Cunard Line vs Scenic Ocean Cruises

The core difference

Cunard Line and Scenic Ocean Cruises represent two fundamentally different propositions — and the contrast reveals how broad the luxury cruise category has become. One line looks to 1840 for its identity. The other looks to the future with helicopters, submarines, and expedition technology.

Cunard’s identity is British maritime heritage. Four ships — Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Anne — carry 2,061 to 2,996 guests across the world’s oceans. QM2 is the only purpose-built ocean liner still in service. The brand centres on formal tradition: Gala Evenings, ballroom dancing, white-gloved afternoon tea, and the Grills ship-within-a-ship with butler service and bespoke dining. The Transatlantic Crossing is irreplaceable.

Scenic’s identity is Australian-owned Discovery. Two purpose-built Discovery Yachts — Scenic Eclipse and Eclipse II — carry 228 guests with PC6 ice class, two Airbus helicopters, a submarine, ten dining venues, butler service in every suite, and a near one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio. Founded in Newcastle, NSW in 1986 by Glen Moroney, Scenic built its reputation on European river cruising before launching what it calls “the world’s first Discovery Yachts.” The third ship, Scenic Ikon, arrives in April 2028. Eclipse II will be permanently homeported in Australia from that date.

For Australian travellers, the distinction is not just philosophical but practical. Scenic is Australian-owned with permanent Australian homeporting from 2028. Cunard has withdrawn from Australia entirely.

What is actually included

The all-inclusive comparison is decisive — and it favours Scenic substantially.

Scenic’s “Truly All-Inclusive” fare covers: ten dining venues, premium branded beverages, three tiers of shore excursions, butler service in every suite, gratuities, Starlink Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, fitness classes, and onboard enrichment. Helicopter flights and submarine dives are at additional cost.

Cunard’s Britannia fare covers: accommodation, main restaurant dining, buffet meals, afternoon tea, basic beverages, entertainment, and gym access. Alcoholic drinks, speciality dining surcharges, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, spa access, and gratuities are all extra. Grills suites add dedicated restaurants, lounges, concierge, and butler service — but Wi-Fi, excursions, and spa access remain additional.

The gap is stark. Scenic includes everything Cunard charges extra for — and adds butler service for every guest. A Cunard Britannia guest must pay for each item that comes standard on Scenic. Even at the Grills level, Cunard does not match Scenic’s comprehensive inclusions.

Dining and culinary experience

Both lines take dining seriously, but the models differ in scale and access.

Cunard offers up to 15 dining venues on Queen Anne, from the Britannia Restaurant to speciality options with surcharges. The dining hierarchy separates guests by cabin tier. Queens Grill bespoke menus are exceptional. The afternoon tea in the Queens Room is the finest at sea.

Scenic offers ten dining venues on 228 guests — an extraordinary restaurant-to-guest ratio. Lumiere (French fine dining), Koko’s (Asian Night Market), Elements (pan-Asian), Azure (Mediterranean), Sushi Sake, and the invitation-only Chef’s Table with molecular gastronomy. All dining is included without surcharges. Every guest accesses every restaurant regardless of suite category.

The mathematics are striking. Cunard offers 15 venues across 2,996 guests on Queen Anne. Scenic offers 10 venues across 228 guests. The per-guest dining choice on Scenic is dramatically higher. And every Scenic venue is included — no surcharges, no restrictions, no class separation.

Suites and accommodation

Both lines offer quality accommodation, but Scenic’s approach is more uniformly premium.

Cunard’s range spans Britannia Inside at approximately 152 square feet through to QM2’s Grand Duplex at 2,249 square feet. The Grills ship-within-a-ship delivers butler service and exclusive venues at the top tiers.

Scenic’s suites start with the Verandah Suite at 345 to 365 square feet — significantly larger than Cunard’s entry-level offerings. Every Scenic suite includes butler service, a heated balcony, and all-inclusive privileges. The Two-Bedroom Penthouse tops out at approximately 2,660 square feet with a private spa pool and dining room. The heated balcony — unique in the expedition segment — means polar travellers can enjoy their private outdoor space even in Antarctic waters.

