Cunard lays out new itineraries for restart, cancels Australia season, world voyages

The international sailings include new itineraries to the Iberian coast and the Canary Islands. Queen Elizabeth's Australia season and world voyages on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria are canceled.

Japan starting mid-April

Queen Elizabeth will leave the UK in mid-February to resume the previously scheduled season in Japan beginning April 13, 2022.

New Caribbean cruises

Queen Mary 2 will resume sailing with a trans-Atlantic crossing on Nov. 14, as per the vessel's existing schedule, and will now sail a series of cruises around the Caribbean between January and April 2022, with embarkation options from Southampton, New York and Hamburg before resuming the published schedule on April 24, 2022.

Queen Victoria will embark on three new voyages departing from Southampton starting April 22, 2022. These include Western Europe, the Baltic and the Iberian Coast before resuming the published schedule on May 20, 2022.

'Momentous day'

July 19 will be a 'momentous day' for Cunard, President Simon Palethorpe said, as he and Queen Elizabeth's crew welcome travelers on board for the first time since the pandemic shutdown. The UK journeys will be open to UK residents who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

Cancellations

'Sadly, the path for a return to sailing across international waters is less clear and we are extremely sorry for the huge disappointment cancellations will cause for all guests who have been affected. Unfortunately, there are simply too many international ports of call affected by the ongoing complexities of COVID-19, which has sadly led to this decision,' Palethorpe added.

No Australia season

Besides world voyages, cancellations include Queen Elizabeth's sailings from the UK to Australia and homeport season in Australia from Oct. 18, 2021, up to and including March 9, 2022. 

Queen Victoria changes

Queen Victoria's sailings from Sept. 10, 2021, up to and including April 29, 2022, will not operate, either.

However, five of Queen Victoria's sailings will transfer onto identical voyages aboard Queen Elizabeth. These voyages are V126, V128, V129, V130 and V201.

Travelers on canceled sailings will receive a 125% future cruise credit for the standard deposit terms, and 100% of any additional monies paid. Or a full refund is available by completing the form on www.cunard.com.