Cunard unveils 180 sailings in 2025-26 programme

Cunard has released its 2025-26 programme featuring 180 voyages on three ships.

The line has unveiled the itineraries Queen Anne, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will operate between April 2025 and January 2026.

Between the three of them, the ships will visit 91 destinations in 24 countries, including two maiden calls for the fleet: Hardangerfjord in Norway and Bari in Italy.

The newest vessel in the fleet, Queen Anne, which is scheduled to launch in May 2024, will operate sailings ranging from two to 19 nights in length, including 19 maiden calls for the ship.

Queen Mary 2 will operate 25 transatlantic crossings, while Queen Victoria will be based in the Mediterranean offering a range of seven, 14 and 21-night sailings out of Barcelona, Rome and Trieste.

Cunard World Club members can book itineraries from 1pm on October 4, while general release will take place 24 hours after.

In an interview with Travel Weekly, sales director Tom Mahoney encouraged agents to book as early as possible to secure sailings for their customers at lower prices.

He said: “Programme launches are the single biggest booking period for that set of voyages in its whole selling cycle.

“We price up quickly based on demand and there have been cases where we’ve increased prices by 5-10% within an hour of release because they are so popular.

“We have a launch fare guarantee where we hold the original sailing price for guests who have pre-registered their interest but are unable to get through to us on the day, so agents should take advantage of that.

“We don’t want to penalise the customer or the agent for wanting to book a Cunard voyage but not being fast enough.”

Prior to the release of the 2025 programme, Cunard is running four webinars over consecutive days to prepare agents for a surge in demand from their customers.

Between September 26 and 28, the line will hold three webinars each dedicated to one of the ships included in the 2025 collection, and on September 29, it will hold a final webinar with tips on how to sell Cunard.

President Katie McAlister said: “We are incredibly excited to be launching our new 2025 programme and with 180 fantastic itineraries to choose from, there really is a Cunard voyage for everyone.

“Whether it’s an iconic transatlantic crossing, a Scandinavian adventure, or Christmas in the Caribbean, our fleet of queens provide the perfect opportunity to explore the world in style.

“We always strive to provide our valued travel agent partners with great offers for their customers and this programme is no different.

“Not only do our itineraries sail to some of the world’s most exotic destinations, our ships offer unique and enriching experiences for guests, so whether you’re a new-to-cruiser or a loyal Cunarder, you’ll be free to unwind and escape in a uniquely luxurious setting.”