my short cruises on each of the ships, I found that Queen Mary 2 preserves the grandeur and ritual of classic sea travel – the Golden Age of cruising, while Queen Anne reflects how luxury cruising has evolved to become more relaxed, more flexible, and more contemporary. Traditionalists may disagree with me on this one, but I think Cunard needs to evolve with the cruise industry and they’ve got it more right than wrong with Queen Anne.
Both ships deliver the calm, polished experience Cunard is known for but, I think the two Queens attract different types of travellers. In my opinion, the ‘best choice’ is not about which ship is better, but which one aligns more closely with how you want to travel. I love aspects of both and will defiantly be sailing on both again.
Videos you may enjoy:
Follow me on Instagram, X and Facebook and my other social media channels, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel to keep up to date with more cruise content and cruise tips.
