Cunard·Queen Mary 2

Queen Mary 2 - New England & Canada Independence Celebration

4.2(431 reviews)

via U.S. News & Cruise Critic · Jun 2026

|7 Nights|3 Ports|3 Sea Days

A round-trip from New York timed to America's 250th Independence Day, with Queen Mary 2 joining the Sail4th 250 celebrations before heading up the coast. The ocean liner calls at Gilded Age Newport and spends an overnight in Halifax, leaving unhurried sea days to enjoy the only true transatlantic liner in service.

SeniorsHistory BuffsCouples

Price Range

$$$

Premium

DepartureNew York, NY

Dress CodeFormal Nights

MealsIncluded

WiFiPaid

*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Cunard before booking.

Ship Details — Queen Mary 2

View full Queen Mary 2 details

Year Built

2004

Tonnage

149,215 GT

Passengers

2,695

Crew

1,253

Decks

Class

Ocean Liner

Itinerary & Route Map

Loading map…

Where this cruise calls, day by day

5 ports and 3 sea days over 7 Nights.

Day 1
New York, NY
United StatesDepart
New York, NY port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Day 2 · At sea
Day 3
Newport, RI
United StatesPort
Newport is a tender port - ships anchor out in Narragansett Bay and run boats into Perrotti Park at the head of the harbour, which lands you a block from Thames Street. The call is usually short and the town is compact, so the real choice is between the Gilded Age mansions on Bellevue Avenue and simply walking the waterfront.
- The Breakers, the Vanderbilt house on Ochre Point, plus Marble House if you have time for two
- The Cliff Walk, 3.5 miles between the mansion lawns and the Atlantic
- Thames Street and Bowen's Wharf for chowder and boat-watching
- The International Tennis Hall of Fame in the old Newport Casino building
Getting ashore
A tender call: ships anchor in the harbour and land at Perrotti Park, a block from Thames Street - no bus needed, but a stiff blow can cancel the tender operation.
Best months
Jun-Oct (September is the best combination of weather and thinner crowds)
Day 4 · At sea
Day 5
Halifax
CanadaPort
Halifax port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Day 6
Halifax
CanadaPort
Halifax port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Day 7 · At sea
Day 8
New York, NY
United StatesArrive
New York, NY port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore

Onboard Amenities

Planetarium

Ballroom

Canyon Ranch Spa

Library

Theatre

Casino

Kennels

Swimming Pools

Specialty Dining

Fitness Center

Pub

Art Gallery

Queens Grill Restaurant

Princess Grill Restaurant

Britannia Restaurant

Canyon Ranch SpaClub

Royal Court Theatre

Illuminations Planetarium

Library (largest at sea)

Ballroom Dancing

King's Court Buffet

Golden Lion Pub

Kennels (Pets on Board)

Planetarium at Illuminations (only one at sea)

Kennels (Kennel Suite, Deck 12, only pet facility of its kind at sea)

Queens Room (largest ballroom at sea, ballroom dancing and afternoon tea)

Britannia Restaurant (main two-deck dining room)

Princess Grill and Queens Grill (single-seating premium restaurants for suite guests)

Mareel Wellness & Beauty spa (developed with Canyon Ranch; thermal suite, therapy pool)

Four pools with whirlpools

Commodore Club (forward observation lounge with live piano)

Golden Lion Pub (English pub with fish & chips, live music, quizzes)

Royal Court Theatre (West End-style productions)

One of the largest libraries at sea

Verandah specialty restaurant and champagne bar

Maritime heritage walk and enrichment lecture program

Cruise Highlights

Departure tied to New York's 250th Independence Day celebrations with Sail4th 250

Newport, Rhode Island - Gilded Age mansions along the Cliff Walk

Overnight call in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the Citadel and waterfront

Classic liner sea days with the Queens Room ballroom and planetarium

About the Ship

What Travelers Say About Queen Mary 2

Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Queen Mary 2 sailing. Distilled from 208 traveler threads, Cruise Critic member reviews and travel blogs.

Queen Mary 2 is not a cruise ship — she is the world's only true ocean liner in regular service, purpose-built to power across the North Atlantic on the historic Southampton-to-New York crossing. That heritage defines everything: a deeper, stronger hull that handles rough seas, a formal black-tie culture, white star service, and traditions like grand ballroom dancing and afternoon tea in the cavernous Queens Room. The vibe is elegant, civilized, and adult — a floating piece of Cunard history with the only planetarium at sea, a serious enrichment program, one of the largest libraries afloat, and even the only kennels at sea for guests crossing with their pets.

What People Love

Genuine ocean liner built for the open Atlantic — far more stable in rough seas than a typical cruise ship, which makes the Southampton-to-New York crossing a bucket-list experience
The only planetarium at sea (at Illuminations) plus a serious enrichment program with guest lecturers, a huge library, and a maritime history walk celebrating Cunard's legacy
Princess Grill and Queens Grill dining are repeatedly called among the best food experiences at sea, with single-seating service and dedicated restaurants for suite guests

Common Complaints

Technology lags badly — Wi-Fi is widely described as poor and expensive, there is no useful onboard app, and many cabins lack USB ports and adequate charging
The Britannia main dining room and the Kings Court buffet get mixed-to-mediocre reviews, with complaints about limited variety and inconsistency compared to the excellent Grills
The Grills 'ship-within-a-ship' concept feels weaker than rivals — lounges and deck space are dispersed rather than a cohesive exclusive enclave

See the full Queen Mary 2 ship page — all 16 pros & cons, review & FAQs