Cunard has been weaving nautical dreams since the days of wooden decks and steam funnels, and 2025 is no different—except that the line is popping champagne for its 185th birthday. To celebrate, the company has launched the Cunard 185th Anniversary Sale, dropping fares as low as US $899 (about AU $1,360) per person and adding US $185 (roughly AU $280) in onboard credit to each stateroom.
With 185 voyages across four Queens—from Alaska to the Med and those iconic Transatlantic Crossings—this promotion is less a flash sale and more a time-capsule invitation: step aboard and experience nearly two centuries of maritime refinement wrapped in a thoroughly modern package.
Majesty of 185 Years at Sea
Before we dive into the nuts and bolts of the sale, it pays to look astern at the wake Cunard has carved through maritime history. This short introduction sets the scene for why 185 years actually matters when you’re weighing up which cruise line to trust with your precious holiday time.
From Britannia to Queen Anne
When the paddle-wheel steamer Britannia made her maiden voyage in 1840, she took 14 days to cross the Atlantic—an eye-watering speed in an era when canvas still ruled the waves. Fast-forward to 2024 and Queen Mary 2 clocks the same passage in seven nights of refined glamour, proving Cunard never stopped chasing innovation.
White Star Service Legacy
Hospitality aboard Cunard’s ships isn’t merely polite; it’s ritualistic. White-gloved bellhops who’ll remember your tea order, turndown notes signed by name, and a daily programme slipped quietly under your door—small touches that echo the line’s Edwardian hey-day yet feel surprisingly intimate in 2025.
Modern Luxury Meets Tradition
Recent refurbishments—most notably Queen Elizabeth’s fresh suites and Queen Anne’s dramatic, sculpture-filled atrium—prove that heritage doesn’t have to mean stuffy. Expect USB-charging bedside lamps, plant-based menus alongside caviar service and digital booking at the tap of a Medallion-style ID.
What the 185th Anniversary Sale Includes
A quick primer: the sale runs until 9 July 2025, covers departures through to 2027 and bundles multiple incentives into one neat celebratory bow. Below is a two-sentence overview before we break the value down by category.
Value-Packed Fares from $899
The headline price—US $899 (AU $1,360) for select transatlantic or Caribbean departures—isn’t just for windowless inside cabins on unpopular dates. Early July north-Atlantic crossings or shoulder-season Med hops are ripe for the picking, and balcony upgrades often clock in at only a few hundred dollars more.
Generous Onboard Credit Bonus
Every stateroom receives US $185 (about AU $280) in credit, enough for a Champagne afternoon tea in the Queens Room, a Canyon Ranch spa facial and still some left over for Wi-Fi packages. Because the credit is per cabin, sharing with a partner doubles the bang for buck on a per-person basis.
Flexible Itineraries Across the Globe
Sale-tagged voyages stretch from Queen Elizabeth’s Glacier Bay loops to Queen Victoria’s autumn lap around Iberia, meaning you can apply the discount to short seven-night getaways or sprawling 38-night World Voyage segments without switching promos.
Spotlight on Stand-out Voyages
With 185 departures in play, choosing can feel like strolling a patisserie window without a plan. This introduction sketches three itineraries that best illustrate the breadth of the offer.
Alaskan Summers Aboard Queen Elizabeth
Home-porting in Seattle for the first time, Queen Elizabeth brings her freshly installed Grill suites and Harper’s Bazaar Wellness Café north. Seven- to 11-night runs thread the Inside Passage, pause under Hubbard Glacier’s 11-storey ice wall and feature Royal Canadian Geographical Society speakers who decode Tlingit totem myths between wildlife-watching sessions.
Caribbean Winters with a Regal Twist
From October 2025 Queen Elizabeth pivots south to Miami, debuting Cunard’s first full Caribbean season. Imagine White Star butlers serving rum punch as steel drums carry across Deck 9; days ashore flit between Saint Lucia’s Pitons and Old San Juan’s blue-cobbled lanes.
Fashion Week Crossings on Queen Mary 2
The seven-night October 2025 crossing isn’t your average sea-day fest. Designer Christian Siriano is hosting runway shows, Bob Mackie is auctioning archival sketches, and Coco Rocha leads posing masterclasses—all while the world’s only true ocean liner slices through Atlantic rollers at 26 knots.
How to Maximise Your Anniversary Savings
Booking a sale cabin is step one; squeezing every drop of value out of that deal is where travel aficionados separate themselves from the pack. Here’s a concise intro before we lay out three smart tactics.
Book Before 9 July 2025
This may sound obvious, but Cunard often yanks popular sailings early once promo-allocated inventory dries up. Secure a deposit now—refundable fares are available on most Australian-market bookings—and fine-tune flights later.
Choose the Right Stateroom Tier
Balcony cabins on Queen Anne frequently price within 15% of Oceanview rates when promos stack. Grills suites, meanwhile, come with exclusive restaurants, a private lounge and priority embarkation—handy for Alaska where tour days start early.
Leverage Loyalty and Combination Fares
If you’re already a Cunard World Club member, the 185th Sale stacks with tier-specific discounts. Pair two back-to-back segments—a transatlantic followed by a Mediterranean jaunt—and you’ll often unlock lower per-diem rates plus extra onboard credit for ‘grand voyages’.
Before you click “book now”, take a moment to compare these celebratory sailings against other lines and dates. Our interactive Cruise Finder lets you filter by ship, departure month and even onboard credits, so you can see if that AU $280 perk beats a rival’s drinks package.
The tool also highlights Aussie-friendly air-lift and shows live exchange rates, giving you a transparent view of total spend in Australian dollars rather than mystery “from” prices in fine print.
Secure Your Place on a Heritage Sailing Today
A 185-year anniversary doesn’t roll around often, and neither do fares this friendly from a line associated with white gloves and ballroom orchestras. Whether you’re eyeing a Glacier Bay sunrise, a catwalk-filled crossing or simply a week of slow-paced sea days, Cunard has placed the experience within easy reach.
Keen to celebrate at sea? Talk to our cruise specialists and we’ll lock in sale pricing, organise flight bundles and arrange bespoke shore adventures so that your Cunard milestone holiday is as seamless as a well-poured Pimm’s on the Queen’s Grill terrace.
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