Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth entered service in 2010 as a near-sister of Queen Victoria, with interiors that pay tribute to the art deco style of the original 1940 Queen Elizabeth. Inlaid woods, period-style lighting and a grand three-deck lobby give her a gracious, old-world feel, and she shares her sister’s theater with private boxes and two-level library. Her Garden Lounge, inspired by the glasshouses at Kew, is a favorite for afternoon tea. In recent years she has spent summers in Alaska, and she has also sailed seasons in Australia and Japan, bringing Cunard-style formality to regions dominated by more casual lines.

Best for: Travelers who want a dressy, traditional British cruise in places like Alaska or Asia, on a ship smaller and easier to navigate than Queen Mary 2.

Cunard is the world’s oldest and most famous name in ocean travel, sailing four elegant Queens, including Queen Mary 2, the only ocean liner in regular transatlantic service between Southampton and New York. Expect gala evenings, afternoon tea, ballroom dancing and British tradition. It suits travelers who love classic ocean travel, dressing up and long voyages, less so anyone wanting casual, high-energy cruising.