Queen Mary 2 from Cunard featured on the ‘Gold List’ from Condé Nast Traveller for 2026.
Although by definition Queen Mary 2 is actually an ocean liner, it was still included and praised for its “contemporary amenities” and “nostalgic tradition”.
Features such as an onboard planetarium, browsing the “largest library at sea”, or “attending a lecture by a Royal Navy nuclear submarine captain” helped it stand out.
The full list of the best cruise ships to travel on in 2026 can be found on the Condé Nast Traveller website here.
Queen Mary 2 is a common visitor to Southampton throughout the year, and here are all the destinations it travels to in voyages that depart from the city.
Full list of destinations Queen Mary 2 travels to from Southampton
USA
Queen Mary 2 is known for its transatlantic crossings, so it’s unsurprising that most of its voyages from Southampton go here.
New York is the most frequent destination that the ocean liner goes to, with occasional stops at places like Boston and Newport in Rhode Island.
Canada
Some of the Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossings also incorporate stops in Canada, such as Halifax and Sydney in Nova Scotia, as well as Quebec.
The Caribbean
During the winter season, Queen Mary 2 explores plenty of islands in the Caribbean, such as Antigua, St Maarten, St Kitts, the US Virgin Islands, Barbados, St Lucia, Dominica, Tortola, Grenada and the Dominican Republic.
Norway and Iceland
Queen Mary 2 also embarks on voyages out to northern and western Europe, with the Norwegian Fjords being a popular trip.
Visitors can stop off at places like Stavanger, Olden and Skjolden, as well as Isafjordur and Reykjavik in the trips that include Iceland.
Germany
In its shorter trips to Europe, Queen Mary 2 often stops off at Hamburg, sometimes as part of a collection with other places or just on its own.
The German city is known for its harbour as well as its attractions, such as St. Nicholas Church, St. Pauli bunker and the Elbphilharmonie Plaza.
Belgium
Zeebrugge in Belgium is a common destination for Western European trips, where there is an option for guests to take a day trip to Bruges.
Alongside that, Zeebrugge is known for its beach, heritage walk and numerous dining options.
The Netherlands
While it is not a frequent destination, sometimes Queen Mary 2 makes a short trip to the major port city of Rotterdam.
It is Europe’s largest port, and the city is known for its iconic skyline, with the entire city effectively being rebuilt after the damage suffered during World War II.
France
As part of the European voyages, French destinations like Le Havre and Cherbourg are sometimes featured.
What destinations will Queen Mary 2 add to its roster in the near future?
In 2027, Queen Mary 2 will be travelling to some new destinations in Spain, Portugal and North Africa.
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This will encompass locations like Lisbon, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Madeira, Dakar in Senegal and Mindelo in Cape Verde.
Additionally, in 2028, it will conduct a 14-night Spain and Italy cruise.
This will stop off at places like Vigo, Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Alghero in Sardinia, Malaga and Cadiz.
Have you travelled on the Queen Mary 2 before? Let us know in the comments.