Cunard vs Celebrity Cruises
A detailed side-by-side comparison of Cunard and Celebrity Cruises covering ratings, fleet size, food quality, entertainment, value for money, and available sailings from UK ports. Updated for 2026.
The head-to-head
Ratings are based on aggregated passenger reviews, editorial analysis, and expert scoring. The cobalt outline marks the stronger line for each attribute.
Who should choose which?
Every cruise line has its strengths and weaknesses. Here is an honest look at who each line is best suited for, based on passenger feedback and our editorial assessment.
Choose Cunard if you want…
- Luxury and sophistication
- Transatlantic crossings
- Formal dining
- History and tradition
Cunard may not suit you if…
- Budget travellers
- Families with young children
- Those who dislike formal dress codes
Choose Celebrity Cruises if you want…
- Food and dining enthusiasts
- Modern luxury seekers
- Couples and adults
- Design-conscious travellers
Celebrity Cruises may not suit you if…
- Families wanting mega-ship activities
- Budget-conscious cruisers
- Those wanting UK departures only
Ships at a glance
A quick comparison of each line's fleet including passenger capacity, tonnage, and year of launch.
Cunard Fleet (4 ships)
Queen Mary 2
Built 2004 · 2,691 guests
Queen Victoria
Built 2007 · 2,081 guests
Queen Anne
Built 2024 · 2,996 guests
Celebrity Cruises Fleet (17 ships)
Celebrity Apex
Built 2020 · 2,910 guests
Celebrity Ascent
Built 2023 · 3,260 guests
Celebrity Beyond
Built 2022 · 3,260 guests
Available cruises
Current sailings from both cruise lines. Prices shown are per person based on two sharing the lowest-grade cabin available.
Cunard Sailings
7 NIGHTSItaly, France and Spain
Save 1%9 NIGHTSAlaska
Ports: Seattle
Save 1%7 NIGHTSTransatlantic
Ports: Southampton · New York
Save 4%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Ports: Barcelona · Civitavecchia (Rome)
Save 4%8 NIGHTS8 Night Cruise to Not Specified
Ports: Sitka · Glacier Bay National Park · Icy Strait Point · Ketchikan · Victoria · + 1 more port
Save 4%8 NIGHTS8 Night Cruise to Multiple Ports
Ports: Sitka · Glacier Bay National Park · Icy Strait Point · Ketchikan · Victoria
Save 4%8 NIGHTS8 Night Cruise to Sitka
Ports: Sitka · Glacier Bay National Park · Icy Strait Point · Ketchikan · Victoria
Save 4%8 NIGHTSQueen Elizabeth from Seattle
Ports: Sitka · Glacier Bay National Park · Icy Strait Point · Ketchikan · Victoria · + 1 more port
11 NIGHTS2-night Venice & 7-night Croatian Gems & Med Delights & 2-night Rome
Ports: Trieste · Zadar · Dubrovnik · Valletta · Naples · Civitavecchia
Save 3%7 NIGHTSWellness At Sea
Ports: Southampton · Stavanger · Olden · Innvikfjorden · Nordfjord · Ålesund
Save 1%7 NIGHTSTransatlantic
Ports: Southampton · New York
10 NIGHTS3-night Rome & 7-night Luxury France And Italy
14 NIGHTSScandinavia and Northern Europe cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Hamburg · Copenhagen · Visby · Helsinki · Tallinn
7 NIGHTSFrance and Italy
Save 3%2 NIGHTSNorthern Europe
Save 1%7 NIGHTSTransatlantic
Ports: Southampton · New York
Save 1%7 NIGHTSTransatlantic
Ports: Southampton · New York
14 NIGHTSIceland and British Isles Michelin-star Chef Michel Roux cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Belfast · Akureyri · Isafjordur · Reykjavik · Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
Save 3%9 NIGHTS2-night Rome & 7-night Luxury Western Mediterranean
Ports: Civitavecchia · Tarragona · Palma de Mallorca · Villefranche · Marseille · Barcelona
11 NIGHTS2-night Rome & 7-night Luxury Greece & Adriatic & 2-night Venice
Save 13%7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords Michelin-star Chef Michel Roux cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Kristiansand · Oslo · Skagen
Save 4%7 NIGHTSMediterranean
Ports: Barcelona · Civitavecchia (Rome)
Hot deal7 NIGHTS7 Night Transatlantic Crossing
Ports: New York
10 NIGHTSVoyage of the Ancients: A Journey from Istanbul to Rome with Cunard
18 NIGHTSNo-fly Grand European Rail & Sail Adventure: Including 4* Hotel stays, Upgraded Rail & Queen Victoria Cruise
7 NIGHTS7 Night Transatlantic Crossing
Ports: New York
4 NIGHTS4-night Rotterdam And Zeebrugge Short Break
