--- title: Queen Mary 2 Marks 500th Transatlantic Crossing in 2029 description: Cunard’s 2028-2029 programme features a 500th transatlantic crossing, 104 destinations, 18 overnight calls, and voyages across 49 countries. --- [S.W. Black Travel Blog](https://blog.swblack.com.au) # [Queen Mary 2 Marks 500th Transatlantic Crossing in 2029](https://blog.swblack.com.au/queen-mary-2-marks-500th-transatlantic-crossing-in-2029) Written by [S.W. Black Travel](https://blog.swblack.com.au/author/s-w-black-travel) | 22 October 2026, 3:15:00 am Z [**Queen Mary 2**](https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/cruise-ships/queen-mary-2) will make her 500th transatlantic crossing from New York City in 2029, giving Cunard Line a major milestone within its newly announced October 2028 to May 2029 programme. The landmark sailing sits alongside around 100 new voyages, with itineraries ranging from Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises to world voyages and Northern Europe journeys.  The season reaches [**104 destinations across 49 countries**](https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/find-a-cruise/M911E/M911E) and includes opportunities to visit 64 UNESCO sites. Guests will spend an average of 12 hours in port, with 18 overnight calls and 18 late-evening departures giving several itineraries more time ashore. ## The 500th Crossing Gives the Season Its Headline Voyage Cunard’s 500th transatlantic crossing from New York City is the defining milestone of the new programme. The sailing is available as a 21-night round trip, with guests also able to join from Hamburg, Southampton, or Liverpool. [Image courtesy of Cunard](https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/cruise-ships/queen-mary-2) ### New York Anchors the Landmark Crossing The 2029 sailing marks the ship’s 500th transatlantic crossing from New York City. The milestone gives the voyage a clear historical place within Cunard’s long-running transatlantic programme. The 21-night round-trip format also gives travellers a longer itinerary than a single ocean crossing. New York serves as the headline departure point, while additional joining options widen access to the sailing. For travellers drawn to Cunard’s transatlantic heritage, the milestone itself is likely to be the main reason to consider this departure. ### Liverpool Returns as a Transatlantic Departure Point Liverpool adds another layer of significance to the voyage. The 2029 sailing marks the first time since 2015 guests have been able to depart the city on a Cunard transatlantic crossing. Cunard describes Liverpool as its spiritual home, which gives the return extra meaning within the line’s history. Guests will also have Hamburg and Southampton as joining points for the 21-night voyage. The departure options make the milestone relevant beyond New York alone. ### The Wider Programme Gives the Milestone More Context The crossing has been announced alongside around 100 new voyages sailing between October 2028 and May 2029. This places the landmark cruise inside a broad seasonal programme rather than as a standalone release. Across the programme, Cunard will visit 104 destinations in 49 countries. Travellers will also have opportunities to visit 64 UNESCO sites. The combination of a major historical sailing and a broad destination spread gives the 2028-2029 season several different entry points depending on travel priorities [Image courtesy of Cunard](https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/cruise-ships/queen-mary-2) ## Queen Elizabeth Extends the Programme Across Five Continents Another major element of the season is Queen Elizabeth’s programme. Caribbean sailings will lead into a round-trip world voyage with departures from Southampton and Miami, spanning five continents and reaching destinations across New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and South Africa. ### New Zealand Returns After a Four-Year Absence The ship will return to New Zealand for the first time in four years. Auckland and Wellington are both included in the programme. This return adds two New Zealand calls to a world voyage already covering several major regions. For travellers interested in longer itineraries through the Asia-Pacific, the New Zealand component adds another distinct part of the route. Its four-year absence also makes the return notable within the 2028-2029 programme. ### Australia Features Several Calls and a Sydney Overnight Australian calls include Fremantle, Kangaroo Island, Melbourne, and Burnie. Sydney will also feature as one of the voyage’s overnight stays. The Australian portion therefore combines several calls with extra time in Sydney. Together, Fremantle, Kangaroo Island, Melbourne, Burnie, and the Sydney overnight form a substantial Australian component within the wider five-continent route. For travellers considering the world voyage, this gives the Australian segment several distinct stops to compare. ### Overnight Stays Add More Time in Major Cities Sydney is one of four named overnight stays on the world voyage. Cape Town, Singapore, and Hong Kong will also receive overnight calls. These extended stays fit the wider seasonal emphasis on longer port time. Across Cunard’s new programme, guests will spend an average of 12 hours in port, with 18 overnight calls and 18 late-evening departures. The world voyage therefore reflects a broader scheduling approach seen across the season. ## Queen Anne and Queen Victoria