Cunard Unveils Queen Mary 2 U.S. 250th Anniversary Cruise

Cunard has released the itinerary for a seven-night Queen Mary 2 cruise built around the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations in New York, with the voyage beginning July 3, 2026, and ending July 10. The sailing will place the ship in New York Harbor for Sail4th, a tall-ship gathering expected to bring more than 100 vessels through the harbor. Cunard described Sail4th as the largest international tall-ship flotilla ever assembled. After the New York events, Queen Mary 2 sails to Newport, Rhode Island, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The schedule keeps guests in New York for the first two days of the sailing. Queen Mary 2 is then scheduled to call at Newport on July 5, followed by a sea day as the ship heads north. The Halifax call is set for July 7 and 8, giving passengers access to sites including the city’s star-shaped fortress and the statue of Sir Samuel Cunard. A final sea day follows on July 9 before the ship returns to New York on July 10. Queen Mary 2, Cunard’s 149,215-gross-ton flagship, entered service in 2004 and remains the largest ocean liner ever built. The 1,132-foot ship was built for transatlantic crossings and carries roughly 2,700 to 3,270 passengers depending on configuration. Cunard also named two guest speakers for the cruise. Dr. Seth Gopin, a Rutgers University lecturer in art history, will sail alongside Bill Miller, known as “Mr. Ocean Liner,” who has written more than 100 books on passenger ships. The itinerary details released with the announcement did not include a starting fare or a named executive statement. Cunard also did not detail additional onboard anniversary programming beyond the two named speakers.