Cruise line comparison
Cunard vs Holland America: which should you choose?
Cunard is the choice for a grand, British-flavored voyage: transatlantic crossings on Queen Mary 2, white-glove afternoon tea, gala evenings in formal dress and a class system where Grills suites come with their own restaurants. Holland America Line is the choice for a relaxed, traditional American-market cruise with strong Alaska cruisetours, live music on Music Walk, a more casual dress code and Caribbean sailings from Florida. Both are classic, both suit older travelers; Cunard is dressier and more ceremonial.
- Cunard
- Holland America
Photo: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Our verdict
Cunard is a special-occasion line for travelers who love British tradition and ceremony, and a week-long Queen Mary 2 crossing has no real equal in cruising. Holland America is a gentler, more casual classic cruise, with a deeper Alaska program, standout live music and less pressure to dress up. Choose Cunard for grandeur and the romance of the liner era; choose Holland America for comfort, Alaska and an easygoing evening.
Cunard and Holland America are both historic lines, founded in the 1800s, and both now belong to Carnival Corporation. They attract experienced travelers who appreciate tradition, and they often sail similar long voyages, from Northern Europe to world cruises. Yet the onboard experience is quite different.
Cunard’s four ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne, are steeped in British ceremony. Queen Mary 2 is a true ocean liner built for the North Atlantic, with a planetarium, a large library and kennels for dogs and cats on crossings. Holland America’s fleet, led by the Pinnacle-class Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, has Dutch roots but a relaxed American style, a big Alaska program and a stronger focus on music.
Cunard vs Holland America: head to head
| Feature | Cunard | Holland America |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Ceremonial and elegant; ballroom dancing, gala evenings and British traditions. | Gracious and relaxed; quiet sea days and live music in the evenings. |
| Typical guest | British and North American travelers 55 and older who enjoy dressing up. | Mostly North American travelers in their 60s and 70s. |
| Ships and size | Queen Mary 2 at about 2,700 guests, Queen Anne at about 3,000 and Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth at about 2,000. | Pinnacle class at about 2,650 guests, plus Signature, Vista and R-class ships from about 1,400. |
| Dining | Britannia Restaurant for most guests, Britannia Club for some, and separate Princess Grill and Queens Grill restaurants for suite guests. | One main Dining Room with set or open seating, the Lido Market buffet, and extra-charge Pinnacle Grill and Tamarind. |
| Entertainment | Royal Court Theatre shows, ballroom dancing in the Queens Room, lectures and Queen Mary 2’s planetarium. | Live music first: Music Walk venues on many ships, from dueling pianos to a classic-rock club, plus World Stage productions. |
| Dress code | Gala evenings with tuxedos and gowns, plus smart attire other nights. | Smart casual most nights, with a couple of dressier Gala Nights. |
| Kids | The Zone kids’ clubs and, on some ships, a night nursery. | Club HAL is limited and mostly seasonal. |
| Drinks and inclusions | Drinks and Wi-Fi bought separately or through packages; Grills suites get extras. | The Have It All option rolls drinks, internet, a specialty dinner and tour credit into one fare. |
| Itineraries | Transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and world voyages. | Alaska and Yukon cruisetours, the Caribbean, Europe, the Panama Canal and Grand Voyages. |
| Price positioning | Britannia cabins are reasonable for long voyages; Grills suites approach luxury prices. | Upper mainstream, with good value on long voyages. |
| Private island | None; Cunard’s Caribbean sailings call at regular ports. | RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas on many Caribbean itineraries. |
| Loyalty | Cunard World Club, with tiers from Silver to Diamond. | Mariner Society, where stars accumulate with every day spent aboard. |
Which should you choose?
Choose Cunard if…
- You want to cross the Atlantic between New York and Southampton on Queen Mary 2.
- You enjoy dressing up for gala evenings and dancing in a proper ballroom.
- You want afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters in the Queens Room.
- You want a Queens Grill or Princess Grill suite with its own restaurant and lounge.
Choose Holland America if…
- You want an Alaska cruisetour that reaches Denali, the Yukon and Dawson City.
- You’d rather pack smart-casual clothes than a tuxedo or gown.
- You’d rather end the night at a piano bar or rock club than in a ballroom.
- You want a Caribbean cruise from Florida with a private-island beach day.
The fleets by the numbers
| Measure | Cunard | Holland America |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean ships in our guide | 4 | 11 |
| Average ship age | 14.8 years | 18.1 years |
| Average ship size | 111,000 GT | 84,000 GT |
| Newest ship | Queen Anne | Rotterdam |
| Largest ship | Queen Mary 2 | Koningsdam |
Calculated from the ocean ships in our guide, with build years and tonnage from Wikidata.
Cunard vs Holland America: FAQs
Is Cunard more formal than Holland America?
Yes. Cunard holds several gala evenings on most voyages, when many guests wear tuxedos and evening gowns, and expects smart attire on other nights. Holland America is smart casual most evenings, with a couple of Gala Nights where a jacket or cocktail dress is typical.
Are Cunard and Holland America owned by the same company?
Yes. Both belong to Carnival Corporation, which also owns Princess, Seabourn and Carnival Cruise Line. They operate separately, with their own ships, traditions and loyalty programs.
Which is better for Alaska, Cunard or Holland America?
Holland America, by far. It deploys several ships to Alaska each summer and pairs cruises with land tours to Denali and the Yukon. Cunard visits Alaska only occasionally, usually on longer voyages.
Can you take your dog on a Cunard cruise?
Yes, but only on Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossings, which have onboard kennels with a dedicated kennel master. Space is limited and fills far in advance. Holland America doesn’t accept pets other than service animals.
Read the full reviews
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Cunard official site, Holland America official site.