Queen Mary 2 makes historic Panama Canal transit on Cape Town-bound World Cruise

Queen Mary 2 has completed her first-ever transit of the Panama Canal, marking a historic moment in Cunard’s 2026 World Voyage, which includes an extended call in Cape Town.

The 108-night world cruise reached a defining point over the weekend of January 24th and 25th, 2026, as the 149,215-ton ocean liner, the only one of her kind in the world, entered the canal’s newer lock system.

Guests on board witnessed the transit as Queen Mary 2 began her passage through the Cocoli Locks on Saturday, January 24th, before remaining overnight at the Cocoli Mooring Station.

The ship resumed her transit on Sunday, January 25th, completing the canal crossing and passing beneath the Bridge of the Americas, an experience rarely offered to passengers aboard a vessel of Queen Mary 2’s size and design.

“As the world’s only ocean liner, Queen Mary 2’s maiden transit through the Panama Canal marks another extraordinary milestone for Cunard,” said Katie McAlister, President of Cunard. “Our world-famous voyages truly deliver enriching, meaningful and unique experiences for our guests.”

“The transit through the Panama Canal forms an iconic element of this magnificent Queen’s 108-night World Voyage, where guests will also visit memorable destinations like Los Angeles, Sydney, Cape Town, Hong Kong, and Singapore, before returning to Southampton,” she added.

Following the canal crossing, Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to call at Fuerte Amador in Panama for an overnight stay, before continuing to Manzanillo, Mexico.

The ship is due to arrive in Los Angeles on February 2nd, marking her first visit to Southern California in 17 years. The call will also coincide with a reunion between Queen Mary 2 and her historic namesake, Queen Mary, for the first time in two decades.

The Panama Canal transit takes place against the backdrop of broader itinerary adjustments affecting Cunard’s 2026 world cruises.

Ongoing security concerns in the Red Sea have made transit through the Suez Canal unviable for cruise operators, prompting Cunard to revise the routes of both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne.

Instead of transiting the Suez Canal and calling in Dubai in April 2026, Queen Mary 2 will sail around the west coast of Africa, with revised calls including Port Louis in Mauritius and Cape Town.

The change follows consultations with global security experts and government authorities and reflects a wider industry shift toward Cape Town as a key global destination on multi-continent voyages.

Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne Cape Town calls:

• Queen Mary 2 will sail from Cape Town for Southampton on a 17-night voyage on April 17^th, 2026
• Queen Anne will sail from Cape Town for Singapore on a 22-night voyage on January 31^st, 2026

Queen Anne’s world cruise has also been adjusted, with the ship now sailing around Africa to reach Cape Town before continuing to Asia and Australia. The revised deployment will result in two Cunard ships sailing from Cape Town in 2026, underscoring South Africa’s growing importance as a cruise hub amid altered global routing patterns.

World cruises aboard Cunard vessels are typically offered both as full voyages and as shorter segments. Several segments were cancelled as a result of the itinerary changes, with affected guests receiving full refunds within 14 days, according to the company.

Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to complete her world voyage with a return to Southampton on April 30th, 2026, concluding a journey shaped by both historic milestones and evolving global maritime conditions.