Queen Mary 2 Round the World Cruise Blog: 113 Nights Around the Globe
A Guest Blog Series for Mirador Escapes
In January 2026, our friend and experienced traveller Gennie and her husband Chris embarked on the journey of a lifetime aboard Cunard's magnificent Queen Mary 2.
Over the course of 113 nights, they crossed the Atlantic, sailed through the Panama Canal, explored Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Asia and Africa before returning home after an unforgettable voyage around the world.
With her kind permission, we're delighted to share her personal diary here on the Mirador Escapes website. This isn't a glossy brochure or a sales pitch. It's a genuine account of life aboard Queen Mary 2, complete with favourite ports, sea days, memorable excursions, amusing observations and the friendships made along the way.
Whether you're considering your own world cruise, researching Queen Mary 2, or simply enjoy armchair travel, we hope you'll enjoy following this remarkable journey.
About the Author
This blog series was written by our friend Gennie, an experienced traveller with a love of exploration and storytelling. We are grateful for her permission to share her experiences with the wider Mirador Escapes community.
All opinions and observations are her own and are based on first-hand experiences during a 113-night voyage aboard Queen Mary 2.
Quick Facts
Ship: Queen Mary 2
Cruise Line: Cunard
Departure Port: Southampton, England
Length: 113 Nights
Continents Visited: 6
Oceans Crossed: Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans
Countries Visited: 20
Ports of Call: 25
Overnight Stays: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Cape Town, & transit through the Panama Canal
Style of Travel: Slow travel and ocean cruising
Highlights: The Panama Canal, Moorea, Sydney Harbour, Hong Kong, Cape Town and countless days at sea
Gennie’s Round the World Cruise Itinerary
Sector 1: Southampton to New York
Seven days crossing the Atlantic in winter and learning the rhythms of life aboard Queen Mary 2. Rough seas, afternoon tea, lectures, the famous kennels and the excitement of arriving in Manhattan.
Highlights
- Winter Atlantic crossing
- Queen Mary 2 life onboard
- Dining and entertainment
- First glimpse of New York
Read more → Queen Mary 2 World Cruise: Southampton to New York
Sector 2: New York to San Francisco via the Panama Canal
From snowy New York to sunny Panama and Mexico, this sector featured one of the great engineering wonders of the world and some memorable days at sea.
Highlights
- Ellis Island and Liberty Island
- Crossing the Panama Canal
- Fuerte Amador, Panama
- Manzanillo, Mexico
- Los Angeles and the original Queen Mary
- San Francisco and Sausalito
Read more → Queen Mary 2 World Cruise: New York to San Francisco via the Panama Canal
Sector 3: San Francisco to Sydney via Hawaii, Tahiti and New Zealand
One of the most beautiful stages of the voyage, crossing the Pacific to Hawaii, French Polynesia and New Zealand before arriving beneath the sails of the Sydney Opera House.
Highlights
- Honolulu and Kona
- Tahiti and Moorea
- Crossing the International Date Line
- Bay of Islands
- Auckland and Tauranga
- Sydney Harbour
Read more → Queen Mary 2 World Cruise: San Francisco to Sydney
Sector 4: Sydney to Hong Kong
A fascinating journey through Australia, Indonesia and Southeast Asia, combining old memories, wonderful people and unexpected discoveries.
Highlights
- Brisbane and Port Douglas
- Darwin
- Bitung, Indonesia
- Life aboard during long sea passages
- Arrival into Hong Kong
Read more → Queen Mary 2 World Cruise: Sydney to Hong Kong
Sector 5: Hong Kong to Cape Town
Exploring Asia and the Indian Ocean before reaching the southern tip of Africa.
Highlights
- Hong Kong
- Southeast Asia
- Indian Ocean crossings
- Cape Town
Read more → Queen Mary 2 World Cruise: Hong Kong to Cape Town
Sector 6: Cape Town to Southampton
The final chapter of our world voyage and reflections on one of the most extraordinary experiences of our lives.
Highlights
- Southern Africa
- Homeward Atlantic crossing
- Last sea days
- Looking back on 113 unforgettable nights
Read more → Queen Mary 2 World Cruise: Cape Town to Southampton
Life On Board Queen Mary 2
One of the biggest surprises of a world cruise was just how much we enjoyed the sea days.
Between lectures, art classes, concerts, films, afternoon tea, quizzes, dancing, the spa, long walks around the promenade deck and simply watching the changing oceans from our balcony, boredom never once became an issue.
In many ways, the sea days became some of our favourites.
Our Favourite Experiences
Although choosing favourites is almost impossible, these are some of the moments that will remain with us forever:
- Sailing through the Panama Canal.
- Returning to Moorea after twenty-five years.
- Entering Sydney Harbour at dawn.
- Watching the sunset over French Polynesia.
- Wandering San Francisco with family.
- Discovering unexpected Indonesia.
- Making friendships that lasted far beyond the voyage.
- Simply sitting on our balcony and watching the world drift by.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long was your Queen Mary 2 world cruise?
Our voyage lasted 113 nights.
Is a round the world cruise worth it?
Without question. For us, it was the experience of a lifetime.
Were there too many sea days?
Quite the opposite. We grew to love the sea days and many became highlights of the voyage.
Which were your favourite ports?
Sydney, Moorea, San Francisco, Hong Kong and the Panama Canal are among our favourites.
What was life onboard Queen Mary 2 really like?
Relaxed, fascinating, sociable and never boring. There was always something happening, but also plenty of space simply to enjoy the journey.
Would we do another world cruise?
Ask us on a difficult day in the British winter and the answer would almost certainly be yes.
Join Us Around the World
This blog follows our complete 113-night voyage aboard Queen Mary 2.
From Atlantic storms to tropical lagoons, bustling cities to tranquil sea days, every sector brought fresh experiences, new friendships and memories we shall treasure forever.
So come aboard and join us as we relive the journey of a lifetime.
Dreaming of Your Own World Cruise?
At Mirador Escapes, we specialise in creating unforgettable travel experiences and bucket-list adventures. If reading this series inspires you to start planning your own journey, we'd love to help.
