Cunard's Queen Mary 2 is a genuine ocean liner, built for the North Atlantic crossing between Southampton and New York — a different category of ship from anything else in this list.
Cunard leans into tradition — formal nights, afternoon tea, a proper library, and a level of ceremony that's become rare across the rest of the industry.
Cunard's annual world voyage segments and long transatlantic crossings draw a loyal, repeat crowd that books years in advance for the classic liner experience.