What’s included in my fare?
All fares include accommodations as booked, on board meals* and entertainment. Fares are per person based on double occupancy, voyage only, excluding air and transfers. Fares do not include government fees and taxes, fuel supplement (if in effect), optional travel protection, and incidental charges such as laundry, bar expenses, spa and salon treatments, shore excursions, etc. Full details of fares are available through your Travel Agent, by calling Cunard at (800) 728-6273 or at cunard.com.
* Excludes certain speciality areas of Lido Restaurant or Kings Court in the evening, Todd English on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria or The Verandah on Queen Elizabeth where surcharges apply.
Do I need travel protection?
We strongly recommend that all guests purchase some form of travel protection that includes cancellation and interruption coverages as well as medical expenses and emergency evacuation benefits. For your convenience, we offer CunardCare, a package of benefits comprised of the CunardCare Cancellation Fee Waiver, the CunardCare Travel Insurance and the CunardCare Worldwide Emergency Assistance Programs designed exclusively for our most valued guests. Information on CunardCare can be found by clicking here.
Can Cunard arrange my Ground Transfers?
Planning how to get to and from your voyage can be challenging. However, Cunard offers a range of options† to connect you to your ship — motorcoach service, private sedan or limousine — so you need not worry about a thing! Even your luggage is handled for you.
At the beginning and end of each sailing, Cunard’s Transfer programme offers convenient connections between the port and local airports. In New York and Southampton, we also arrange service to key regional train and bus terminals. Options available for your voyage will be detailed in your preliminary travel documents — contact your Travel Agent or Cunard at (800) 728 - 6273 to pre-arrange these on your behalf.
† Transfer options may vary by port and sailing date; please refer to preliminary documents for specific offerings on your voyage.
What is Cunard CompleteAir?
Booking your flight just got easier with our innovative Cunard® CompleteAir programme, designed to seamlessly coordinate your air travel with your voyage itinerary.
Within 320 days of your voyage return date, contact your Travel Agent or call (800) 728-6273 to take advantage of the Cunard CompleteAir programme, which allows you the option to book up-to-the-minute flight schedules, with competitive, real-time Cunard airfare pricing and inventory for only those flights that complement your voyage. Plus, it includes a host of other exciting benefits:
Competitive airfare pricing – your Travel Agent or Cunard will review availability from multiple carriers at competitive Cunard rates to find you the best flight for your budget!
Next Port Protection – If you book your flights with Cunard, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that in the event of an airline delay or cancellation, we will do all we reasonably can to ensure that you can continue your vacation with minimal disruption. In particular, if a delay or cancellation means that you miss your voyage embarkation, we will work with our airline partners to seek to re-arrange your travel arrangements to enable you to embark at the next appropriate port (excluding Transatlantic Crossings).
Immediate flight confirmations – Your preferred airline, route and flight times will be confirmed at the time of the flight booking and will be available to view on the Voyage Personaliser.
The Cunard CompleteAir programme offers two distinct pricing options, each with specific features and benefits depending on your travel needs:
Flexible fares – are designed for those guests who have less certainty in their travel plans and want the freedom to cancel their flight arrangements easily. These fares are typically higher than Restricted fares, but include the following added benefits:
- Flight payment is due on the date of the final voyage payment – not at the time of the flight booking.
- Flight charges are fully refundable until 45 days prior to departure.
There are no fees for flight changes made until 45 days prior to departure. Guests will only pay any additional costs if they change to a more expensive flight, which will constitute the creation of a new flight. The new flight will be priced at the newly booked fare, which can be higher or lower than the original fare booked. Fees up to the value of the ticket may be charged within 45 days of departure.
Restricted fares will typically be lower than our Flexible fares, with the following terms:
- Cancellation charges up to the full cost of the flights apply from the moment the flight booking is made.
- Payment is due immediately upon time of flight booking by credit or debit card.
Is there an advantage to reserving early?
Yes. When you reserve early, you have access to a greater selection of accommodations, ensuring you get just the stateroom or suite you prefer on your voyage.
How does tipping work?