Save 3%7 NIGHTSSpain and France cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Bilbao (Getxo) · Santander · Gijon · Cherbourg · Southampton
Save 6%12 NIGHTSAzores, Portugal and Spain cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Ponta Delgada, Azores · Funchal, Madeira · Lisbon · Vigo · Southampton
Save 3%4 NIGHTS4-night Short Break To Rotterdam
4 NIGHTS4-night Zeebrugge And Cherbourg fr Southampton
12 NIGHTSWestern Caribbean with Miami Beach Stay
Ports: Miami · George Town, Grand Cayman · Montego Bay · Roatan Island · Puerto Costa Maya · Cozumel
4 NIGHTS4-night Short Break to Rotterdam
7 NIGHTS7-night Zeebrugge, Amsterdam And Cherbourg fr Southampton
7 NIGHTS7-night Le Havre & Amsterdam
30 NIGHTSTransatlantic crossing and Caribbean Celebration cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · New York · Tortola · Philipsburg, St. Maarten · Bridgetown, Barbados · Castries, St. Lucia
7 NIGHTS7-night Spain And Portugal fr Southampton
5 NIGHTS2-night Hamburg & 5-night Rotterdam And Zeebrugge Short Break
Ports: Rotterdam · Zeebrugge
5 NIGHTSRotterdam and Zeebrugge Short Break
7 NIGHTS7-night Portugal & Spain fr Southampton
5 NIGHTS5-night Rotterdam and Zeebrugge
Save 1%21 NIGHTSSpain, Portugal & Cape Verde
7 NIGHTSSpain and France
4 NIGHTS4-night Short Break To Rotterdam fr Southampton
5 NIGHTS5-night Northern Europe fr Southampton
Save 3%18 NIGHTSItaly, Spain and Portugal cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Lisbon · Alicante · Barcelona · Civitavecchia · Naples
7 NIGHTSNorway and Denmark cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Skagen · Copenhagen · Aarhus · Kristiansand
7 NIGHTSFrance
7 NIGHTS7-night Spain and France in Luxury
Save 4%7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords
Ports: Southampton · Stavanger · Olden · Innvikfjorden · Nordfjord · Ålesund
Celebrity Cruises Sailings
10 NIGHTSGreek Isles & Turkey Fly Cruise from Barcelona
Ports: Barcelona · Valletta · Athens (Piraeus) · Ephesus (Kusadasi) · Thira, Santorini · Mykonos Town, Mykonos
Save 1%7 NIGHTSAlaska Dawes Glacier Cruise
Save 1%3 NIGHTSKey West Bahamas Cruise
Save 1%7 NIGHTSAlaska Southbound Glacier
Save 1%7 NIGHTSAlaska Dawes Glacier Cruise
Save 4%10 NIGHTSPRICE DROP! Italy, Greece & Croatia Cruise
Ports: Civitavecchia · Corfu · Katakolon · Bar · Dubrovnik · Split
Save 1%7 NIGHTSBest of Greece Cruise
Save 1%7 NIGHTSItaly French Riviera
Save 1%7 NIGHTSNorwegian Fjords Cruise
Save 1%7 NIGHTSMexico Belize Perfect Day
Save 1%3 NIGHTSKey West Bahamas Cruise
Save 1%11 NIGHTSBest of Italy Croatia Cruise
Save 1%12 NIGHTSBritish Isles Cruise
Save 1%7 NIGHTSIceland Intensive Cruise
Ports: Reykjavik, Iceland
Save 4%7 NIGHTS7 Night Italy & France Cruise
Ports: Barcelona · Marseille · Portofino · La Spezia · Civitavecchia · Naples
12 NIGHTSGreece, Turkey & Italy from Rome with 1-night Stay
Ports: Rome (Civitavecchia) · Souda Bay · Thira, Santorini · Ephesus (Kusadasi) · Istanbul · Mykonos Town, Mykonos
Save 4%7 NIGHTS7 Night Galapagos Inner Loop Cruise
Ports: Baltra Island · Rabida Island · Puerto Egas · Elizabeth Bay · Tagus Cove · Bartolome Island
7 NIGHTS2-night Barcelona & 7-night Greece, Malta & Turkey
Save 1%7 NIGHTSGreece, Malta & Turkey
9 NIGHTSItaly, Spain & French Riviera from Barcelona with Stay
Ports: Barcelona · Nice (Villefranche) · La Spezia (tours to Florence/Pisa) · Santa Margherita · Rome (Civitavecchia) · Naples
7 NIGHTSIceland Intensive from Reykjavik
Ports: Reykjavik · Seydisfjordur · Akureyri · Isafjordur
11 NIGHTSItalian Riviera & France from Barcelona with Stay
Ports: Barcelona · Rome (Civitavecchia) · La Spezia · Portofino · Nice (Villefranche) · Marseille (Provence)
Hot deal14 NIGHTSTotal Solar Eclipse, Med, Spain and Portugal cruise from Southampton
Ports: Southampton · Porto (Leixoes) · Lisbon · Palma De Mallorca · Barcelona · Ibiza Town, Ibiza
7 NIGHTSItaly, Spain & French Riviera from Barcelona
Ports: Barcelona · Marseille (Provence) · Portofino · La Spezia (tours to Florence/Pisa) · Rome (Civitavecchia) · Naples
11 NIGHTS2-night Rome & 11-night Best of Italy & Croatia
11 NIGHTS11 Night Italy & Greek Islands
Ports: Naples · Santorini · Athens · Dubrovnik