The critical difference: Scenic provides butler service in every suite, making the entry-level experience more luxurious than Cunard’s Britannia or even Princess Grill in terms of personal service. Cunard’s Queens Grill delivers a more refined butler tradition with bespoke menus — but at a substantially higher price point.

Pricing and value

The pricing reflects different product categories and inclusion levels.

Cunard’s per-diem for a Britannia Balcony on a 7-night Mediterranean voyage starts from approximately USD $196 per night. Grills suites command a significant premium.

Scenic’s per-diem for a Mediterranean Discovery Yacht voyage typically runs approximately AUD $800 to $1,500 per person per night, reflecting the comprehensive all-inclusive model. Antarctic expeditions sit substantially higher.

Scenic’s headline fare is higher, but the all-inclusive model means the fare is close to the total cost. Cunard’s lower headline conceals substantial extras. When calculating the true per-diem including drinks, dining, excursions, Wi-Fi, and gratuities, the gap narrows considerably — and for travellers who would naturally use all of Scenic’s inclusions, the value proposition is compelling.

Spa and wellness

Both lines offer spa facilities, with Scenic’s newer ships providing an edge.

Cunard’s Mareel Wellness and Beauty spa features treatment rooms, thermal suites, saunas, and hydrotherapy pools. Queen Anne has cryo-therapy and micro-needling. Thermal suite access carries surcharges.

Scenic’s Senses Spa offers treatment rooms, a vitality pool, and wellness programmes. Eclipse II expanded the spa sanctuary with additional treatment rooms and an observation lounge. The upcoming Scenic Ikon will feature an 18,298-square-foot two-level spa — one of the largest in the small-ship category.

Both offer quality facilities. Scenic Ikon’s massive spa will create a clear advantage when it launches in 2028.

Entertainment and enrichment

The entertainment philosophies diverge sharply based on the different cruising models.

Cunard’s programme is one of the most extensive in cruising — over 430 speakers, the RADA partnership, ballroom dancing, West End-style shows, the QM2 planetarium, and a casino. Sea days are filled with lectures and performances.

Scenic’s enrichment is expedition-driven. A dedicated Discovery Team of naturalists and expedition guides leads Zodiac excursions, helicopter flights, and submarine dives. Lectures focus on the destinations being explored. The evening atmosphere is intimate — conversation over premium drinks, a small performance, and the shared excitement of the next day’s expedition. No casino. No production shows.

Cunard fills sea days with a university’s worth of programming. Scenic fills each day with expedition adventure. The choice depends on whether your ideal day involves a lecture hall or a Zodiac.

Fleet and destination coverage

The fleet comparison reveals completely different strategies.

Cunard operates four large ocean liners sailing globally — Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska, Caribbean, Transatlantic, and world voyages. QM2 at 149,215 gross tonnes is the only purpose-built ocean liner still in service.

Scenic operates two Discovery Yachts (three from 2028) sailing across all seven continents. Eclipse and Eclipse II at approximately 17,500 gross tonnes carry 228 guests with PC6 ice class. Itineraries span the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Antarctica, the Arctic, and Asia-Pacific. Eclipse II will homeport permanently in Australia from April 2028.

Cunard has broader global coverage through a larger fleet. Scenic reaches expedition destinations — Antarctica, the Arctic — that Cunard’s ocean liners cannot access. The overlap is primarily in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

Where each line excels

Cunard excels in:

• The Transatlantic Crossing. QM2 Southampton to New York — irreplaceable.
• British formal heritage. Gala evenings, ballroom dancing, and 185 years of tradition.
• The Grills ship-within-a-ship. Bespoke dining and refined butler service.
• Enrichment scale. Over 2,000 talks per year and the RADA partnership.

Scenic excels in:

• All-inclusive value. Ten dining venues, premium drinks, excursions, butler service, and gratuities all included.
• Expedition technology. Helicopters, submarine, Zodiacs, and PC6 ice class on a luxury yacht.
• Australian ownership. AUD pricing, domestic customer service, and permanent Australian homeporting from 2028.
• Intimate scale. 228 guests with near one-to-one crew ratio and butler service in every suite.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Cunard

QM2 Transatlantic Crossing (7 nights, Southampton to New York). The quintessential Cunard voyage. A bucket-list experience.

