Famous Faces

Since the RMS Britannia crossed the Atlantic for the first time in 1840, bringing Sir Samuel Cunard into the spotlight, famous figures have become a common sight on Cunard ships.

Charles Dickens was one of the first passengers of the cruise line, and so great was the novelty of a transatlantic steamship service that Sir Samuel received more than 1000 dinner invitations after the inaugural voyage of Britannia.

The ships Umbria and Etruria of Cunard, presented in 1884, were the largest, fastest and most elegant transatlantic liners of their time.

Winston Churchill was well known for his preference for sailing on Cunard’s Queens, particularly on the Queen Mary, while President Eisenhower traveled to Europe aboard the Queen Elizabeth in 1951.

After his abdication in 1936, the former King Edward VIII and his wife Wallis Simpson became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. They sailed frequently with Cunard, often aboard the Queen Mary, where they were treated with the utmost discretion and elegance.

Their association with the line added to Cunard’s prestige as the choice of royalty and society’s elite.

Her Late Majesty The Queen christened the Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967 and the Queen Mary 2 in 2004, continuing a royal tradition that spanned generations of Cunard ships.

The presence of Her Majesty at these historic launches symbolized the close bond between the British Royal Family and Cunard Line, whose flagships bear the names of Queens past and present.

In 1998, Nelson Mandela sailed on the Queen Elizabeth 2 during its visit to Cape Town. The occasion was marked by ceremonies celebrating South Africa’s new democracy and Mandela’s vision of reconciliation.

His time aboard further cemented Cunard’s place in global history as a line welcoming leaders and luminaries from all nations.

From Oscar-winning actors to chart-topping musicians, Cunard continues to attract some of the most recognizable faces in entertainment.

Recent guests have included Meryl Streep, Hugh Jackman and Ed Sheeran, who have all experienced the elegance and heritage of Cunard voyages first-hand.