During your voyage, you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. Many more crew support those who serve you directly. A discretionary Hotel and Dining charge will be added to your shipboard account on a daily basis (including children). This charge will be shared amongst all those who help provide and support your experience, including the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards and others. Please note, this is a discretionary charge and should you wish to remove it or make any adjustments, you may contact the Purser’s Desk before the end of the voyage.
Grill Accommodations: $13.50 USD per person per day†
Britannia Accommodations: $11.50 USD per person per day†
Note: Casino dealers and Spa personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge as not all guests utilise these services.
What about gratuities in the bars?
A 15% gratuity is added to your bar charges and dining room wine account. This is shared amongst the beverage staff and their support staff.
† Charges may vary or change without notice.
What if I’m travelling by myself?
Cunard welcomes single travellers on every voyage. There are countless ways to meet interesting people during your voyage — by attending the “Welcome Cocktail Party,” by choosing to sit at a larger table for dinner, and through activities like lectures and Bridge classes. For ladies travelling alone, Gentleman Dance Hosts make great dance partners.
For those who wish to travel as the sole occupant of a double occupancy stateroom, the following single supplements typically apply:
For Grill categories (Q1 – Q7 and P1 – P2), singles pay 200% of double-occupancy fares. For all other categories (AA – ID), singles pay 175% of double-occupancy fares.
Please be aware that supplements may vary and are subject to change without prior notification. Contact your Travel Agent or call Cunard at (800) 728-6273 for details.
What about third or fourth guests?
Fares for third and fourth guests in a stateroom vary by ship, sailing and stateroom category. All third and fourth guests pay the same fare, including children except children under 2 years of age travelling as a third or fourth guest who are not required to pay voyage fare. Not all staterooms and suites are equipped for additional guests; please consult the deck plans for more information. Contact your Travel Agent or call Cunard at (800) 728-6273 for details.
Are children welcome on Cunard?
Children at least six months of age are welcome on most Cunard voyages; on Transatlantic Crossings, Transpacific voyages (including voyages to Hawaii), Iceland and World Voyages (including Segment Voyages), the minimum age is one year. We offer a full children’s programme, from nursery to teens, so families can share this special journey together.
We provide supervised activities for children aged two to 17 years throughout the day, and also offer free group supervision in the evening.
A child travelling as the second guest in a stateroom requires payment of the published per-person fare. In order to provide adequate activities and facilities for our younger guests, the number of children on a specific voyage may be limited; please contact Cunard for details. Guests under the age of 18 are not permitted to gamble or enter the casino. Guests who are under 18 years of age are not permitted to purchase or consume alcohol on board. However, while in U.S. waters, Cunard Line enforces and abides by the U.S. legal drinking age of 21 years.
Are dogs welcome?
Queen Mary 2’s kennel programme is available on all Transatlantic Crossings between New York and Southampton in either direction, and is managed by a full-time Kennel Master who takes care of responsibilities such as feeding, walking and cleaning the ship’s 12 spacious kennels. Travelling dogs and cats also receive a complimentary gift pack. The kennels and adjacent indoor and outdoor walking areas are open throughout the day, enabling guests to spend significant time with their pets. Reservations for the kennels may be made at time of booking, and are based on availability. Contact Cunard for fees, details and additional requirements. All animals must be in compliance with the Pets Travel Scheme and in possession of a pet passport.
Are service animals/guide dogs welcome?
Cunard is pleased to permit individuals to bring service animals on board. You must provide notice of this at time of booking. Local laws or customs may prevent animals from disembarking at particular ports or countries. It is the guest’s responsibility to consult local customs authorities for requirements and to obtain all applicable documents and health certificates. Service animals are kept in staterooms with their owners. Non-service animals are only carried on QUEEN MARY 2 Transatlantic Crossings, in kennels, and are not allowed to visit any guest area of the ship.
Can disabled guests travel?
All guests requiring specific assistance, facilities or equipment on board or wishing to bring such equipment on board, must advise Cunard Line at the time of booking and are required to complete a questionnaire after booking, to ensure we have all the information we need to cater adequately for your requirements.
