Cunard

Cunard Line, commonly known simply as Cunard, is a British-American cruise line and the flagship brand of Carnival UK's premium ocean-liner operations. It was founded in 1839 as the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company to provide mail and passenger service between Britain and North America. Its first ship, Britannia, entered service in 1840 under the direction of Samuel Cunard, the company’s namesake.

Over the 19th and 20th centuries Cunard became one of the leading transatlantic liners, operating historic vessels such as the Lusitania, Mauretania, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth. In 1934, Cunard merged with the rival White Star Line to form Cunard-White Star Line; the Cunard name was restored in the late 1940s and the Cunard-White Star agreement ended in 1950.

From the mid-20th century, the company shifted toward ocean cruising and reintroduced passenger service with modern ships. In 1998, Cunard Line was acquired by the Carnival Corporation and became part of Carnival UK. Its current fleet includes the transatlantic ocean liner Queen Mary 2, as well as the cruise ships Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. The QM2, launched in 2004, is Cunard’s flagship and operates regular transatlantic crossings as well as worldwide cruises. The other two ships primarily sail itineraries worldwide from bases in Southampton and, seasonally, North America.

Cunard remains a premium brand in the cruise industry, known for traditional service, long-distance voyages, and its distinctive maritime heritage.