Unique Features

The ship's fantastic Illuminations movie theatre also converts into the only planetarium at sea. Seating 150 guests, shows run approximately four times per sea day. Passengers can enjoy high-tech programmes, including astronomy shows and virtual reality movies underneath the impressive planetarium dome.

Designed in a classic opera house style, The Royal Theatre features 20 private Royal Boxes which are available for passengers to reserve. These glamorous private boxes, provide passengers with an intimate environment to spend an unforgettable night at the theatre.

Cunard is also famous for it's signature White Star Service, and the Queen Elizabeth is no exception, white gloved officers and crew on hand to provide the highest standards of service.

The wonderful Cunard Insights programme provides a wide range of speakers, from explorers, academics and historians to scientists, novelists and biographers. Former ambassadors and politicians, award winning actors and film makers have also given talks on historical and contemporary issues.

Special Dietary Requirements

The ship can cater for the following dietary requirements on request: vegetarian, low /no fat, low salt /no salt, lactose intolerant, dairy free, gluten free, wheat free, low cholesterol, diabetic, kosher and vegan. Passengers requiring any of the above diets should notify the Customer Contact Centre prior to sailing.

Dress Code

During the day casual shirts, shorts, trousers and beachwear are ideal. The main restaurants require a casual dress code for breakfast and lunch, however you may wear shorts in either the Kings Court (Queen Mary 2) or Lido Restaurant (Queen Victoria & Queen Elizabeth).

Evenings are split into two different dress codes. As a guide, these are: Formal evening wear consisting of an evening or cocktail dress or smart trouser suit for ladies, a tuxedo, dinner jacket or dark suit for men. Passengers may wear formal national dress or military uniform if they wish.

Informal evenings would consist of a required jacket and optional tie for gentlemen, whilst ladies should wear cocktail dresses, stylish separates or equivalent.

Disabled Facilites

Fully accessible adapted cabins are available onboard the ship and some suites are also suitable for wheelchair users as the cabin door is wider and the bathroom offers a larger floor space. Assisted embarkation and disembarkation is available at some ports.

Passengers who have a disability which might mean that they require additional assistance, in particular in an emergency situation, must inform the Customer Contact Centre at the time of booking.

Smoking & E-cigarette Policy

There are dedicated areas on the ship where passengers are permitted to smoke. Smoking is not permitted in any public room, inside your cabin or on your cabin balcony. (with the exception of Churchill’s Cigar Lounge, which is reserved for cigar and pipe smokers only)

Electronic cigarettes and vaporising devices, including those which do not emit smoke/vapour, are permitted in designated smoking areas only.

Age Restrictions

Children older than six months may travel with us, however Transatlantic crossings have a minimum age requirement of 12 months. Guests under 16 years of age must be accompanied in the stateroom by a guest who is 16 years of age or older.

As with UK laws, the age limit for purchase and consumption of alcohol on board is 18 years of age, however, when in US waters, the age limit increases to 21.

A world of beauty and wonder.

Cunard and our parent company Carnival Corporation and plc take our environmental stewardship very seriously and are committed to reducing our environmental impact.

Sustainability from ship to shore
Across Carnival Corporation and plc's 10 brands, we host over 11 million guests a year, visiting over 700 ports of call around the world. The health and vitality of the oceans, seas, and communities through which we travel is absolutely essential to our business. That makes protecting the environment one of our most critical areas of focus.

Our employees not only take great pride in making sure our guests’ holiday experience exceeds their expectations, but are also deeply committed to protecting the oceans and seas.

Clean water
Carnival Corporation and plc's waste water discharge policies reflect those of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which are significantly more stringent than those required by international law.

With careful planning and strict adherence to these discharge requirements, Carnival aims to minimise impact, both on the ports we visit and within the areas we sail.

All three Cunard Queens have state of the art advanced waste water treatment systems installed, ensuring all sewerage discharges exceed international requirements.

Cunard has also invested in ballast water treatment systems and has been a market leader in installing IMO and US Coastguard approved technology to carry out biological disinfection. The ships' ballast systems are independently tested on an annual basis by the Ballast Water Centre to the full IMO D2 standard, to ensure that the treatment systems continue to do what they were designed for.

Recycling
Together with our waste vendors and ports, Carnival Corporation and plc aims to minimise waste being sent for disposal. Evaluating shoreside waste facilities in advance, Carnival aims to manage any lack of recycling infrastructure by retaining waste materials on board until we reach a port offering the services we require when possible.

We seek new opportunities to reuse materials and equipment on board or find others who can use items that are in a good condition. If this is not possible, we ensure conscientious disposal, including the use of certified recovery units for items such as refrigerators to reduce any Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS) releases.

We provide opportunities for our guests to assist our recycling efforts with segregated waste disposal. Through Carnival's FATHOM - TRAVELdeep™ programme on its first year, over 2,500 guests supported recycling entrepreneurship schemes in the Dominican Republic. Carnival's crew - in particular those directly involved in waste management operations – are rigorously trained as part of their environmental awareness.

Single-use plastics
Over the next few months, you may notice changes to some of our practices as we work to reduce single use plastics and eliminate other items which are difficult to recycle or separate from food waste. We are doing this to reduce our environmental footprint. It’s not about reducing costs and will in fact increase our costs and manpower required to implement these changes.

