Paihia, the jewel of the Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Sailing with confidence.

The future may be uncertain, but at Cunard we are doing everything we can to plan ahead to fulfil our guests' holiday dreams, with safety as our constant priority.

“We have always taken pride in having the highest levels of health and safety. We are now reviewing every aspect of the Cunard experience and will only resume sailing when we have the approval and accreditation of enhanced health protocols from the most trusted and informed sources.”

- Cunard President, Simon Palethorpe.

A few mindful changes; still your Cunard voyage.

With our enhanced wellbeing measures on board our ships you’ll still be able to enjoy the holiday you dreamed of, even though some aspects of your voyage may initially feel a little different. These changes are designed to protect the health of everyone on board and in the destinations we visit. We hope as you return to sailing you will find these changes reassuring and easy to adjust to.

As the world evolves so may our policies and procedures, but rest assured we will have every aspect of your holiday experience covered.

Our assurance to you.

Our new protocols.

As we prepare to return to sea, we’re combining over 180 years’ experience with the expertise of foremost accredited scientists, medical professionals and government advisors to deliver the signature Cunard holiday you expect.

The framework of enhanced protocols outlined here has been supported by the UK Government, Department for Transport, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA, the world’s largest cruise industry trade association), EU Healthy Gateways and public health agencies, and are designed to keep you and our crew healthy and well throughout your holiday.

Carnival Corporation, Cunard’s parent company, has also been working with a number of world-leading experts to support our efforts in developing the enhanced protocols for the return of cruise holidays.

These advisors include:

Dr. Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, author, former vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and 19th Surgeon General of the United States
Dr. Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology, University of Reading School of Biological Sciences (UK)
Michael S. Diamond, MD, PhD, Herbert S. Gasser professor of medicine, molecular microbiology, pathology & immunology; and associate director, Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Michael Z. Lin, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurobiology, bioengineering, and chemical and systems biology; and principal investigator, The Lin Lab, Stanford University School of Medicine
Dr. Jewel Mullen, MD, MPH, associate dean for health equity, University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School
Emil C. Reisinger, MD, full professor of internal medicine, infectious diseases and tropical medicine and director of the Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rostock, Germany
Dr. Stefano Vella, MD, former director, National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health); and adjunct professor of global health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart) in Rome.

Find out more about your Cunard experience

Guest and crew wellbeing.

We are committed to delivering the highest standards of health, safety and wellbeing for our guests, crew and the wider communities we visit.

To achieve this:

All guests and crew boarding our ships will undergo health screening and testing for Covid-19 before boarding

Every area of the ship will be rigorously and regularly cleaned and disinfected

We’ll provide additional hand-sanitising stations

We have enhanced our on board ventilation systems to provide improved filtration and increased fresh air on board

We’ll adhere to approved guidance for every aspect of the holiday experience

Everyone on board will need to adhere to the most up-to-date guidance regarding the use of face-coverings and social distancing, which will be in place in all public areas

We have plans in place, tailored for each ship, to manage medical needs, including dedicated cabin capacity for isolation should this be required.

Booking with confidence.

Flexible transfer policy.

In this uncertain environment, we understand that you may appreciate some added flexibility. To that end, we’ve updated our transfer policy.

Before your balance due date you can transfer your booking as many times as you like, to a wider range of voyages, free of charge. See our policy page for full details.

View our flexible transfer policy

ATOL and ABTA protected.

When you book with Cunard your money and holiday are in safe hands, with the added confidence of ABTA and ATOL protection.

Find out more about consumer protection

Insurance and accredited medical professionals.

You must take out comprehensive holiday insurance when you sail with us. While we hope you never have to use it, the policy will ensure you’re able to relax and enjoy your holiday with the peace of mind that you’re protected should you need it.

If you would like more information on Covid-19 insurance cover, visit the website of our insurance partner Holiday Extras.

It is understood that those with certain pre-existing medical conditions or of a certain age may experience more severe symptoms should they contract Covid-19 (coronavirus). We strongly recommend that you review the UK Government guidance prior to making travel arrangements.

If you have any existing medical conditions, we advise you to discuss your travel plans with your doctor.

We continue to operate medical centres on board each Cunard Queen, staffed around the clock by fully accredited doctors and nurses to help support your health needs.

Please note:

While we want to ensure you have the Cunard holiday you've dreamed of, please be aware that we will be significantly reducing the number of guests on our first voyages following the pause in operations to better enable a smooth return to sailing. We have reduced the number of available staterooms and suites on these voyages accordingly.

Your questions answered