Hot deal10 NIGHTSGreek Isles & Turkey from Barcelona
Ports: Barcelona · Messina, Sicily · Athens (Piraeus) · Thira, Santorini · Ephesus (Kusadasi) · Mykonos Town, Mykonos
7 NIGHTS2-night Barcelona & 7-night Italy, Spain & French Riviera
Save 4%7 NIGHTS7 Night Italy & French Riviera
Ports: Barcelona · Villefranche-sur-Mer · Portofino · La Spezia · Civitavecchia · Naples
Save 1%9 NIGHTSItalian Riviera & France
8 NIGHTSMediterranean Masterpieces
Hot deal15 NIGHTSLake Garda & Venice with Best Of Italy & Croatia Cruise
Ports: Ravenna · Zadar · Dubrovnik · Kotor · Messina · Salerno
Save 1%11 NIGHTSCanaries Portugal Cruise
Save 3%11 NIGHTSCanaries Portugal Cruise
20 NIGHTSBest of Thailand & Vietnam fr. Hong Kong to Singapore with Stays
Ports: Hong Kong · Hanoi · Chan May (tours to Hue or Da Nang) · Ho Chi Minh (Phu My) · Bangkok (Laem Chabang) · Koh Samui
18 NIGHTSWaves, Wonders & New Zealand's Whispers, including FREE Sydney stay and Celebrity Edge cruise
17 NIGHTSTreasures of Thailand & Vietnam
19 NIGHTSSingapore, Malaysia, Thailand & Balinese Delights with Stays
Ports: Singapore · Phuket · Langkawi · Penang · Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) · Celukan Bawang
Save 13%10 NIGHTSSt. Thomas, Antigua & Bahamas with Miami Beach Stay
Ports: Miami · Nassau · Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands · St. John's, Antigua
19 NIGHTSBalinese Delights & Southeast Asia with Stays
Ports: Benoa · Lombok · Celukan Bawang · Kuala Lumpur · Penang · Langkawi
12 NIGHTSBest of Southern Caribbean from Ft. Lauderdale with 1-night Stay
Ports: Fort Lauderdale · St. John's, Antigua · Castries, St. Lucia · Bridgetown, Barbados · Roseau · Basseterre, St. Kitts
Save 5%18 NIGHTSSouthbound Asian Allure fr. Hong Kong to Singapore with Stays
Ports: Hong Kong · Ha Long Bay · Chan May · Ho Chi Minh (Phu My) · Bangkok (Laem Chabang) · Koh Samui
Save 4%12 NIGHTS12 Night Madeira, Canaries & Morocco
Ports: Barcelona · Lanzarote · Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Tenerife · Funchal · Tangier
Save 4%12 NIGHTS12 Night Thailand & Vietnam Cruise
Ports: Singapore · Ko Samui · Laem Chabang · Phu My · Chan May · Ha Long Bay
22 NIGHTSIguazu Falls & Argentina to Barcelona Transatlantic with Stays
18 NIGHTSSnow Monkeys, Nagasaki's Blossoms, Peace Park, Tokyo Stay & Mt. Fuji
22 NIGHTSSouth America Transatlantic with Buenos Aires and Barcelona Stays
17 NIGHTSNagasaki's Blossoms, Atomic Bomb Museum, Tokyo Stay & Mt. Fuji
Ports: Yokohama (tours to Tokyo) · Kobe · Kyoto (Osaka) · Kochi · Busan · Nagasaki
17 NIGHTSTokyo, Mt. Fuji, Osaka Castle's Spring Blossoms & Nagasaki
Ports: Tokyo · Kyoto (Osaka) · Osaka · Kochi · Busan · Nagasaki
15 NIGHTSUltimate Southern Caribbean with Miami Beach Stay
Cunard vs Celebrity Cruises: the bottom line
Choosing between Cunard and Celebrity Cruises ultimately comes down to what kind of holiday you are looking for. Both are well-established cruise lines with loyal followings, but they cater to different preferences and budgets.
Cunard, founded in 1840 and headquartered in Southampton, UK, operates a fleet of 4 ships. It is categorised as a luxury cruise line and scores 4.8/5 overall based on 8,900 reviews. The line is particularly strong for luxury and sophistication and transatlantic crossings, making it a natural choice for cruisers who value those attributes.
Celebrity Cruises, established in 1988 from Miami, USA, has a fleet of 17 ships. As a premium line rated 4.7/5 from 11,200 reviews, it excels at food and dining enthusiasts and modern luxury seekers. If those are your priorities, Celebrity Cruises deserves serious consideration.
On food, Cunard scores 9/10 compared to Celebrity Cruises's 10/10. For entertainment, Cunard comes in at 7/10 versus Celebrity Cruises's 7/10. Value for money favours Celebrity Cruises with a score of 7/10.
Our recommendation: browse the available sailings above and compare itineraries, dates, and total cost including what is bundled in the fare. The best cruise line is the one that matches your specific needs, budget, and travel dates. Use the scores as a guide, but remember that individual ship and itinerary matter just as much as the cruise line brand.