Queen Anne Mediterranean (7-14 nights, various European ports). The newest Cunard ship with 15 dining venues.

QM2 World Voyage segments through Sydney. Annual opportunities to join in Sydney.

Scenic

Eclipse II: Australia and New Zealand (from April 2028, permanent homeport). The first ultra-luxury expedition ship permanently based in Australian waters. Sydney, Darwin, and Hobart departures.

Eclipse: Antarctic Peninsula (10-13 nights, Ushuaia). Zodiac landings, optional helicopter flights, and submarine dives on the world’s southernmost continent. Sells out a year in advance.

Eclipse: Mediterranean Discovery (7-14 nights, various European ports). Ten included dining venues and expedition excursions on the most comprehensively equipped yacht in the Mediterranean.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Cunard

Queen Mary 2 — For the Transatlantic Crossing and world voyages. The only purpose-built ocean liner still in service.

Queen Anne — The newest Cunard ship with 15 dining venues and the most comprehensive spa.

Scenic

Scenic Eclipse II — The newer of the two Discovery Yachts, with an expanded spa and observation lounges. Will be permanently homeported in Australia from April 2028.

Scenic Eclipse — The original Discovery Yacht. Proven across multiple Antarctic and Mediterranean seasons.

Scenic Ikon — Arriving April 2028 with 270 guests, 15 dining venues, and an 18,298-square-foot spa. The most ambitious Scenic ship yet.

For Australian travellers specifically

The accessibility comparison strongly favours Scenic — and will become even more decisive from 2028.

Scenic is Australian-owned with headquarters in Newcastle, NSW. AUD pricing, local phone support, and Australian-designed loyalty programmes. Eclipse II will be permanently homeported in Australia from April 2028 — sailing from Sydney, Darwin, and Hobart year-round. This represents the first ultra-luxury expedition ship to call Australian waters home permanently. For Australian travellers wanting expedition luxury without international flights, Scenic will be unmatched.

Cunard has withdrawn from Australian homeporting. Queen Elizabeth’s final Australian season concluded in February 2025. Future access is limited to world voyage segments through Sydney. Most Cunard voyages require flying to Southampton, New York, or other international ports.

The domestic ownership and upcoming permanent Australian homeporting create a practical advantage for Scenic that grows stronger each year.

The onboard atmosphere

The atmospheres reflect their vastly different scales and philosophies.

Cunard’s atmosphere is grand and ceremonial. Art Deco interiors, crystal chandeliers, gala evenings, ballroom dancing, the grand staircase. Over 2,000 guests in dinner jackets and evening gowns. The social performance is the centrepiece.

Scenic’s atmosphere is intimate and adventurous. Contemporary design, warm woods, floor-to-ceiling windows bringing the destination into every space. 228 guests in casual elegance. The shared anticipation of tomorrow’s expedition — a helicopter flight over a glacier, a submarine dive to 100 metres, a Zodiac landing on an Antarctic beach — creates a communal energy that grand ocean liners cannot replicate.

Cunard is the gala. Scenic is the expedition briefing — followed by a five-star dinner with premium drinks and butler service.

The bottom line

Cunard and Scenic represent two legitimate but completely different luxury propositions — and the choice reveals which kind of travel adventure speaks to you.

Choose Cunard for British maritime heritage, the Transatlantic Crossing, gala evenings, and the Grills ship-within-a-ship. Accept that Australian homeporting has ended, formal wear is required, and the base fare excludes most extras.

Choose Scenic for the most comprehensively all-inclusive expedition product afloat — helicopters, submarine, ten dining venues, butler service in every suite, and Australian ownership with permanent domestic homeporting from 2028. Accept that the fleet is small, the per-diem is higher, and the intimate scale means fewer entertainment options.

For Australian travellers, Scenic’s domestic ownership and upcoming permanent homeporting create a clear practical advantage. Cunard’s Transatlantic Crossing remains a bucket-list experience worth the international flight. Many of our clients enjoy both — and the combination of a Scenic Antarctic expedition with a Cunard Transatlantic Crossing represents one of the great double-act itineraries in luxury cruising.