Broaden the Regional Mix The 2028-2029 programme also gives Queen Anne and Queen Victoria distinct regional roles. One heads towards South America during Carnival, while the other covers Northern Europe, the Norwegian fjords, Iberia, Morocco, and the Canary Islands from Southampton. ### Queen Anne Heads to Rio During Carnival Queen Anne will sail a South America Discovery voyage featuring an overnight stay in Rio de Janeiro during Rio Carnival. The timing places one of the programme’s overnight calls inside a major event period. For travellers, the combination of an overnight stay and Carnival timing is the defining feature of this itinerary. Rio de Janeiro is the confirmed overnight highlight within the announced South America voyage. It gives Queen Anne a markedly different seasonal focus from the transatlantic and world voyage programmes elsewhere in the fleet. ### Queen Victoria Covers Northern and Southern Europe Sailing from Southampton, Queen Victoria’s programme spans Scandinavia, Northern Europe, the Norwegian fjords, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and the Canary Islands. This gives the ship one of the broadest regional mixes in the announced season. New seven-night, 14-night, and 16-night voyages form part of the programme. A February sailing includes an overnight stay in Oslo. These lengths give travellers several ways to approach the ship’s Southampton programme. [Image courtesy of Cunard](https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/cruise-ships/queen-mary-2) ### Longer Port Time Shapes the Wider Season Across all four ships, port time is one of the clearest themes in the new programme. Guests will spend an average of 12 hours in port across the season. There are also 18 overnight calls and 18 late-evening departures. These longer stays give selected itineraries more time in destinations without changing the central role of the voyage itself. For travellers comparing the programme, overnight calls and late departures are useful details to review alongside route, ship, and voyage length. ## The Flagship Adds Caribbean, Norway, and Mediterranean Options Beyond the 500th crossing, the flagship has a varied programme of its own. Caribbean voyages, a Norway and northern lights itinerary, and a western Mediterranean sailing give travellers several alternatives to the landmark transatlantic departure. ### Caribbean Voyages Depart from Two Cities Caribbean sailings will depart from both Southampton and New York City. The programme includes overnight calls in Bridgetown and Philipsburg. Those overnight stays give guests more time in Barbados and St Maarten. Cunard highlights opportunities for sunset cocktails and beachfront dining in Barbados, while Philipsburg offers more time around the waterfront after dark. These sailings bring a warmer-weather option into a season otherwise rich in transatlantic, Northern Europe, and world voyage itineraries. ### Norway and the Northern Lights Feature on a 14-Night Voyage A 14-night Norway and northern lights itinerary also forms part of the ship’s programme. This adds a northern route to the range of 2028-2029 options. The 14-night duration and the combination of Norway with northern lights viewing distinguish this sailing from the ship’s Caribbean and Mediterranean options. It adds a northern route to a programme already covering several warmer-weather regions. For travellers comparing seasonal themes, the contrast is clear. ### The Western Mediterranean Adds a New York Round-Trip Option The ship will also offer a 14-night western Mediterranean voyage. Travellers will have the option to book it as a 29-night round trip from New York. This creates two ways to approach the same broader Mediterranean programme. The 14-night version suits travellers focused on the regional voyage, while the 29-night New York round trip adds the transatlantic element around it. The choice gives travellers another example of how Cunard is packaging longer journeys within the wider 2028-2029 schedule. With around 100 new voyages across 104 destinations and 49 countries, the[**Cruise Finder**](https://cruisefinder.swblack.com.au/) gives you a practical place to compare Cunard itineraries by ship, region, departure point, and voyage length. The milestone crossing is only one option within a season covering the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the Asia-Pacific, and a five-continent world voyage. Start with the type of journey you want, then narrow the programme by departure city, destination mix, and time in port. Cruise Finder helps organise those choices before you settle on a specific sailing. ## Plan Your Cunard Voyage for 2028-2029 Cunard’s new programme combines a landmark 500th transatlantic crossing with world cruising, Caribbean itineraries, Northern Europe voyages, South America, and the Mediterranean. Liverpool’s return as a transatlantic departure point, Queen Elizabeth’s return to New Zealand, and 18 overnight calls add further reasons to compare the season carefully. If you want help choosing between the milestone crossing and Cunard’s wider 2028-2029 programme,[**speak with the S.W. Black Travel team**](https://www.swblack.com.au/contact-us/) for practical guidance on finding the itinerary suited to your plans.   [View full post](https://blog.swblack.com.au/queen-mary-2-marks-500th-transatlantic-crossing-in-2029) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "S.W. 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