To give you an idea of what some of these changes may look like, below are some that we have already put in place or are in progress:

• We have replaced single use plastic items like cotton buds, drinking straws and stirrers, and sail-away flags with more sustainable alternatives or reduced their use to ‘on request’ only.
• We have completely removed the use of balloons.
• We will remove the majority of single serve sachets and containers this year, for example sauce sachets, margarine and foil-wrapped butter, jam and other condiments, and yoghurt pots. They will be replaced with refillable dispensers or serving dishes.
• We are also developing plans to drastically reduce the amount of plastic waste created by the toiletries provided to each stateroom and reduce our reliance on plastic water bottles.
• Working closely with our suppliers, we are also striving to reduce food and beverage packaging and replace with recyclable or biodegradable alternatives.

Fuel provides the energy for Carnival Corporation and plc ships' propulsion and on board hotel power requirements. Responsible for over 97% of emissions, fuel usage is the main contributor to Carnival's carbon footprint.

Through implementation of multiple energy-saving and conservation initiatives, Carnival has reduced emissions by 24.8% to date.

Our BSI ISO 50001 accreditation provides a framework for energy management whilst our Corporate Energy Conservation Group has effectively reduced overall consumption and identified fuel saving opportunities.

Carnival Fleet Operation Centres’ advanced data capture systems keep us informed of the optimisation and efficiency of engine conditions, emissions, fuel consumption and energy use.

Responsible sourcing
The source of Carnival Corporation and plc's supplies directly affects our communities and the environment, so it’s vital we understand their providence and invest in sustainable development.

Our BSI ISO 14001:2015 certification requires sustainable resourcing, climate change mitigation and life-cycle management from production to disposal. Carnival's Business Partner Code of Conduct, coupled with the Ethics and Supplier Evaluation Questionnaire, provide a framework for suppliers to be aware of our expectations for ethics, compliance and sustainability.

Cunard works closely with them to implement eco-friendly initiatives, such as the use of recycled materials and minimal packaging, as well as the provision of responsible guest activities such as excursions.

Conservation
The oceans and communities we visit boast spectacular biodiversity for guests to explore. Carnival Corporation and plc is committed to protecting the marine environment, minimising impact and ensuring resources are used efficiently and sustainably.

We provide donations, volunteer initiatives - including coastal clean-up projects - and philanthropic programmes. Carnival's Fathom TRAVELdeep™ programme has supported ventures including reforestation and food cooperatives.

We partner with conservation organisations in order to support programmes related to our operations. Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, for example, has installed sea water temperature monitors on board Cunard's Queen Mary 2, using the liner's satellite link to provide data to the European Space Agency for climate change modelling.

Carnival's 2020 targets

Carbon footprint
Committed to sustainability and environmental protection in the communities it visits, Carnival Corporation and plc has effectively reduced its carbon footprint in 2017 ahead of schedule. Carnival is investing in low carbon fuel powered ships and combined with our partnership with Wärtsilä (the marine industry's leading solutions and services provider) to drive further engine efficiency, we’ll continue improving the quality of our air emissions.

Reduce the intensity of CO2e (equivalent carbon dioxide) emissions from Carnival Corporation and plc's operations by 25% by 2020, relate to our 2005 baseline.

Exhaust gas cleaning systems
On track, with 62% of the Carnival Corporation and plc fleet now equipped with Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS), they've continued to improve emissions quality. All three Cunard Queens have this technology in place. Carnival's $400m investment sets us on course for significant development of these EGCS and environmental technologies.

Continued improvement of air quality by developing, deploying and operating EGCS across Carnvial Corporation and plc's fleet, reducing sulfur compounds and particulate matter emissions from our ships' exhausts. 

Waste water purification
Carnival Corporation and plc's waste management plan specifies the responsible and efficient control, disposal, elimination and minimisation of the waste we generate, including water. Carnival is on target - with a waste water purification increased capacity of 6.2 percentage points fleet-wide. All three Cunard Queens are fitted with advanced waste water treatment systems to ensure discharges are significantly cleaner than the standards required by the International Maritime Organisation and others.

Increased Advanced Waste Water treatment systems coverage of Carnival Corporation and plc's fleet-wide capacityby 10%, relative to 2014 baseline.

Shore Power
Ship shore power capacity is on course, with over 43% of Carnival Corporation and plc's fleet – including Cunard's Queen Mary 2 - now capable of using shore-based power when in port. On her current itineraries, Queen Mary 2 uses power from the local grid in New York and Boston, with Carnival ready to increase shore power coverage of its fleet wide capacity in relation to future port capabilities.

Increase shore power coverage of Carnival Corporation and plc's fleet-wide capacity in relation to future port capabilities. 

Waste reduction
Carnival Corporation and plc's recycling initiatives and partnerships have kept securely on track to reduce on board operational waste by 5%. Where facilities exist, we aim to recycle as much of our waste as we can, or donate for reuse if suitable. Each Carnival ship has on board waste processing equipment to segregate and correctly package waste. Cunard's supply chain works with suppliers to minimise packaging sent to the ships, and food and beverage teams work hard to ensure minimal waste is produced whilst delivering guests' expectations.

Continue to reduce waste generated by our shipboard operations by 5% by 2020 relative to our 2010 baseline, as measured by kilograms of non-recycled waste per person per day.

Water use efficiency
Whilst we have maintained our water efficiency, Carnival Corporation and plc has successfully decreased its impact on ports, with an additional 4% now created from sea water, bringing us to 77% efficiency overall. Due to our ships’ holding capabilities, we adapt water sourcing locations for the remainder, continue to upgrade water dependent systems or equipment with more efficient options, and facilitate guests to embrace water conservation routines.

Continue to improve water use efficiency of our shipboard operations by 5% relative to our 2010 baseline, as measured by litres per person per day.