If you need to bring a wheelchair or mobility scooter on board with you, it is essential that you let us know at the time of booking or as soon as the need is known. Any guests requiring the use of a wheelchair, mobility scooter, or other aids to mobility must provide their own. For the safety of the ship and everyone on board, all wheelchairs, scooters and other aids to mobility must be stored inside your stateroom when not in use. Failure to comply with this important safety rule may mean you are disembarked and refused future travel. Part time wheelchair users travelling in non wheelchair accessible staterooms must bring a collapsible wheelchair to ensure it can safely fit through their stateroom door and be accommodated in their stateroom.
Mobility scooters will only be permitted on board if guests have booked into a wheelchair accessible stateroom, or a suite, as these are the only types of accommodation where mobility scooters can safely be stored. The minimum door width of suites is 53 cm. The minimum door width of the wheelchair accessible staterooms is 80 cm. At the time of booking, please let us know if you intend on bringing a mobility scooter with you, and we will in turn provide you with a questionnaire for completion to ensure that the accommodation you have booked is appropriate.
Please note that our wheelchair accessible staterooms are strictly reserved for guests who are bringing mobility scooters or who have a requirement for the adapted facilities offered by these staterooms. It is not possible to make structural changes to the stateroom layout. Cunard Line reserves the right to require guests who have booked this accommodation without legitimate reason, to move, at their own expense if necessary.
A ship is not always the easiest environment for using a wheelchair or mobility scooter. Although our crew are very helpful they are only able to provide limited assistance to assist you in moving around the ship. For this reason, and in order to ensure the safety of the guest, the ship and all others on board, we recommend that guests with disabilities, who require personal assistance in the activities of daily living, including pushing a wheelchair or communication support, be accompanied by a personal assistant / travelling companion to provide these services. Blind / Visually Impaired guests are recommended to travel with a companion who can help you get your bearings and assist you both on board and ashore. Our crew can provide limited arm assistance and information or directions, but we cannot provide sustained or long term assistance. If you travel alone but it becomes clear that you are unable to cope on board, you may be required to discuss the situation with a member of the ship’s company and in extreme circumstances, you may be asked to disembark the ship at your own expense.
Please note that due to applicable safety requirements, the design of the ship or port infrastructure and equipment, in certain ports of call it may not be possible for us to offer a shore excursion programme, or shuttle bus service, suitable for passengers who are not able to board a coach via the steps with only the aid of their travelling companion. Cunard Line reserves the right to refuse passage to any Passenger who has failed to notify Cunard Line of their requirement for special treatment or assistance or of reduced mobility or Disabilities (including the requirement to use a wheelchair or mobility scooter). For further information about travelling with disabilities, please contact our specialist Disability team at (800) 728-6273 (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm PT) or contact us by email at accessoffice@cunard.com.
Mobility ashore
When choosing your voyage please bear in mind that it may not be possible for wheelchair users to get ashore at ports of call. At the majority of ports visited by our ships, we deploy a short ramped low-level gangway, commonly referred to as the ship’s brow. This is normally due to ports with a large tidal range, where a relatively shallow ramp may unavoidably become too steep to use safely during the course of the day with tidal movements. Some examples of ports with a large tidal range (but not an exhaustive list) are Bilbão, Brest, La Coruña, Le Havre, La Rochelle, Lisbon, Vigo, Zeebrugge, Canary Island ports, Hamburg, Boston, Halifax, Portland, Québec, Darwin, Lisbon, Mumbai and San Francisco. At ports where it is not possible to use the ship’s brow, all access to shore will be by a narrow stepped gangway known as the accommodation ladder, that pivots to take account of the tide. When the accommodation ladder is in use, you will need some independent mobility in order to walk down the gangway. Each of our ships carries a wheelchair “stair climbing” machine which, where appropriate, may be used to allow wheelchair users to go ashore provided they transfer between their own wheelchair and the wheelchair that is fitted to the stair climber at the top and bottom of the accommodation ladder. The stair climber cannot be used with electric wheelchairs – these will need to be taken ashore separately.
