More than 900 agents will be invited on board Cunard ships throughout 2026, giving partners the chance to experience the luxury cruise line’s iconic fleet first-hand and gain deeper insight into its premium brand proposition.
An initial programme of four dedicated ship visits will take place between May and July in Southampton and Liverpool, on ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, and Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne.
The confirmed dates are:
- Friday May 15 – Southampton, Queen Mary 2
- Wednesday June 17 – Liverpool, Queen Anne
- Friday June 26 – Southampton, Queen Mary 2
- Friday July 17 – Southampton, Queen Mary 2
Each visit will include a guided ship tour and hosted lunch, designed to help agents confidently bring the Cunard experience to life for customers.
Cunard will also have a strong presence at the CLIA Conference 2026 in June, with more than 200 agents attending a ship visit on board Queen Anne. Overall, the cruise line has doubled the total capacity available for agent ship visits in 2026 compared with 2025.
In addition, Cunard’s 2026 familiarisation trip programme will welcome more agents than in previous years, with three sailings departing from Southampton between May and November. More than 100 trade partners will be invited to take part in a mix of four, five and seven-night voyages.
Confirmed fam trips include:
- May 15–22 – Queen Mary 2, Norwegian Fjords
- November 7–11 – Queen Victoria, Zeebrugge and Cherbourg
- November 25–29 – Queen Anne, Rotterdam
Agents taking part will experience Cunard’s White Star Service, dining and entertainment, as well as curated shore excursions designed to showcase the line’s signature sense of occasion.
Iain Baillie, AVP UK and EMEA Sales at Cunard, said: “We know that giving our partners the opportunity to truly immerse themselves in the unique Cunard experience is vital, so they can confidently bring our ships, service and sense of occasion to life for their customers.
“By expanding our ship visits and familiarisation programme in 2026, we’re investing in meaningful, first-hand experiences that empower our travel agent partners to tell the iconic Cunard story with authenticity and passion.
“Travel agents are truly at the heart of our success, and I look forward to welcoming our valued partners on board to experience everything that makes Cunard extraordinary.”
Agents can register for ship visits and familiarisation trips via Shine Rewards Club, Cunard’s agent loyalty programme.
For those unable to attend in person, the Shine Rewards Club website offers a range of sales and training tools, including fact files, marketing assets and a comprehensive training hub featuring webinars, how-to guides and FAQs, alongside a points-based loyalty scheme rewarding both bookings and training.
