Queen Mary 2: The World's Only True Ocean Liner, in Photos and Data
Queen Mary 2 is the flagship of the British line Cunard. She entered service in 2004 and is registered in Bermuda, a British overseas territory. Cunard calls her the only true ocean liner still in service. An ocean liner is a ship built for scheduled ocean crossings, with a sturdy hull made to take on the rough North Atlantic.
Compared with Japan's Asuka II and Asuka III, she is very different in both size and character. This article uses official information to cover her key facts and onboard life.
Key facts
| Operator | Cunard Line (United Kingdom) |
|---|---|
| Gross tonnage | approx. 151,400 GT |
| Length / maximum beam | 345 m / 39.9 m |
| Draft | 9.7 m |
| Speed | 28 knots (cruising) |
| Passengers | 2,691 |
| Crew | 1,173 |
| Restaurants / bars and lounges | 10 / 13 |
| Flag | Bermuda (UK) |
| In service / refit | 2004 / 2016 |
At 345 m she is more than 100 m longer than Asuka II (241 m), and carries more than three times as many passengers. The number of crew per passenger is lower than on Asuka II. The wealth of facilities that comes with a large ship and the unhurried hospitality of a Japanese ship are simply different approaches.
Cabin types
The cabins fall into three broad groups. The entry-level group, Britannia, offers inside, ocean-view and balcony cabins. Above it is Princess Grill, and at the top is Queens Grill, which includes duplexes, the Royal Suite, penthouses and Queens Suites.
Unlike Asuka II, where every cabin faces the sea, Queen Mary 2 has inside cabins too. Even inside cabins come with a desk and a sitting area. Fares vary a great deal with the date, season and cabin, so none are listed here. Please check with a travel agent or the Cunard website.
On board
At the center of the ship is the Grand Lobby, with a sweeping staircase that draws the eye. From here, routes lead off to restaurants, shops and lounges.
The Royal Court Theatre is the ship's theater and hosts shows. There is also the only Laurent-Perrier Champagne Bar at sea, The Fairways with its golf simulators, the Mareel Wellness and Beauty Spa with a steam room and a thalassotherapy pool, and a large library.
One unusual feature is the kennel, where dogs and cats can travel with you. On transatlantic crossings there is even a dedicated deck for pets.
The transatlantic crossing
Queen Mary 2 regularly crosses the Atlantic to New York and, at other times of the year, cruises around the world. A transatlantic crossing, several days with no land in sight, is the voyage that suits this ship best. Her size and sturdy build exist for exactly that purpose.
Queen Mary 2 in numbers
Set beside Asuka II, the difference in scale is clear. Her length is 345 m against 241 m, about 1.4 times; her gross tonnage is about 151,400 against 50,444, about 3 times; and her passenger capacity is 2,691 against 872, about 3.1 times.
In guests per crew member, Queen Mary 2 works out to about 2.3 (calculated from 2,691 guests and 1,173 crew), compared with about 1.8 for Asuka II, so each crew member looks after somewhat more guests. On the other hand, gross tonnage per passenger is about 56 GT, almost the same as Asuka II's 58 GT. She is a very large ship, but she also carries many people, so the room per guest is close to Asuka II's.
Who she suits
She suits travelers who want the atmosphere of a classic British grand liner, who enjoy the theaters, spas and many restaurants and bars of a big ship, and who want to travel the sea itself, as on an Atlantic crossing. Onboard service is mainly in English. Please ask your travel agent how much Japanese-language support is available when you book.
Photo credits
・Cruise ship Queen Mary 2 in Flåm, Norway: Markus Trienke, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
・QM2 Grand Lobby: BRFR, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
・Royal Court Theatre / Stateroom on the Queen Mary 2: David Jones, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ship data and facilities: Cunard website (Japanese), Cruise Vacation (deck plan). Checked November 2026. Please confirm the latest details on the official website.